Becca,

I am almost five years post op. I went from 300lbs to 185 lbs in 7 months. I stayed there for quite awhile. I was too skinny, imagine saying that! I lost a lot of muscle due to staying to exercise too late in the game. I have since gained about 20lbs and look a lot better, feel better and am gaining muscle.

You will gain a little, just watch it and don't back slide into old habits. You will be successful if you change the life style and don't go back. Remember to exercise and keep your portions at a correct size.

I feel great and frankly, look great!

Jim

Thanks Jim! It's such a hard thing to step my head around the idea of maintenance!!

This is a great question. I am 2 1/2 years post-op, and have still been losing. I started this battle at 338lbs, and am currently at 164lbs. My final goal was to have lost more than I weigh, and I have gotten there. In the last 8 weeks or so, I have lost the extra 10lbs without changing anything. Im 5'7'', so per the BMI scale I am still in the overweight category by .4 or something dumb like that. I'm not at all concerned with that title, just really asumed I would have stopped losing by now. I don't want to lose any more, and would happily move into the maintaining stage.... but my body doesn't seem to agree. I suppose my body will stop when it's where it wants to be?

I believe that is also normal after WLS and hitting your goal or personal goal of weight. I got as low as 124 and needed to stop loosing in April 2013 after my Sleeve in June 2012. I did gain some weight back. I gain/loose 5 pounds off and on but have a weight I won't go over now. I do weigh myself each morning to keep myself in check also.
Maintenance can be scary at first but you'll get used to it. I can't believe it is has been over 2 years since I had my sleeve surgery. Time flies!
Good luck!

Haven't reached my idea of "goal" yet, but have kept my 125 loss off without gaining for well over 2 years. My doc doesn't like a number goal because he said everyone's body, metabolism and "ideal weight" is different. He wanted me to be within a range, and I'm in the upper third of that, so I'm considered a success, however I think I'd be happier in the bottom third.... I know, "gimme, gimme." :)
I know women that lost, to the point of underweight, and they gained back to normal. I have several friends that lost to "normal weight," and regained a little to a lot back, and here I am having dropped to a "high normal" weight, without gaining back an ounce.
I know that all of us are healthier than we started and are grateful for that!

SO grateful MNM!!! Had I known 3 years ago what I know now..... It's amazing. It wasn't even in my realm of reality to feel the way I do now, physically. And to feel the way I do about myself. 2 1/2 years out, and I still have to do a double take when I catch my reflection on a full length mirror. I am Polynesian, we are genetically built to be... sturdy women. I don't want to be a small person. I am healthy, and that was of course the ultimate goal. Now, if I could just make my body slip into maintenance mode...

At my 6 month appointment yesterday my Doc told me that he recommends loosing 5 more than goal so because most folks gain about 5 back. Odd thing to say but he was just being honest.

I started at 448 lbs, and lost to 180 and am happy there. I am four years out come feb, and have regained to 200 ,and need to be back to 180. not because of the number but because I felt good then,. I know however why, and am changing that. I started to drink while eating and was just not satified and didn't put the two together. Also because of that I ended up snacking. I started out making myself a promise and that was to eat three meals per day and only that,,, that way no way to gain, as I will never be able to eat too much at a meal. It was a good plan And am back to it. already have lost five pounds this week so it works. !

Maintaining my weight has always been my issue...I am scared of maintenance because in my mind maintenance means weight gain...or the potential for weight gain...which I am deathly afraid of. I caution you against thinking about maintenance as going along with weight gain because it does not have to. Maintenance is a very important part of this process and is necessary if you want to avoid the pitfalls and all that comes with being underweight. You have your head on straight and you know what you need to do...and you can do it. No stringent dieting, no compromising your health to stay at a weight...stay at a weight that is healthy for you and easy to maintain while eating a reasonable diet. If you have to go below a reasonable number of calories to maintain then you are trying to maintain too low. Weight gain is a legitimate concern but it is not a guarantee. You just cannot become complacent...and I know that you won't.

My target weight was 125. My lowest weight was 121. I range between 123-131 (usually between 124-127). So, not a lot of difference... but some. My nutritionist told me not to have such a narrow range. Said, over the years, I should have a 10 lb weight range (which I'm still not comfortable with). The number on the scale is irrelevant to me. As long as I can wear everything in my closet, I'm happy.

Oh, I can tell you that, even after you hit your target weight, things shift. My face filled out a bit during the first year of maintenance (which was a good thing!!).

JJ

i have gained 7 over summer but i know its from not working out and eating all the wrong things. im getting back on track and going to be at goal,again!!

About 5 years post op here- in the last two years I have gained 20 lbs. But I have also done thing I never did the first 3 years after surgery, I now run in multiple 5ks/10ks and I finished my first marathon in March. So although I am not at my lowest weight post surgery, I am the strongest and feel the healthiest as ever.

I am still too big but I got down to 215 then gained back to 235. I am comfortable here but I did want to get and stay under 200.

I initially lost 10 lb. more than my surgeon recommended. I began to have episodes of low blood sugar, so, following the medical recommendation, I gained weight. My weight stabilized a little higher than I would have liked. But I'm 62, not 32. My physicians are happy, and so am I overall.