Today is my 5 year "Sleeve-a -versary"

[carolynodien]

Hi all!
I haven't been on this forum for a few years but I wanted to update and inform people who might be curious what life is like 5 years post-sleeve.
So, back in 2011, I had yoyo dieted my weight up to 262 lbs. Whenever I dieted I gained back all the weight plus a little more. At 49 years of age, I was tired of it.
Dr. Almanzo did my surgery on October 10, 2011, and I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made!
In less than a year my weight went down to 172 pounds. That was the lightest I had been in over 20 years. I gained 8 lbs back within a month and stabilized at about 180 for a year.
I started feeling invincible...started eating bad carbs again...didn't exercise for the past 3 years.
I was scared to get on the scale, figuring I was well over 200 lbs again, but to my relief, I weigh 197 today. In 5 years I have kept off 66% of my weight, which I believe is a victory! Any other plan the weight would have been back on plus some in a matter of months.
I can eat more than I could straight out of surgery, but still feel the sleeve working, especially when I stick to protein. Carbs are much easier to eat to my dismay. I am a sugar addict and probably should get some help with that.
Cheers and hope you all are well.
Any questions please ask!
Carolyn

[trxl00]

[QUOTE=carolynodien;558997]Hi all!
I haven't been on this forum for a few years but I wanted to update and inform people who might be curious what life is like 5 years post-sleeve.
So, back in 2011, I had yoyo dieted my weight up to 262 lbs. Whenever I dieted I gained back all the weight plus a little more. At 49 years of age, I was tired of it.
Dr. Almanzo did my surgery on October 10, 2011, and I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made!
In less than a year my weight went down to 172 pounds. That was the lightest I had been in over 20 years. I gained 8 lbs back within a month and stabilized at about 180 for a year.
I started feeling invincible...started eating bad carbs again...didn't exercise for the past 3 years.
I was scared to get on the scale, figuring I was well over 200 lbs again, but to my relief, I weigh 197 today. In 5 years I have kept off 66% of my weight, which I believe is a victory! Any other plan the weight would have been back on plus some in a matter of months.
I can eat more than I could straight out of surgery, but still feel the sleeve working, especially when I stick to protein. Carbs are much easier to eat to my dismay. I am a sugar addict and probably should get some help with that.
Cheers and hope you all are well.
Any questions please ask!
Carolyn[/QUOT Praying for u u r very incouraging!!

[aglb]

thanks for the update - I just hit my 3 year and have been coming back to keep myself on track = I agree about the best decision ever - I am up 12 from my lowest but you are so right when you say it would have been a completely different story without the surgery - I am actively trying to get a few of those 12 off but am a bit surprised how hard that is to get the scale to move downward - but I'm plugging away - eating right and exercising - so good to see others check in sometimes too!

[Seahawksfan]

thanks for the update - I just hit my 3 year and have been coming back to keep myself on track = I agree about the best decision ever - I am up 12 from my lowest but you are so right when you say it would have been a completely different story without the surgery - I am actively trying to get a few of those 12 off but am a bit surprised how hard that is to get the scale to move downward - but I'm plugging away - eating right and exercising - so good to see others check in sometimes too!

I to am a little amazed at how much harder it has been to get the scale to move down at this point. I have about 8-10 pounds I would like to get back off. Started back really exercising and even though my clothes feel better, the scale hasn't moved. After the first of the year, I plan to plunge into eating better as well in hopes of getting rid of these few extra pounds.

[Ann2]

Carolyn, aglb and Seahawks ... thank you SO MUCH for coming back around, keeping it real, and letting us know what the future can hold for sleeved patients.

Big-time respect and gratitude coming at you here.