How hard are you finding it to maintain ??

Nah, it's not luck.  It was picking the surgery that was right for me.

Honestly, I think that "tool" saying is more of an RNY/band thing.  DSers generally don't say that because the surgery does the work for us.  There have actually been threads on the DS board to that effect - that we don't have a "tool" we need to work.

Come over to the DS board - most of our grads will sing the same tune as me, regarding effortless maintenance.  There are a few of us who haven't gotten to goal, and there are a few of us who have to eat sugar to keep the weight on, but both of these cases are extreme and limited.  Most DSers live like me - protein first, veggies next, take your vitamins, lather, rinse, repeat.

I am glad that is how it works for you.  I chose RNY because my goal was to resolve my diabetes and all the research I did very solidly supported RNY as the choice.  I have been fortunate that I have succeeded in that endeavor.

I  had researched the DS and decided it was not the way I would have gone regardless of the diabetes - but you are right - we have to choose what is right for us.  While I don't subscribe to the saying "no Pain, no Gain", I feel like if I don't have to contribute to my own success, and it sounds like that is the way it is with DS according to your description "the surgery does the work for us", then perhaps I am not learning anything about why I overate and why it is important to learn new ways of living, etc.  Again, just my own opinion.  I have been accused by uninformed people too many times of taking the easy way out.  If they only knew...LOL

Nope, I will continue to work this every day and be focused on healthy ways to eat and live...because I know too well what the alternative is.

Cheers...Barb

I'm almost 5 years out. Here's my RNY story in a nut shell and mataining. I lost and got down to 114 to low for ME even thought my BMI was on the high end of normal. Both PCP and WLS wanted me to gain a little so I got to 118-125 and everyone was fine. I MAINTAINED there untill I started to get lazy and started GRAZING and eating all the time. I got back up to 141. I statred watching what I ate and logging what I ate and stopped grazing I am now back down to 132 and would still like to get back to 125-120.   I eat anything and everything with in reason. I eat carbs, I eat bread, pasta, rice, whatever just in much smaller portions. You can maintain as long as you don'e go over board and follow a few simple rules.   I really don't 'thing about food all the time'. I'm never really hungery it's more of head hunger. I still dump if I eat the wrong thing for me to much fat, sugar or such and I wanted that to help me maintain.
You  should look at how and why you eat and then chose which revision would be right for you RNY or DS. There are pro and cons with each You can eat normal and matain with wach. It's just a different defination of normal.
Good Luck,
Robin

I have to agree that it takes work. I have been successfully maintaining for over 2yrs now, but  have to admit that I've gained and lost the same 5-7lbs many times over this time frame. I guess the good thing I've learned is that the tool still works if I work the tool. I'm not perfect with my eating everyday, but strive to do my best most days. Also, exercise has become a part of my daily routine and I truly believe that this has been the biggest help to my maintaining. There are many challenges, but its well worth the challenge and occasional struggle. As far as feeling full, yes I do feel full, but can definitely eat the amount of food that I imagine a "normal" person would eat. Good Luck to you on your revision.

Hi Susan,

I had my RNY about 16 months ago, so it might be a little early for me to talk about maintenance. I steadily dropped weigh until about 6 months ago, then held steady until about 2 months ago when I started dropping again. I've upped my calorie intake and upped the carb/fat ratio to protien and my weight has come back up a few pounds and stabilized again. I don't think I'm obsessive about food. I lead with protien, the complex carbs, then whatever else I want and have room for, which to be honest isn't all that much. I get in about 2000 calories a day with 5 to 6 small meals a day. I think that the biggest thing I do to help keep my weight in check is that I am accountable to myself. For me, that means that I weigh every morning and I log what I eat. I weigh because for so many years I would go for weeks or months without getting on the scale. Now I know what I weigh within a pound or two on any given day. If I go up more than 3 lbs, I know I need to trim back some of my choices to get back to where I want to be. I also log what I eat because I need to pay attention. When I pay attention, I noticed that in general, I make better choices. Not because someone will see my choices and make a judgement about them, but because when I see them in black and white, I realize when I'm just feeding myself garbage and I'm worth more than that.

Statistically speaking, 80% of RNY patients will meet their goal of 60 to 80% loss of excess weight and will retain that loss 10 years post op. 10% will experience enough regain to no longer fall into the minimal 60% loss, so will no longer be considered successful, but will not regain all of their weight. They may lose back into their successful weight loss area agian, much like Carnie Wilson. The other 10% will either never realize a successful excess weight loss or will regain all of the weight that the lost. Through a number of studies, it appears that while there is a rare instance of mechanical failure, usually the problem is behavioral, because anyone can outeat any of the WLS that are currently available.

I think that you'll need to look at your own cir****tances and personality with your surgeon and assess the various options available to you. I honestly don't think that there is a one-size fits all answer.

I wish you all the best as you look for the best option for yourself.

Barb

Hi Susan,

I'll answer my experience.

1)  Is it impossible to maintain?  For me it hasn't been real hard to stay within my range weight.  I had one slight variance of 4 lbs above my goal weight and within a week of refocusing and doing what I know works I had lost those plus 2 more.

2)  My biggest challenge is boredom eating........I do have to work on mindless eating but so far have been able to do pretty good.  My other challenge is sweets, wish I hadn't tested my surgery to see if I could eat them.

3)  Do I still get full on small amounts?  Yes, depending on what I eat.  I'll give you a couple of examples ~~ cottage cheese = about 6 oz; chicken (white meat grilled) with vegetables = about 3 1/2 to 4 oz of chicken and 1/2 cup of vegetables.

13 mths. out from RNY, down from 282 to 122, just had Tummy Tuck Aug. 26.  My body is adjusting from the TT, but these last two weeks leveling off at 122-124 so I think that is where my body wants to be.  I am starting work Mon. because my kids are all in school, hubby deployed with the Army, and I find myself grazing alot at home alone.  I find if I stay busy, and away from the food I do really well.  I am a stress, boredom eater, and I am going to fight that forever.  Best of luck to you.  I think this is alot of trial and error.  I am hoping that my body will heal quickly so I can get back into exercising like I was prior to TT.  Now I can just walk.  Have a great weekend! 

I am currently 2 years 3 months out from RNY. So far I have not had a problem maintaining... honestly Ive found it pretty easy *knock on wood*. I dont food log or measure any more but keep basic track in my head, Im a pretty plain eater and basically rotate thru the same foods so that is easy for me. I weigh daily and keep a close eye on the scale - my weight bounces up and down a few pounds but I know if I hit 150lbs that I need to keep a better eye and watch what I am eating so it will drop back down (I usually am around 147-148, the 150 is my panic point!).
My personal challenge is keeping veggies in my diet, I am not a big fan and they like to sneak out so I have to stay concious about it. I am also madly in love with cheese and have to control myself around it so my fat intake doesnt go thru the roof. I also go on a 'sweets kick' now and then (I never liked sweets pre-op, this all developed post-op) and have to keep my 'treats' in check... nothing to major, just me holding myself accountable.
I eat a pretty decent amount now, at least compared to when I was first pre-op... my meals are around 1.5-2 cups each... its enough where people dont question how I eat (like WOW you barely ate etc) but its no where near what I use to eat. I find my pouch works differently at different times... one day I can eat a whole of something, another time maybe half... I have to stay aware and not 'mindlessly eat' and keep focused on my meals... you dont want to eat past the point of satisifcation/fullness and have to learn to listen to your boyd.
So far I am extremely thrilled and have been blessed to have had such an easy time with my journey, I keep my fingers crossed that things wont change and I can go on being a 'normal' person and not have to be a super food nazi and keep track of every morsel. I strived from the beginning to eat a balanced diet and eat foods that I like/enjoy but make them in a healthier way. I did not ban any foods, I just have food I choose to no longer eat. Do I eat perfect all the time? Nope, but I try to keep a good balance and still enjoy my 'treats' on occasion.