Where Are They Now?

I've often wondered about others who had their surgery around the same time as me also. I had mine 1 week after you and I've watched your success. I have been successful in losing all of my excess weight also, and have stayed within 5 pounds of my lowest weight since having the surgery (which was 125 pounds). It still takes work every day, whether that work is just being mindful of every single thing I put into my mouth, what time I eat so I make sure I don't drink again for at least 30 minutes, or getting in some sort of exercise most days. Sometimes I "forget" to eat and have low blood sugar episodes, which I'm working on. (I was not diabetic before the surgery, so this is a new experience for me.) Early out I put myself on an eating schedule and am going back to that to see if that helps with the hypoglycemia. This is one part of my life where I'm happy to be an exception! :)

I'm glad to hear that you've accomplished and maintained your goal too Cindy :-) Hopefully you will find a workaround for the hypoglycemia too (who wouldda think this could be a problem ? Personally I didn't stop eating long enough to ever experience it!)

I wouldn't take the results of your group as the collective norm. The number of people is too small of a sampling to make a conclusion, especially one as disheartening as this post. Also there are too many variables. Were they all VSG? What was their starting weight? % of body fat, etc. I would just like to put a positive spin out there. Sorry but I'm a glass half full person. I wish you all success - no matter what your definition of success i**** a number, hit a size, feel good enough to live life, get off medications, etc.

You're absolutely right in emphasizing that my group is not statistically significant in any way. The point I hope has come across is that the majority of people do not reach their stated goal. While we can grasp that 'stat', it's hard to see it play out with people you know and care about. I believe that each and every one is us can be exceptional at certain times or with certain things, so reaching and maintaining goal are certainly possible, but far from a given with wls.

For all the folks that just want sunshine and rainbows - here's Lance. He'll make you happy. 

Linda, I say **** the naysayers. Let them learn about regain the hard way if they don't want to see that it is a real possibility for all of us. You struck a nerve or five. Good for you. 

What cracks me up the most is that even people who get tired of all the "life is awesome!" "I love my Sleeve!" sickeningly positive posts have their undies in a wod over this thread. 

Moderation is fine. Low carb is fine. Regular carb is fine. The key is to know yourself what foods, drinks, social activities, stresses trigger bad eating for you. Then figure out how to stop it. 

I haven't seen Lance in AGES!!! 

I suspected this topic might be difficult, but I put it out there because it's what happened to my peer group. Despite all our encouragement, determination, even bravado, many of us do not get there. That certainly doesn't take away from what they did achieve, but the hardest part is seeing the immediate regain. I think that does take away and makes things harder to restart. 

What i object to in this post and I have seen it before, (Frisco has posted a post like this twice, it's the 'where are they now' post and the conclusion is that those who fail just don't visit the site anymore, not that they are dancing on tables on the Cote D'azur) is the many variables. 

I hit below goal but before i did that I lost exactly 1lb per week.  It was excruciating and long and perhaps i was one of those who should have only lost 60% but i dieted for 18 months at 1lb a week if i was lucky to lose 70lbs. In the final stretch I went down to 500 cals.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone.  So yeah it's terrific to talk about hard work and it's great for those who lose their weight in six months before diet exhaustion hit, because i can assure you that 600-800 cals and 30 carbs gets old over that period.

Also Linda i've seen you post that you can do 1800 cals and maintain (I'm doing this from memory of the maintenance board, so if i'm off on that count forgive me).  I maintain at 800-1000, 40 carb.  So all things being equal they are not and what one person terms hard work, does not compare to another's and at some point one has to make a choice about the things one enjoys in life and the strict compliance necessary to maintain. I'm talking a glass of wine, some champagne to celebrate an event, a piece of cake for your man's birthday, etc.

The main thing i have a problem with is all everyone has to do is be compliant and somehow those who got down to their ideal weight in x amounts of months were somehow doing the right things and the others are not.  

I'm not piling this all on your shoulders because it's something that comes up on here time after time but it's also a fallacy.  I'm not the only one who knows or who has said this but little by little i see My Group,(slow losers) disappear from the boards because there is a belief that if it's not falling off in a certain amount of time you are just lying and believe me that has been said and suggested because those who lose easily believe that if it's not going in it will be coming off. If just being compliant worked the same for everyone that would sure be a different world from where i sit.

The other thing i think about the sleeve itself.  If the majority of people are only losing 60-70%, and Drs everywhere are espousing this, then perhaps that is how far the help goes.  Those uber individuals are perhaps just that.  I mean everyone starts out being a miserable, useless dieter, or else why would they be trying the last resort WLS? So perhaps for some it just doesn't click in.  What i have seen around here is that they joys of spring usually last for 12-15 months and then the realization that for as far as the eye can see, this is your lot. Then you see some notes of dissension. 

Anyhow as you can see this is a subject I have some difficulty with.  The same behaviors do not bring about the same results and the type of effort it takes for some may answer the question as to why they never get to their desired weight but also why they don't stay there.

You make some excellent points which emphasize the complexity and difficulty of getting to and maintaining goal. I'm not sure I fully understand your initial point about whether people stay on the boards or not, but regardless, my intent is to highlight that it is difficult to fully achieve what most of us start out to accomplish.

If I've got it right, you are saying that the reasons can vary greatly. I get that. You had a hard road for sure and I'm glad you've had such a high level of success with the challenges of being a slow loser. Some factors are within our control and some may not be. 

Lasaaaance!!!!!!!  Was happy to see this post about where people are and now WICKED happy to see YOU, Lance, and the word **** all in one place!!!  PM me baby!

my take is that we all have control over out post-VSG destinies. I've lost abt 70% and am maintaining very successfully w a 4-5 lb window. Would I like to go lower?  Of course!  But I'm happy w the size that I am and the way I look, my comorbidities are gone. It's all good. I've also had extreme stress (job loss thru bullying, psych leave prior to leaving the job, FIL died 8/1 and my mom feud out of the blue 3/19. So **** yeah, I'm happy I haven't gained!

At 3+ yrs out I am a careful eater but no longer fanatical. Just the kind of gal I am!!

😘😘😘

Love your post Ann !!!!

Claim it and own it !!!!!!

You did way better than I would have with that list of issues !

frisco