My 5 Year Anniversary!

I had my gastric sleeve done July 18, 2011 in Mexicali by Dr. Aceves.  He was a wonderful doctor, but sadly, he was killed in a private plane crash a few years ago. 

I love my sleeve and i have no regrets at all!  My lowest weight was 134 from 217 and it took me 8 months to get there.  I have slowly crept back up to 147 and that is where I stay most days.  Weight will absolutely come back if you don't change your eating style.  Getting a sleeve is not a free ticket to thinness. 

Even though meat fills me up very fast, foods like crackers or popcorn are difficult to feel in my stomach so I can eat too much (sliders).  I feel good most of the time, but I do have hypoglycemia now if I eat something with a high-sugar content.  My blood sugar jumps up and then drops very low within an hour.  I do try to avoid sugary foods and stick to fruits and vegetables.  I fill up fast with meat, noodles, rice or bread so I avoid those foods. (I do try to eat meat once a day, though.)   I have a love-hate relationship with food...I get hungry, but when I eat I often feel lousy for a while afterward.  The key is to eat slowly and not very much at a sitting.  I am a nurse so eating slowly is a challenge since our breaks are often fast.

Get a sleeve, but eat right and exercise to keep yourself from becoming unhealthy again. 

Wow great milestone. Appreciate the advice.  Keep up the good work

Thank you!

Thanks for the post. you are so right that reaching goal weight is not a license to pig out. Still gotta watch the eating and stay with the new habits you have formed.  Good on you. I eat no carbs except in veggies and a rare tortilla and its just gotta be that way. 6 years and about 6 lbs regain. Still not a minutes regret.  gl.   diane

Thank you!

No regrets here either.  It has been a great ride.  Last year due to losing my brother who I was extremely close with, and 5 weeks later losing my daughter in law and watching my son go through what must be the toughest thing to deal with, I lost focus on me and gained 20 lbs.  It sucked,  but as of May I regrouped and have lost 15 of the 20 and am almost there.  I am really happy that I was able to reel myself back in before it got totally out of hand. 

I did find that I do have restriction and I was able to just go back to basics and deal with it all.  I kept telling myself that my brother would want this for me and it helped me when I felt at my weakest.  It's been a tough year and a half now and though I miss both of them tons,  I know that they are looking out for me, so I am doing the best I can for me.

It is important to eat right, take vitamins, drink plenty of water and for me....walking is my thing.  This week it has been pretty difficult at 105* .... hate the heat!!  I have instead, been keeping myself busy with sewing and making hair bows for the grand-girls. 

Keep up the good work and,  Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary.  Yayyyy!!!

Sorry to hear of the loss you had to deal with and I can understand how that can add stress and cause a change in habits. Glad to hear you responded well and are back on track. It is nice to hear long term success stories, thank you for sharing, inspirational. I am only 20 months out, I plan on being a long term success story! Have a great day! Mike

You are doing great!  It definitely is a work in progress...forever!

Hi Judy , Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your long term success. Very inspirational and at 20 months post op I can relate to what you are saying. I feel the sleeve has given me a tool to change my lifestyle and eating habits and while it gets tougher every day, I remain diligent. have a great day!

Great job and stay strong!