dashofsunshine

Hi guys! I get on here every six months or so to update y'all I've never made a topic with progress pictures before, so I thought I would this time, as I've been maintaining below goal for almost a year now. SW: 323 CW: 153 Size 24/26 to a 4/6 No skin removal I ran my first half marathon in February and am running another in November, which is pretty cool! When not in race training mode, I run 3-6 miles, three days per week, and do HIIT style training (heavy weights and cardio) at the gym 2-3 other days per week. I tend to fluctuate between 150-153 lbs, depending on the time of month and just general day to day food/water intake.

If you scroll back in the comments, I've already answered this question it's my most asked question, from everyone, everywhere. There is a more detailed answer if you thumb back in the comment pages of this post, but the short answer is: there is no "trick." It's about luck, age, good genes, and general skin elasticity, with a bit of exercise thrown in for good measure. Depending on all those things, and your body composition, you'll either have lots of excess skin - or you won't. Good luck!!

Honestly I was freaking exhausted for about 3-4 months after surgery. Everyone reacts to surgery differently and I'd never dealt with anything that major - my body took a while to recover. I still lost almost 80 lbs in the first 4 months, even without major exercise. Once I started feeling better, I started doing T25 at home - then a couch to 5k plan. I've been running and lifting ever since. Choose something that works for you!

Almost 3 years out, and I do the same. Small, protein dense "meals" every 2-3 hours. I've been that way since I hit below goal weight, and have just been maintaining/coasting ever since.

Haha, well I ate plenty the two weeks we were in Japan - lots of rice and bread - you only live once, right? And I did the same the whole month we were in Europe - no weight gain to mention. So, I think you're okay!! I do just fine on roughly 800-1000 per day when we aren't traveling, AND I work out a lot. I don't deny myself much, so...who knows?!

I run half marathons and exercise (running, lifting heavy weights) 6 days a week - drink 120 oz of water daily - and still have bathroom trouble sadly it doesn't always help the way it should! So glad the fiber is working for you - it's my go to! In my morning coffee and in a cup of tea before bed, usually. It's just a way of life now, but the trade off is worth it! I've also used smooth move tea many times when I was in a pickle and needed relief, but it gives me serious stomach pain/cramps, so it's a last resort for me these days, haha.

Also, PS - weight loss is 80% in the kitchen and 20% in the gym. MANY, many people lose weight without ever setting foot in a gym. Do I suggest that? Nope - working out is great for your mental health, burning a few extra calories, and for tightening and toning. But will it make or break your weight loss? Nope. Stick to your plan in the kitchen, and I promise - a few days off from the gym won't bring weight gain.

When you're in active weight loss phase, the most important thing you can do during a stall is change it up. I agree with both other suggestions - it seems counter intuitive, but eat more. Add a few extra calories. And I wouldn't say stop working out entirely, but definitely back off from it a few days per week. "Shock" your body out of your routine, so to speak. It will hopefully get the scale moving again. Sometimes we push our bodies so hard during weight loss, and stalling is the only way they have to tell us "back off, you're killing me!" Good luck!

Oh, I love my WLS instagram fam!! This is a great post, haha. I'm dashofsunshine - same username as this site

Miralax was a no for me, which is weird because people sing it's praises. I took it in my AM coffee for almost a month, thinking the extreme stomach expansion and weight gain it caused would get better - but it never did. I gained 6 lbs of water and looked pregnant while I was on it - it was insane. My pants didn't fit, haha. I think most people's systems respond fine to it, but mine did not - came back off of it and bam, everything was normal again. I drink a TON of water every day (120 oz), and still need bathroom help - so I put fiber in my coffee, these days. It helps really well, as long as I get my water in, as well!

Thank you for your concern! But I promise, I'm just fine I eat as much as my sleeve allows - pretty much every two hours. From what I read on these boards, I seem to have a much smaller sleeve than most - which is fine with me! I'm doing great, running half marathons, all my labs are normal, and I don't deny myself a shared slice of cheesecake on date night, haha. It's not so much "caloric restriction" as it is "I eat almost all the time and this is what my sleeve can hold"

My hospital's "active weight loss" requirements were less than 15 total carbs a day (not net - total), and 600 calories or less. You were encouraged to stay at that level until goal (or at least close to it). I didn't even come close to 600 for many months - but some people do. I'm almost 3 years post op, under goal and maintaining for 1.5 years, and I eat anywhere from 800-1000 a day. 50 or less carbs a day, give or take. I monitor everything pretty loosely at this point, considering my habits and how much I run/lift.

I'll be 3 years post op I'm November, 170 lbs lost. I still can *barely* eat 4 oz of food. Most of my meals are 3 oz and I'm stuffed. This is of anything - protein, veggies, salad...anything. In the early days before my swelling fully went down, I could eat maybe 2-3 bites of anything at a time. Now it's more like 5-6 bites - and it has been 5-6 bites for over 2 years now. Call that "stretching," if ya want? Lol I never push it. I made this a lifestyle. I've experienced zero regain and have been maintaining under goal since 16 months post op.

Honestly? After talking to dozens and dozens of post-op bariatric surgery patients, it depends more on your genetics and your luck than anything. And I hate to say that. It's kind of like the loose skin issue. I wish I had a magical trick for the huge number of people that have asked me about my lack of hair loss and loose skin, but really - I got my protein in, I drank my water, I used bath and body works lotion a few times a week. 170 lbs lost, never lost any hair, barely any loose skin. I have no idea how, or why - neither does anyone else take your biotin, get your protein, drink your water - you could try to find some biotin shampoo! But honestly, I don't know if it makes that much difference. It seems that some people just lose the hair, and some don't. Good news? It will grow back!

Your stomach has 3 rows of staples now, and 70-80% of it was removed - this is why things that are highly acidic (like coffee, or wine) as well as NSAIDS (which are known to sometimes cause ulcers in normal stomachs when taken in large amounts) are generally discouraged with all bariatric procedures. Caffeine is also a diuretic, as someone else commented - it dehydrates you faster, and water is precious (especially in the early days) to your body now because you won't be getting much liquid from food anymore. ALL of that being said...I will be 3 years out in November. I drink a 6 oz cup of coffee with a splash of creamer every morning. I drink dry white wine occasionally on the weekends. I will pop an ibuprofen occasionally. No ulcers here. My best advice would be don't do coffee/NSAIDS/wine in excess (like, several cups/glasses/pills a day), and give your new sleeve full time to heal completely. You'll likely be fine

I'm almost 3 years post-op and can't chug anything. I can take regular sized sips of water, 2-3 in a row at most. No baby sips, but also no chugging like before surgery. As for carbonation, I can do something that is *lightly* carbonated once in a while. A sugar free Red Bull left out for a few minutes, or a few sips of a very, very dark beer (I don't really care for beer anyway, but I have tried the carbonation factor, just to see...lol). Champagne, sparkling water like la croix, any kind of soda...kills. Blahhhh. So much pressure in my sleeve!

I do six small "meals" per day - snacks and meals are all basically the same size, usually 5-6 bites. Sample menu is usually something like: Breakfast - One egg poached or scrambled and one link turkey sausage (this morning I managed 3 bites of scrambled egg, and that's it. It just varies on how tight my sleeve is that day) "Snack" 1 - handful of almonds or 1/3 cup of cottage cheese Lunch - half a fresh pack of starkist tuna over a few pieces of romaine lettuce, or a deli turkey/cheese roll up (no bread or wrap or anything) and a couple olives "Snack" 2 - usually a protein shake - I run half marathons and lift heavy, so I like to have a shake after my daily run/workout. Mixed with 6 oz unsweetened almond milk, and I just sip on it for a while. Dinner - whatever I cook for that night. I cook every night for myself and my husband - I have what I call an "arsenal" of high protein, low carb meals that I've been cooking for 3 years, and we rotate weekly menus. I add new ones as I experiment in the kitchen or find them on Pinterest. Last night dinner was low carb pesto chicken bake and my famous roasted broccoli. I managed 3 bites of chicken and 2 of broccoli. After dinner snack - usually something like 1/3 cup light & fit yogurt, or a few baby carrots with Greek yogurt ranch. Depends on what I'm feeling like! Sometimes I skip the after dinner snack, if I'm not hungry.

My surgeon said never. Never ever. No alcohol, ever again. Probably due to the risk for transfer addiction (which, by the way, is a very real thing - and if you choose to drink...or shop online...be aware of it, lol) I waited about 8 months before I had anything. 3 years out in November and the only three beverages I ever consume (unless it's a weird situation - special vacation or something) are one 6 oz cup of coffee every morning, water (120+ oz a day), and dry white wine. Just watch yourself - tolerance will be much lower, and be sure to monitor your weight, if you choose to start drinking during rapid weight loss phase. Alcohol slows the metabolism. Good luck at the baby shower!!

The early days are overwhelming and miserable, for most. If it helps at all - I hardly remember the pain and struggle of the first several weeks post-op. Those memories have faded. I do, however, remember 330 lb me. I promised myself I would never forget how it felt to be 170 lbs heavier - and I've never regretted my choice to change my life. It will pass - I promise. And it will get easier every day.

I'll be 3 years post-op in November, and I *still* max out at 4 ounces. That is "stuffed to the brim, cannot eat another bite" status for me. Most of my "meals" are around 3 oz. (This isn't the norm, though. Most people can eat much more.)

Many, MANY people have trouble with eggs early on, post-op. It was about 8-10 months before I could handle them. I will be 3 years post-op in November and eat eggs freely now you will be fine!

I haven't experienced any regain. Around "that time of the month" I oscillate about 3 lbs, but it always drops back off once shark week is over. I weigh daily and keep a very close eye on the scale - if I know I've been indulging more than usual, and I see the scale creep up a pound, I'm very careful to clean up my act and get a few extra runs in. It always drops back off within a few days. The key to not regaining is constant vigilance, and making a healthy lifestyle

About a year and a half, maybe a little less. Thank you!!

At 11 days post op, your body is still trying EXTREMELY hard to recover from the trauma of massive internal surgery. You just had your stomach cut out and stapled back together. Your body is literally in panic mode. It has zero idea what is happening and is trying to pick up the pieces and find some sense of normalcy. The early days are paved with stalls, 10 lbs here and no pounds there, etc. As your body regains its equilibrium and begins to heal, it will hopefully respond better. But please remember that it takes months - many, many months - for your body to fully recover from such an enormous surgery. You've got science & math on your side - the weight WILL come off, if you stick to your plan try to be kind to yourself and let your body recover, without stressing so heavily over the scale. Good luck!

I'm a VSG (sleeve) patient. I had 150ish lbs to lose, but my doctor was confident I would be able to do it. I lost 170, over half my body weight, 100% of my excess weight, and have been maintaining for a year now. Don't let the "sleeve will never let you lose as much weight as the bypass will" argument turn you one way or the other - you will lose as much weight as you put your mind to <3 I have a sister in law who is 7 years out from bypass, and her experiences are primarily what made me choose sleeve. She is required to take vitamins 3 times per day, but doesn't remember them often enough - had to have hip surgery and has developed bone issues from malabsorption (at 30 years old). She also had a horrible time at her step-daughters (my niece) birthday party a few years ago, when she ate a few bites of cake and dumped horribly. I held her hair while she dry heaved into the toilet and that...was an experience. I decided that one day, when I have kids, I'd like to be able to have a few bites of birthday cake at their birthday party, and not be incapacitated for the rest of the day, lol. All this being said, it is a very case to case basis. MANY people have RNY and have none of these issues - many people have VSG and have a ton of issues. You take a chance either way, just like with any surgery hope you choose what's right for you!