I wouldn't call it a stall. Probably good practice at maintenance. I was hoping to be at 186 lbs at one year -- I was at 198.8. Today, nearly 12 months since that time I am, this morning, at 196.2 lbs.

I am very pleased that I am able to maintain in that general weight range (especially staying under 200!) but I so much want to reach that perceived goal of mine. 150 lbs down from my original weight of 336. I know what I need to do, just pushing myself to do it consistently for a couple of months is all it would take.

The great thing about VSG is that I really am not that hungry and I enjoy eating high protein snacks and I don't typically cheat on things I shouldn't be eating, i.e. breads, chips, chocolate, desserts, high calorie drinks etc. My big fault is that I enjoy a meal or two along with some wine when we have social activities planned, so I spike for a day or two and then work it off over the next 3-4 days. The most difficult are those evening events that are "nosh" type gatherings -- you know the ones, food sitting out all night to nibble on. The bain of any of us with weight loss surgery! You can nibble and drink and nibble, then break for 15 minutes, then right back at it -- all night long!

Maybe this is me reflecting on what I need to do and what I should avoid for a few months. I know if I can get down to 186 I could hold there and do the same thing as above and be one happy camper! So close, yet so far...

Thanks for listening . . . .

I've been in a virtual stall for 11 months! 198.8 on 5/1/2016 and 196 today. That being said, I am at a weight that is VERY close to my maintenance goal so I have not been overly bothered by it. But grim is right about calories in and out. Also, I do try to always drink at least 64 ounces of water, not mixed with anything, straigh****er everyday. . . . . it is doable. I do drink lots of other stuff too, much too much coffee, etc.

If the doctor recommends the additional weight loss I would heed that and get back to basics of a bariatric diet as much as you can. . . . that's what works, really.

Haven't posted in a long while since I have basically stalled since May 2016.  Weighed 198.8 that morning and today weight 196.3.  My original goal was 186 (150 pounds down).  My lowest weight since May 2016 was 195.6.

I have been pleased to maintain here for all this time as I feel good, I look good (in my opinion, lol) and I am in the "overweight" category at about 27 BMI.  Just still want to hit that magic number and be able to maintain that for a period of time.  It's kind of like I want that leeway that I would have at 186 that I just don't have at 196 (I really don't want to fluctuate above the 199.9 magic number, which I do occasionally at my current weight). 

It's not that I don't know how to lose that last 10 lbs. just I didn't think I would still be at that point for this many months!  Maybe I am just rambling about nothing right now!  I would still be about 26 BMI at 186, my physician is pleased where I am right now because of my age, 61.  This seems to be a bucket list kind of thing for me......

Anybody else been stuck this long like this???  Is it time for acceptance?

Just recently I had another episode of food being stuck.  It took literally hours to clear it up. 

Ate about 5 ozs of Chicken Cordon Bleu along with some green beans for evening meal at 5:15 p.m. I was still dealing with the pressure at 12:30 a.m. that night.  Finally, after numerous attempts to burp, belch, yada yada....  I had relief.  My guess is I ate a bit too fast and/or didn't chew quite enough.

Is that normal?  Most people on here mention food being stuck for maybe an hour or so at the longest.  Mine, 7 hours..... and it seems to get worse towards the end.  Usually not too bad the first 3-4 hours and is tolerable.

I know they switched mine to variable levels.....so that may help.  It was also time for a new machine for me . . . so the new machine was set that way.

I am using my old machine temporarily and I notice that I am pretty dry mouthed.  It is still set at a constant rate, so I would talk to your physician and see what they would recommend.

Also, I did a recent at home sleep study for my oxygen level and my level still is not anywhere good enough to stop using my cpap.  Alas, it looks like being obese had little to do with my sleep apnea.... d***!

Congrats!  All those things that just makes one smile..... :-)

B:  1 fried egg, 1/2 slice toast 1 sausage patty

S:  protein smoothie, i.e. 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 banana, 3 tblsp. frozen raspberries, 1 scoop Unjury vanilla protein powder, 1 NutraSweet packet.

L:  3/4 cup chicken chili with black beans

S:  lowfat cheese "BabyBel"

D:  1/2 brat, 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce, 3/4 cup of salad greens with sweet vinaigrette, a tablespoon of feta and 1 tablespoon of almonds and dried cranberries, 1 small wedge of grilled potato

water, water, water

Our sleeves give us a happy dance!!  I'm with you......

I had that same feeling about 12 months ago and it was an Ischemic colitis attack!  not fun at all.  Never had an issue with colitis before or since.

If you start feeling a little lightheaded or dizzy go to the doctor.    I ended up passing out, then to emergency, hospitalized for a week . . . followed by 3 colonoscopies, yada yada yada. 

I agree with the refried beans!!  and you can make it as spicy as you can tolerate...... enjoy!

I did give it up cold turkey.   But, I also didn't have that big of addiction to it.  I have friends that drink 5-6 12 oz cans a day or 2 or 3 of the Big Gulp type drinks.  I know your pain if that is the issue.  I typically only drank 1-2 12 oz cans a day.  One at lunch and maybe a shared can with my wife in the evening.  I don't miss it a bit now after 9 months!  No beer either from that standpoint.  I do have my wine as that is not carbonated and I just have that as a treat now and then and if I am in a social situation.

You will be pleasantly surprised, following surgery, what really isn't very appealing any more.  Give the diet pop up now and it will go well afterwards.

hi BankerBethany:

I live in Council Bluffs and am covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Iowa.  I started the journey hoping to work with a surgeon in Omaha, but my insurance would only cover bariatric surgeons in Iowa.  The closest program was Des Moines, but I didn't think that program looked as if it had been around very long.  So I thought if I had to drive so far anyway I would go to the University of Iowa hospitals as the program had been in existence for a long time and seemed to be highly thought of as a bariatric unit.  Also, the "Father of Bariatric surgery" had been on the staff at the University of Iowa.

So instead of going 8 miles to the hospital in Omaha, I drove 3.5 hours to Iowa City :-).  I thought they did an awesome job working with me.

I agree with HappyTeacher.... as a male, I am almost exactly the same starting weight and ending goal as your husband and about the same height. The co-morbidities are similar. I didn't have heart issues but my blood pressure was on the high side.

Anyway, he won't have room for too much food (especially the crap as HappyTeacher talked about) if he eats the protein first . . . that really is the main key. The other thing is to choose appropriate in-between meal snacks. I like cheese, maybe a beef stick on occasion, yogurt with protein granola in it (a tablespoon or two) or a cup of skim milk (sometimes with a Carnation instant breakfast mixed in to increase protein consumption). As an aside, I also add a half capful of Miralax to that mixture.... to provide on-going relief from constipation . . .

My surgeon didn't put me on a calorie limitation but a 100 gram a day for both protein and carbs to maintain. So I don't really count calories at all. My weight loss is regular but not particularly fast, but again I am not hungry. Tell him it is the best thing I did for myself.....loving every minute of it.