CowgirlJane

I was told the honeymoon period was the first year. I knew there was no way i was losing 150+ in a year so I asked my NUT what that really meant to me. Did it mean I was destined to remaining "overweight"? She told me that I could keep losing and maintaining as long as I keep "working that sleeve" - there was no expiration date on that. She was RIGHT. Yes, weight loss slows down... thank goodness really! I got to my initial goal in 14 months and have lost another 10# since then. I am 2 years and 3+ months post op now and I know I could lose even more weight if I were so inclined (which I am not). It is really about working the sleeve. I am not saying it is easy, and I do agree that you are well served to be as diligent as possible that first year (or 6 months or whatever) as it does get harder, but the only limits exist in our own minds.

Swizz, that is exactly what I do - tell myself this too shall pass, and usually very quickly. In the case of Sunday since I also had GI distress I have myself permission to have a down day and took it really easy. I put myself to bed early and took something to really sleep and guess what - I feel good today so far. One other coping thing I do is call a friend. I used to call and tell them how horrible I felt but then I realized that didn't help either of us. Now,I just call and talk for like 5-10 minutes and about 99% of the time that seems to reset my brain since I usually don't really have a dang thing to complain about. It is a mystery that maybe has no solution. Maybe it is just one of the joys of womanhood (hormones) and that at my age i really need my sleep. I used to be able to have a few nights of poor sleep and be just fine and I really can't anymore for some reason. I also believe that some of it is that I am not suited for a desk job, which I have. I need to move and be in front of people. I love many many things about my job so I am not complaining, but over the long run, I may be thinking about additional lifestyle changes that suite my personality better. I like to be on the MOVE, I like to interact with people face to face, I like to be constantly challenged and as I am very verbal - I like that interchange with people. I don't get enough of those things at work and I know sometimes the tension for me is trying to focus on desk work when what I really want to do is run around and talk to people...haha

Ok, it was my experience that due the nerves that are cut during sleeve surgery that i couldn't really feel restriction well until about 6 weeks post op... and as I started transitioning to firmer food. I think you might be panicking too soon. I ate by the measuring spoon and cup and the clock those first 2 months because I could not trust what my tummy was telling me. That DID change, and it was hard to transition to solids but i did it and was very successful. Hang in there and good luck.

Okay, my personal experience was I did terrible with the band and have been wildly successful with the sleeve so this is pure speculation based on what my surgeon "warned" me could happen. He said several things about revisions - statistically, we don't do as well as virgin sleevers. nobody knows for sure why but his personal theory was that there are 2 main reasons. 1. Bandsters got used to the feeling of fullness of restriction and were more tolerant of that feeling of the esophgus being sorta full. also, in my case, and the case of many people who failed with the band, I learned how to eat sliders because the band caused me pain when I ate dense food like Proteins. 2. sometimes, due to the location of the scar tissue and this depends alot on what happened to you while you were banded, they can't get the same shape and size stomach post sleeve as they can with virgin sleevers. Coming out of surgery my surgeon told me he was relieved, I had massive scar tissue due to slippage, dialation and heaven knows what else from 10 years of the band - he felt he got a "good pouch". Anyway, I guess I used the info he shared with me to make me extra diligent about following the sleever rules and I did somehow manage to lose 160#. When I was banded i weighed 272 and never got under 200. I regained once I had to have the fill removed due to out of control reflux and just lived with it empty for the next 8 years. When I was sleeved, I weighed 308 and am now maintaining around 148-150#. Even so, I know for a fact you are not the only one who has not had wild success post revision. i do think the fact that you are so close to goal/normal size makes it much harder. I had to work work work to get the last 30-40# off to make it to my current weight. I mean really work - low low carb, high intensity exercise 5-6 days a week and all that. I mean it, i worked it hard. I would have not gotten under about 180-190# without me really stepping it up big time and that is the honest truth.

GG could be intense and she had a way of just sorta bulldogging LV that i never understood... but i actually kind of like her. I feel like she is going through the weight loss emotional rollercoaster and would come out the otherside a really good friend on her. Dunno why,I just felt that way. Too bad people go off in a huff for any reason, but, oh well.

It is absolutely terrifying to be sitting there on the edge of your decision. Many of us went through that. Here is my advice as a life long obese person who was also really afraid of failing ... again. And has since lost 160# and is maintaining that loss. Click on my profile to see my before and afters... I have truly transformed thanks to the help of the VSG. anyway, advice here... have you really tried everything? Have you done every reasonable diet (weight watchers, low carb whatever)? What were your results? Do you have the disease of obesity, meaning you have been overweight/obese long enough that you have physical changes? You maybe used to be able to lose weight but can hardly do that anymore? Are you hungry most of the time? If you can answer honestly yes to those questions - I am guessing that you won't be able to lose and maintain significant weight loss without weight loss surgery. If you have serious doubts if you have in fact tried everything, put off your surgery and TRY everything. That way, you will know in your heart that you gave it your all and you need a tool to help you. I realize not everyone will view it that way, but I was honestly at rock bottom and so by the time I had surgery I was so OVER food as a friend. I would ahve been happy if they could figure out how to keep me from ever having to eat again (which of course is not the case!). I work at maintenance, do not get me wrong, but I worked (and failed) at trying to stay under 300#!!! Now I work, and mostly succeed at staying under 150#! My life is truly transformed into a life I actually want to live with so much potential and joy at daily things. Hang in there, this isn't always easy, it is just a tool and YOU make it what you want. You have a lot of influence over the outcome. I had the lapband and did not do well with it. One of the things I learned is that I needed help and support and so I picked a VSG surgeon who REQUIRED 2 years of follow up. I had to humble myself, the professional dieter, and go back to basics and relearn how to eat and live an active life. It was hard to turn that over and to be open to it, but I am so glad I did. I am also so glad I didn't have the gastric bypass or sleeve when I was first looking into it - I waited a year and even changed surgeons. The first surgeon was highly recommended, but I didn't like his NUT, I didn't like his program and I felt that resistance inside me. He told me I would fail with the sleeve and should have the bypass and I couldn't figure out why I would succeed at that either... That was a year of suffering to be honest but it really set the stage for my success as I knew that I needed the surgery, i needed the support and I needed to change my life. I feel that some sort of combination of luck, and guiding forces put me right where I needed to be in terms of the surgeon and program and my own brain.

Good luck on the interview Florinda! I was reflecting on how life is a challenge for most people. I am blessed with good friends, a supportive boss and colleagues I adore. My family is quite supportive and I love them dearly even though I don't see them as often as I should. Even my sons are supportive (well as supportive as young 20s men can be expected to be). I have so much in my daily life that is positive. I admire you for perservering so well in an environment that does not strike me as emotionally supportive or loving AT ALL. Visualize how much more you will THRIVE once you are in a healthy environment!! I am excited for you.

Wow Georgia, did I read that right... salt is potentially more hazardous than the nitrates? I buy sandwich meat from trader joes to get the nitrate free stuff... oh my, I may need to rethink this. I was reflecting the other day. My moms mom died of cancer at 42 (I believe cervical, but it was ages ago so unsure). My mom got cancer (malignant melanoma) in her 40s and eventually died of related complications at 74. My only full sister (I have a bunch of half siblings) died of breast cancer at 39. I am 49. Maybe i should think more seriously about cancer prevention. Thanks for posting all this.

One of the issues post plastics is that the compression garments sqeeze your tummy and people can't eat as much at once. I was hungry ALOT so I ate more frequent tiny meals and had a lot of Protein drinks. Alot of people go into mega burn post plastics too which I must have since I didn't gain weight and I ate CONSTANTLY I was so hungry. I guess I am one of those people who will never have problems with anerexia or losing too much weight or anything like that. My body gets to feeling a little under-plenished and I get HUNGRY. Once I got to my initial goal of 158 I maintained there for 6 months before dropping another 10. i am maintaining in the range of 146-152 these days just as easily as I maintained 158 but I think that it helped that I took a little break from losing. My body has a real survival gene I guess - it lets me know when the calorie bank is running low. I really wonder and find it puzzling in many ways that people who had such a high burn pre-op or for whatever reason find that they can't stop losing now. I am very supportive - don't get me wrong - I have a close friend who works so hard to keep weight on (he is older and naturally skinny and drops weight when anything bad happens) I get it that it is a very serious problem. It is just so foreign to me that it is hard to even understand it. I hope that people who do struggle with this realize that we do SUPPORT you because we all have some sort of issue with food and weight and what we all want is a healthy, comfortable relationship with food and weight. I just don't always understand it. I do however know how I gain weight... carbs are the secret to my weight gaining success. Not only do carbs tend to make me gain weight, they also make me hungry so I can keep gaining. It's great to know I have a good backup plan should I ever get too thin. (crackers, Peanut Butter, high carb Protein Bars, sweet fruit especially juices - doesn't even need to be unhealthy carbs, any will do!)

Oh and 151 this morning...back in business! I want to maintain under 150 and am almost there. That rapid bounce up shook me up a little!

Yesterday was telling my son about injury caused by the personal trainer and he said "the problem is you look WAY younger than your age and so he treated you like you are 35" Wow that was nice to hear! but my injury is still killing me.

I eat alot of meat...buy sandwich meat from trader Joe's for example. I don't track food but I worry about the sodium too. I don't like most salty tasting food but I know sodium is in my meat based diet. Georgia I didn't know about the cancer link....any more info on that?

Oh Denisee was wondering if you would post on this private board your face before and after photos? Also you must have retired young took, right?

Swizz I know the feeling of trying to find your grove again. I have lost muscle tone but nobody seems to have noticed but me. I think once you restart you will bounce back to fitness easily. Well unless you get injured like I did. I think I need to have it imaged. Florinda what a great opportunity to see the pattern and change it now. Congrats!!! Daisy I am glad you mention the ED because Steven does NOT have that issue so I am pretty unaware of it. Thing is I just don't have it in me to search for a real boyfriend OR make the compromises needed. Example I met someone who is amazing in many ways but he is 20 years navy and now works for FEMA (all good) by I can tell he is uber organized precise and self disciplined. My ways will drive a guy like that crazy. I know I could start something up with him (or David the self centered ultra conservative) but I just CAN'T deal with meeting someone halfway so to speak and I know it just won't workout more than a little while due to that so I am better off just focusing on me for now I guess. As time goes on I am less interested in a partner. I wish I didn't care about sex and then I think I would be just done with the whole relationship deal. Yesterday I felt blue and depressed. It was caused by lack of sleep as I was up about 10 times Saturday night going to the bathroom. Sunday was beautiful weather and yet i couldn't make myself do anything useful or fun. I seem to feel better today on all dimensions and found it very interesting how strongly I correlated exhaustion with feeling depressed for a day.

Did gamer girl disappear too?

Sarah I am so sorry. .I know how tough this is. Good news.. 151 this morning so I guess my mega gain was water. Ironically I increased carbs (healthy) and overall consumption and the water shed. I woke with a nasty feeling tummy and had diarrhea much of the night. There goes my skiing plans. I am anxious about skiing anyway and surely don't want to do it feeling icky. Thinking today might be a good fast day. Sorry I meant to address an earlier post to coops and I said cathy. Braindead. Enjoying the photos! Well should history repeat itself. ..every time Steven feels too close he pulls back. I can't figure out why that hasn't happened yet since he has been much more in touch for quite awhile now. I am not worried about it. .. we both have our demons. I keep hoping mine are getting better...less demonic so to speak. ..but I figure he is quite set in his ways so I have no expectations. As he has said, he always disappoints....well at least he is honest about it. Spending a week with retired people opened my eyes about our age difference too. He is so fit and still very sexual - good genetics and active lifestyle but he is 66 for cripes sake so I still see this ending sooner than later. Just enjoying it for what it is. honestly I felt so affection starved from my last 5-10 years that having this has kept me from doing things I would likely regret....

We have several people 3 or 4 years out and at least 1 that is 5. Our 5 year person re lost a small regain and is a successful maintainer. Trouble is that forum participants are a self selecting group. ..not really a balanced view. Stats show people typically regain some weight in the years post op but MOST who were initially successful keep most of their weight off. For someone like me who was really bad off...twice the weight I should have been, this surgery was a life saver. If I had only 50 to lose, I personally wouldn't do it but not everyone shares my opinion.

Band2sleever you make many excellent points. Reality is that when first sleeved, you almost can't NOT lose -the sleeve does most of the work really. Overtime most people find it becomes less the sleeve doing the job and more on the individual. I do 5:2 and I would say that most people 2plus years out find they have to"work it" however it is not as hard as I struggled to stay under 300 pre op. The sleeve is an effective tool BUT it is only a tool. I had the band for 10 years and really wasn't too successful. I have been sleeved since Dec 2011 and am maintaining 160# lost(from 308 to 148). Lots to say about that but I believe that getting to goal inspires me mightily whereas I never got under 200# with the band. Also want to mention that the veterans forum is very educational to read but is intended for vets only to post...this is the right place to post this question.

I volunteered to be a host for the plastics or vets forum but Alex didn't choose to take me up on it...dunno why. I had a couple of fabulous days. Thursday night Steven showed up at my house unexpectedly....it was cool as he has never done that before. Friday I was supposed to go skiing but it didnt work out so had dinner with my friend Mary and told her all about Mexico...So fun! We are both gonna look into how single women can retire or semi retire as snowbirds with our critters (horses, dogs and in her case a goat)' Saturday we went on our first trailride of spring. It was so fun!!!my new mare, Mia was in season but her behavior was near perfect. One of the reasons they gave her to me for free is she was supposed to be bitchy mean when in season but she was a doll. I scored big time with that beautiful horse! We stopped for a drink and shared an appetizer (dinner) at our favorite place...dressed like the cowgirls that we are. Saw some of our acquaintances there and had a gas. I have a pretty good life. I read all your posts...more replies later - but Cathy I gained like 8 pounds in just over a week....yeah I was on vacation but that seemed insane! Jury is out on that progesterone cream for me (I am so dedicated to not gaining weight!!!) but I have been sleeping well....

i just came back from a trip to a warm climate and I never once felt awkward about wearing sleeveless or otherwise dressing in comfortable vacation wear (shorts, tank tops etc). I saw some photos of myself looking alarmingly like a normal person. Even though I have been at maintenance awhile, I still sometimes am shocked that I look okay. The place I went had a lot of really thin/skinny American women (the expats and retirees tended to be quite trim due to the active lifestyle they are drawn to there) so I was feeling kinda fat until i saw those photos and just felt that i looked okay. I didn't lose weight for looks, but it is a real confidence builder to just feel like you "fit in" I even bought a top at a store and didn't worry about if they would have anything that I could squeeze into. So, although maintenance at times is work, it's worth it since day to day life is just better when you are fit.

I just started progesterone cream and my weight went up too. I had no idea it caused that. I am on it because my medical doctor is convinced that my waking in middle of the night is due to adrenal surge caused by hormone issues. I'd rather be tired than obese again so I won't use it if this continues I n any way. Does the progesterone cause hunger?

Weird...my scale is so consistent I sometimes wonder if it's broken. Haha. I have tried putting my feet in different spotd, going pee, drinking water...weight doesn't vary with repeated weightings.

painful... and you know what the other impact of this is? people who are a little overweight get obese by not accepting their natural body size and doing yo-yo to try to get to some idealized size. I was never a small person... even now at goal, I sometimes feel fat compared to naturally slender people. I am lucky that I have a good support network of people around me who make me believe and truly feel that I am "just right for me". (My example, on a recent vacation destination I was surrounded by unbelievably thin women and it is easy to get caught up in that comparison cycle) Basing your ideals on runway models and movie stars is just cruel. I do think "healthy thin" is really a good thing but it doesn't mean we should despise the obese or expect everyone to look the same. Very sad.

I was scared to death... of many things including regain. Hang in there and keep coming back for support. I am so glad I faced my fears and did the surgery - my life is 1000 times better at half my former weight...

I had plenty of self doubts, especially since I was NOT a success story with my first weight loss surgery. I think the positive thing to do is turn that "bit of fear" into a healthy respect for the life long diligence this will take to maintain. My surgeon told me in my one year follow up appointment that year 2 and 3 were just as important as year one. Year one is all roses and smiles as you lose the weight and feel great.... and then comes maintenance. He reminded me that I have the disease of obesity and that WLS has helped me get my main symptom (excess weight) under control. BUT to never forget, I still have the disease of obesity and always will... and that fat would love to move back in. My surgery was Dec 2011, I have been at goal since Feb 2013 and i remain diligent and still maintain a "healthy fear/respect" toward the threat of regain.