Success/Failure of Sleeve

[jenjo11072013 22]

In a few days, I will have the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I was talking to a friend who had the surgery and they said that the stomach can stretch back out and that you can still stay big and not lose any weight. I guess my question is: What percent of people don't lose weight once they get the sleeve? Why don't they lose?? If they over-eat, wouldn't they get sick? If they were eating the 3-4 ounces per meal, why aren't they losing. I understand the person might not lose if all they are consuming is junk food, but I just don't understand why they wouldn't at least lose something. Please don't be rude with your answers. I am just researching and thinking. If I eat three bites of mashed potatoes, is my life over?? LOL Please help. Just trying to prepare.

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

I am having the same thoughts and fears and I think this is normal. I plan to strictly adhere to the diet the best I can. I know we all will slip, but I want this surgery so bad that I am praying for the miracle of everything going as planned and looking good again. Good luck!

[jenjo11072013 22]

I think that is my problem too, getting close to surgery and second guessing, questioning everything...wondering if i will fail...or do good. So many people put negative stuff in my head!!!!!

[sandisleeve 563]

I have the same concerns but because I've successfully lost significant weight (90+ pounds only to regain some and lose some and gain again) in the past I'm hoping i won't be one of those "still fat" post- opers. The reality with WLS is that many who go through it don't really exercise (I know at least 3 women who never or rarely do) so their weightloss isn't maximized or significant ... I plan to incorporate fitness and Portion Control the best way I can with prayer and discipline so I can maximize my weightloss AND keep it off (the hardest part for me)

[jules <3 37]

It is very normal to be thinking you will be one of the few people who dont succeed with the sleeve. just over two months ago i was thinking the same thing going into it. I am now about 2 months and 1 week out and i STILL have those thoughts. why? the sleeve isnt a miracle, i already find myself regressing back to old habits. surgery will not take away all your cravings and hunger. maybe the first couple weeks, but it will change. i have no problems eating food and if i wanted to snack on chips all day, i could. maybe a little at a time, but i still could. it requires hard work and i find that out more and more everyday. it is not easy, and it is not a "cure". i fight for every pound i lose. but it does help get your mind right in the beginning, its up for you for it to stay that way. and i battle with that all the time. but i wish you the best of luck!!

[jenjo11072013 22]

Thanks Jules....this is what I needed to hear..... I need to know you can fail, but if you give it your all, hopefully you get the great results you want. Thanks for being so honest about the food, chips, etc. I am so scared of the what if's...what if i fall back into the old routine.

[Sunshine0328 12]

Second guessing is normal and expected. It's good that you plan for your new life such as you do graduation (study), a wedding (planner or your mom...lol), a birth, and your retirement. I'm sure that having an "old food" will be tempting, but I'm with Linda, I want this new life to be as close to perfect (food wise) as possible. I've had my 26 years of bad eating I would like to live the next 26-30 eating properly and living life without all this fat.

I am having the same thoughts and fears and I think this is normal. I plan to strictly adhere to the diet the best I can. I know we all will slip, but I want this surgery so bad that I am praying for the miracle of everything going as planned and looking good again. Good luck!

Nice!! Keep your head up and your eyes on the goal of a healthy new life!

I think that is my problem too, getting close to surgery and second guessing, questioning everything...wondering if i will fail...or do good. So many people put negative stuff in my head!!!!!

Haters gonna hate. You have to know that this TOOL that you've chosen is going to get you to your goal!!

[williamrjomes2 147]

It is very normal to be thinking you will be one of the few people who dont succeed with the sleeve. just over two months ago i was thinking the same thing going into it. I am now about 2 months and 1 week out and i STILL have those thoughts. why? the sleeve isnt a miracle, i already find myself regressing back to old habits. surgery will not take away all your cravings and hunger. maybe the first couple weeks, but it will change. i have no problems eating food and if i wanted to snack on chips all day, i could. maybe a little at a time, but i still could. it requires hard work and i find that out more and more everyday. it is not easy, and it is not a "cure". i fight for every pound i lose. but it does help get your mind right in the beginning, its up for you for it to stay that way. and i battle with that all the time. but i wish you the best of luck!!

I couldn't say it any better. It's def. a life style change. You have to want it more then the next person. One of the first things my Dr. said to me after surgery was "The easy part is done. Now starts the hard part." Basically saying taking a portion of your stomach out is easy, adjusting your life is the hard part. That statement has stuck with me. Take it day by day and give 110%

[sandisleeve 563]

For any believers out there I recommend reading "made to crave" by Lysa Terkeurst. It's been such a great help to me with the realities of head hunger and emotional eating/binging. I'm still post op (hoping for December sleeving) but I really need to get my mind right for this new lifelong journey. Been trying hard to not drink while eating and limiting simple carbs... It's hard, I had an apple fritter and caramel iced coffee from DD today but I won't beat myself up about it cause I'm human and I'm planning to put forth extra effort in my spin class tomorrow (:

[Sunshine0328 12]

For any believers out there I recommend reading "made to crave" by Lysa Terkeurst. It's been such a great help to me with the realities of head hunger and emotional eating/binging. I'm still post op (hoping for December sleeving) but I really need to get my mind right for this new lifelong journey. Been trying hard to not drink while eating and limiting simple carbs... It's hard, I had an apple fritter and caramel iced coffee from DD today but I won't beat myself up about it cause I'm human and I'm planning to put forth extra effort in my spin class tomorrow (:

It's difficult enough to cut back on a regular daily basis. I found that the closer to my surgery date the more I wanted to eat clean...wanted to shrink my liver. I won't miss alcohol and I think I can manage life with a bite of a cupcake instead of 1/2 a cake, but my weakness is cookies! So we shall see....

As for the drinking, so far I don't pour a glass of anything until I drop my plate in the sink. To date I've slipped up two times in 5 days. Straws are harder to give up, but I'm trying

Edited October 30, 2013 by Sunshine0328

[mparkersmith 72]

I had these same fears prior to surgery, and second-guessed myself all the time. Two days before surgery, everything became crystal clear to me. I was making this commitment because there was no other choice for me. I was sick and tired of being obese, and all the health problems that come with it. I wanted to enjoy life again, and do things that for years I avoided because of my size.

Surgery was the best decision I ever made. It is not a "cure" as stated above. But it DOES work. None of us are perfect, but if you follow your doctor's orders, eat healthy foods, get in enough Protein, and take your Vitamins, you WILL be successful! I feel better than I have in years. Sometimes I worry that I might stop losing weight, or that I'll put it all back on, but you just have to take it one day at a time.

My biggest problem now is having to constantly buy smaller clothes! It's a GREAT problem to have! Best of luck to you.

[jules <3 37]

I had these same fears prior to surgery, and second-guessed myself all the time. Two days before surgery, everything became crystal clear to me. I was making this commitment because there was no other choice for me. I was sick and tired of being obese, and all the health problems that come with it. I wanted to enjoy life again, and do things that for years I avoided because of my size.

Surgery was the best decision I ever made. It is not a "cure" as stated above. But it DOES work. None of us are perfect, but if you follow your doctor's orders, eat healthy foods, get in enough Protein, and take your Vitamins, you WILL be successful! I feel better than I have in years. Sometimes I worry that I might stop losing weight, or that I'll put it all back on, but you just have to take it one day at a time.

My biggest problem now is having to constantly buy smaller clothes! It's a GREAT problem to have! Best of luck to you.

wow!!! you have done great, 77 pounds in 4 months is unbelievable!

[Nate 292]

It's normal to be afraid of failing. And it is possible to fail. Don't let that discourage you, but use it as a remainder of what could happen, and a driving force to do the things you should.I had my surgery back in June of 2012. I'm down to 330lbs from 505 the morning of surgery. Early on it was fairly easy to lose the weight. Eventually though I've found that I have to do the things my Doc told me to do to continue losing. I have to eat right. And as much as I hate it, I still have to get out each and every day and walk at least 30 minutes, more depending on how motivated I feel.

It's very easy to fall back into the bad habits you had when before being sleeved. If you aren't careful you'll end up eating nothing but junk, just not as much at one time. Do I still eat stuff that isn't good for me? YES. But I've found it best to allow myself the bad stuff at least once in a while as a reward for all the hard work I do staying the course and doing everything I should. So one day a week, usually a Saturday or Sunday I'll allow myself to have some pizza, or cake, or pie, or whatever I may be craving at the time. I believe that one little act of indulgence keeps me from feeling like I'm constantly deprived and eventually hitting a wall and falling off the wagon and hitting the junk food and other bad stuff hard.

[jenjo11072013 22]

Thanks for sharing! Congrats on your weight loss so far!! That is great!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

The emotional changes around food and activity level -true lifestyle changes are the wildcard.

Here is the reality for MOST sleevers....first 6 months they lose weight no matter what. As their sleeve "matures" and appetites return, old habits creep up, weight loss slows so they get discouraged, eat sliders, graze all day etc..

This is the cross road - either losses stop/slow and as the 1-2 year mark aporoach regain is a real possibility.

Many others stay with it, keep seeking support, keep making positive lifestyle changes, learn how to eat to manage hunger, learn maintenance strategies. Sleeve is a tool to help you get to the crossroads but you have to choose the path.

Hard cold reality - formerly obese like me could easily regain just by eating like a " normal" person.