5 years and it is never too late

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

Long story but i originally lost 140 lbs in about 2 years overall. Sleeve did 100 of it and lots of cardio etc did the rest.

then gradually weight crept back, very slowly at first, grazing, life happened, stopped the extreme exercise, let carbs back in. So 3 months shy of my 5 year surgiversary I had gained 65 back.

I knew I had to fix this or i’d be right back to 315 in no time.

I used the concepts in “Never Binge Again” book (free on kindle) and also Jason Fungs 2016 Obesity Code starting on Jan 1, 2018.

I am now down 22 lbs and know I can get the rest off.

I never “fixed” my insulin problem. I ate too much Protein. and so when the extreme exercise ended the weight crept back, the protein and “healthy carbs” encouraged the insulin and thus the cravings that the normal exercise couldn’t burn off.

I am back on track. My sleeve is bigger now but still gets fuller than a regular stomach so it hurts if I eat too much. Reduced ghrelin only helped me for 3 months after surgery.

I am thankful to the sleeve for the first 100 lbs but now it’s all on me and the right choices i make.

I recommend those books if you need to get back on track or even if you are in the euphoric losing stages because eventually you will need to make the right choices without all the early benefits of the surgery.

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

34 minutes ago, playlikeworldchamps said:

Long story but i originally lost 140 lbs in about 2 years overall. Sleeve did 100 of it and lots of cardio etc did the rest.

then gradually weight crept back, very slowly at first, grazing, life happened, stopped the extreme exercise, let carbs back in. So 3 months shy of my 5 year surgiversary I had gained 65 back.

I knew I had to fix this or i’d be right back to 315 in no time.

I used the concepts in “Never Binge Again” book (free on kindle) and also Jason Fungs 2016 Obesity Code starting on Jan 1, 2018.

I am now down 22 lbs and know I can get the rest off.

I never “fixed” my insulin problem. I ate too much Protein. and so when the extreme exercise ended the weight crept back, the Protein and “healthy carbs” encouraged the insulin and thus the cravings that the normal exercise couldn’t burn off.

I am back on track. My sleeve is bigger now but still gets fuller than a regular stomach so it hurts if I eat too much. Reduced ghrelin only helped me for 3 months after surgery.

I am thankful to the sleeve for the first 100 lbs but now it’s all on me and the right choices i make.

I recommend those books if you need to get back on track or even if you are in the euphoric losing stages because eventually you will need to make the right choices without all the early benefits of the surgery.

Its valuable for people to hear the reality of life years out. It was something I wish I had been more prepared for. Congratulations on all your weight lost and getting things back on track. It's never too late to work on this and turn things around.

[Kathy812 794]

Thanks for your post, I REALLY needed this today. I do plan on researching/reading what you recommended. But can you share specifically what you are doing differently to lose the weight?
Great job on your success.

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

i am doing the following

-weighing every day
-tracking everything in myfitnesspal
-eating less than 50g carb and NO sugar
-moderate Protein. around 50-60g
-fat to satiety. i don’t count it.
-eating only 2 meals a day most days (and a snack that is basically a pickle / piece of cheese)
-using intermittent (18:6) fasting and alternate day fasting (basically on one day i eat 2 meals in a 6 or 8 hour window and then when i finish dinner i don’t eat until dinner the next day, then repeat. not counting my morning coffee with heavy whipping cream. i live for it!
it works out that i eat one meal a day or two meals a day alternating. only Snacks consist of a dill pickles with ounce cheese or tea, coffee or broth in between meals if they are even needed. hunger much less with Low carb healthy fat so not really need much snacking. this sounds hard and the first couple days are but then it becomes normal. i do not do long fasts. those require electrolytes etc and need to be careful if on meds though i am not)

i had been grazing and eating carbs to gain the 65lbs over time. i used “never binge again” to give up sugar and my nightly Peanut Butter sandwich. i also used it to give up snacking. once i got used to 2 meals a day and cut out carbs my hunger and cravings went away.
insulin drives cravings and by reducing number of feedings it gets lowered and hunger goes away.

this is not for everyone but working for me and for some it is a way to jump start getting back on track. once i get back to my goal i will experiment with how often i need to do the one meal a day thing in order to maintain. i may only need to do it after a party or holiday etc.

i am not full Keto (that’s under 20g carbs) but essentially that is style i am doing. and intermittent aka “time restricted eating”

besides reading jason fung, look him up on youtube.

i recommend easing into it gradually over time:

-give up sugar then
-give up eating after dinner then
-give up 1 snack then
-give up another snack then
-no eating between meals the
-give up Breakfast (or one meal of your choice)

and you don’t even need to go to one meal a day alternatively. the above may already be enough for you. the key is giving your body a break from making insulin. when insulin is secreted your fat cells are told to not burn fat.

but read the book, or youtube and do your own research and what works for you.

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

that’s an old picture. need to get back to that profile pic!

[tiger2015 8]

I needed this because I have gained 20lbs and need to shed this weight

Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

[Kathy812 794]

I truly appreciate that you took the time to be so thorough.

Thank you!

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

Happy to report that almost 3 months later i am down 30 and BMI is 29.99. lol. i’ll take that and say i am back to being “only” overweight. i really was feeling hopeless and ready to give up. getting off

sugar and doing intermittent fasting has changed my life!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

On 2/22/2018 at 11:25 AM, jenn1 said:

Its valuable for people to hear the reality of life years out.

@playlikeworldchamps congrats on "regaining" your success. must be hard to loose weight

regain. 65 lbs - terrific!! you are aces

i was sleeved 6+ years ago. i "assumed" once i lost my weight - that was it. no more problems,

weight gain etc. WRONG!! i gradually heard from OP (VETS) that you can/will gain weight

if you don't follow all your P's and Q's you learned as a newbie. Newbies need to learn/realize

they must continue/follow how they ate as a newbie. Water, Protein, carbs forever. most OP

do stretch the rules as time (years go by) nothing lasts forever. welcome to the real world.!!

newbie beware good luck Kathy

[Teachamy 1,042]

Hi Proud Grammy! I am never on here anymore, but happy to see a familiar face! Hope all is well!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

6 hours ago, Teachamy said:

never on here anymore - happy to see a familiar face! Hope all is well!

@Teachamy

back at ya

i gained 7 lbs over GOAL -(6+ years) it will come off sooner than later

otherwise i feel nice and healthy - happiness is all that's it cracked up

to be!! as i used to say "I'm cute as a Button ", still am

would be great if you peaked in more often, great for VETS to be seen

and heard by newbies.

nice to see you - be well

kathy

[Teachamy 1,042]

As a Type I diabetic who is on an insulin pump, I can attest to the fact that insulin makes you hungry. The more carbs an insulin-dependent diabetic eats, the more insulin we need to inject. I am leery of the Keto diet. Carbohydrates are not eaten, so the body doesn't need to produce as much insulin, but doesn't skipping Breakfast keep the metabolism in sleep mode? (burning less fat) Anohter issue I have, the amount of saturated fat in this diet is obscene. Definitely not lean or heart healthy. All that being said, it often causes people to lose weight, the problem arises when carbs are reintroduced and saturated fats remain in the diet.

Sorry to sound so critical. I just know a lot of people on this diet, and I sometimes worry that some of the science is junk science.

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

a type 1 diabetic you would have different needs than me so I do not presume that my way would would work for anyone actually.
everyone needs to follow what works for them.

but i will add that saturated fat does not cause heart disease (there was actually no evidence of this - documented in Big fat surprise by Nina Teicholz) and i am carb sensitive so try to stay under 50 carbs and 25 sugar grams. i do not go full Keto though i use its guidelines. I am sure a true keto person would think I am not on program.

skipping meals does not slow metabolism when you actually get plenty of good nutrients when you do eat. not eating for 16 (and sometimes 22) hours actually gives the pancreas and liver a break and lowers the demand for insulin. a lot of that time i am sleeping so it is not dangerous for me who is not on glucose lowering meds. people should research and do what works for them. some people can tolerate more carbs and some cannot. for me this was the solution. 1) don’t put sugar in, 2) eat real food including real fats not processed vegetable oils and 3) time restricted eating. otherwise known as intermittent fasting.

I am not perfect in any way but for those who have gained weight back, i recommend giving up snacking between meals and watch added sugar. that was my first step.

i know people who have gained much more back than I did so i posted this to give hope to those looking to get back on track and / or stop the craving and stop the gaining.

good luck!

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

38 minutes ago, playlikeworldchamps said:

a type 1 diabetic you would have different needs than me so I do not presume that my way would would work for anyone actually.
everyone needs to follow what works for them.

but i will add that saturated fat does not cause heart disease (there was actually no evidence of this - documented in Big fat surprise by Nina Teicholz) and i am carb sensitive so try to stay under 50 carbs and 25 sugar grams. i do not go full Keto though i use its guidelines. I am sure a true keto person would think I am not on program.

skipping meals does not slow metabolism when you actually get plenty of good nutrients when you do eat. not eating for 16 (and sometimes 22) hours actually gives the pancreas and liver a break and lowers the demand for insulin. a lot of that time i am sleeping so it is not dangerous for me who is not on glucose lowering meds. people should research and do what works for them. some people can tolerate more carbs and some cannot. for me this was the solution. 1) don’t put sugar in, 2) eat real food including real fats not processed vegetable oils and 3) time restricted eating. otherwise known as intermittent fasting.

I am not perfect in any way but for those who have gained weight back, i recommend giving up snacking between meals and watch added sugar. that was my first step.

i know people who have gained much more back than I did so i posted this to give hope to those looking to get back on track and / or stop the craving and stop the gaining.

good luck!

In the beginning of weight loss, I always tell people to follow their plan. The plan works.

Things look a bit different years out. I don't believe in a one sizes fits all for weight loss. You have to be open to try new things to see what works your body physiology and medical issues.

Congratulations on getting the scale back down. The post is helpful and appreciated.

[IveGotThePower 395]

Thank you so much for posting your experience with Intermittent Fasting. I read Jason Fung's book the Obesity Code and watched many of his you tube videos as well as Dr. Berg's IF / Keto / Insulin resistant videos. They have been very informative. I am insulin resistant as well and carb sensitive. I am 26 months out and up 4 to 8 lbs, depending on the day. My diet is very good, but I believe insulin is my issue as well. I was eating all day long. Great stuff, but never letting my insulin levels drop enough to burn fat. Can't store and burn at the same time. I have experimented with IF and am on 8:16 right now. It does make a difference for me as well. Just started a few days ago for the 2nd time, so I need to give it more time, but please keep us posted on your progress. Not sure I will do the 24 hour fasting, but we'll see. I see a lot of people who have gained and want to take it off, but not many who haven't really gained, but are 2+ years and want to loose more. I still have a good 50-60 lbs before I would be at a normal weight, so I don't feel like I'm done yet, but at 10 months my weight loss stopped and there it has been for the past 15 months. Keep up the good work!!