VSGAnn2014

@@MeAndTinyTina Yes, I use a Fitbit ...a Flex. It's not fancy, but I sync it using my laptop. I love it. And yes, it motivates me SO MUCH to move more. Many of my skinny friends wear it 24 hours a day, like I do. I think you'd love it. FYI, I started wearing it in June of 2014, so it took me over 6 months to get my fat ass (not so fat now though) up to 10,000 steps. Good luck.

Knowing only your weight and age, in your shoes I'd do the sleeve. Re the longer history of gastric bypass, think about this: If you understand and can compare the mechanics of the two surgeries and the benefits of ghrelin reduction with the sleeve (which doesn't happen with bypass) and the fact that both surgeries offer some restriction (although the sleeve offers greater restriction) and the malabsorptive differences (bypass patients absorb fewer nutrients than sleeve patients do) and that the sleeve has been done for decades (for stomach cancer patients, who have lived as long as other people), I think you might agree with me that the sleeve would be a good choice for you. Also, FYI, research shows that both surgeries' patients lose the same amount of weight, but that sleeved patients require a few more months to do so. I started at 235, am almost 5-1/2 months post-op, and have now lost 70 pounds with 15 more to goal (150 pounds). BTW, I'm 69 years old. Consider that you're just a pup! You've got a lifetime of nutritional malabsorption (and the expense of special vitamins) to deal with if you opt for the bypass. Final thought: If for some reason the sleeve doesn't "work" for you, you still have the option of going the bypass route. My two cents' worth.

I'm almost 70 years old with arthritic knees, and I'm now doing 10,000 steps or more on most days. It blows my mind!

@@Jean McMillan ... What are the behaviors you have "worked" most at during your weight maintenance phase(s)? Thanks in advance.

"Your experience must be the same as my experience, because my experience makes so much sense to me that it must be the only one that makes sense to others, too." Nope.

Dude, look up "psychological projection" and then find a mirror and yell at yourself. Your problems aren't everyone's problems. S.M.H.

Yup. At last 90%. Actual research says 95% or more who lose through diet and exercise alone regain all or more of their weight loss.

I don't know about you, but I've lost and gained weight in my long life more times than I could count right now. The behaviors that accompanied my earlier weight gains include: * "Celebrating" after losing weight * NOT having a weight maintenance plan. AT ALL! * NEVER weighing myself * Eating LOTS of sweets and carbs * NOT tracking / recording / being mindful of how much I'm eating * NOT exercising * Feeling like a regain 5-10 pounds is so awful I can't deal with it. Ha! Needless to say, I didn't have the benefit of a smaller tummy's restriction during all those prior times. But I also am no longer counting on that saving me this time. My long-term success is going to have to rely on ALL the tools I'm building now. Everyone's entitled to their own personal version of weight loss salvation. I currently belong to the Church of Righteous Daily food Tracking and Weighing. P.S. I shouldn't even be posting on this thread; I'm not even 5-1/2 months post-op. Sorry.

I'm appalled by all these schadenfreude fatty shows. To me, they're just emotional porn and digital carnival sideshows. But then I don't care for any reality shows. They don't entertain me. I also know how "real" they are not.

All WLS requires patients to be responsible for "eating well" post-op to obtain good nutrition. There's no way around that obligation. I'm 5 months post-op, and I've never been so aware of my nutritional intake as I am now. And not just about Protein and calories, but Fiber, balanced animal and plant protein sources, sodium levels, etc. I hope to continue my awareness. This is something a lot of people work on, not just WLS patients.

Only my hubby and two close friends and my PCP and his nurse know. No other relatives or other close friends or acquaintances or clients know. I didn't have this surgery to help anyone but myself. WLS is not an ideology, a cause or a crusade of mine. It's a private medical matter. I didn't require any advice or approvals or commiseration from anyone. This was solely my decision. Consequently, I don't have to put up with s**t from anyone.

Why worry about what a software app says? Ignore that silly message.

This is so cliche. You're in a bad relationship. He's in an open marriage. Right. You're unhappy. He's always loved you. Right. This will keep us entertained for about three months. That's about how long these things take to build up, bang, and go bust.

I just put half-pound weights in my pockets, bra, underwear, etc. when I weighed in pre-op close to surgery. After surgery I didn't do that anymore.

I'm 5 months and 1 week post-op (tomorrow will be 23 weeks post-op). I started at nearly 236 pounds with a goal weight of 150 pounds. That means I had an excess weight of 86 pounds. Like most folks, I lost weight pre-op (nearly 20 pounds, which was 24% of my excess weight). Since surgery, I've lost another 50 pounds, which is another 59% of my excess weight. That's 84% of my excess weight lost so far. During all that time, I've done nothing weird. Just followed doc's instructions. I'm now eating 1,000 cals/day most days and at least 80 grams of Protein daily. My weight loss journey has been relatively complication- and drama-free. Based on my own experience, it's not been any harder for me to lose the same proportion (or more) of my excess weight than patients who had a much higher starting weight.

Oh, Kim, lighten up. You're on the Internet.

@@Folly, my psychological / emotional journey since WLS has been a happy one thus far, not painful. So far. That doesn't mean it's been linear or simple. And it certainly is not over. And goodness knows, I'm one of those folks who could easily make everything around me about me. But, as I said, so far it's been more than pleasant. The great bulk of my WLS misery was the misery I felt PRIOR to WLS. I was not in the least bit comfy or numbed in my obesity. I was on fire with emotional agony about it, in addition to the physical pain and disabilities I had due to weighing 85 pounds more than is healthy for me. Ann

Whoa!

@@Folly ... Your post struck a chord with me. I've been seeing a shrink since two months prior to VSG surgery, which has been a great help to me. However, I'm only 5 months post-op. I still have so much to experience and learn as a VSG patient. The further out I get post-op, the more humble I get about all this stuff. Recent threads here about the challenges of maintenance -- two, three, four years post-op -- make me realize that the greatly reduced hunger I'm experiencing now is likely not going to be permanent. Vets' comments also reveal that metabolic changes (not in our favor) are likely also in my future. Their comments confirm that it's so much easier to lose weight during the post-op honeymoon period (however long one defines that period) than several years later. In addition to the sleeve, I'm now using very well my other tools -- tracking, meal planning, accountability, exercise, etc. But at five months post-op, I'm not yet bored or tired of using these tools. The positive reinforcement and excitement of watching the dropping scales, my visibly changing size and profile and my still-improving fitness level is sufficient motivation for me to use all these tools well. But I can see the challenges that will come later with *sameness* -- the same weight, the same size, the same clothes, fewer (and then no) compliments, the same fitness ability -- will reduce my enthusiasm for this new lifestyle. There will also be predictable setbacks from life's usual trials, e.g., exercise injuries, illness, family issues, work challenges. If I imagined I would retain all these WLS honeymoon period advantages forever, I'd be pitifully naive. It's becoming clearer that the real test of my ability to have long-term WLS success will be (1) how well and how consistently I can use all my tools when the s**t is hitting the fan in real life and (2) whether I can keep finding new motivations, goals and rewards to fuel my enthusiasm for using these tools.

I just ordered buffalo chicken tenders for dinner. And now Imma go pour a glass of chardonnay. Or walk on the treadmill ... hmmm .... I've got it! I'll drink chardonnay on the treadmill. Hydration during exercise. I am the perfect VSG patient.

lol

You get to decide.

...

lol

^^^ You're a better man than me.