BriarRose

I am ten years out. And had gained 40 pounds in the last 6 years.... Initially had lost 140 pounds. A year ago I decided to lose weight - the truth - there were no more family members to bury, no more closets to clean out and cry over - I decided to see if I could lose 10 pounds in a year. I lost 10 in about 3 months, then another 10 .... and in 13 months now, 41 pounds. It was not until we had to go back to the offices to work that I realized my work clothes FELL off my BUTT. I had to guess sizing, as try on rooms were closed. I put clothing on over my clothes in the store. I had, in the year gone from a 2x to a 16 petite in regular sizes (or 14, if I wanted to hem pants - I don't!) Once I wore clothing that fit.... people noticed. But they commented on odd things: You changed your hair style.... something's different... Just laugh !!! You have accomplished something huge in your life. It will make a difference in your life ! Rejoice your accomplishment and buy some new clothing.

I know how counter intuitive it is to even THINK this, but..... I too would increase your calorie intake for a few days. Yes, the scale may go up for a day or two, but FOR ME - I have to add calories and let my body decide there isn't a world wide famine, and that I AM getting food, and it DOES NOT need to conserve every calorie I put in my body. Then I drop calories back to where I was and the weight starts coming off again. And sometimes you need to increase calories to lose weight at all. Feels wrong, but remember you are eating so much LESS than you were just a few months ago. Also -Every BODY is different. Please do not compare yourself to someone, anyone else. Compare your self to where you were before you started your journey to lose weight. Where did you start ? How much did you weigh at your highest weight ? How much has you REALLY LOST ? Losing inches ? Blood pressure down ? Celebrate yourself. You will get there.

Burger on the plate or lettuce wrapped. Side salad and your choice of seafood/fish. Ask what their freshest veggies are and request steamed veggies and a grilled chicken breast. I have found that if you ask for something most places other than fast food or restaurants that don’t really cook anything are very helpful.

I was not a "fat" child; but what I was, was the "not skinny" child in the family, in the extended family. My own family called me ".....two by four can't fit through the bedroom door..." because that was how they knew how to deal with someone who was "different" then they were. I have thought back and looked back at old photos and I wasn't fat. but my family, my cousins were thin - and grown-up in the late 50's and 60's - women were still appreciated if they were "Twiggy". I was curvy and not Twiggy. I think, had everyone not focused on me "being fat" I probably would not have grown to meet those requirements. But I did. I was rewarded with food. It took me years of up and down dieting, hating being obese, and not really ever getting a handle on what to eat, how much to eat and how my own body reacts to that. Hating not having control. In my mid 50's I decided to get rid of the unloving, cheating husband and take my life back. Part of that was losing weight to make myself a healthy human. I was unhealthy and morbidly obese. I had surgery at 54 years old. I am not thin. I am not obese. I am overweight. I am now 64 years old. I wear a size 14 or 16 petite. I am happy and comfortable. I am healthy. I am active for my age, I work a full time career, garden, swim, walk, and take care of a small ranch. I raise chickens, have healthy back yard eggs, organic vegetable gardens, fresh herbs and I can say that I am quite happy. Do YOU.

I prepared individual servings of broth and froze them. I had frozen one ounce "ice cubes" of watered down juices; and things like that ready for my first week home. I did not go upstairs for a first day home, the drive home was painful, so I camped out on the sofa/recliner - downstairs. My teen daughter was home but not involved at the time. Be prepared - have the things you will need at hand, and be good to yourself.

Must have missed reading that. I was taking a break from gardening..... speed reading ....

I was sure your pancreas was not removed - we humans are unable to live without one. I think you might want to get a full GI work up and have a doctor familiar with bariatric surgery review the findings. You should nor suffer year after year from issues related to a surgical procedure. No matter if it was elective or not. I would suggest looking up surgeons on this website that have dealt with problems post bariatric surgery. I know of a couple in the Los Angeles area who do so. It must be hard to deal with physically and emotionally

Agreed. Protein shakes for me were poison. I ended up in the hospital really serious issues. We have to be careful not to tell people what to do. We should suggest what worked for us, and how it worked, why it worked. And what didn't work for us. Then our bariatric friends can try different suggestions on. Making statements With "you need to" Or "you have to" Or "you should" - should only apply to YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.... I try to let people know that you CAN turn around every 10 years out, and that we can still use our surgeries to benefit us

I am 10 years out. 64 years old. I went from 320 - 300 at surgery - to 165. I could never hold on to 165; but held on to 170 to 175 for about 5 years. Overweight, but had lost more than 70% my excess weight, and my doctors were VERY pleased; and so was I. A year ago I realized I was 220 pounds and freaked out. Decided to try to lose 10 pounds in a year. Nothing drastic. Once I started eating less, eating mindfully, intentionally, and using my VSG by eating protein first, increasing healthy fats, lowering carbs.... but keeping a daily treat.... changing HOW I ate, what I ate. I have lost an average of 3 pounds a month for the last 13 months. 41 pounds gone. I have some medical/physical challenges exercise is limited. No "working out" for me - but I swim during summer, do active gardening and dance in the living room when it is only the dog and I around. I only work on one pound at a time. I reset my personal goal at where I was comfortable.

I do not miss going to business meetings and looking to see if I am the fattest person in the room.... I do not miss that I WAS always the fattest person in the room I don't miss shopping in the plus stores

Interesting what "works" and what won't. White meat chicken has to have some kind of "sauce" for me too - chicken salad works - and I live on tuna salad (mayo and or mashed avocado) for lunches at work. And Spaghetti squash ? What if you cut it in short lengths ? is that it ?

I had a sleeve done 10 years ago. I lost over 140 pounds. At the outset, I only told my closest friends and family. Maybe 8 people - my dad, and brother knew ( but both have passed away since then ). My then 17 year old daughter and her best friend who was HER support person, and 3 friends. I was in my mid 50's - I am now 64 years old. I regained 40 pounds in 9 years. Spent the last year losing those 40 pounds. Who knows now ? My daughter and her best friend, and 3 friends. It does not come up in conversation - people who knew me when I as over 300 pounds assume that it was my divorce - which did coincide with about when I had WLS. I am not skinny by any means, I am now considered overweight by my age adjusted BMI - but I am comfortable in my own loose skin. People who knew me when I was morbidly obese and meet me again now, ask me WHAT HAPPENED ? I tell them the truth " I lost weight". I also do not tell them that I had a hysterectomy and any other medical issues that I have had in 10 years either. Eating less, eating mindfully, and intentionally - along with my sleeve that still does work, if I let it.... is what helped me to lose weight again 10 years later.

OK so my math is really lousy..... IF someone weighed 300 pounds and their desired weight was 145, then the excess weight would be 175 pounds. 60% of 175 is 105 pounds putting weight at 194 to be considered a success. I was told that the over all goal was 70% of excess weight, which would then be 122.5 pounds needed to lose. Correct ?

Getting in enough protein, fluids and keeping up with vitamins and minerals is important. As long as you are doing that, and your doctor is happy with your blood work - YOU ARE GOLDEN !! Take care, and be well !!!

Thank you for your support. I appreciate that a lot ! I like to think that there is karma in this world. Yours should be increased by your kindness.

Dear New and Improved, When you have been a 5’ 2 “ female - who is 64 years old - I and other will take your opinion more seriously. Have you ever had a hysterectomy ? Had to make the choices between adding Synthetic hormones that might help balance Weight gain and loss against a high risk of breast cancer ? Have you given birth to a child ? Or two ? Or had degenerative disease ? Or just been over 50 ? I hope that you remain healthy and never have to deal with medical issues. But growing older is not for the faint of heart. Another good thing about being long lived is the ability to know when to be insulted and when to just be amused. I remain the later

Starting weight and your height and BMI are all a part of figuring out where you will end up. I started at 5'3"; 54 years old and 320 pounds. After a year, I could never get under 170. But I was really happy with that. I put back about 8 to 10 pounds that second year..... and then.... Experienced a tough few years these past 7 or 8 years and gained back to 220 pounds. (STILL 100 pounds lighter !) Took the last year and attacked it - slowly, and carefully - now I am 64 years old, 5'2" and 181 pounds. I reset my goal as 175. I would be pleased to be between 175 and 180. Age adjusted BMI will be overweight, but both my doctors and I will be pleased with that. And yes, I am saggy and baggy. But I do not think elective surgeries are in my future. Need new knees. Frankly, I am thrilled with myself this year. I will have lost my regain. I will be back to having lost basically 140 pounds. Think about all you have accomplished !!!

I started the journey at 320 pounds and 5'3" - ten years later I am 5'2" (and 64 years old ) Initially my Doctor said I should weigh 140 I laughed. I have never weighed that as an adult. My goal for myself was about 170. My doctor after about 6 months finally told me he agreed with me. That I would (statically speaking) probably lose to about 180 to 175 IF I was able to exercise. I had/still have medical issues that do not make much exercise possible. I lost to 175. Gained 5 back almost immediately. Over the next 8 years gained 40. Last year decided to DO something about it. Have had a slow but steady loss of 3 pounds a month for a YEAR. No drastic dieting, just back to basics. Have lost 38 pounds. At 175 my BMI will be about 32. Still high, but on the BMI adjusted for age, I will be overweight. Goals and wants and desires and wishes aside.... be logical. Take YOURSELF into account. You are YOU. Not just a number. Living in your body and how you feel - and not going up and down the scale is what my doc now wants me to do. Set realistic goals.

WOW look at you !!! Great Job !

Another month has flown by. I have lost another 3 pounds. 182. it isn't like right after surgery... but 10 years out, I CAN do this. And I am. Minus 37 pounds in 12 months. Looking at that, now, I see a slow steady weight loss of 3 pounds month. I am more than "good" with that. Doing the same thing I have been doing. No radical dieting. Right now, being helped by my wonderful summer vegetable garden. Eating heirloom tomatoes and freshest cucumbers, green beans and squash, eggplant and fresh bell peppers .... So good. Also enjoying treats like ice cream on a hot day. But so nice to know who is in control. ME. As long as we all stay healthy in this crazy time of COVID and uncertainty . Be well. Stay strong.

I had a 40 lb weight gain over 8 years. 10 years post sleeve. Life happens. too many personal losses and changes.... Back in control now. Lost 37 pounds in the past year. Back to basics. Protein, veggies, fruit , sprinkling of carbs, healthy oils and fats and a daily treat. Also back to the scale twice daily. Morning and Evening. Evening also lets me know if I have had enough water. I dehydrate too easily. And not good with my fluids... I will never be "normal" weight or BMI - but am back to my lowest BMI, and almost lowest sustained weight.

I am 10 years out. Lost 140 pounds. In last 5 years gained 40back. Life happens. In the last year I have lost 36 of those pounds. How ? Back to basics. Protein - I grill fish or chicken or beef. Portion it up - then I make lots of vegetables - fresh riced cauliflower brocolli carrots and chop in onions or garlic fresh herbs steamed and then a quick sautéed in olive oil - meals for lunch and dinner for a few days. Hot cold - over salad - add stir fry veggies to that .... filling and all healthy. My carbs come from the veggies and fresh fruit. I also will have a daily treat that I don’t count - as anything. One skinny cow ice cream or a piece of chocolate - 2 little dove bites are heaven. And I am in control !!! Intentional eating.

For me, it was getting back to eating very intentionally - protein first and foremost then vegetables. Then fruit and a sprinkle of carbs. I was never able to do protein drinks - ever. i react to every kind of artificial sugar and artificial type ingredient with horrible digestive problems that put me in the hospital..... but YOU DO know what will work and what will not for YOU. Go back to what you were eating at the start - and start from there. You may want to see if another doctor took over your surgeon's practice or find a doctor who is knowledgeable about post surgery issues for bariatric patients. Mostly it is diet and getting enough vitamins and minerals into you and then exercise / moving more ! Personally, I started in the 300's had a sleeve 10 years ago. Lost about 140 pounds then gained back 40. I have spent the last year losing 5 pounds at a time. My first goal was that 5 pounds with a desire to lose 20 in a year. I have lost to date 36 and a half pounds. I am still "overweight" according to BMI for my age (64) and obese if you don't put in my age... but I am very pleased with where I am !!! One meal at a time, one healthy snack at a time, lots of water. Be safe out there !

Skyhawk - I get it. for me, I am eating better at home !!! I cook more meals, and plan the leftovers for lunches and another day or two of dinners... I am not grabbing something quickly to eat in the car on the way to work - I am eating eggs or hot cereal with fresh fruit in the mornings, and enjoying that first cup of coffee... making salads for lunch.... and loving that i planned out a great vegetable garden for this summer. I am eating fresh cucumbers every day with fresh tomatoes and eggplant and green beans. Waiting on those big heirloom tomatoes and squash .... will be heading back in to work later this week 2 to 3 days a week... going to try to pack up my healthy lunches and snacks !!!

I told only a couple closest friends. My adult daughter who lived with me at the time knew. I took time off work for some surgery. HIPPA NO one needs to know at work. I am a therapist. I do not think you need to declare - if you are normally a private person why would you decide to "tell" people - It is a medical procedure. And you ARE ALREADY dieting, and you are making life-style changes In no way was I or am I, 10 years later embarrassed about it or anything else. It is a decision my doctors and I made. I continue to live that same lifestyle - I eat healthfully. I eat intentionally. When I see people who knew me 130 pounds ago, and they say something, I tell them that I made some drastic lifestyle changes. And I have. I don't lie. If someone asks me directly, I will tell them. (well, most the time - there are just some humans who do not need that information or any personal information !) I completely OWN the decision I made. the surgery was a one day thing. It gave me an important tool. Tell who you want to. Or don't. Everyone at work assumed I had a hysterectomy - I had that a few years before and didn't announce that either. Your body. Your life. Take control of all of it.