3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Hello friends,
It's been awhile since I've posted, but for the last few months I've been struggling with regain.
I'm between jobs at the moment, and so I'm home alot.
In my experience, this has never ended well with eating habits.
I was sleeved in Nov of 2015, and managed to come down to 92 KG, from a starting weight of 140.5 KG.
My eating habits have gone south especially at night. I've found that I can eat a considerable amount during the course of 1 day, and so I'm not sure what overall effects I'm benefiting from the sleeve these days. It's gotten so bad that I can't bring myself to get on the scale, out of fear of what I might see.
Has anyone else had, or is anyone else struggling with this issue?
Any suggestions? I'd like to get on a 30-day reset of some sorts. Ultimately I'd like to drop 10-12 KG after which I've no doubt I'll start feeling better.
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Hi Mike!
No, no advice, I am only 2 years out.
The only thing I know that that "30 day reset" is... well.. not functional..
Your restriction is probably still there, so no reset for that necessary.
The 'mind" reset"is also nonsense, because it takes a lot longer than 30 days to form new habits.
So, having said that, for what it is worth, I think, that your 30 day reset might be a good idea, but then for the rest of your life.
I am sure you know what you did during the first years, when that weight came of perfectly.
It takes hard work sometimes, but the sleeves works.
When are you starting a new job?
Getting back your daily routine will be a big help.
Good luck!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Start by stepping on the scale to "face the music." Then make a plan of how you will get back on track. I stayed off the scale for a long time this fall/winter and gained 10 pounds after staying at goal for over 3 1/2 years!! I have to weigh daily to keep on track. This time I realized my jeans were tight.
I gained a little twice in my 5 years, and both times went back to Weight Watchers. If you would have told me years ago to do this I would have said you were nuts, just trust the sleeve, but their program has now changed to eat exactly how we should be eating. Lean proteins, eggs, beans, fruit and veggies etc are "free" so you still concentrate on protein first, then veggies, then good carbs if room. It's all in an app, you can even take a photo of a barcode and it gives you points. No thinking involved. You will find you do still have restriction when you eat the right things. I went back a few weeks ago and am a few pounds from goal again. Plus I'm free as my lifetime goal was higher than my current goal. I enjoy the accountability of weigh-ins and the comraderie of the workshops with friends. The leader is really fun too. It is another tool to keep my mind in the game.
Find what works for you. Many here use My Fitness Pal. Best of luck, I know you can do it!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Hi Mike,
Totally agree with scraebaer, get on a scale and face the music. It might not be as bad as you think. After 5 years, I've had a regain and I have gone back to basics. I've returned to this forum, where I've found support and success and I've gotten out my "sleeve bible" and have just become more aware of what I am eating--also returning to the gym has been extremely helpful. The restriction is still there if you're eating properly. Good Luck!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Mike, sorry you're back because of regain, but its a first step to getting back on track.
I'm only 16 months out, so not any better advice thatn sraebaer and KiwiGal. I did gain a biti over the holidays, although Ii was still weighing daily and measured my food. But sugar cookies are not nutritious, I guess....
I went back to the better percentages of protein/carb/fats where I lost - and even though I can have more calories than after the sleeve, the change in the make up of the food got me back to a bit under goal.
I could not go without weighing very long, and my eyes make bigger plates even if I don't eat it all.
If you go back to the last place on diet that you were losing, and continue for 60 days I'm betting you'll be right as rain.
Hope things settle down for you!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
hello Mike
I'm also 3 years out and also having issues with regain.
For me it all started with sickness, medication, and since I only stopped the cortisone a few days ago (and started it in October), I won't know soon how that will work, but for sure if I want to say goodbye to my kilos, I will have to lower my calorie intake, and add more activities, that will take forever since I'm having surgery next week, and won't be allowed to exercise for at least 4 weeks.
It will take time to get back to where I was feeling comfortable and it's really frustrating to have to face set back after set back for things you can't control.
I'm thinking that if you eat more at night, you might feel anxious for some reason, if you can try to get to the root of that that could probably help a lot. Issues with sleep is also a trigger for weight regain (been there done that, pain does wake me up, then after I'm hungry) since it does mess up with our hormones and make us eat more. Stress in general has the same effect.
On a metabolic side, I did notice that when I'm deficient in iron, I'm starving. Did you have a blood test done recently? How are your vitamin levels?
I saw many correlations between my blood results and the way I eat or feel.
Also, when stressed, I try to improve my magnesium intake, it does help.
And in my case, when my reflux was out of control, it always mimicked hunger, also it could disturb your sleep....you could try to take an antiacid (like tums) and see if it helps.
I don't think there is any real good solution to avoid food, besides clearing the house from junk or sweets or whatever is your thing, if you have the munchies and eat carrots/veggies (crunchy is always nice to help hunger), it will do less damage than eating junk food. The book "a pound for a cure" might be interesting, or watch the videos on youtube.
It is very hard to face the scale. But try to jump on it, record your weight, start tracking your food each day for a week and look at the pattern. The way you eat might show you what to improve. For example, if you don't eat enough protein, that could explain why you eat too much.
Good luck my friend!! keep us posted!! you are not alone in this!! I
Take care!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
I am almost 6 years out and in the last 6 months have seen my weight shoot up. I had a hard fall last Septemeber had pain that felt like a pulled muscle still to the date. I have researched this and the sleeve can double in size. I am currently being evalauated for sleeve resection or gastric bypass.
I have a consult next week to discuss options.
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Why and when is that doubling in size happening?
Do you know?
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DutchSleeve
Why and when is that doubling in size happening?
Do you know?
It's not going to happen for all patients.
Basically the norm is that you go from eating 1/4 cup the first months to half a plate after two years.
That's normal because the stomach will relax, and keeping it that way will let you eat what your body needs once the majority of the extra weight is gone.
The issue that can show up for some sleevers, will be overstretching.
The cause can go from drinking with food, eating too much and "pushing" the food, in that case the stomach will dilate more.
The specialist at the hospital who followed me during my week of tests explained that one of her patient had a sleeve that was as big as 1 liter.
She was around 18 months out, and was eating way too much to the point it did stretch her stomach a lot.
To compare, my stomach is 210 ml (1/5 of the other patient!!) because I never drink with food, always stop when full and never eat more than half a plate, which is the very big limit. Usually it's 1/3 plate, it depend on the density of the food, fibers etc..
So no worries!! it won't happen to you!! you do follow the rules!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Thanks Sandra, just as I thought.
My stomach can hold 200 ml. now, or almost a cup.
And that is the max I eat, every meal.
That is why I weigh some of my foods.
But even when there is too much on my plate, I stop eating, when I am full.
Hubby is often left with that one bite, I don't eat anymore...lol
My carbage can... but I say that very lovingly...
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
If a sleeve "overstretches", is it reversible?
If "drinking with food, eating too much and "pushing" the food" are the causal factors, then I am most certainly guilty as charged, as I do all 3.
I've heard discussion of the "pouch reset", but have also discussed it with bariatric physicians who've said a pouch reset is physiologically impossible.
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
There really is only one way to tell the size of your sleeve and that is a barium swallow.
The best thing would be to find a bariatric surgeon, that has the equipment to do that her/himself.
Other surgeons mostly don't have a clue what to look for.
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Hello Big Mike, After reading your post I couldn't help but to respond to it. Well for me it has be a while since I've been to this site, But I want you to know that I totally understand what you are saying. Now for me I had my surgery back in 2012 it doesn't seen like it was that long ago. However I never reached my goal but I was close. I was also good with that. However over the last year I have be struggling myself.
I remember in the beginning doing my research and it was noted that the sleeve was just a tool. I can say truly it is, I had that in my mind, and I was doing so well until I think I forgot about that fact. Well your problem is the same one I'm having. But my mind is set to do something about it. I do get on the scales and I see it, I feel it, my clothes tells it(hum) but I said I will not go back where I came from. I'm now looking for what worked for me in the past and or will discover it lol.
So I'm saying the same to you and anyone else that find themselves where we are. I know for sure not behind what someone else said but for what I know. The weight loss is a thing that you will have to stay on top of from here on out, because it will come to a point that if you don't the body will start excepting that food and drinks just as it was before the surgery. I'm not in to bad of a shape but I'm looking to get the extra I gained and having trouble getting or keeping down to where I was. Then move on to reaching my goal. I'm going to do it and you can too. Let's do it....
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big-Mike
If a sleeve "overstretches", is it reversible?
If "drinking with food, eating too much and "pushing" the food" are the causal factors, then I am most certainly guilty as charged, as I do all 3.
I've heard discussion of the "pouch reset", but have also discussed it with bariatric physicians who've said a pouch reset is physiologically impossible.
Hello Mike!
Don't feel defeated. The reset is useless but going back to basics, protein first, no drinking with food etc could help a lot.
You probably still have restriction. And eating smaller portions, always start with protein, respect meal times (don't go hungry!) can help you control the urge to eat.
Also, I think that tracking is really the key to regulate food intake. When you see in writing how many calories you already had, it should help you to stop eating.
If I was you, I would start with either with 3 days of protein shakes with one balanced meal (protein veggies) per day, or low calories/high protein just to jump start the process, once you see your weight going down it will help you stick to the plan.
A set back is just a set back. Go back on the horse, you will be successful!
Take care!
Re: 3 Years 3 Months Post-Sleeve. Struggling!
Completely agree that the first step is to get on the scale and face the music. Then go back to basics and eat the way you should. Solid proteins will always fill you up faster than junk food. So refocus on eating right and exercising. You need to sit back and have a good hard look at why you did this to begin with. You can absolutely get on track but you have to be accountable to all of your actions. You got this. You can do it. Think of how far you have come. Do something now before it really gets out of control.