6 Years Out
Surgery date: August 19, 2020
Starting weight: 259
Current weight: 150
Lowest weight post-op: 138, spring 2022
Height: 5"6
Age: 41
I've been following weight loss surgery communities online since I found one on Live Journal in 2006ish. I've learned SO MUCH from them, and they were a huge contributor to my own decision to finally get VSG in 2020. But one consistent limitation I've found with these communities is that you rarely see posts from people who are more than a couple of years out--and when you do, it's usually because they're experiencing massive regain, complications, or having regrets. So I'm basically trying to be the change I want to see in the community.
Beyond maybe the first couple of months post-op, I've never regretted having the surgery. I was mostly healthy pre-op and was primarily motivated by wanted to look better and be more confident, especially when it came to dating. I met my now-husband when I was around two years out and we got married last year.
The truth is, the farther you get out from surgery, the less you think of yourself as a weight loss surgery patient. Your life also changes in other ways that make surgery less front-of-mind. (In addition to getting married, I changed jobs, got two promotions at my new company, and started and finished an MBA program.)
More info about my current routine if you're interested in what life looks like for me in maintenance six years out. Disclaimers: I don't think of myself as a model patient by any means. This is just me just sharing what I do now. Listen to your own care team. Etc., etc.
Regain: My all-time low weight was 138 a little less than two years out. That lasted a matter of a couple of months before I got back to the 140s, which I maintained for maybe another year. Since around year 3, I've maintained around 150.
Complications: Basically none. I was put on a medication for low blood pressure around 1.5 years out and was able to go off it a few years later when my BP normalized.
Plastics: I haven't had any. I do have loose skin, but I haven't had any rashes, infections, or other irritation that rises to the level of necessitating medical intervention. I want a tummy tuck for purely aesthetic reasons but I've never been convinced that it's worth the high price tag and long recovery period.
Diet: I still eat smaller portions than the average American, but I would say my diet is extremely normal. I haven't had any real food restrictions since about the 2-year mark. I also haven't tracked consistently since around then, but when I do I typically come in around 1500 calories. Most days I get 60-80 ounces of water. I also drink diet soda regularly (my clinic's stance was it's not that big of a deal after the first few years if you can tolerate it and are still getting in actual water, YMMV), and average about an alcoholic beverage per week. One drink is still enough to get me (briefly) drunk. The only "weird weight loss surgery habit" I still have is not drinking and eating at the same time. My current diet is very different from my diet a year out, but it's also very different from my diet before VSG.
Exercise: I got my Peloton bike at 6 months out and have worked out about 5-6 days a week ever since. The specifics of my routine has changed a bit; I started with just cycling and added strength classes in later and have been working in more treadmill classes this year just to mix it up. Most days I do 30-45 minutes of cardio and 10-20 minutes of strength.
Mental Health: I haven't experienced transfer addiction or any real long-term change in my mental health post-op. I had depression and generalized anxiety disorder before surgery and I still do. A few months pre-op, I started seeing a therapist who specializes in bariatric patients. I recommend this for everyone who has surgery. At one point I was seeing her every 2 weeks, then monthly, and now we're down to quarterly.
I tried to hit on everything people wonder about this far out, but feel free to AMA if there's anything else you're curious about.