update

[elllie]

I had my one year check up with the dietitian and I am feeling very happy, blessed and fantastic etc. The dietitian said I had surpassed the statistics. Normal weight loss is around 75% of body fat and she said I had lost 108% I said I would still like to lose another 4kg which she said I really don't need to as I have weight to play around with. I am happy with what |I weigh now, but would still like to be lower if I can. She also said she would not have recognized me and that I must just continue what I am doing. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake in having the operation, however today I know it was definitely the correct thing to do. So if anyone is thinking about having the surgery , go for it.

[Sandra3]

Congrats!!
And I don't think you made a mistake, it will leave you some room if you have a little regain (most patients have one at two years) because in one year you will be able to eat more, and that's completely normal, just use the extra "space available' on your plate to add veggies and it will help avoid regain!

[Stacey03]

So good Elllie x

[Christie13]

Way to go Ellie!! You are AMAZING!!!

[Dutchie]

Wow, Ellie, congrats on your succes!
You are doing great.
What makes you think you might have made a mistake?
And with one year, your honeymoon period is not over by a long shot.
I am sure you will loose those pounds.

[Pudsley]

Great work Ellie

I never thought for 1 second that I made a mistake having a sleeve.

I can only see the positive its wonderful that you feel like this.
Congratulations!
xx

[WANAGL]

Congrats Elllie!

[sraebaer]

I hate those statistics, don't you? I think any of us can lose all our weight if we want to. I think they have to say that 75% because of the people who don't change their lifestyle and give up.

Anyways, congrats on your successs! You are one of those skinny people I'm jealous of! I'm at the very high end of normal and have been stuck here for years. I think it's where my body wants to be.

[Dutchie]

Statistics are all about other people, not about me...

[Sandra3]

I hate those statistics, don't you? I think any of us can lose all our weight if we want to. I think they have to say that 75% because of the people who don't change their lifestyle and give up.

Anyways, congrats on your successs! You are one of those skinny people I'm jealous of! I'm at the very high end of normal and have been stuck here for years. I think it's where my body wants to be.

All people are not made on the same mold!! Weight loss is not only about diet and life style. Some people with for ex thyroid issues, genetic abnormality, leptin deficiency or just kids born from obese parents etc... can not just lose weight like everyone. It can be really tricky.

Most people who are actually having real medical issues don't even know about it because testing is really expensive...and it's not done often.

[WANAGL]

I hate those statistics, don't you? I think any of us can lose all our weight if we want to. I think they have to say that 75% because of the people who don't change their lifestyle and give up.

Anyways, congrats on your successs! You are one of those skinny people I'm jealous of! I'm at the very high end of normal and have been stuck here for years. I think it's where my body wants to be.

I totally agree! My goal weight was what I would have been happy with. My body said yippee when 2+ years ago I reached what was a normal healthy weight for me 50 years ago! As long as all my nutritional needs are met and I’m healthy mentally I will continue to live this lifestyle I’ve been blessed with after suffering for years. I’m so grateful to have been given this new lease on life. The heck with stats!

[AnnieG]

I hate those statistics, don't you? I think any of us can lose all our weight if we want to. I think they have to say that 75% because of the people who don't change their lifestyle and give up.

Anyways, congrats on your successs! You are one of those skinny people I'm jealous of! I'm at the very high end of normal and have been stuck here for years. I think it's where my body wants to be.

sraebaer, yes, I think some folks initially follow their program, and then they decide its the VGS that did it for them, and stop making the changes. Because its hard. Really hard. While I haven't felt hungry since my surgery, and I do usually recognize "full", some days its harder than others. Those are the days I pre commit to my menu because otherwise I will fall into not enough protein or calories of a good sort. Maybe almost no calories which is so unhealthy.

Congrats on getting back to goal! I know you really worked hard to get there! I would like to say I don't focus on the numbers (weight, size, age etc.,) but I kinda do. Only for me. What other people weigh, how old they are, there size in clothing, I don't judge. Although once in a while I get fascinated with some hair styles....

I envy your activity level! My goodness I find it astonishing how much physical stuff you do, and what a gift that must be! Residual things from rough surgical past still restrict my activity level.

But it's all good! I feel so much better. And in my own mind, I'm 7 feet tall and bullet proof.

[coopersmom]

I had my one year check up with the dietitian and I am feeling very happy, blessed and fantastic etc. The dietitian said I had surpassed the statistics. Normal weight loss is around 75% of body fat and she said I had lost 108% I said I would still like to lose another 4kg which she said I really don't need to as I have weight to play around with. I am happy with what |I weigh now, but would still like to be lower if I can. She also said she would not have recognized me and that I must just continue what I am doing. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake in having the operation, however today I know it was definitely the correct thing to do. So if anyone is thinking about having the surgery , go for it.

Congratulations, what a fantastic job you're doing. Great news to hear that even your dietician is happy with your results. Keep up the great work.

[KiwiGal]

Great stuff Ellie. Such a great result :-)

[Sandra3]

sraebaer, yes, I think some folks initially follow their program, and then they decide its the VGS that did it for them, and stop making the changes. Because its hard. Really hard. While I haven't felt hungry since my surgery, and I do usually recognize "full", some days its harder than others. Those are the days I pre commit to my menu because otherwise I will fall into not enough protein or calories of a good sort. Maybe almost no calories which is so unhealthy.

Congrats on getting back to goal! I know you really worked hard to get there! I would like to say I don't focus on the numbers (weight, size, age etc.,) but I kinda do. Only for me. What other people weigh, how old they are, there size in clothing, I don't judge. Although once in a while I get fascinated with some hair styles....

I envy your activity level! My goodness I find it astonishing how much physical stuff you do, and what a gift that must be! Residual things from rough surgical past still restrict my activity level.

But it's all good! I feel so much better. And in my own mind, I'm 7 feet tall and bullet proof.

For most people, even if they eat garbage, they will lose weight for at least one year post-sleeve. And for sure, when the cards change, and they keep on eating the same bad things, or not exercise, either the weight loss will stop, or the regain will start. But we need to keep in mind that there's is many exceptions, who have poor results and that might only be because of their health conditions (known or not!)

I think what's hard for all of us here, is to have too much hope, or unrealistic expectations and then get frustrated when things don't work out the way we want.
I was lucky my surgeon had a really good approach of the situation, looking at weight loss in a way that was more about working around my medical issues, and using the right tools to know what realistic goal I could have. I've known since the beginning that I will never go back to the size I was before all the pregnancies, because from my body composition, after the equivalent of the DEXA scan, we knew it was not going to happen. I did reach my surgeon's "projection" after two years but not mine. I think I can get to mine (surgeon does think it's doable but will take a very long time) and still want to because it will give me room when I need to take meds and gain weight like crazy...

Sharon is our poster child for a surgery with no issue, great weight loss, consistency in her diet, amazing exercise routine, and when she falls from the wagon, she pick herself up and get back on track!
And it's great to have consistent people in here, they can be role model for others who are at the beginning or their journey, and need inspiration and a little push to succeed.

Being sick for months now, and with the help of all my studies, research and a few good doctors, I know what's working for me or not. I know where are most of the issues, what are the solutions, and what realistic expectations I can have. So I don't feel really frustrated like I could have if I didn't know. Knowledge is power!! Because if you have a set back, don't know why, it can be hard to fight it! And I still try new things, because : who knows!

Like you Annie, I don't judge or care about other's look or appearance. I think there's usually more 'behind' what we see. But I do feel very bad when I see people doing so many wrong things for their health. But I faced too much prejudice in my life, from everyone around me, even from stupid doctors, not to know that the most important at the end of the day is to be kind.

Kindness is more important than trying to educate. Because sometimes people are just not ready for it!

One of the lovely lady who was commuting with us for more than a year is really really big. Especially for French standards. When I came back home with all my boxes of plus size clothing (couldn't donate those in Asia), I couldn't give it all to her either because most of it was too small...and at my biggest I was wearing up to a size 26/28, which is like the bigger size you could find in France. She told me she is actually making most of her clothing herself...

She did ask me how I lost so much weight, I did explain, but she said early on that she would never have bariatric surgery....and was not ready to change her diet (she eats mostly meat, carbs, junk and no veggies, little fruits).
She knew I was stuying nutrition/naturopathy (she saw me study in the train) so she asked questions and advice, but I could tell she was not ready to listen or follow advice. I didn't insist and didn't feel offended, we all have our own agenda.

The only thing that did make her want to "eat better" was the fact she wanted to be pregnant. I did tell her about what diet changes she could do, but the only thing she actually followed, was taking vitamins! I do suspect she has a few health issues, mostly hormonal.
She told me last month she is pregnant.
I was not obese when I started my first pregnancy, but was for the others. That was ...complicated to say the least...but what can I say??
I'm happy for her, the first baby is such a joy!! but I know also what's coming (more health issues, more weight gain etc), and I'm sad I couldn't help to prevent it.

Once getting out of the train last year, her back got stuck and we had to drive her to the hospital. It was complicated, cars are small in France and it took 20 mns to find a way to make her sit...she was hurting so much! oh my!

The ER doctor was rude (like most doctors are in France, because obese=stupid). I was with her and I had to like jump into the conversation, and make the doctor understand that a lecture at that point was not useful (she was so much in pain and crying) she needed only painkillers and compassion!!
I told the doctor I have back issues too, was born with it, it was worth when I was bigger but making her feel small and stupid was not part of the treatment.
My husband was waiting outside and told me that everyone could hear and was quiet when I started to "defend her". Also a nurse told him "I'm so glad someone is finally saying something". Since the nurse was overweight, I guess he was also disrespectful with her...shame!!

Our friend from the train is younger than me, her husband was away for work, her family is far away, she was all by herself that day and we didn't know her that well but did help her getting home, did her shopping etc. She thanked us like 200 times! I told her it was just normal to help her!
Because being kind was the only thing to do.
The truth is that being obese make us targets, and when doctors, who are supposed to understand that obesity is a real disease, with multiple factors, and are supposed to be the one there to help only show prejudice and ignorance, it's a good representation of how the world is dealing with obesity.

But an obese patient deserve the same respect than any other human!!