WLS grads 5, 10, 15, 20+ years out

HI I was wondering if those who are way far out from their WLS could comment here. I just had mine about 2 weeks ago and wanted to find out how others' lives are going 5, 10, 15, 20+ years down the line. Specific questions i have are:  How is your quality of life now? What do you eat and how much now? Did/do you have any complications now? Did you reach your weight goal and stay there? Thanks!

Well, I don't quite qualify for your time frames as listed, I was 3 years out this past July; but I'll answer anyway.  Quality of life:  100% better from a health standpoint:  No more diabetes.  No more uncontrolled high blood pressure.   I can walk and be active.   Quality of life from a happiness/contentment standpoint:  I have never based my true happiness, joy and contentment on how I look - to me, that comes from within - from my faith.  You can change your looks all you want, but it's not going to make an unhappy person happy.  KWIM?  So in that respect, my quality of life is still the same.  My marriage is still as good and strong as it was before my surgery.  What do I eat and how much:  I can eat pretty much anything except anything high in sugar or high in fat.  Sometimes my pouch still doesn't like chicken.  Since all artificial sweeteners give me an instant migraine, I avoid those like the plague and avoid sweets in general and use regular sugar sparingly.  I eat usually around 1,000 calories per day most days.  Complications:  None with the surgery.  I had a hernia repair just after my 1 year post-op.  Fall 2006 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.   Just this year, I have been fighting some vitamin and iron deficiencies, even though I have been faithfully taking my supplements.  So I'm finding that finding the sweet spot on how much of everything I need to be taking to keep my lab levels up where I need them to be is a bit of a challenge, but I'll get there.  Goal weight:  Yes I did reach my goal weight (which I set as a normal BMI) and yes, I've stayed there and have never gained back any weight.

Thank you so very much. It sounds like you are doing extremely well on this. How often and what do yu do for excersize? Even though i am looking for the longevity of this surgery, every one's input helps me (others). Thanks again.

I keep my exercise simple - I do Walk Away the Pounds videos.  I have several varieties of those, and all include some weight lifting/strength training - so it's all inclusive.    I shoot for doing that 5-6 days per week, but on days like today, when I'm busy deep cleaning and organizing (which involves a lot of lifting and running up and down stairs) I consider that my workout. 

5 years out had the surgery when i was 17 was 434 dr goal was 299 mine was 200 my lowest with the surgery was 260lbs than i got a ernoa i had open RNY and that herniated had no health ins but along with the hernia i got low thyroid at the same time but its just now being looked at i currently am still fighting everything im now 363 Specific questions i have are: 
How is your quality of life now? could be better
What do you eat and how much now?i eat healthy but due to low thyroid i gain! i eat 1,200 cal on avrage
Did/do you have any complications now? yes hernia and low thyroid
Did you reach your weight goal and stay there? see above even though i have these problems i dont regret having the surgery sometimes i feel like a failure but i have a loving DH who keeps telling me its not my fault i got a hernia and low thyroid and had no health ins!

Thank you so much for sharing! Would you do it again?

yes but i would have gotten the hernia fixxed one way or another when i was thinner i would have quit my job and got medicaid

Yeah, I hear ya!

4.6 yrs post op How is your quality of life now?     what can I say but great.  What do you eat and how much now? I eat 3 meals a day with 2 snacks, mostly stay away from carbs, I am only human though, at times I am BAD. Did/do you have any complications now? none now, post op infection, got it cleared up Did you reach your weight goal and stay there?  My goal weight for my surgeon was  -167 lb, I have lost between 214 and 217 depending on the day.  LOL

Thank you very much!!  Would you do it again?