9 years out from WLS I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!!

At two years - this is good info to know!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the inspiration! I'm almost 10 months out and definitely still in the honeymoon stage. So far, so good, but it really helps to remember that this tool will only work if I do my part. It is great to read from vets that have had long-term success. So many of the posts from veterans are about needing to get back on track after a significant (at least significant to them) weight gain. Hats off to you and congratulations on 9 years of healthy living!!!

Hi Ginger -
Thanks for taking the time to share your post.  I LOVE to hear from the veterans who have had long-term success.  I am only 8 months into my journey and up until this point I have never missed one day weighing my food and journaling it and I have been hitting the gym 5-6 days per week.  I still have a lot of weight to lose and I am a little nervous on how I will do long term.  I only went with restrictive surgery (sleeve) so I don't have malabsorption on my side to help.  While I could technically get the DS as the second part of the operation, I prefer not to for two reasons.  1:  My insurance will not pay for any more bariatric surgery. It was a four month battle to get them to pay for the sleeve.  2.  I really prefer not to get my intestines rerouted unless absolutely necessary. 

I totally agree with you that we have to incorporate healthy habits and quite honestly I am sometimes a little shocked when I see posters on the board say that they don't get in any exercise at all.  I hate, hate, hate to exercise. However, I know that when I even did weigh****chers in the past, I lost weight when I did two things.  Weigh and journal my food AND exercise.  While I did pretty good with WW, it was never long-term success.  For some reason I would get derailed (death in the family, just didn't care anymore, etc).  I continue to go to WW even post surgery - surgery can fix so much but not our "head".  I also tried attending a bariatric group, however, most of the members there were struggling and gaining their weight back and they weren't exercising, etc.  Not faulting them, however, at this point in my journey I REALLY need to be around positive influences. 

If you have any other advice for us success to share with us newbies, we would LOVE to hear to hear it.  Thanks again.
 

 

All I can say is.....don't ever stop what you are doing.  Weigh****chers and other "DIETS" work but we go on them and off them.  Unfortunately that is what some people do when they have weight loss surgery....they listen short term to their surgeon and then they go back to their bad habits.....

YOU HAVE TO CREATE HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISE HABITS FOR A LIFE TIME!!!

A LIFESTYLE CHANGE....After a while it is just second nature.....I don't even think about it any more....and when i don't exercise I actually miss it!  I hated to exercise before! 

Good luck with your journey,

Ginger

 
Thank you so much for this post.  I am glad that you are being honest about your journey. I didnt realize that you would be able to eat as much as before after a while.  Its an eye-opener.  I will make sure I adopt eating habits that will last forever I dont want to be like this anymore after going through such a drastic change.

thank you! 

Well, I can't eat as much as I did before surgery.....because that was like more than a Thanksgiving dinner and I still wasn't full!  My pouch does work, it tells me when I am full.  I just have to listen to it.  Also, if I chose to I could eat all day long...grazing on high caloric food all day will put the weight on. 

I have learned to discipline myself....I am not saying I don't mess up now and then I do.  I will find myself stress eating and have to stop myself!  But now I can stop myself before I ate when I was happy, sad, mad or glad emotionally eating.  

The surgeon does surgery on our stomach not our heads....we have to do that part!  And sometimes we need help.  I did small groups with a counselor....it really helped. 

Take care, 

Ginger 

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and posting this!  I am a little over a year out and 1 pound away from 'goal'.  But for me, I'm not going to concentrate on the number on the scale anymore as much as the way my body feels.  It feels so good to be able to exercise and I couldn't agree with you more - we need to make it a lifetime commitment to eating right and exercising in order to keep our weight off.  I was one of the one's who always made exuses for why I didn't exercise.  Now I am at a point where I LOVE to work out and like you, I miss it when I don't. 

Ginger - I have lost more than 100 pounds four different times in my life.  The last time I lost 134 lbs but ALWAYS, every time, I gained every pound back plus more!   Now, with surgery, I have lost 158 lbs.  I totally get what you are saying because maintainence scares the heck out of me!!!!  I've never ever been able to do it!    This surgery is only a tool and now that I'm coming up on the end of my 'honeymoon' period' and I know, maintaining my weight loss is only going to happen if I continue to work hard at making good food choices and continuing to exercise...for life.

Anyways, thanks for posting!!  You are an inspiration!

Nan

 

I am right there with you Nan, I lost 100 lbs twice and 50 and 75 lbs so many times....only to gain it back plus more.  In my lifetime I probably have lost as much as 1000 lbs.  This is the only time it has worked for me.  I think it is because I have a full switch I can for the first time in my life feel when I am full and I know when to stop!  Although I can eat more now than in the beginning I know when to stop.  Sometimes I have to tell myself you are full stop.

I just want everyone to know it is so important to make it a lifestyle change....so the weight will stay off!  I can gain 5-10 lbs in a weekend now and that is scary!  So, I stay on top of it so that doesn't happen...but also if I am up a little I just work harder and get it off and not let the few lbs become 50 lbs.  

Keep up the good work!!

Ginger