Five+ years out and I have much less restriction than I did a few years ago. I think losing some restriction over time is normal, but I also know I overate and sickened myself many times and that didn’t help. (I’ve sought support for my deeper-rooted food issues and am largely doing better.)
But even after several years of swinging back and forth from “Good Patient” to “reckless,” there is definitely still restriction. It’s not as powerful as it was at the beginning, but it’s there and it helps a lot.
FWIW, my highest weight was ~250 pounds, my very lowest weight post-op was somewhere south of 150, and I look and feel my best somewhere between 160-165. I don’t own a scale, but I think I’m currently between 175-180 and am getting back on track with protein, water, movement, and tracking food and exercise in hopes of getting below 170 again before too long.