Did I fail the sleeve?

rossonmarcus · April 26, 2011

I had my vsg on 4/5/2010 at 220#. Today, more than one year later, I still weigh 175#. Weight loss has been extremely slow for me. I have to admit that I hate to exercise, so I really havent been. My concern is that I have been in the 170's for quite some time (months) and only seem to be creeping upward towards 180. The uncomfortable feeling that I use to get when I overate is going away and I am finding that I am able to eat alot more than I use to. I have never really gotten over the head hunger and am really fearful that I am headed right back to my old body. HELP!!! Please, someone help me. Is it possible to shrink my stomach if I have stretched my sleeve? Does anyone have a good post-surg diet as I cannot find mine? Can you have sleeve redone? I have 30# to go to hit my goal and I am really scared that I am going to start climbing instead of continuing my descent. HELP!!!

AutumnLily · April 26, 2011

I had my vsg on 4/5/2010 at 220#. Today, more than one year later, I still weigh 175#. Weight loss has been extremely slow for me. I have to admit that I hate to exercise, so I really havent been. My concern is that I have been in the 170's for quite some time (months) and only seem to be creeping upward towards 180. The uncomfortable feeling that I use to get when I overate is going away and I am finding that I am able to eat alot more than I use to. I have never really gotten over the head hunger and am really fearful that I am headed right back to my old body. HELP!!! Please, someone help me. Is it possible to shrink my stomach if I have stretched my sleeve? Does anyone have a good post-surg diet as I cannot find mine? Can you have sleeve redone? I have 30# to go to hit my goal and I am really scared that I am going to start climbing instead of continuing my descent. HELP!!!

Can you give a daily run down of what you eat? Like how many carbs, Protein, your Water and Vitamin intake. Do you have any metabolic disorders that would cause you to be a slow loser? Do you know the size of bougie your doctor used to "size" your stomach? Have you tried the 5 day pouch test?

That being said your sleeve will stretch a bit. Sleevers that are over 1 year have said they can eat more than they could at 2-3 months post op. I am not sure about getting resleeved or ways to shrink the sleeve. The 5 day pouch test is more of a get yourself off carbs and kick start your loss again. Have you consulted with your doctor?

If you answer some of these questions the veteran sleevers will be able to make suggestions that may help you.

Tiffykins · April 26, 2011

My recommendation is to go back to basics. Get back to a restricted calorie/carb daily meal plan, and stick with it. I can not relate to eating until full because on my program the goal was to measure portions, and to not eat until full. Being diligent, and disciplined is the only thing I can tell you that has given me continued success in maintenance. I have to make the best choice on what I put in my mouth, and I still rarely eat until I feel "full". I'm satisfied, but I do not rely on restriction to keep me in check. Don't get me wrong sometimes it's tough to not eat certain foods, but I also know that if I want to stay at goal, I have to make the best choice. I have to remember what got me fat, and those are the things I avoid. I was a volume eater, and loved that full/stuffed feeling, well that's what got me fat so I had to change the behavior.

There is no need to redo the sleeve if you follow the guidelines of Protein first, green low carb veggies and then if you have room some starches. I'm almost 2 years post VSG, and still have amazing restriction when I put the "right' foods in there. If I choose to eat crap food, I can eat a lot more of it.

The last 20-30 pounds is always the most difficult to lose. And, it's going to take effort and compliance. Figure out a meal plan, I ate 4 meals a day, no Snacks, no excuses. I drank my fluids, and I didn't exercise until I was 4 months out, and it only lasted 4 months. I have never enjoyed working out. For me, working out is just a chore like scrubbing toilets. It's a "HAVE TO" thing, not a want to thing. food choices are the key to ultimate success/failure. Personally, I can gain weight easily, but I can also lose it easily when I make the best food choices. There is a bit of "give" in the sleeve after a 6-12 months, but that's normal and expected. It's the sleeve maturing to full capacity, and honestly, we can not live on 600 calories a day for the rest of our lives. So, it's not a bad thing to be able to eat more. This is where the "work" comes into play with the sleeve, well with any weight loss surgery option. We have to continually, religiously make the best choice. I can eat craploads of cheesecake, pudding, sorbet, chips, crackers, pretzels, nuts, soft foods like chili/yogurt, but with Protein foods, meats, cheeses and eggs, I have amazing restriction. I max out at about 4-5oz of dense protein. To this day, I still can not eat an chicken breast, like the ones they serve with grilled chicken salads. I can eat about half of it, and if I want to get more in, I have to stretch my meal out further. Also, during my losing stage, I never stretched my meal out over 30 minutes once I got to more solids foods. If I stretch out my meals, I can eat a few more ounces of food which defeats the purpose of the post-op dietary guideline. Cheating the sleeve is easy, and all it will result in is cheating yourself out of losing and maintaining your loss.

Basics to follow:

1) Measure portions

2) Track food intake religiously

3) Don't eat until full, eat until satisfied

4) Drink 64oz of clear fluids

5) Set a meal plan, no Snacks, stick with it

6) Don't make excuses

You can try the 5 day pouch test to get rid of the carbs if that is the issue.

Days One & Two: liquid Protein

low-carb Protein shakes, broth, clear or cream Soups, sugar-free Gelatin and pudding. Read more.

Day 3: Soft Protein

canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. Read more.

Day 4: Firm Protein

ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut. Read more.

Day 5: Solid Protein

white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game

You don't necessarily have to do the liquid part if you can be disciplined to just eat protein.

rossonmarcus · April 26, 2011

Thanks, I needed that! I think what part (a big part) of my problem is that I never really changed anything after surgery. Even though the weight loss was slow it was still coming off because the sleeve forced me to restrict portion size, but I never changed my habits. I was always addicted to crap foods...sugar, fat and salt...and I still am. I would rather forego a meal to eat dessert. Anyway, by not making any changes to my old habits I didnt change at all and still am struggling with the same ole demons that got me to the 230's in the first place. I still find myself making excuses to myself whenever I attempt to get back on the wagon. Its that little voice in my head saying "just one wont hurt" and then "just one more wont hurt" and then "well you've already had two so theres no sense in holding back now".

I, also, have not logged on to this site in probably almost 10 months. No support, no accountability. Well I am back! And I DON'T want to be this person anymore! I don't want to keep breaking commitments to myself and thereby diminishing my self-esteem and self-worth.

I will take your advice and do the 5-day pouch test to break my addictions to carbs, cuz I am way addicted to simple sugars...and diet pop again! I hate that I let myself get back on diet pop...it was so hard to get off it. :-( I feel like such a failure.

Thanks for responding and giving me that little bump to get me motivated again. It doesnt really seem like much of an intervention as you stare at a screen and type, but you really are impacting and helping save lives! I know you've helped me! I needed a support system.

Thanks!!

BajaMedGroup · April 27, 2011

Looks to me like Tiffykins nailed it! You are pretty much on the road to success with her plan. I would add to be in touch with your physician often (by this I mean once a month) if you feel like you are stuck. That is why we are here. Also, exercising is KEY...the VSG is not the magic pill we are all seeking. Throw in a little bit of physical activity and you will see wonders.

Best of luck!

Amanda131 · April 27, 2011

rossonmarcus-

I am not sure of your insurance situation, but you may also want to consider talking with a mental health professional about your food demons. I also have lots of demons tied to food and eating. I chose to start seeing a therapist regularly before surgery to confront and deal with those. I continue to see her once a month now and I really feel that has made a huge difference with how I confront and deal with food. It's not a quick fix and I still have moments, but I feel I can finally see a day coming where I view food more as fuel than emotional savior.

Good luck to you!

Amanda