Anyone else just live their life?

Im 7.5 years post op now.

I was 265 when I started.

I hit a low of 135 in a year..

Bounced up to 155 for the last few.

Finally had a tummy tuck and now hovering in the 140-143 region. And I still have my legs to do.

I don't count calories, carbs, sugars, or the like. I eat what I want, when I want.

My coffee always has 6-7 sugars, I love starbucks, Fries and much more. Im a 2 Soda a day girl at minimum.I should be better about my vitamins (I've been hospitalized twice for anemia).. but otherwise am health fine. I eat all day long (sure it's small meals because I can't really physically eat any more.. even though I want to and even though I will eat half a sandwhich when a quarter would really make me feel fine). I don't excersize (I work A LOT) nor do the protein route.

Is there anyone else like me? I've met other DS people who act like I am everything wrong with the surgery.. that I make it seem like you don't have to work at it.. Well to be honest.. I really havent. If I wanna lose weight.. I just cut down the sugar.. For example when Im at work on shoot days (I work in the entertainment industry) I can easily lose 1-2 lbs that week without trying. .. But the truth of the matter is I am simply the same fat girl who had the surgery. I DWELL on food and eating. I have NO DESIRE to cut my carbs or sugars.. I'm not a basketball, hiking kinda girl.. But yet... My weight has stayed the same.

I may not be the POSTER CHILD of how this surgery should be done, or why you should have it.. But I will not hide the fact of this is who I am.

-Monica

the DS is wonderful.  It allows us to eat pretty much normally and maintain our weight loss  You seem to have found the balance for yourself.

I am a little concerned about your supplement comment.  How much "better" do you need to be?  Are you having your blood work done regularly?  What are your levels like?  Your lab results will tell the story of whether your supplements and diet are sufficient to maintain your health long term.

At five years out, I too am maintaining my weight loss, while eating "normally".  My sodas are Diet Coke, but I do eat sugar and starches in many other ways.  What I am vigilant about is making sure I take all of my vitamins and staying on top of my lab work, tweaking my regime as needed.  And since I love meat and seafood and cheese, it is easy for me to stay on top of my protein levels.

I'm a lot like you.  I don't really count anything, but keep a mental tally of how much protein I've eaten.  I only do shakes if I don't think I've eaten enough, and keep protein bars around to keep me away from Snickers -- however I do allow some sweets every day.  I am mindful not to fill my day with too many simple carbs aside from my daily sweet treat and morning toast, but I don't count or log anything either.  I also graze to get enough to eat every day, and drink a bunch of diet coke every day and am totally addicted to it.  I do try to take all of my vitamins when I"m on a good work schedule.  I'm not working right now so I'm off my routine, I'm afraid, so I remember 2/3 of the time.  Overall, it's been pretty easy for me, too.

Hi Monica,

I'm 18 months out from D.S. surgery. I eat what ever I want too, like sugar in my tea- 4 spoons of brown sugar, and 4 more in my oatmeal with raisins, every morning. If I eat more sugary foods, and ice cream with this kind of breakfast I gain slowly past where I like to be. I have no trouble drinking any kind of protein mixed drinks to insure I get 120-150g protein a day. My recent labs show I am low protein, and hypoglycemic. I dont really eat enough calories, nor do I count them. I dont count carbs or fat either. This week I eliminated sugar, and carbs, upped the protein shakes, adding 1/2 C heavy cream to all my 16oz shakes. They tasted like melted ice cream. I use Dymatize Elite protein powder. My shakes are double scoop, 50g protein each. I have 2-3 a day, sometimes adding protein lemonade drinks to my day, because I love them, and more protein is good for my health.

I worry about my bone health if I short change my protein intake. Sure we can get away with eating all kinds of foods, unlike other weight loss surgeries. What about our health? I don't know how old you are, but losing bone, and muscle because of not eating enough protein is a road no one should travel down. I eat lots of dairy- cream, cheese, ice cream, protein shakes. I like potato chips better than french fries, dip them in chive cream cheese. I can eat a normal amount of them, but feel bloated when a drink swells them up in my tiny tummy. I eat all the foods that made me gain all my weight, but not every day. I still have quite a bit of tummy restriction being less than 2 years out from surgery. My weight has hovered 3 lbs either side of 120. After body plastics, I will be 111 lbs, once the swelling is gone. My healthy range, says my nutritionist , is 115-125 for my 5'4" height. i plan on adding 4 lbs If I can. My plastic surgeon doesn't like BMI as a measure, because it doesn't take into consideration muscle. i have a lot of muscle, from weight lifting at the gym.

The difference between now and then- pre VS post surgery, is I don't want to be that person any more. I like the new me, thin, post body contouring, breast and butt  augumentation( 8 lbs of skin removed). Next is a face lift, then thighs and arms. I want these surgeries to be easy for the surgeon to remove all my excess skin, and a few layers of fat. The before and after plastic photos I see of heavy women are no where near what I want to look like in the end. They are still thick in the middle. I am enjoying being thin, and turning heads for a change. My scars are very flat, with bone and toned muscle behind them. 

Really, health is the bottom line issue. Exercising is important for brain health, increasing blood flow, and oxygen for brain function. You don't have to work out for weight loss. I am not surprised you are still eating as you always did. i read the one thing the surgeon can't change with any weight loss surgery, or plastic surgery is what is in a persons head that made them become morbidly obese. Then we are who we are in spite of a super surgery to help us get to a healthy weight. Depending on your height, the weights you posted are fine, in the normal range. Lots of people would rather see a few lbs over weight to fill in the wrinkles, and lose skin. My ultimate goal is to be as healthy as I can for  painless longevity. With my 135 lb loss, I don't have arthritic hip and knee pain with walking. I was also having trouble breathing laying down flat to sleep. I don't ever want to revisit those days again. I had cancer too. They removed it all, now I'm scared straight. Hoping to find Healthy. !!!!!  

To each his own they say. Enjoy your eating and foods that make you happy. I hope you can make a few additions  in the protein and calcium category, for your health, and longevity. Enjoy Life.   ;-)

You're lucky!  I'm not that lucky.  Darn it!  And if you are still doing great weight wise at almost 8 years out, that's probably your normal!

How inspiring this message was for me!  I am just 6 mo out.  Have lost a lot of weight but have little things pop up daily. 

I have not got my energy back but I have hope!

All the replies from everyone have given me hope!

Wishing everyone the best!

Monique,

I'm right there with you!!  I almost think this is too good to be true at times!  I will be three years post-op in June and went from a high of 252 to a low of 142.  I had maintained that weight until about the last two months, and now am up to 154.

Other than that gain, I have just lived life.  I rarely ever exercise.  I eat anything and everything I want.  Now, with that said, some things do come back to haunt me later, like carby sweets.  Pie is the devil because I LOVE it, but it doesn't love me back.  I just can't believe how easy this ride has been.   

Glad to see there are others like me!

Thanks for your post, but you have a bunch of twins out here.  The key is to make sure you stay on your vitamins and supplements....they are key, and of course protein, but I'm bad...I get protein thru my food.  Since I had this surgery my taste buds have changed to being much healthier. I use to like McDonald, and french fries, but my body loves apple grilled salmon, that healthy crap, and a bunch of Popeyes...yum.  That is the only thing, and oh, I love my Pepsi...but overall I tend to eat much healthier....not too crazy about chips like I use to be after the surgery.  Strange....my weight is high, but I like and feel good just where I am.  I guess during the swimsuite season I could be smaller,...but naw, I'm straight.

Your story sounds similar to mine. I just live. I maintain my weight without effort and no counting. However, I have started to work out as I want to become stronger and healthier( ie. raising my good cholesterol). People can't believe that I have ever had weight loss surgery.i bounce between 135 and 142 depending on my cycle. My size never changes despite weight gain or loss.