Recent Posts
I'd just like to point out that compared to where you were, a 25# regain is not that bad. Also, by the time you lost that last 25#, you were probably already out of the honeymoon period where the weight just "magically" melts off. So you had to work for that last 25#. Since your tool (the sleeve) is still there to help you, losing that 25# again is definitely do-able - you did it before.
I'm only a little over 2 years out, and I'm sure the vets on here will have better advice for you. But here's my suggestion: start by recording everything you eat, without judgement. After you have, say, 5 days of records, look at the patterns. What foods do you eat most often? Look for a small change you can make *without feeling deprived*? Incorporate that change into your diet, and then a while later look for another small change. You probably know from your history how many calories, or carbs if you count them instead, you need to stick to in order to lose weight. So make one small change at a time until you get there. It's important not to feel deprived, because it's going to take time to lose the weight, and you need a food plan you can stick to.
Drink lots of fluids; it really helps keep the hunger pangs at bay. I'm not really a breakfast person, so I try to get in 1.5 liters before I eat anything. That allows me to save most of my calories for the evening, which is when I am the most hungry. You may be different, of course. Figure out what works for you.
Good luck!
Good Morning everyone! It seems like forever and a day since I have been back on this site. I had my Gastric Sleeve surgery on 02/28/2011 and started as 276#. During my 1st year, I lost 100# and have been able to keep it off until about 5 years ago. Since then, I have gained back about 25 pounds and had heart surgery in 2018. What a scare there, I can tell ya! Since then, it seems like I have no energy to do anything and with this pandemic thing happening, it's been a lot worse. I just want to come home from working (thank goodness I have a job that is essential - I feel for the ones that have lost their jobs due to this crazy CoVi-19) and just want to get into my PJ's and not do a thing!
That being said, I need to get back to where I was before I had my surgery in 2018. Any suggestions on where to start? I have gone over my post-surgery diet plan from Dr. Rodriguez and it seems so distant to me that I don't' think I'll ever get back to under 200 again, must less my goal weight.
Any thoughts (good or bad) are welcome - no judging here! Feels good to be back and I promise I'll be here going forward.
Desari
Barbara McKeown 
Good Morning!
I made this video explaining the surgical instruments I use during your Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Regards
Dr. Alvarez
Don't get caught up in what BMI charts say and remember, this is a marathon, not a race. Best way to lose weight in my opinion is to cut out snacking. Easier said than done. If you're craving a snack and are gonna cave, brush your teeth instead. That fresh feeling will kill the urge to snack. Also, go for a walk. Walks help a lot. Especially now that it's summer, it feels good to sweat it out. Keep on keepin on.
Do you drink with your meals? If so, try cutting that out. I still do the 30/30/30 rule...mostly. No drinking 30 min prior to eating. Try to take 30 min to eat (pretty impossible) be no drinking for 30 min after you finish eating. It helps let your stomach digest the food and absorb nutrients rather than the food getting flushed through quicker by fluids. I ask because early on post surgery if I drank too soon after a meal, it would cause me to vomit the food back up.
Also, I'm sure you've had the diet down since you're so long post op bit softer foods are easier on everything. Eat oatmeals and soups and stew etc. Might be worth a try.
I've had setbacks too and have gained starting with foot surgery in January, I need to get back down! I'll be calling my doctor or the nurse about my weight gain, I need to get this under control. I haven't been able to do as much exercise since Jan and I know that's part, but stress eating also, not anything off protocol but has to be portion sizes too!
What meds did he give you? I've had some of them, just not recently, I too have gained since all this started! Stress eating again!
Watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yskYgL04fko
It might explain for you. I did this and it helped along with the Whole30 diet program. The meds gave me the kick start I needed to start this program. My doctor would only give me the phentermine. I lost about 12 lbs in about 5 weeks without calorie counting or measuring. Just cut out my problem foods. There is tons of info on Whole 30 online, you don't need to pay for a program. Walmart has a lot of its compliant products. Your weight gain might not feel like a lot to some people but you do not want to let it get out of control again. Its a slippery slope.
