Question:
I am 13 months postop and want to know if people over 1 year out still lose??

Hi: I am 13 months postop and am down 172 pounds. That being said, I really need to lose another 60-100 to be at a healthier weight. I was wondering if anyone has continued to lose after 1, 2, or even 3 years out??? My best friend had surgery in 2005. Her doctor told her at 1 1/2 years she was done losing. She ended up continuing weight loss (albeit slow) for another year. She started at 300 pounds and went down to 150. Am I wrong in assuming that the majority of people do not typically lose half their weight?? Of course she also worked out EVERY day and took all her vitamins/supplements every day and ate really well. She also had NO complications whatsoever, whereas my surgery started out with dehydration, then I developed blood clots, for which I was bedridden for 2 1/2 months, and I also developed anemia and then 6 months out I had a gallbladder attack and had my gallbladder removed. I still battle anemia with lightheadedness and honestly I have not done any exercise to speak of...just limited walking here and there and that's it! I do not know how I have lost as much as I have, except that I'm eating better than I ever have in my life. Also, I am not good about taking my vitamins/supplements. I take my iron and that is all. I HATE protein shakes or anything with that disgusting protein powder in it. I know I do not get all my protein on a daily basis, but I do my best. I have days where I feel like I can eat a lot (not TONS, but maybe more than I should be able to) and then I have days where I feel like I eat like a mouse...hardly anything at all! It amazes me how much this surgery can fluctuate on a daily basis in terms of what your body can and can't handle. Any thoughts here would be appreciated! Thanks!    — ALafferty (posted on September 1, 2008)

September 1, 2008
Aloha Anya, I am 3yrs 2 months out and I have lost 315 pounds. I want to lose another 40 to 45 pounds. Yes I am still loosing. I just keep excersing its hard but my doc say I can get it off. I eat 6 times a day just 3 or 4 bites and I am full. I really try to watch what I eat. email me at [email protected] if you have any questions. Kemalani
   — kemalani

September 1, 2008
You really need to be taking good "liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement like VEMMA, especially if you tend to be anemic. A lack of vitamins / minerals will lead to major problems. Vemma has 1000 IU of vit. D3, very important for bones and teeth. Go to www.TrySomeVemma.com
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 1, 2008
I am four and half years post op,I lost 265 lbs in 15 months by following my program.i would have continued to loose but did not want to go any lower so i had to work to increase my calories with out adding any sugar(i dump big time)so instead of eating a serving of potatoes or pasta or sometimes bread once a week I do it almost every day now.While loosing I only ate protein and veggies and once a week i rewarded myself with one serving of a potatoe or pasta(1/4 cup) no bread, it stuck and one starbucks frappicino lite .once i got past the initial first 6 months this is really an easy way for me to live.I now have a 10 lb float that i work with .Every day i weigh if i am in the first 5 lbs of my 10 lbs i can have a serving of a carb that day if i am in the second half of the 10 lbs i do not eat any carbs until the scale goes back to the first part of the float .sometimes it takes more than a day or two for it to return sometimes not.I still excerise,drink my water and have 2 to 3 protein supplements a day.The supplements insure that my nutrition needs are met and curb my desire to eat I still rarely am hungry but sometimes get the munchies(old habits die hard) especially at nite so i reach for a protein break and usually it does the trick.I still work at this and know i always will have to put a lot of effort in it but i do not want to go back to 440 lbs and i have seen it happen to others who sometimes get complacent .Ther have been a couple of times this has happened to me.I went back to the basics like i first started out and got myself back on track.I used the 5 day proteins only to do this.Congradulatios on your sucess keep it up u can get there .What else in your life has been easy?proberly not much where your weight is concerned if it had we wouldn't have needed the surgery .
   — Bette Drecktrah

September 1, 2008
You need protein to keep your muscle mass built up. And exercise, too. If you lose muscle mass, your metabolism drops, which means it is even harder to lose the weight. Try getting your protein in somehow and increase that exercise - even if all you do is walk - walk a little further each time, until you get in at least 30 minutes exercise a day. By doing these two things, your metabolism should increase, and you should start losing. And are ou drinking your water? That also helps. I know it is difficult, but you've come this far - don't stop now :)
   — Wendy M.

September 1, 2008
I am so encouraged reading your post. If I was to follow a traditional ht/wt chart I need to lose 300 pounds or a bit more. More realistically I will try to drop about 240 pounds and maintain. So hearing your story and the other responses to your posting really enourage me. I don't have advice, just these words of thanks. I will have RNY this Fall. Cheers from Canada and thanks to all of you for these posts. /Mike
   — mountainmike

September 2, 2008
I am almost 3 years postop - DS 10/2005. Day of surgery I weighed 308 and I currently weigh approx 135. Like others have posted, I have a 5lb window that I feel comfortable with. I weigh myself every day and if I go over the 5 lb window I change my eating habits. I was starting to go over 140 on a regular basis and realized that I was eating too many sugar carbs. I still love chocolate and ice cream - sigh... The good news is that if I up my exercise and protein, it goes back down. This was never an option in my pre-surgery life. I feel like a real person. I know I still have to watch what I eat, get enough protein, get enough exercise, get enough water, take my supplements, etc. but I CAN DO IT! That is part of the wonder of this surgery. It allowed me to move from constant failure to having the capacity to be successful. From what you wrote, you know what you need to do. Go do it! You can do it and it will make you feel great when you do what you need to. Focus on one day at a time or even on part of a day and then pat yourself on the back when you have done what you need to do to get closer to your goal. Good luck and take care of yourself, you deserve it. You are wonderfully made and you are meant to reach your goal. Resolved VA
   — ResolvedVA

September 2, 2008
Yes, people can continue to lose weight 1, 2, and 3 years out. However, the people who continue losing tend to do so because they are still following the guidelines set out by their surgeon/nutritionist. The anemia and lightheadedness would probably improve if you started taking your vitamins/supplements and consumed an adequate amount protein... anemia/lightheadedness are caused by more than just lack of iron. If you want to continue losing and drop the 60-100lbs, you are probably going to need to start exercising. The internal part of WLS, restriction and malabsorption, starts to decline the further out from surgery you are. As the internal part decreases, you have to focus on the external part--food choices and exercise. Whether or not you continue to lose is up to you... Good luck.
   — mrsidknee