3 years ago today I had the VSG...

[lsereno 2,525]

Congrats! Thanks for hanging in there shining the light for those that follow. You look fabulous! And happy! And healthy!

Lynda

[gamergirl 4,610]

You look amazing. I always enjoy reading your posts here and am so glad you're here to share these and others posts with the rest of us. Congratulations on your journey and on the success you have earned.

[ladibush 7]

Thank u for sharing..im in the deciding what to do stage..I was banded and 6 months into it the band slipped..I had complications and they had to remove it the next day..I was so upset..2 years later ..I have gained weight back and looking into sleeve..talked to surgeon last week..lots of prayer and decision ( :

[da1stladie 63]

You've done s great job!

[M2G 1,836]

Great job and happy anniversary. I'm almost half way to 3 years and I feel like I've been at this forever. Can't imagine doubling that. You're a true veteran.

I agree whole heartedly with all the bullets you listed. I'm curious about one thing though....your husband lost 70 pounds and is maintaining it (which is great news).....what weight did he end up at? I have heard of a few others talk about setting more modest goals and finding quite a bit of success and peace of mind in maintaining those goals. I think so many people get caught up in unrealistic goals that can never be reached or sustained....particularly because they are so determined to fit into the ridiculous BMI categories. I cannot imagine being in better shape than I'm in right now....and yet I'm 30 pounds away from the "normal" category on the BMI chart. If I tried to reach it I'd to mad.

So this is a GREAT question!!

Neither of us have a "normal" BMI and I completely 100% agree with you that I see lots of "number chasing" around here in regards to that freaking chart and I just don't agree that just because you DON'T have a "normal" BMI doesn't mean that you can't be healthy.

He started at 5'10" around 280-285, and today he maintains a weight of around 210-215. He is pretty lax with the scale and only gets up on there every so often (like once a month!) For him to have a "normal" BMI he should weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 175-180lbs and at the beginning he said there was NO way that he was aiming for that. His real and final "goal" is 200...but we all know how hard the last lbs are to lose. He is actually much more muscular than I am which is why even though he weighs more and our BMIs are similar he can actually eat more food (calories) than I can and NOT gain weight.

I think the BMI chart leaves a lot to be desired and while it can be a helpful tool in the right circumstance, I do NOT believe that it can predict the health of every individual.

[M2G 1,836]

M2G, My lovely friend.

I am so glad, pleased and honoured to go through this journey with you! You truly have been my motivation and you have encouraged me every step of the way - through my darkest weight loss times and my high points!

Thank you for sharing, thank you for staying and thank you for being honest to me, you and others. This place wouldn't be the same without you ...

Hugs from across the pond my sleeve sista x

Oh my gosh, this actually brought some little tears to my eyes!

COOPS, you know you have been my rock through this whole journey and I totally agree that this place would NOT be the same without you and your wonderful personality. I'm forever grateful that we 'clicked' on this journey and have been there for each other through every pound, frustration, stall, and also the joy, happiness, and excitement too! I love that you always just "get it" no matter what the situation is.

Hugs to you, and thank you for writing this wonderful note to me...my sleeve sista!! :wub:

[M2G 1,836]

Thanks everyone for your kind, uplifting words. I didn't realize when I first found VST that 3 years later I would find and "click" with so many individuals and that I would still be an "active" participant here. I'm glad my story can help even one person in their own journey!!

[RoxFC 175]

By far one of the best posts I have ever read! Thank you for sharing. As I'm only 3 months post op, I will keep your suggestions in mind as I go through this journey and once I'm at my goal.

[RoxFC 175]

Great job and happy anniversary. I'm almost half way to 3 years and I feel like I've been at this forever. Can't imagine doubling that. You're a true veteran.

I agree whole heartedly with all the bullets you listed. I'm curious about one thing though....your husband lost 70 pounds and is maintaining it (which is great news).....what weight did he end up at? I have heard of a few others talk about setting more modest goals and finding quite a bit of success and peace of mind in maintaining those goals. I think so many people get caught up in unrealistic goals that can never be reached or sustained....particularly because they are so determined to fit into the ridiculous BMI categories. I cannot imagine being in better shape than I'm in right now....and yet I'm 30 pounds away from the "normal" category on the BMI chart. If I tried to reach it I'd to mad.

I have always had an issue with the ideal weight for me. About 8 years ago, I was at the highest weight range for my height (144 lbs). I'm 5'6" but I'm not on a small frame at all. I don't plan to go down to my ideal BMI. I know I look and feel my best at around 170-180 lbs. Plus, I know that's a weight that I will be able to maintain and, hopefully, not fluctuate much.

[Chellemetime 299]

It's so awesome to hear from someone 3 years out! You look absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience and happy surgiversarry!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[onedaycloser 136]

I love your post! I've yet to be sleeved looking at Dec 11th...your an inspiration to us all and we really appreciate your willingness to share your story.

We all will continue to support one another!

Keep up the great work! Your gorgeous!

[Evolving 973]

3 years ago today I had the VSG!

So much has happened in the last 3 years in regards to my attitudes' date=' abilities and awareness surrounding my body, what I eat, and how I exercise. I will do my best to keep this short!

First and foremost, I am one of those people who had a surgical procedure to help me lose weight. And I hit a "low" weight and then, in the space of about 10 months, regained about 20ish pounds. Nothing is more humbling than being a "statistic" in this way. I had always heard that this regularly happens to WLS patients and a part of my brain said "oh that won't be me!" Haha. Lessons learned the hard way are sometimes the ones that stick with us the most.

So if any of you have the question "is it possible to regain weight with the sleeve?" ...the answer is YES it is possible. The regain is actually quite easy. You quit tracking your food, you eat a few more calories than you need to, extra "treats" find there way back into your life, and you slack off on the exercising. Losing the extra regain...well notsoeasy. I have lost -12lbs of my regain and will continue to fight until the regain is gone.

Here are just a few quick things that are true for ME, personally.

1. We can live on a lot less food than we think we can live on. If you take nothing else away from this post, please remember that statement. During the time that I had regained some weight, I found myself wanting to eat more and the truth of the matter remains that my daily caloric intake needs to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,400 calories or less for me to maintain or lose weight, regardless of how much I exercise. This is completely reasonable, doable and normal for me. And I am finally OK with this. (Yours may be completely different!!)

2. Don't underestimate the importance of exercise!! It's taken me a while to finally push myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to exercise, but I've found out what a really challenging workout does to me mentally and physically and I know when things get to easy that I need to push myself farther. If you have never exercised before in your life, then your goal is to GET UP OFF the couch and DO SOMETHING. And if exercise is not completely foreign to you, then you need to set some goals to push yourself harder.

3. Plastic surgery. I have not had any...yet. I went for an initial consult this past May. It was really hard to see how much damage being morbidly obese has done to my body and how much it would cost to get a nice "perfect" body. I've had a lot of time and space to think about what I learned at that consult and what I realize now, is that I'm not sure I can afford perfection. Or that it necessarily exists. I just know I could put one of my kids through college for what I was quoted for plastics. So I'm currently on the fence and in the mode of trying to be happy with where I am and not worry about chasing a down a body that might not exist for me.

4. I constantly drink Water. I drink (half-caf) coffee (usally 2 cups a day), I rarely drink alcohol and I never drink anything carbonated. I've been carbonation free for over 3 years now. I also rarely use any type of crystal lite, or flavor enhancers etc. Sometimes I drink plain (unsweet) tea.

My net loss is somewhere around -90lbs. My husband is also sleeved and did NOT regain any weight. He is 2.5 years post-op and seems to maintain his more modest loss (-70lbs) more effortlessly than I do. He also can eat more calories than I do, so right there are complete differences among sleevers! I just don't think we can ever "give up" ...and there is no "finish" line! There might be a GOAL WEIGHT, but once you are there, it's still a journey to keep the weight off. And for that reason I'm eternally grateful to my VST 'family' for always being here!

BEFORE VSG 2010

AFTER VSG 2013 (all of these photos have been taken in the last 2 months)

SIDE BY SIDE

[/quote']

U look great! Thank you for the honest post- I will be 8 mo in 2 days-- I am reminded by your post that I need to exercise and not make excuses- thanks! U look really good u should be very proud!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

So this is a GREAT question!!

Neither of us have a "normal" BMI and I completely 100% agree with you that I see lots of "number chasing" around here in regards to that freaking chart and I just don't agree that just because you DON'T have a "normal" BMI doesn't mean that you can't be healthy.

He started at 5'10" around 280-285, and today he maintains a weight of around 210-215. He is pretty lax with the scale and only gets up on there every so often (like once a month!) For him to have a "normal" BMI he should weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 175-180lbs and at the beginning he said there was NO way that he was aiming for that. His real and final "goal" is 200...but we all know how hard the last lbs are to lose. He is actually much more muscular than I am which is why even though he weighs more and our BMIs are similar he can actually eat more food (calories) than I can and NOT gain weight.

I think the BMI chart leaves a lot to be desired and while it can be a helpful tool in the right circumstance, I do NOT believe that it can predict the health of every individual.

True the BMI is just a foolish number..But if you are someone who is looking at plastics..Most won't touch you unless your BMI is under 30..... I'm not aiming to stay that low but! I will need help wit hall the extras on me...

[gamergirl 4,610]

So this is a GREAT question!! Neither of us have a "normal" BMI and I completely 100% agree with you that I see lots of "number chasing" around here in regards to that freaking chart and I just don't agree that just because you DON'T have a "normal" BMI doesn't mean that you can't be healthy. He started at 5'10" around 280-285' date=' and today he maintains a weight of around 210-215. He is pretty lax with the scale and only gets up on there every so often (like once a month!) For him to have a "normal" BMI he should weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 175-180lbs and at the beginning he said there was NO way that he was aiming for that. His real and final "goal" is 200...but we all know how hard the last lbs are to lose. He is actually much more muscular than I am which is why even though he weighs more and our BMIs are similar he can actually eat more food (calories) than I can and NOT gain weight. I think the BMI chart leaves a lot to be desired and while it can be a helpful tool in the right circumstance, I do NOT believe that it can predict the health of every individual.[/quote']

I'm curious as to where you set your final goal, and how you arrived at it. Per the BMI charts, I should be down to 145 lbs or so for my height of 5'6. But really that seems too thin sounding to me, especially given that I have a large frame, and I tend to be muscular and curvy. I almost think I want to set my body fat goal and let the weight fall where it may.

What worked for you?

[ReDbEaN 654]

Congratulations to you!!! And thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. You look so healthy and happy.