Out for almost 2.5 years

[Jdebooserie]

Hello everyone,

It has been awhile since I have been on this site. I have been extremely busy with work and also trying to stay healthy. hahaha.
For anyone considering a gastric sleeve this might be a great read. I did a gastric sleeve in July, 2014. I can't even believe it is that long ago. I was 344 pounds, 6 feet tall and my BMI was about 43. I had to do a 3 week liquid diet before my surgery to get my liver as small as possible.

After the surgery I was extremely healthy! I lost a 160 pounds in about 7 months by working out almost every day, being active, eating healthy, not one meal cheat! BUT... this life couldn't last forever. Of course like everyone, we will always be fatties inside. About a year ago, I started eating junk again. When you are sleeved that long, you start learning what you stomach can eat more of (if that makes any sense). My addiction was peanut butter and it still is to this day!

I noticed I was getting back into my old habits. I am an accountant and I have a desk job, so I don't move a lot. I did not go to the gym anymore, I was eating candy at work, etc.. I even had nightmares of getting fat again! I gained about 40 pounds back in about a year time...

Now I started realizing that if I continue I would be the old me again and I did NOT want that to happen, so I am still trying to find a balance between extreme dieting and extreme eating. Which is very hard for me, because it is either all the way in or nothing. Now, I have lost 20 pounds and I am around 200 pounds, which I am fine with for my height.

In conclusion, weight loss surgery is only a temporary fix, it is you that will need to make the changes in your life! Your stomach will expand over time and you will have to make the healthy decisions.

I attached a recent picture of me that I took this morning.

image1.JPG

[Ann2]

Hey, old friend. Good to hear from you again. You look great!

Yup. Losing the weight is the easy party. The bigger challenge is committing to lifelong maintenance and building a different lifestyle that works for us.

BTW, are you still in Arkansas or back in Belgium or elsewhere?

I'm doing great. Still holding steady at 135. I average 1725 cals/day, exercise 5 days a week, still plan and track all my meals, and do the other stuff I learned while losing weight. I retired a year ago and am truly enjoying my new life. Retirement would never have been like THIS without WLS. This life does not suck.

[Jdebooserie]

I am still in Arkansas. I work in Little rock as an accountant for Nexstar Media Group. Love my job but all I do is sit at a desk. Lol.

[Ann2]

Standing desk possible?

[Jdebooserie]

I wish. Haha. That would be weird. But i started exercising again. My friend he said i was cheating the whole time is doing the surgery in March. I guess he will find out how easy it is! My girlfriend is doing it this summer. The thinks she will keep losing the weight as well. But she has really unhealthy habits that she cannot stay on a diet longer than two weeks....

[yolymarie]

Thanks for the reminder. You look great

[Leslieann]

I think you look great and congratulations for doing so well for so long! Thanks for sharing. It's good to hear from people who are maintaining and the struggles they have.
Keep us posted!

[Christie13]

Yup. You can eat around your sleeve when you know how. I am only 14 weeks out and if I really wanted I could do it by eating crap. But I don't. Didn't go through this for nothing. I eat right and exercise and allow myself a bite of something naughty once in a blue moon. Keeps me sane. What has made it easy for me is knowing that I can only eat a little and I know I have to give my body the nutrients it needs. And that is not sugar and fat. I agree with everyone else. You look great. I hope your girlfriend and friend are successful. At least they have your expertise to guide them. Congrats on getting back on track.

[kinipela24]

Hello everyone,

It has been awhile since I have been on this site. I have been extremely busy with work and also trying to stay healthy. hahaha.
For anyone considering a gastric sleeve this might be a great read. I did a gastric sleeve in July, 2014. I can't even believe it is that long ago. I was 344 pounds, 6 feet tall and my BMI was about 43. I had to do a 3 week liquid diet before my surgery to get my liver as small as possible.

After the surgery I was extremely healthy! I lost a 160 pounds in about 7 months by working out almost every day, being active, eating healthy, not one meal cheat! BUT... this life couldn't last forever. Of course like everyone, we will always be fatties inside. About a year ago, I started eating junk again. When you are sleeved that long, you start learning what you stomach can eat more of (if that makes any sense). My addiction was peanut butter and it still is to this day!

I noticed I was getting back into my old habits. I am an accountant and I have a desk job, so I don't move a lot. I did not go to the gym anymore, I was eating candy at work, etc.. I even had nightmares of getting fat again! I gained about 40 pounds back in about a year time...

Now I started realizing that if I continue I would be the old me again and I did NOT want that to happen, so I am still trying to find a balance between extreme dieting and extreme eating. Which is very hard for me, because it is either all the way in or nothing. Now, I have lost 20 pounds and I am around 200 pounds, which I am fine with for my height.

In conclusion, weight loss surgery is only a temporary fix, it is you that will need to make the changes in your life! Your stomach will expand over time and you will have to make the healthy decisions.

I attached a recent picture of me that I took this morning.

image1.JPG

Thanks or sharing your story. What a handsome guy. I keep going back and forth with whether to get this. I don't want to e nauseated or in pain for the rest of my life. I get that it is hard and not an easy fix but there are some who say they stick to what they are supposed to et and still feel pain. Anyways, congrats on your success and getting back on track.

[tinman]

Looking good man! Good to see you back on here! Great story and great advice.

[Luna354]

Thanks or sharing your story. What a handsome guy. I keep going back and forth with whether to get this. I don't want to e nauseated or in pain for the rest of my life. I get that it is hard and not an easy fix but there are some who say they stick to what they are supposed to et and still feel pain. Anyways, congrats on your success and getting back on track.

My only regret so far is not doing it sooner!

[JanPit]

Hi, I also am 2.5 years out and things do change after that 2 year mark. I too have learned what foods my new tummy likes. Grazing has always been a bad habit and still is. I have gained about 10 pounds, but also have been at the gym for about 6 months. My fat percentage is lower than it was when I weighed less which is great, but my body has changed due to muscle mass. You would think that is a good thing, not so much when your favorite clothes are snug due to the muscle. Everyday I plan on what to eat, some days are good, some not so much. Ann is so right about doing the plan that got us down over 100 lbs. I started going back to the monthly support meetings that my hospital offers, which are a great incentive. I am so scared of gaining the weight back. I am in the process of getting approval for skin removal on my abdomen. My biggest motivation to be a normal weight was my health, now its my closet. I love my clothes and how I look in them. At 61 I never expected to look my best in the last 20 years. When I started this journey I was on this site daily. Some things just work and this is one of them.