VSG Maintenance Group
5 Years Tomorrow (xpost)
I put this out on the main board, but thought I'd include it here as well. So very glad to have this board--it really helps!!
My, how time flies when you’re having fun!
Tomorrow is my 5 year surgiversary, and I thought I would take some time to reflect on what life as a VSGer is like for me now.
A little background: I am 58, so 53 when I had surgery, and though I was a relative lightweight, needing to lose 100 pounds or so, I was suffering from pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, sleep apnea, horrible cholesterol and GERD. I am happy to report that today, 105-110 pounds lighter, everything but the blood pressure has resolved itself. ( My doctor says my bp is hereditary and it was high when I was young and slim as well.)
During the losing phase, I was VERY strict, stayed on my program (LapSF—my surgeon was Dr. Cirangle’s partner at the time). It took me about 9 months to get the bulk of the weight off and then I lost a little more over the next 6 months.
My restriction is still very good, about 4-5 ounces of dense protein if that’s all I eat. I still limit bread, pasta, crackers, potatoes, rice, cookies, cakes, etc. I do usually have some chocolate or a couple of pieces of hard candy every day, but I don’t bring trigger foods, like ice cream, into the house. Though my appetite is not what it was pre-surgery, I do get hungrier now, but head hunger is by far the bigger problem. I fight my tendency to graze and to snack in the evening. I try to have snacks on hand that won’t do too much damage, like veggies or sunflower seeds. Or even cheese, which will fill me up.
I now exercise, which I didn’t do while losing weight. I do cardio for an hour 3x a week, and strength and resistance training 2x a week.
Here’s the main thing I want to stress:
Maintenance is harder than losing the weight.
Losing the weight takes a year or two; maintenance, if we’re lucky, is forever! And the longer out from surgery, the more the old habits want to come back. I think that’s why you hear vets harp so much about the honeymoon period—during that first year, the weight will come off without too much effort, so it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it will always be like that and that you’ll be able to “eat whatever you want, just smaller quantities.ÂÂ" That may work for a lucky few, but not for the vast majority of people I know. So the first year is as much about forming new habits and relationships with food as it is about losing weight.
Maintenance is very individual—we all have different tastes, triggers, metabolisms, activity levels, age, etc. etc. So it is a constant work in progress, finding out what works and what doesn’t. What works for me is:
Keeping my head in the game. I spend some time on OH every day, weigh myself every day and recently added a monthly support group.
Protein first. It was my mantra during weight loss, and it still is.
Recognize that it’s for life. Always in the past, the “dietÂÂ" was a thing I did and it was apart from my regular life. Now my diet, my way of eating, IS my regular way of life.
We recently went on a 3 week vacation in Europe and the Middle East, including a 12 day cruise. That was the longest I’ve ever gone without access to my own kitchen and regular foods. I’m so very pleased with myself—I didn’t gain any weight at all. I feel that I really have cemented some new eating habits, though I will never relax or make the mistake of thinking I’m “normal.ÂÂ"
If you’ve made it through all of this (whew!), here's a before pic and a few recent ones. Please let me know if answer any questions!!
Lizanne
The Before Picture:
Derby Day last May and my wild wacky hat:
In Egypt a week or so ago!
With my gorgeous daughter on the cruise ship:
My, how time flies when you’re having fun!
Tomorrow is my 5 year surgiversary, and I thought I would take some time to reflect on what life as a VSGer is like for me now.
A little background: I am 58, so 53 when I had surgery, and though I was a relative lightweight, needing to lose 100 pounds or so, I was suffering from pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, sleep apnea, horrible cholesterol and GERD. I am happy to report that today, 105-110 pounds lighter, everything but the blood pressure has resolved itself. ( My doctor says my bp is hereditary and it was high when I was young and slim as well.)
During the losing phase, I was VERY strict, stayed on my program (LapSF—my surgeon was Dr. Cirangle’s partner at the time). It took me about 9 months to get the bulk of the weight off and then I lost a little more over the next 6 months.
My restriction is still very good, about 4-5 ounces of dense protein if that’s all I eat. I still limit bread, pasta, crackers, potatoes, rice, cookies, cakes, etc. I do usually have some chocolate or a couple of pieces of hard candy every day, but I don’t bring trigger foods, like ice cream, into the house. Though my appetite is not what it was pre-surgery, I do get hungrier now, but head hunger is by far the bigger problem. I fight my tendency to graze and to snack in the evening. I try to have snacks on hand that won’t do too much damage, like veggies or sunflower seeds. Or even cheese, which will fill me up.
I now exercise, which I didn’t do while losing weight. I do cardio for an hour 3x a week, and strength and resistance training 2x a week.
Here’s the main thing I want to stress:
Maintenance is harder than losing the weight.
Losing the weight takes a year or two; maintenance, if we’re lucky, is forever! And the longer out from surgery, the more the old habits want to come back. I think that’s why you hear vets harp so much about the honeymoon period—during that first year, the weight will come off without too much effort, so it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it will always be like that and that you’ll be able to “eat whatever you want, just smaller quantities.ÂÂ" That may work for a lucky few, but not for the vast majority of people I know. So the first year is as much about forming new habits and relationships with food as it is about losing weight.
Maintenance is very individual—we all have different tastes, triggers, metabolisms, activity levels, age, etc. etc. So it is a constant work in progress, finding out what works and what doesn’t. What works for me is:
Keeping my head in the game. I spend some time on OH every day, weigh myself every day and recently added a monthly support group.
Protein first. It was my mantra during weight loss, and it still is.
Recognize that it’s for life. Always in the past, the “dietÂÂ" was a thing I did and it was apart from my regular life. Now my diet, my way of eating, IS my regular way of life.
We recently went on a 3 week vacation in Europe and the Middle East, including a 12 day cruise. That was the longest I’ve ever gone without access to my own kitchen and regular foods. I’m so very pleased with myself—I didn’t gain any weight at all. I feel that I really have cemented some new eating habits, though I will never relax or make the mistake of thinking I’m “normal.ÂÂ"
If you’ve made it through all of this (whew!), here's a before pic and a few recent ones. Please let me know if answer any questions!!
Lizanne
The Before Picture:
Derby Day last May and my wild wacky hat:
In Egypt a week or so ago!
With my gorgeous daughter on the cruise ship:
Below Goal.
~110 pounds lost. BMI
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This is for all those naysayers out there who tell us - you'll just gain it back (as if they actually knew what we are doing anyway). I really appreciate that you put it out there about cementing the new eating habits. I agree that this is the key to success (along with journaling to realistically track what the heck I'm doing). You are such a success and inspiration to all of us. Thank you for keeping your head in the game and corresponding with your peers frequently here on OH. It helps us all...HAPPY SURGIVERSARY! I hope that I may be as successful as you at 5 years out too!
Deb
P.S. LOVE the Derby Day hat!
Deb
P.S. LOVE the Derby Day hat!
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
You must permanently change your lifestyle if you want your weight loss to be permanent. You can do it!
Thanks for the info Lizanne. I enjoy reading about all those who are post-op for more than a couple of years, so thank you very much for sharing your experience with all of us.We all can learn valuable information from those who are living the experience of WLS. From the looks of things, you are enjoying life these days. May you have a lifetime of success.
HW:280 SW:270 OLD GW:190 NEW GW: 180 CW: 174
Hi Lizanne,
Thank you for your inspirational post. I love reading success stories of people who are further out. Five years is quite a landmark. During my pre-op, I remember my surgeon saying that where I was at in 5 years, would be the telling story. Obviously, you are a resounding success and an inspiration for those of us, who are following in your footsteps. I truly admire and respect how successful you are, and how you are living life to the fullest. It gives us all hope and something to strive towards.
Your words are so true. Maintenance is where the rubber meets the road and the real work begins. To be successful means a significant change in lifestyle, behaviors, and habits. It is very much a journey and we are never completely "there."
Thank you again,
Gail
P.S. Your daughter is as lovely as her mother. :).
Thank you for your inspirational post. I love reading success stories of people who are further out. Five years is quite a landmark. During my pre-op, I remember my surgeon saying that where I was at in 5 years, would be the telling story. Obviously, you are a resounding success and an inspiration for those of us, who are following in your footsteps. I truly admire and respect how successful you are, and how you are living life to the fullest. It gives us all hope and something to strive towards.
Your words are so true. Maintenance is where the rubber meets the road and the real work begins. To be successful means a significant change in lifestyle, behaviors, and habits. It is very much a journey and we are never completely "there."
Thank you again,
Gail
P.S. Your daughter is as lovely as her mother. :).
" 
Huge congratulations on your success at 5 yrs out. I have to give you a special thanks as I've admired you from when I first started my research. You have always given advice, a shoulder or whatever was needed, when it was needed. I truly believe you to be a beautiful person inside and out! Oh, and 58? No way, maybe 38!
Sandy
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up"
Mark Twain 
