VSGAnn2014

Some families have so many internal power struggles going on among the members -- between generations, siblings, in-laws and others. When I read here about some of the challenges WLS patients struggle with they remind me of nothing more than Jane Goodall's studies of extended-family colonies of chimps. Trying to become more evolved, more civilized human beings, rather than mere primates, requires us to step outside the political squabbles that we have been trapped in ever since we were born. Sometimes simply refusing to play the old games can give us a tremendous amount of fresh power to focus on our own development. Just imagine all the energy you will save by no longer playing those old games, which are probably rigged in others' favor anyway. Find your own way.

The following comment is based solely on my own personal experience with the sleeve. I feel for you. But my concern is that at your current weight I don't see how you wouldn't wind up with the sleeve post-op becoming terribly underweight. I'm 13 months post-op and have lost 95 pounds and am now below my goal and trying to stay here without losing more weight. The sleeve really, really limits how much you can eat at one time. And when you're "done," you can't just put on the weight loss skids when you want to. It has taken me 5 months since reaching my weight loss to get to the point where I can regularly eat 1600 - 1700 calories a day, which is my maintenance calorie budget. And getting here took significant planning and snacking (not grazing!). In the meantime, I've lost another 10 pounds -- which, as it turns out, I like sitting at. And then there's this: If you're one of the unlucky ones who has a WLS complication of some kind you won't have a big overweight buffer to tide you over while your body recovers from the complication. These are the obvious reasons that surgeons don't do RnY or sleeve or other permanent WLS on patients who aren't already very overweight or obese.

This size target continues to change through maintenance. But as so many others have pointed out, sizing is unreliable, store to store. In the last month (while weighing 140-143 pounds) I have bought clothing that ranges from size 2 petite to XL. I kid you not! For the record, I'm 5'5" with bust/waist/hip measurements of 39" - 29.5" - 39". A word to the wise: Don't assume when you hit the first new all-time lowest size (or one you've not fitted into for 30+ years) that your weight / size losses are over. I now wish I'd not invested in any new size 10s. Live and learn.

@@Chrystee ... you are AWESOME. I'm inspired just reading your posts here. Thank you for those.

My Fitness Pal.

I had no idea people thought WLS involved removing fat from the body. Live and learn.

If you are going to agonize over a one-pound gain you are going to make yourself batshit crazy during the rest of your life. And taking drastic measures to lose a pound is just practicing the WRONG lifestyle. It's called yo-yo dieting, remember? And remember what yo-yo dieting does to your body? It gradually lowers your metabolic rate. And makes you even more batshit crazy. You need to learn patience and learn how to keep your eye on the prize. And you sound like one of those folks who shouldn't be weighing yourself every day. Put that scale away. Weigh once a week. Or once a month. And focus on controlling what you can control and what you're supposed to control: Protein Healthy veggies Water Exercise

If you want constructive feedback, it would be helpful if you provide a lot more information -- how far out are you? Weight lost thus far? What and how much are you eating daily? What are you grazing on? What has changed post-op (and when) in your eating behavior? How long has the grazing been happening?

Great thread, Alex. Thanks for starting it. Helpful for me has been: * A fitbit * Finding a beautiful park to walk to and then walk around. It's truly beautiful and calls to me. * Cute gym and walking clothes * Moving 2 blocks from the YMCA (I love also love the "moved to the beach" idea. ) * Telling others about my exercise. * www.mapmywalk.com * Walking poles (without tips in the country and with tips in the city) * Hubby brags on me * My shrink rides my ass about my "exercise metrics" Other things that would help me ... * Getting up and getting dressed immediately in workout clothes (rather than sitting around in my robe) * Walking with friends (would help them, too) * Getting a personal trainer (don't want to spring for that expense * Learning how to play radio tunes on my cell phone (can't believe I'm so stupid!)

Unless you develop an eating disorder (see @@miller1109 's post above), it's quite simple. Every few days or every week or so you just eat an extra 100 calories ... until you stop losing. For those who don't track their calories / macronutrients / food using a tool like My Fitness Pal and who don't really know how much they're eating, it can be challenging. But even they can add a handful of nuts to their daily menus or an extra Greek yogurt or some bread at dinner. For me, the challenge in maintenance has been to eat a little more nutritious food and not just over-processed foods. I have so learned to appreciate since I was sleeved which foods are full of nutrition and which are full of ingredients that just make me crave sugary, high-carb, over-processed crap. Slider foods will push all your craving buttons, making you struggle not to regain.

How fortunate! I just returned from The Future. And you're right -- they've got a whole new way to deal with obesity. You won't believe what it is! DELETED BY TIME MACHINE MONITOR.

Well, if your last name is Siemer, and you look like your avatar, it's no longer a secret. Seriously, folks -- this is the Internet, open for the world to see. If you want to keep secrets here, don't use your real name here and post your real photograph.

Just read on another forum about someone who 13 days post-op was so thrilled by her ability to finally drink a Protein shake that she went to the store, bought a gallon of sugar free Breyers ice cream and ate most of it. She said, "I guess I'll have days like this." LOL! I'm sure she will.

Oh, for God's sake -- let's not tell anyone who puts ice cream in their Protein shakes that it's not the best idea we ever heard of. That'd be ... uh, what's the word ... honest. SMH

After reading the OP too quickly, I re-read it and realized I'd misunderstood the original post. Those really are terrible results. Almost all morbidly obese people (with BMI of 35 or greater) remain morbidly obese. I sure would like to see their long-term studies of people who'd had bariatric surgery!

. . .

So funny that this topic often turns into an ideological argument with demons and dragons. Everything about weight loss and maintenance isn't a values discussion. If you want to lose weight do what works for you. There are multiple healthy dieting regimens that will produce weight loss and keep it off. And remember that what works best for you may not work best for everyone else in the world. They may simply prefer another approach for any reason.

Ah, guilt. Obviously, you committed a really huge crime -- you didn't compulsively share your private personal and medical decisions with the world. Seriously ... why don't you explore why you think everyone is entitled to know all this? If you want to be a WLS missionary and you have the time and tolerance to evangelize for WLS, Then go for it. But making that choice is best done by those who are willing to invite some considerable ignorant commentary from folks who know nothing about WLS, some of whom will forever regard you as "one of those people." Are you open to that? Again, if you are then go for it. But if you're not, don't do it. This is not a genie you can put back into the bottle. Either way, you don't owe everyone a full recitation of your medical history and decisions. Stop thinking you do.

Yes, you'll lose weight if if you eat less food (go on a diet). He's not going to infect you with any weight losing fairy dust. Of course, if you don't bring any junk food into the house to support him, you can't eat that junk food either. So there's that.

Uh ... does anybody else see a connection between obesity and amassing these collections? There is tremendous spiritual and psychological value to cleansing our lives of so much stuff.

wow I I feel crappy and you made me laugh I hope everything goes grear for you!!! Glad you're feeling better. I was sleeved 13 months ago and have been at or below goal now for 5 months. So, yeah, everything went great for me.

No new boots here yet ... but today I bought two lovely long-sleeved, turtleneck cashmere sweaters (one is oatmeal and the other a rich, brilliant, saturated blue). Boy, do they feel luscious on my skin! I cannot believe the wonderful difference one little year has made in so many ways.

Everytime you tell yourself you're a failure, you're meditating about failing. I think it is critical for each of us to stop with the negative self-talk. You can retrain your thoughts. Start telling yourself how well you're doing. I'm serious. Try it.

I literally don't have any bad post-op experiences. Some parts of recovery were uncomfortable, but nothing seemed overwhelming. My surgery was great, post-op care was great, the team is great (except for the nut who doesn't add much value, but doesn't detract either), never threw up even once, tummy doesn't hurt. Reached my goal in 8.5 months. Holding steady (actually, still losing a little) the last 5 months. Feeling great. Looking great. Doing great. I may have been lucky in many ways, but it helped (I think) that I wasn't scared.

Yes, your PCP should know. If you don't want your PCP to know, you probably should find another PCP whom you are comfortable telling.