Queen of Crop

We all know our own selves better than any one else, but I think the goal of living like a normal weight person, meaning being responsible about what we put in our mouths, is a good goal. Just remember, if you go up 1, 2, 3 or even 4 lbs, you need to take action then!!!! 5 Day Pouch Test, 5:2 plan, pre-op diet....what ever works, to get those off before it becomes 5-10 or 15 lbs. This surgery gave us all the chance to be successful and we will NOT go back there!!!!

Good morning Icanmakeit.. OK, first of all, I was never a model post-sleeve person and didn't follow the rules well at all, but then I started traveling 3 weeks after my surgery. Having said that, I am now 3.5 years post op and have maintained goal since 1 year out (so for 2.5 years). I am living my life like a normal weight person. I never think of what I can have and what I cannot have; I eat small meals, try to get as much Protein in as I can (without tracking it), but I usually have a glass of wine 5 X a week, and something sweet 5X a week. (Mondays and Thursdays are no wine, no cookie days for me). But I also weigh myself every morning faithfully and if a lb or 2 creeps us, then I cut back for a day or two; just like a normal person does. I work out regularly and I try not to snack; sometimes I am better than others. I have my blood work done every year to be sure I am not lacking in something. So, yes, maintenance is something you need to be aware of, but you also need to live your life without so many rules. Just my opinion, and this works for me. But everyone needs to find what works for them. Good luck and welcome to the Veteran's club!

Wow! 6 months and you are at goal! I remember when you first joined....how exciting for you!!! And my hair also fell out at about 5-6 months but it didn't last long and in no time it was back to normal. And I suck at getting all my Protein in as well...I have a whole chapter about both of those things. So excited for you; and like you, it was the best thing I ever did as well. I wish I would have kept going and lost another 5-7 lbs when I hit goal at 138....because now I fight for every lb I lose. But at 3.5 years out, I am still at goal, so I'm happy! And yes, you will have to watch it the rest of your life, but so do most normal weight people...so we are just one of them now!

Thanks Rogofulm....but I just looked at your weight and BMI and I think you are doing MUCH better than me!!! Still, no complaints! Life is great.

Thank you for sending me the 5 Day Pouch Test Tami88! I am now back down to one lb under my goal weight....just what I needed. I love this forum! Would have been so lost without it.

I find this thread so interesting...I have never really followed the rules very well which has worked for me so I guess I am very lucky. At Year 3 I do still try to get my Protein in and I don't really drink with my meals, but I eat whatever I want, just in small quantities and I exercise faithfully. Still, I did have a 4 lb weight gain so I went to the 5 Day Pouch test and I am now 1 lb under goal. Very happy with that for Year 3. I just don't want dieting and food to control my life any more so I am just trying to be like a normal weight person.

Hi Ladies! It's been a while since I posted anything but I have been following every one and reading the threads....looks like every one is doing pretty well. I was struggling with a 4 lb gain but thanks to tami88 on here, she sent me the 5 Day Pouch Test and got be back on track so I am now a lb below goal again. One of the reasons I have been so busy (outside of our incredibly hectic but fun life!) is that my book is finally out! I so appreciate all the support I have had on this site; if it wasn't for the information and support here, I would have been so lost. It's been such a fascinating journey....

Hi Tami....would love to know where I can find the info about the 5 day pouch test...sounds just like what I need!

Hi Scubagirl, thank you for reading my blog! And congratulations on your sleeve and welcome to the club.... I was 58 when I had my sleeve (now 61). I really didn't start exercising officially until I was 6 months out and had stopped traveling. I did stretching and used Soup cans when I could for some strength training (sounds so silly now but that's all I could do). But because we were traveling, I'm sure I got at least 5,000 if not 10K steps in a day. I do go to the gym now 3-4 X per week and do cardio, and strength training and I walk an average of 12K per day. Plus I bike because I live in Amsterdam. I have a feeling you will do just fine! BTW, a few more days and there will be no more blog as I am about to publish my book based on the blog!

Par1959 what is the pre-surgery diet you go on? I never did one!

Did I write the above post???? It sounds like me except for the part about "it's been 3 weeks and I have lost 9 lbs....!" I need to jump back into this...I am only 5 lbs above my goal weight but that's how it starts...need to nip it in the bud NOW!!! So what to do.....for me I will commit to no more wine for a month starting day after tomorrow (I am being realistic as we are being taken out to a very nice dinner tomorrow night). Wine and chocolate are my downfalls....other that that, I eat healthy and exercise a lot. So that is my commitment. Thanks for the kick in the butt!

I feel for you as I am in a similar situation...in fact I once wrote on my blog that I was a 'medical miracle'! because I was born without a metabolism! HAH. It is one more reason I am so thankful for the sleeve; without it people like us would never have lost the weight. The food plan on the WW, Nutrisystems, etc never worked for me...too many calories and made me feel like a failure over and over again. So these are the cards we have been dealt; at least we now know and we have a fighting chance. You are actually much more diligent than I am but I am fortunate that even at age 61 I can have a good workout at the gym, and since I live in Amsterdam I walk or bike everywhere. If I didn't, I would be gaining again. But I have to be very careful as well. You're doing great, and I have heard about the adding calories before, sounds weird but it might work for you. Good luck!

This has been a most fascinating thread....so much so that I have cancelled my TT. I don't have a hanging stomach and I am 61 so I can't get a lot of mileage out of it going forward. A bit disappointed but I just don't have 5 months to waste at my age to recover. I did have a breast reduction done 2 years ago and I simply cannot even imagine having my old, dangling, sagging, mismatched breasts. I love my new breasts and I was up and about 48 hours after surgery. Barely a blip on the radar. But if I did have a large stomach that hung down I would do it. But the scar is so huge....so not going there this time around....but I'll figure out some other body part to remodel!

Welcome pansy63! Good for you for considering this and for coming here and joining this group...I was sleeved at 58 and have never looked back! (I am 61 now but the people in this group are so nice and so supportive they let me stay). The great news about being self pay is that you don't have to jump through all the hoops that those with insurance have to do; and that sometimes takes a year! I decided to have the surgery (without thinking about it at all!) the first week of October and the last week of October, I had it done! It was perfect. Good luck and welcome to the group!

Wonderful post! I am going to include it in my blog this week....thanks for sharing....best one I have seen for a while.!

Thanks CGJ and everyone else....if I were younger I think I would go for it, but I have cancelled my surgery. I'll see how I feel at the end of this year and maybe I will do it in the winter. The thought of wearing a compression garment as spring and summer comes just doesn't work for me. I'm sad, but I think for now it's the right decision.

Thank you so much loseitsoon...I think your post just sealed the deal for me.....and yes, I do get naked a lot more than I used to but I think I'm going to go for the dim candlelit room, vs the surgery and post garment wrap and scar.....I really appreciate your post and the link....and BTW, you look fabulous!

Whoo boy, I am seriously re-thinking this. My lose skin and tummy is not horrible and I'm wondering if the trade-off and the scar at age 61 is really worth it. I am 139# and 5'3' I lost 81 lbs. Any opinions out there? I am scheduled for 13 April but I cancel. I don't want to miss being outdoors and bike riding (I live in Amsterdam) for the spring and summer. And I don't want to fall into a pity party hole because I am hurting....

I'm a 3 year veteran, so please excuse my ignorance. But what is plication?

I didn't feel that way until about 3years out....now (at 3.5 years out) I feel very fat even though I am within a few lbs of my goal weight. I don't know if it's shifted, or because I have more saggy skin, or what. But I definitely felt small the first couple of years and now I don't. Our minds keep messing with us all the time! Traveler60, our stats are almost identical....starting weight about the same, height, same, I was also sleeved in Oct. and now I am 141...and have been there forever....cannot seem to get back into the 130's.

Thank you so much for your honesty and the photos! I am scheduled for this surgery mid-April and your post has me re-thinking this. Can I ask how much you lost before your surgery? I lost 81 lbs and my stomach isn't exactly hanging but it isn't something that can be corrected with exercise. I'm concerned about wearing a compression garment for months....I think I can do 6 weeks, but do you think it's necessary for months? Why do you have to wear it? And yes, I am having mine done in a hospital. I'm normally not nervous but now I am a bit. Thanks again for this post.

I'll bet we could come up with an entire list of them here! It's sort of when someone says "I'm very sorry you are so upset" and they think that's an apology! If you ever got bold enough, you might want to invite her for coffee and educate her in a nice way. She probably doesn't realize that she is doing this. Either way, I'm sure YOU feel good about yourself and that's THE most important thing!!!! Rock on.

So excited for you LisaGB!!! Just think how you will feel by summer!!! Congratulations. And don't forget to take photos along the way...once a week is good....you will be so amazed when you look back.