Weight Loss After 1st Year

[stringfellowhawke]

Hello, I am about 10 months post surgery. I know that the first year is the most dramatic... in your experience do you continue to lose after the first year? I realize everyone is different but just asking in generalities

[Sandra3]

I'm 13 months out. I'm not really losing right now. Or it's going to be one pound per month so it will take a while to really notice. I had many many stalls for the past three months.
My surgeon said I could lose until 18 months out. But I had several injuries since the beginning (plus the medication was not helping my weight) and I know I don't work out enough to get to my full potential. I'm actually not far from my surgeon's predictions (10 pounds) but it will take several months if I'm going to that speed..
A sleever in here was losing slowly but lost until her third year! so that's very encouraging.
We are all different. I think at the end the most important is to always be careful to eat right and respect the quantities. If our body wants to lose more we will, but I can't wait to be cleared for exercise. I know it does make a big difference.
Nothing fancy, but just walking everyday at least 3 miles is already a big improvement for the metabolism.

[Christie13]

I have seen people on here who continue to lose post first year. But a lot of it depends on how much weight you have to lose and how vigilant you are in your efforts. Some people lose easier than others so that factors in as well. I am only 16 weeks but I saw my sister go through this and she lost after a year as well.

[stringfellowhawke]

Thanks for the insight and encouragement

[jamma]

My sister continued to lose after a year...but then she had a regain, but lost that as well. One thing I know we can learn from this is that our weight management will always be a fact. I used to think that thin people didn't worry or work on their weight at all, but that turns out to not be true, they were just successful in managing their weight, while I was not. I think we can continue to lose as long as we want because we have the one big tool now that we didn't have before. We just have to remember to use it.

[Kindle]

I reached my low weight (100 pounds down and 12 pounds below my original goal) around 10 months postop. I'm now a little over 3 years out, but can still lose when I want/need to. I lose 5 pounds or so before holidays or vacations to accommodate the inevitable gain from eating off plan. I immediately lose any extra pounds I put on every once in awhile for no apparent reason. So although I haven't lost any additional weight past one year (nor do I want to), I am still able to lose any regain by being diligent and mindful of what I eat. Jamma is right, weight management is a lifetime struggle, not just one that lasts a year.

I guess it would be an interesting experiment to see if I could lose below my current low weight. My clothes would hang on me but it would be so much fun regaining back to normal. My first choice would be a big bowl of cookie dough. Mmmmmm......

[Ann2]

Great post, Kindle!

To the OP, I think (based on 2.5 years post-op) you can do anything you set your mind to -- lose or gain at any time.

Of course, when you're very heavy you have the potential to lose faster (for obvious reasons). When you're lighter it takes longer to lose weight (my last 15 pounds took 9 months to lose).

These days (I'm 14 months into maintenance) I gain / lose 2 pounds pretty regularly, due NOT to magic but to what I'm eating at the time. During trips, cruises, holidays I sometimes gain a couple of pounds. And then I lose it. Or like Kindle I can lose a couple of pounds ahead of time, knowing I'm going to be eating more than usual soon.

Portion sizes matter. Calories matter. For some people carbs matter, too (acknowledging that there are both good and bad carbs out there). So do vitamins/supplements/medications, exercise, water, support, avoiding grazing, not drinking with meals, eating slowly, etc.

And although I know I say this a lot, one of the biggest things that helps us manage our weight (whether we want to lose or maintain) is how well we learn to manage the stress in our lives without overeating in response to that stress.

[Slimbydesign]

My surgeon gives the sleeve 18 months at the most...beyond that we are on our own. I reached my lowest weight at about one year out, I was down 120lbs...I've regained 43 of that, but am on track again and will lose it! I have to say, my body is really making me work for this loss, though it is said we lose easier after the surgery if we happen to put weight back on.

[Kindle]

And although I know I say this a lot, one of the biggest things that helps us manage our weight (whether we want to lose or maintain) is how well we learn to manage the stress in our lives without overeating in response to that stress.

Ann, you can't say this enough! I haven't seen my therapist in awhile and I recently stumbled into some new stress issues in my life. Found myself having wine a little more often. Actually bought a bag of chips and a CANDY BAR....(gasp)..a couple weeks ago. Time to knock this shit off and go back to basics, both diet and mental. Thanks for the reminder

[stringfellowhawke]

Thanks all. This is great!

[Sarcastic_Bard]

I'm going into 15 months out, and I'm still losing. My surgeon's goal weight for me was 178 and I'm at 160 now, which is the goal I set for myself. The weight loss has slowed wayyyyyy down though. My surgeon's office told me that most patients get below their goal but then gain 5-15 pounds back as their body resets itself to the weight it feels best at; I was told not to freak out when/if that happens. What I'm hoping for is that I'll drop a few more pounds but then bounce back up to 150-160 because I feel good at this weight.

[Katrina]

I quit losing at 14 months, and thank goodness I did. I was getting worried there for a bit. Like a few others have mentioned, I gain and lose the same 2 or 3 pounds over and over. Since last April (17 months post-op), I never go below 107 or above 111, and that's eating anything I want whenever I want without placing any types of restrictions on myself. I do not exercise or count calories. It's freaking glorious!

[Slimbydesign]

It's funny, I stopped losing many moons ago and have put on 40+ lbs...I am working now to take it back off, my surgeon stated the average is eight months of loss, after that you are pretty much on your own...so lose as much as possible in those 1st eight months and you have set yourself up for success! Good luck