I like bassjones have had the gastric sleeve procedure. My medical issues and weight loss pretty much mirror bassjones. I started out at 413 lbs. when I began my weight loss journey. My procedure was January of this year. Since beginning my program (which started last November with a 6 week preop diet) I have lost 148 lbs. I like you have also lost 100's of pounds in previous diet programs. But as time passed I slowly reverted back to my old eating habits. The thing with the sleeve is and as you mentioned in your op is that it is a tool. A tool that as long as you follow the protein first rule you just cannot over eat. And you will never stretch you stomach out like you are able to do now because the procedure removes the stretchy part of the stomach. So I am hoping that this tool is what I needed to have a lifetime successful weight loss.