I'm 5 years out. I went back to school also. I've regained about 60 pounds of the 230 I originally lost. I went back to my surgeon's office. They ran tests. My pouch is still small. I still have struggled. I'm working with a doctor, nutritionist, trainer and therapist. It's an ongoing struggle. My doctor says I'm addicted to processed foods and sugar. I'm trying to go back to square one. My therapist said not to be so hard on myself. That it takes time to make permanent long-lasting changes. Pat yourself on your back for what you have done. Be kind to yourself and start over. I understand feeling like a failure. But we are only failures if we permanently give up.

It's very individual.  If you are at the weight you like then you are getting the right amount of calories.  If you want to lose a bit then you need to drop down the calories.  Are you tracking your food now so you know where you currently are at?

I would think that's about right.  I'm 7 years out, and I consume around 1400 calories a day to maintain where I am at.

Gastric was 2002 so it's been almost 13 years. Stress high, 18 months ago I went off doctor prescribed hydrocodones for my bad knees & joints. Pain still high so doctor put me on suboxone strips (under my tongue) to get my body off the long time use of pain meds & we found that the suboxone actually helps control my pain! That's a huge plus! I have been using suboxone foe 18 months now. I started gaining weight when I quit the pain pills & stared the suboxone. Had my thyroid checked & now I take one synthroid 75 MCG a day, 2 trazodone 50 MG at night, 1 cymbalta 60 MG cap. I hate being so huge again. I cannot stop craving food. I think about food all of the time. I even wake from a sound sleep & the first thing I think about is a snack & going potty (in that order) WHY? Did the hydrcodone suppress my appetite? Does the suboxone increase it? I make up my mind to eat sensible but I don't. I'm craving carbs, fats, sugar. Calories are much too high. Exercise is too difficult with this broken down body. I MISS THE FEELING OF HIGH - GLOW - CHEERFUL & lower pain that pills gave me. Bad? yes! Now I'm rarely happy. Up at 5 & then work 7 to 7. Cook & serve sickly husband...clean up after him. Do all of the home chores myself. Feed him, feed the pets, feed me last. Clean, wash, laundry, errands, grandchildren, to bed & then do it all over again. I hate looking in the mirror. I have clothes from large to 4X in my closets. I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself with the one more bite mentality. Where did the desire & excitement do? Why did I give up? I'm losing at many things but NOT the weight. I've gained 100lbs :(  A voice in my head kept saying that this apple pie slice won't matter. I'm sick of diet soda & it doesn't taste good anymore. I drink 5 cokes, whole milk, vanilla latte coffees, cheetoes, apple pie, buttered toast, etc.  I hate meat. Can't choke a vegetable down. Eat fruit maybe twice a month. Wish I never had to COOK again. I'd get rid of the food in my cabinets & never buy butter again. But husband wants the traditional southern cooked meals every night. Don't advise me to tell him to cook for himself. Married 44 years & he hasn't cooked, washed a dish or done a chore yet. He never will unless I die or somehow leave him. It's all on me. And I have to work those long hours too. No choice there. I suspect the meds are messing with me. Causing the carb cravings. Am I crazy? I'm so disgusted when I look at my lovely clothes & can't wear them. 100 lbs has robbed my joy, my youthful outlook, me. Who is that huge woman in the mirror?