Gaining weight a few years later

Hi guys!

I need some advice/help.  I had my surgery a few years ago with great success.  My lowest weight was 150 lbs.  I had a tummy tuck.  I felt great.  I met a man and remarried, and the weight has started coming back.  

I saw a dietician to get back on the rules, but she didn't really have good information for me - I think she doesn't have much experience with gastric bypass.  I ordered my vitamins and started taking them again - Optisource.

Is there a forum on here where I should head for help?  Can anyone please hit me in the head with our "rules" after bypass?  I had a house fire a while back and no longer have my paper work from the hospital to look back at.  

I'm up to about 186 right now and want to get my good habits back before I get any higher.  

Thank you for your help and thoughts.

Shannon 

First off...get your vitamins from vitalady. Michelle (vitalady) is 18 years post op rny and has kept her weight off. She also drinks protein shakes made with jus****er every chance she gets...I have personally seen her drink up to 6 a day. She has information on what vitamins RNY'ers take but it depends on whether you are distal or proximal.

Distal: www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramDRNY_ERNY_BPDDS3- 2010.pdf
Proximal: www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramPRNY2-2010.pdf

Next, eat or drink protein first. Then veggies, and last carbs IF you still have room. And log ALL your food/drink...anything that goes in your mouth. I bet you will find your culprits.

Good luck and I hope you get the extra weight back off...regain is hard to get rid of. That's why I am trying to get as low as I can while I am still in my losing phase.

Liz

One of the best things to do is keep a food journal. Record every bite that goes in your mouth, even when you have a bad day. I use www.sparkpeople.com for this because it allows you to track individual intake of nutrients (I have to track iron and B12 really closely).

This will help you take inventory of the kinds of calories you're bringing in. After a few weeks, you'll get a sense of what time of day you eat the most, when you crave certain kinds of foods, where you're struggling, and where you're getting adequate nutrition.

At meals, try to think protein first, veggies second, and a small portion of minimally processed carbohydrate (i.e. whole grain bread, brown rice, quinoa)last. Take small bites and eat very slowly. Give your body time to realize that it's getting full.

There are a lot of great ways to get extra protein into your diet. This is one of the absolute best food blogs out there for WLS post-ops: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.com

The writer has kept her weight off successfully for many years and has created some truly excellent recipes for keeping yourself satisfied and on the right track. Try her protein ice creams--they are awesome.

Remember that this is a lifelong challenge. You've caught yourself regaining and falling into old habits. That's a step in the right direction. Just keep moving forward. Please don't hesitate to let us know how you're doing! This community is all about encouragement and support.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/backontracktogether/discuss ion/


Click on this link for the BOTT group. 

"Back On Track Together"

Great information, great support, wonderful group of people to offer friendly advice.

: )

 I copied this from somewhere, probably this board.

Ten Mistakes  that Weight Loss Postops Make

1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist.

Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results.   

Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning.   Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. For example, a vitamin B-1 deficiency can result in permanent neurological deficits, including the loss of the ability to walk.    

2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back.   

A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery.    

3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating.    

4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice.   

And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you.    

5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too.    

6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up.

Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing.    Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement.  

 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest!     

8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies.     

9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there.    

10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it.   

Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious.

Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations.    If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.

3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating.

6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up.

Okay, these two are surgery/person specific.

Drinking with meals is perfectly acceptable with the DS...it is one of the MINOR reasons I decided to avoid the RNY...I can't eat without a drink handy...usually just sips but having it handy is imperative to me and to most DS'ers. It's one reason for having/keeping your pyloris.

Grazing...if you stick to mostly protein, grazing is actually good for blood sugar issues. I already had RH before I ever had surgery, chose the DS to avoid making it worse down the road. But I can not go longer than 2-3 hours between eating. So yes, grazing is ideal for those who need to for that reason.

Other than that, I agree with you.

Liz