Sleeved&Hopeful

Hey guys. I met a lady through a support site who gained back half of the weight she lost. Lost 100-gained back 50 now. She said she was too ashamed to go places or do things because people will "know she failed at weight loss surgery". I feel so awful for her. She admitted to eating the wrong things. I feel awful for her. It's a painful reminder that this surgery can be outsmarted, just like those who have gained back weight after gastric bypass or other surgeries. The sleeve is not foolproof. Eating chips, sliders, and carby foods too often and too much can really sabotage everything. It really is important to eat protein first. I firmly believe a treat now and then it perfectly fine but man, I see clearly how things can get out of control if you let yourself. She mentioned that she had a hard time coping with a new "thinner" version of herself and kind of sabotaged it without even realizing it. Be careful, folks.

I really should have found this thread sooner being I've been on this site for a year now! I had VSG 2/3/12 and I'm UNDER goal now, in a normal BMI range. Very happy with that! Doing well with the sleeved life. I am a 36 year old mom of 2 sweet girls. One is close to graduating high school and is a total tomboy and artist. She is a sweetheart with such a loving spirit. She cracks me up. My youngest is a princess diva girly girl who swears she is a tomboy too. She does love sports and having fun. My husband is the best man I've ever met and I love him dearly. 11 years together on the 22nd of this month and I'm so happy to have him. He has raised my oldest as if she were his and he loves her the same as if she were and I love him even MORE just because of that. I found out I had diabetes last year right before the sleeve. My biological mom died of diabetes at age 54 just a few months after I had the sleeve surgery. I really feel like this surgery have saved my life. My diabetes is in remission now and I hope to live a lot longer than 54. I am back in college and almost done! I decided to go back in 2010 and get my bachelor's. I had 2 years worth of college from my early 20's and figured I might as well finish! I just need a few more classes. I'm getting my degree in Journalism. I already write freelance for various websites and earn an okay living from that but hope when my degree is done it will open up more opportunities. Some of the places require a degree to get employment as a writer so I'm sooo close :-). I have enjoyed this site. I don't check in as much now that I'm below goal and enjoying the sleeved life and really have adapted to it like it's naturally just a part of me. It is so strange to just feel like the sleeve is "normal life" now. I am used to the small portions--the Protein first--the no drinking and eating. It's nice that it's come natural to me and I have adapted so well. This surgery was probably the wisest decision I've made in a loooong time. God bless everyone and good luck in your journeys!

Congratulations! it feels great, doesn't it? I love the sleeve too, it's made my life so much better!

Congratulations! I am hearing a LOT about Dr. Quinones on the other gastric sleeve forum. Mostly good things. I had never heard of him before and now he is suddenly getting popular. How is your weight loss going now? I have a friend who is married to a man from Puerto Rico and they love to visit the beach "la playa" en Puerto Rico! :-)

Congratulations! The sleeved life is wonderful! Best of luck in your journey

Congrats on the stunning weight loss starlet!

Thank you for your input LilMissDiva. I've always thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts. I know you worked out like a wild thing for a long time and maybe your body and mind just needed a break. I know I couldn't keep up your workout regimen in the long term. I agree that there is a big difference between knowing and doing. I'm almost 10 months post op and already know that it would be easy to slip into old habits if I let them. I will always have to be vigilant forever and ever.

Hey aceves_soon would love an update! And I just want you to know you are NOT the first person I've heard of being re-sleeved. One lady on facebook who I talk to went to Mexico to get re-sleeved as well and also on the ObesityHelp forum there was a lady who went to Aceves for a re-sleeve too after she found out her original sleeve surgeon left her with too much fundus and her sleeve was too big.

I've heard of this happening before too like aceves_soon said. If you have been eating healthy and suddenly eat something greasy--your tummy might not like it.

Just wanted to chime in here! Bypass patients "typically" lose faster and a bit more excess weight. If you have 100 lbs to lose, they might lose 10 lbs more than you. I agree that it's not worth the side effects. If you have more than 250-300 lbs to lose then my suggestion would be to get the duodenal switch over the gastric bypass. It's the "sleeve" plus some malabsorption that actually FOREVER malabsorbs calories unlike the bypass that only malabsorbs calories a couple of years. However, the duodenal switch is high maintenance and you have to take a lot of Vitamins and get to the doctor probably at least every 3-6 months to make sure your vitamins are in place. However, there is one guy, who lost 350 lbs with just the sleeve alone. So people who are super super morbidly obese can actually get to a healthy BMI with some serious commitment even with the sleeve.

Big hugs coming from me to you! I know this is a lifetime battle. We see it in gastric bypass patients and we are going to see it in sleevers too now that VSG is becoming more popular. THE GOOD NEWS IS..you haven't gained much back. You can still get your weight back down! IF you must eat a bit of cheese--eat it with some protein like ham or turkey slices--or maybe with some beef jerky or something protein based. We all know that dense protein fills us up fast and keeps us full longer. That sounds like maybe something you need to reincorporate back into your plan. Don't beat yourself up. It's just a bump in the road and you can get back on track!! Wishing you all the best

I just had to post and say congratulations on your new baby! How amazing! God bless you and your journey to have a healthy baby. The good news is you've already lost 35 lbs and only have 30 to go. I just know you can do it. It took me a year to lose my baby weight with both pregnancies but this was before I was sleeved. I didn't gain weight to get obese until about 3-4 years after my last baby was born due to quitting smoking and a major depression where I was just eating with abandon. I am sure your sleeve will help with getting some of the weight off especially if your restriction is coming back. I wish you all of the best!!

Fyre Storm FTW! hah!

You are one of my fave posters ever! Congratulations on your continued success in both weight loss and with finishing college!! How exciting!

Good job little lady!

I eat jerky a couple of times a day! An ounce or two at a time! That's the only snack I have besides cottage cheese or ham and cheese rolled up. I allow myself two snacks a day but I am 8 months out now. It's much better than eating junk food or crap in my humble opinion :-)

I hope the moderators do not mind me posting this because it is a link to a blog on another forum about weight loss surgery--but I don't care if I get in trouble for it. The sheer hope and amazing story that I am going to show you is worth the risk. I am soooo inspired by this lady you have no idea. She makes me so hopeful. There are so few long term VSG post ops out there that seeing this just makes me realize that regain does NOT have to happen--we don't have to gain back half of our weight---or all of it. Or any of it! We can be successful! You will NOT regret reading this! http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/sunnygirlms/blog/2011/10/18/hard-to-believe---7-years/ Enjoy!

I know...I am hoping she updates again soon. She has posted now and then on the Obesity Help main forum a few times. I wish I could find some of her posts from the past. I have seen her post before. Her VSG 8th surgiversary is on 11.2.12! I hope she remembers to update! :-)

Jrr that's a good idea to shred it in the Ninja! haha! thanks for that tip I'm too lazy to make homemade beef jerky but I sure as heck like it when I can get some homemade beef jerky from someone I know yum yum.

I have known of some people who took up to 15-18 months post op to hit goal.

If you have to--go to Mexico! I had a BMI of 38 but I did have type II diabetes. No insurance coverage for me. You can get type 2 diabetes at BMI of 30-35 and higher. I was 35 years old and my BMI 37-38 when I found out.Another lady had just found out she had type 2 diabetes at BMI of 32 the same day as me. Don't wait--get the weight off now! My diabetes is in remission but I may have never had it in the first place if I had gotten sleeved sooner.

Yes some doctor's offices have a complication fund or additional insurance you can purchase even in Mexico. I was not offered the additional insurance when i went to Dr. Almanza, no one mentioned it to me. Thank God I didn't have any complications. I am glad they offer it though but I never heard about it. Some of the other doctors I've heard of that are really good in Mexico are Dr. Alvarez, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Garcia, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Joya in Puerto Vallarta is really good...there are many more too. If you go to mexico please do sign up for the insurance if they have it. I think it's a smart investment. I don't know why I didn't even think about asking for it or anything. I really just felt like I would be okay. I guess I was just lucky that it all turned out that way.

Good job lady! Looking in shape and fab!

Amazon.com sells jack's links beef jerky and be sure you look at the nutritional value. Some of them are higher carb and less protein. Some of them have at least 13 g of protein and very few carbs.