I am not a long term success story yet, but I found out that searching the internet pre op was a bad mistake for me, too many good and bad stories to read!! I focus on why I wanted this surgery, to be healthier! to be off certain meds, for my family, and most important I am worth it!!! :)

RNY with no complications. It was in August 2010. I made goal in 10 months and went 25 past goal for my one year and have maintained ever since. I have a range of 125-132 that I allow. I feel the best at 127. The people that I know who have maintained and been successful are the ones who work on their mental, emotional and spiritual issues. People who don't face their emotional weighty memories and issues along the way seem to have a harder time. I still say that this journey is 95% emotional, mental and spiritual than it is about food. This journey is not about food. It is a journey that you have to choose to actively participate in EVERY day. Counseling, journaling, and reading food/emotional eating books such as those by Geneen Roth and others help immensely. Staying an active part of a support group helps as well. What you focus on is what you draw into your life. When I first came here I only read the positive posts. I wanted to keep my focus positive. Positive people also seem to have an easier time as well. Choosing where you want your focus to be is a moment to moment choice. Blessings as you travel this part of your life's journey. This journey does not end when you reach goal. There will be new opportunities for growth every day. This is going to be the roller coaster ride of your life and you can either fight it kicking and screaming or scream with exuburant joy at the life that you have!

we all have to decide what we want and the majority of US did the surgery to get our lives back . I speak for myself we lf that food will never have control over me that it once did. I have learned to love myself. you have to do the work. continue with the support groups. stay educated and keep moving

Thank you for sharing! I know better than to read the "I gained it all back" stories.... but slipped up last night! LOL!

i had my rny on 10-7-10. i lost 115 lbs and was at goal by one year. however, body decided to keep losing and i lost another 15lbs.

for me losing and maintaining have not been hard. mostly i think because i agree with LCAT. this journey can be very difficult for those who are emotionally addicted to food.

For me i over ate at times, but i didn't turn to food in stressful or emotional times. i have heard stories of people who eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream or a bag of chips. that wasn't me. sure i could eat a heck of a lot more than i do now, but that's just the nature of the surgery. my problem was really poor choices and mindless eating.

so with that said you have to look at your own eating habits. you must be completely honest. lying to yourself won't help. are you and emotional eater? if you are you must address this as LCAT has advised.

Those who fail at this have one of two problems. 1) they really don't care - i remember a story i found right after my surgery and i was petrified. she didn't gain weight but she was a nutritional mess. i told the nurse about it and the nurse explain that each one of her problems was because she was eating too much sugar and not taking her vitamins. now of course this woman MAY have had other problems, but as a general rule if your too lazy (said with love) to take your vitamins, you are probably too lazy to care about the rest of the life changes to your food intake. 2) there are those who have relied on food for emotional comfort, but they fail to address this. i have heard of people who now have a hard time being with other simply because they do not have the physical distance of the fat (ie people can hug you closer now).

If you have emotional links to food - address them now. i can not stress this enough.

good luck!!!
Rochelle

I had my GB Surgery December 1986 27 years ago! :) I am one of the 7% who made a total lifestyle change. Since then the most I have ever gained back is 30 pounds I am now only 10 pounds shy of my ending weight after my surgery. I lost 140 pounds! I just posted on here some of m experiences with this journey. I have friends who have had it done. One went from food addict to alcoholic and drug addict and lost her children in the process, One friend was doing real good for quite some time Then I saw her and she had gained all her weight back. She was consuming more than a 6 pack or more of Pepsi a day! HMMMM I wonder why.

I eat differently now. When I go to Buffetts, Pot Lucks, Social gatherings, famly gatherings with lots of food I take a spoonful here a spoonfull there and then I do not feel like I am depriving myself and I stop when I am full. Period! If I eat one bite to much I will get sick! Listen to your stomach Stop when it is full. Do not over stuff or you will get sick.

Do not over stuff your pouch. Stop right when your small stomach says stop. You must not ever drink liquids with your meals ever again. Ask yourself this Do I want to keep the food down that I just ate or do I want to throw up all the food I just ate? There is not enough room in your pouch for both food and liquids. Start out small and do what the Dr. tells you to do. Drink lots of fluids inbetween meals and yes stop 30 minutes befor you eat. So there is room in your stomach to eat.
Even after 27 years my stomach pouch is small. I now eat my favorite dessert in very small portions before I eat my meal. That way I do not deprive myself of a dessert but also it stays down of course I said I eat a very very small portion and for me it has been 27 years. I do not recomend anyone who is just starting out to do this but after 27 years I have learned some tricks that work for me. I am now down to 130 pounds post op I have 10 more to go to be at my post op weight.
I have laughed at people and said that when the Dr. Stapled my stomach he must have done a very good job at it cause even after 27 years my stomach has not grown much. I still eat very small portions.
27 years ago I wanted to lose weight so bad I went to a Dr. some 70 mles or more from my house to consult him about my surgery. Medicaid paid for it. Because I was more than 100 pounds overwieght.
You have to ask yourself is this realy what I want to do. If it is and you are realy serious about it then You will stick to it Do what the Dr. says and you will lose the weight. Take it slow. I would be full on a monkey dish of applesauce. That would fill me up. Many people who get this surgery do get off medication. because they do not need it anymore. I was fortunate enough to not be on any when I started.
I am also going to say this is not for everyone. You have to be determined and follow the Dr.'s recomendations. Do not cheat because you are just cheating yourself if you do. I hope this helps you some! I have to ask my friend to do a photo shoot for me so I can post a post op picture of me. Also I have a couple of Pre op pics I got I can post.
God Bless You!

My highest weight was 300 lbs. I had RNY in Feb 2010. I hit my target weight (125 lbs) 11 months later. I've stayed within my target range (123-127 lbs) for two years.

I still pretty much stick to basics: protein shake first thing in the morning (30 grams of protein), no drinking with meals (or 30 minutes before/after), making sure I get 70 grams of protein a day, avoiding white/simple carbs, getting as much exercise as I can.

I think the hardest part is not falling back into old "grazing" or "night-eating" habits. Well, that and the emotional or "head" issues Lcat mentioned. The surgery didn't fix my head. It just gave me time/space to work on them.

I see my GBS as a gift...a second chance at life. I don't take my being a "normal weight" for granted. I try to stay connected to the online and face-to-face support groups to keep my head in the right place and to support people in their journey the way others supported me.

JJ