Happy Camper

Hi all, I am 5 years post op. I stopped paying attention after I got thin at about 10 months. So the "Honeymoon". Seems to fall off about then. ,your pyloric valve has relaxed and you are feeling good/looking good! You have to keep going, do not think it will keep falling off (losing your hair as well). Keep exercising, keep drinking your Water and ALWAYS eat your Protein first. I can eat a whole lot more now, I get hungry, made excuses and have gained 50 lbs back in about 3 years. I am back on this forum looking for inspiration to get back using my tool, and pray I can somehow regain more restriction. I never have gone back to drinking while I eat, I have never missed my Vitamins. I did end up having 2 grand mal seizures, not certain but I am on medication which was when my weight gain began. I don't want any more excuses - I want my weight loss back. If anyone would like to ask,any real life questions about the journey, feel free To ask just about anything :-) I am happy to share what I know.

Irene I just read another post where you are changing to LMD2. Good for you, and keep up the good work! I changed my name once I hit onederland. Now, I have gained back and need to lose 10 lbs to get there. I joined the Valentine's challenge, my first one really in 2 years and 3 1/2 months. My stomach has bloated out and I am pissed. I get frustrated, get back on here then get on it for a few days, get hungry and it starts all over again. I have worked the 5:2 but, my hubby is living away from me (my bestest friend) due to a promotion, so when he comes home, he BBQ's. he is the main chef, and I want to eat with him and my son who will be leaving soon, to the Air Force. I try to eat small portions, generally skinless chicken breast or tri-tip. Never drink with my meals, BUT lately have been sneaking in, banana with peanut butter or Greek yogurt with granola and dried cranberries. Falling back into some crap eating, recognize it change for a while then here I go again. I swore I was not going to diet after the sleeve but, now I have no choice. I am now thinking liquid diet like before I was sleeved. When the boys eat, I will just go into my room. That is my food issues, I have been hospitalized twice in the past 14 months, most recently with a grand mal seizure. I am taking a medication for my Low potassium, and for seizures for the rest of my life, my driver license was revoked, which has been hard. I am deep into menopause with hot flashes and heart palpating issues regularly, but all in...I am doing fine. Our friend Cheri has had some tough times, and I would like to put energies into good vibes for her - I pray but, if that is not what other folks do, please think positive thoughts for her she has been supportive and given straight forward advise for a long while in this forum. So, all in while I am not the popular kid on the block, I have found in this circle - strange as it may seem, sharing success, failure, encouragement and stories with complete strangers - helps. Maybe small steps but, we all have one common thread - we have lost portions of our stomachs, most likely have suffered co-morbidities and more than likely have in some fashion had to face our habits. I wish you well LilMissDiva2. See you around the board. Sandy

Me too just got home from seeing the best concert with my hubby ever....took us 20 years to make it to see George Straight and Martina McBride. So awesome! So were the , um.......chicken strips and French fries . I tried for protein but was hungry. 207 so, I gained but, it was for my anniversary and 20 years. I will get going. Thanks Bea.

Bea you are amazing, I have NO IDEA how you can keep this all straight! Happy Friday, today I am 205.... Thank you!

Irene, ABSOLUTELY! I am now 2 years 2 months out. I get growling stomach, and I can eat so much more. I am 5'10" and have read here and there my sleeve is longer thereby it does not fill up as much. I still do not drink with food or after until my 30 minutes are up. Thus, I have gained from my lowest weight 20 lbs. I think it was more but got discouraged and stopped getting on the scale. Then one day, I said..."self, knock it off you must get back". Well, I have lost a whopping like 3 lbs from when I started weighing again. I have been trying the 5:2, but man 500-550 cals is not much anymore. I am hungry. I think for me next step is make some vege Soup, I think Kim said something about this in another post, and keep that around for when I start growling, so I do not say oh the heck with it. I have not gotten to goal, for that I am sad. I just wanted to reach that one time in my life. I am not trying to be rail thin, just 170 lbs. I am 37 lbs away. I remember you talking about your jeans and getting into like a size 2 or 0.. And you drank a LOT of Water.. It was amazing, but honestly I think something happens to our bodies for some of us....I wish I was not hungry thanks for coming back

Kimster Sorry for the loss of your brother; that must have been devastating. You have had quite the time. But, how encouraging to hear you are looking for inspiration. Well dear, look in the mirror! You are moving forward, taking charge and not rolling into a ball on the couch. How brave of you. I am fortunate no cancer (knock on wood) in my family however my bosses wife,went through a mastectomy and chemo/radiation. I know it was tough on them, and hopefully you have reduced or eliminated your chance of that nasty disease. So, as you have noted, you are taking care of yourself with each step you take, each and everyday. You have lost...Stay on the path, rock that sleeve, measure, weigh, eat clean. Make sure the food you put into your mouth will make a positive difference in your health and lord knows you must get that Water in! This surgery for better health you have gone through is amazing - you have come through that, you are worth continuing to get to your end goal! Take care.

Jenny, Not sure how far along you are but, these are some of my favorites: Jerkey (turkey and beef) 1/2 premiere Protein Bar Slice of deli meat with a piece of cheese in middle Plain,raw almonds Fruit -apple/banana with 1 tbs Peanut Butter (prefer skippy but, PB2 really is better because of fat/calories Note: my nurse for bariatric told me ALWAYS have some protein with fruit to help avoid glucose spike sugar free fudge bar ice cream I know you did not like yogurt but, Fage Greek yogurt 0 fat, add some granola and a handful of blueberries with a squirt or two of Torani sugar free syrup. coffee with sugar free creamer, stevia and hazelnut sugar free syrup Graham cracker, when I need something sweet Sun flower seeds (in shell) Hard boiled egg Trail mix (got to watch this one) Good luck

Whoa, fantastic!

Great Job! Before you know it...onederland

God bless! I loved your post. I'm just getting back here and reading thru as much as I can. I really started to miss this place. How could I not, I've spent an enormous amount of time and energy here. I DEFINITELY miss Sleeve4Me.. omg wtheck is she??? Irene,Hey you Diva you.....thanks for reading and all of your incredible support. My screen name has changed, once I was sandyd, but when I hit 100 down, I was a happy camper. So, God bless you for always giving to us, your reputation and your legacy. So many still refer to your "boot camp", and you were always there to give great advice and emotional support both here on the forum and with your support group...near Sacramento if I remember. Anyway, my appreciation for your endless hours of support is real and I am confident you have helped many with your courage and knowledge. When the day is done, and you look back on your life, you will have made a difference. God will be smiling!Hugs

I think my scale needs a new lithium battery..... 207.2 That is a gain of .8. I have started exercising min of 3 days week on elliptical, 550 or less 2 days and around 1100 the other days of good protein. Hum, well here is to next Friday.

IE Gal, With each of your kind words you are more than adequately expressing your appreciation. There was one vet I really missed, and I am sad to say, I neglected to thank ALEX!!! I know when I got my first email from him, I actually questioned it asking him if he was a real person (can you believe, that is sad on my part), and he kindly responded to me. So this is my shout out to Alex for his sincere dedication to this venture, his true story sharing, his successes in his journey to good health. Honestly, without this site allowing the information sharing, I would never had gotten the surgery. M2G, yeah! Man o man, she is the end all cheerleader, so much a part of the "key group" in my opinion. Thank you for the constant smile too!! Hugs back to you all.

I thought with all our new friends, it would be fun to refresh this thread. Anyone want to share ? I did change my name to Happy Camper once I hit 100 lbs down, although I have gained, I am still one Happy Camper!

OD, you might just be our most "experienced" vet. I have to say, my regain has impacted me in many ways. Mentally, I started down a dark road of "oh well", the clothes difference is what REALLY got me. I went from size 10 to 14, felt like overnight. But...I am back. I must be accountable, and just because I take new medicine for my new condition (seizures) I will fight it. I WILL hit goal. It is so wonderful to hear from you all, each of you adds so much and you are appreciated. It may be a bit here or there, maybe a life situation that we all have in common, or simply a moment in time. Oregon Daisy, you have shown that even with a gain, you can lose, reach goal and maintain. How freakin awesome is that! You are here now to inspire those "vets" "ole-timers", or however we are referenced, who had a gain, and want to get back and lose. Thank you all again for reaching out and sharing.

Good Morning, January 10 - current weight is 206.7. (are we rounding?) Using 5:2 method Sleeved 11/1/11 Lowest weight 187