vincereautmori

I know this is an older thread, and you've figured it out by now but, how are you doing? All I can suggest is, fight like hell to resist the empty calories and get all of your protein and veggies in, every day. I think if you do that, there won't be much room for the junk foods. The way I got around it originally was to grant myself the emotional snack, BUT, only after I got my good foods in for the day. By then, I usually didn't want it any more.

.

.

I feel like I'm following the same path as you gman, I was sleeved in 2014, did well for almost two years, but over the past year I've totally lost focus and I'm regaining. As with you, I got off all meds, rejoiced in my new body after losing over 100 lbs, felt full of energy, enjoyed the experience of tossing the old fat clothes and building a new "normal" sized wardrobe. I also looked forward to my doctor visits as my health improved and got a supporting round of reinforcement as an example of WLS success. But over the year, I've let unhealthy snacking creep back in, as my weight has grown my energy levels have decreased and along with that less enthusiasm for exercise, I've gone up a couple of sizes in clothes, and I have disconnected with my doctors. As far as the effectiveness of the sleeve, it's still there, I cannot overeat in one sitting, the full factor is still as prominent as it was 3 years ago, but that senseless hunger and desire for food has returned. I've regained about 30- 35 lbs from my min weight, so it's not insurmountable, but getting the ball rolling again has been the problem. There are a lot of changes happening in my life right now, but that was always the excuse with or without the sleeve. So when folks like gman and others come here for reinforcement and help, I feel like a poor example and I'm not sure how I can help. Maybe by exploring our issues in the open, someone will find clues that will guide them back to their path towards goal. So, I can't offer an answer, but I do have questions, such as, have any of you drifted from your healthcare support system? How important do you think that plays in staying on track and focused? How do you track your intake? Do you track calories as well as nutrition?

I bottomed out last November, did pretty good over the 2015 holidays, but I've gained back 10 lbs since Jan/Feb this year. I've been sloppy about nutrition and it's showing. But I'm still feeling great, the sleeve is still working,

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

Before surgery I tried a lot of diets and went to numerous clinics and weight loss counselors, one of them was Charlie Remington and he advocated a low glycemic diet. I was very successful with him and lost over 50 lbs. in about 6 months, but I couldn't keep it off. One thing he was pretty adamant about was the corn and corn syrup in foods, as he said, "why do you think they feed cattle corn to fatten them up?" What always stuck with me was that it should have been an aha moment, I stopped a lot of the sugar and lost the weight and felt better, what makes us go back to it? Just like tobacco, industries rely on our addictions.

Before my surgery, my wife and I enjoyed looked forward to our "date night" every Friday, our style is Mom&Pop type places who usually give you a lot of food. Now, about a year and a half later, I still find going out to eat frustrating, it's more about the company and quite a bit less about the food. We go out maybe once a month or every other month, I just don't enjoy it much any more. I try to look at menus online before getting there, I don't usually order off the appetizer menu, mostly high fat, high carbs, and not many Protein choices, I'll order a la carte because it doesn't make sense for me to get a three course meal or salad and bread, I can't eat a whole meal anymore. For me if I'm in the mood for a burger we know of some good places who offer sliders, as far as pastas I don't order out because they give you too much, although I don't mind taking leftovers home. I also eat a lot slower, so at home I can take my time, at a restaurant, although they don't usually rush us, I always figure we're there for the business of eating so I'll get a sandwich that I can eat in a reasonable time and take half home, IDK, maybe I'm a little weird about that. So I prefer to make my own meals and do something else for entertainment. I still enjoy foods and I'm never hungry, I still have my food preferences, but I kind of miss the old days when I really enjoyed restaurants. But I have absolutely no regrets, I may not enjoy eating out anymore, but I feel incredible, I'm not on meds, my joints aren't constantly in pain, my clothes fit well, I can walk and run, I'm almost 64 years old and I feel young again. Life is great!

Please don't take this as judgemental, only that it seems prudent to explore all non surgical options before resorting to another modification of your body. Have you worked closely with your nutritionist? Have you tracked your food intake (using Sparkpeople or Myfitnesspal)? Do you have any WLS support group meeting in your area? Do you have the means to work with a trainer at a gym? Have you thought of working with a psychologist? Have you talked with your doctor about another surgery? As most people on here have said, this is only a tool, and sometimes it can be ineffective, but you have lost 100 lbs. so we can safely say it works, so what has changed? I have no idea of your health or your circumstances but a 100 lbs. is a lot of weight, most importantly, how do you feel? Maybe that's where you are or maybe it's how you're handling life, are you happy or sad? Is your problem emotional, or are physical problems holding you back? As far as additional surgery, I only know what I have found during my research prior to my surgery, I learned about the good and the bad with all WLS options and I chose the sleeve. I actually didn't know there could be such a thing as a re-sleeve, but why not? One of the complications of any sleeve surgery is complications caused by scar tissue, the thicker it is the more chance for complications, additional injury to the same area would increase those risks. I would weigh the potential of the benefit vs. risk very carefully before committing to another sleeve surgery especially because there's no reversing it. You have other options if you go surgical, through lap band and duodonal switch. You had better be very careful to thoroughly research your options. Good luck!

I'm not sure this is the right forum for this question, but the old veterans forum got buried in obscurity under another subforum (Alex- can we do anything to bump it back up?) But my question is for people who have hit or are near goal, what did your weight loss do when you got close? I'm finding mine has stopped, and quite suddenly over the past couple of months, is that normal? I'm not that concerned, maybe this is where I'm supposed to be and for what my calorie intake is vs. the amount of exercise I have time for, this may be it. Just curious if anyone saw a plateau and then started losing again. I'm definitely keeping an eye on it.

Thank you all for the grateful compliments, it means a lot to me, the forum has played a part in my journey and having many anonymous friends walking with me has helped. No matter where you're joining us, let's help one another go as far as we can.

So, my one year surgiversary was in August and I've been thinking of how to Celebrate the success of the past year with my Bariatric Pal friends. What can I add to what hasn't already been said? What were my experiences that can inspire and help newcomers? What were the challenges I faced and overcame? What makes my story so much more special than anyone else's? I came to the conclusion that the answer to all of those questions is, everything and nothing. For all of us the journey is unique and it's our most special accomplishment, but all of our journeys are very familiar and the same for many who came before us. But if I left this post right here, you'd say he lost his enthusiasm along with his weight, so let me tell my story (I promise to keep it short but sweet). I've been overweight most of my life, I made countless attempts at getting it under control, I'd lose 10- 50 lbs. and slowly lose ground only to gain it all back. Sound familiar? In the meantime life went on, career, marriage, kids, house, bills, you know, right? Being young we feel invincible, yeah I was heavier than fit people but I could handle the weight. Of course, I was more of a spectator than a participant but I always figured I'd take care of it some day. Family, job, good times and bad times,there's always something that took priority over losing just a few pounds. But time rolls on, and occasionally I'd try another perfect weight loss answer, but ultimately it wasn't permanent and it was just another failed attempt. When I hit my fifties I noticed more muscle pulls, back injuries, knees were aching more, out of breath sooner, heart was working harder. So in my mid fifties I was put on meds for elevated blood pressure, shortly after statins for cholesterol. At sixty I was put on a CPAP for sleep apnea, and meds for pre diabetes. It was getting real, I was seeing the damage of carrying all the extra weight, but my doctor was keeping things under control, no worries. Then my hips began failing, I could hardly walk, I needed a cane to get in and out of chairs, I didn't want to move. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he said the pain was from compressed cartilage caused by my weight, so I asked what we could do, he said "nothing, the damage is done". I think that's when I said enough is enough, I'm destroying my body and my future was heading towards life as a sick and handicapped old man. So I had a serious talk with my PCP, looked at my options, did research and made my decision to go with WLS at 62 years old. On my day of surgery the surgeon asked if I was ready, I said "let's do it", and I never looked back. Here I am 14 months post surgery, no more meds, no more CPAP, no more diabetes, I walk miles with almost no pain,and otherwise feel fantastic. I'm now doing things at 63 that I wouldn't have tried doing at 53, I went from feeling like an 80 year old to feeling better than I ever remember. I was in size 3XL shirts and pants with waist size of 46", today I can wear large to medium shirts and 34" waist pants, now I can shop off the "normal" racks. I've gone from the sidelines and into the game, I'm stronger and I have more energy, I can walk, run, and climb, and play, I feel young again. I'm still not used to the face that stares back at me in the mirror, there was a heavy guy looking back for the last 40 years or so, now I see a leaner more vibrant looking man, it's strange but I'm getting more used to him. So that's what makes my journey a special success to me, yours may be similar and it may be different, but it will be your special journey. I'm still learning to live with my sleeve, you can't erase years and years of lifestyle overnight, but after a year it's becoming more normal to listen to my sleeve and pay attention to what and how much I eat. If I can offer any wisdom, its to make your decision and then own it, go ahead and commit 100%. I know a lot of people regret not doing something sooner, but we can't change the past, we can only change the future. Best of luck to you all and thank you for your stories and experiences, I have learned and still learn from them.

Have you been meeting with your nutritionist? Have you been keeping track of what you've been eating? Are you adding exercise? The sleeve will only do so much, the rest is up to you, you need to work with your surgical team to find the problem and now is the time to tackle it while you have access to this system of support. Good Luck!

I'm kind of surprised no-one has mentioned the three week stall, don't be surprised if it takes a week or two to get the dial moving again. Sounds like you're doing OK, don't sweat it yet, in my experience I hit a stall about every 5-6 weeks.

OK, so at a month you're still learning to live with your new stomach, it's going to take some time but I'd still recommend tracking your calories. I tracked calories for the first 2-3 months, although I've been losing weight steadily, I still track once in a while to see what my nutritional distribution is. If you're having confidence issues, definitely take advantage of your support system, now is the time to fix the things that are a problem.