Hello Everyone! I’m 2 ½ years post op and everything has been going pretty well. The only issues I had/have are bad gas and bloating. My goal was to be at 165lbs then I got to 154lbs. I didn’t really like being in the low 150’s because I didn’t feel “womanly”. So, I was happy to gain a few extra pounds, but now I keep going from 170-175 and this is scary. I feel like I’m starving ALL the TIME. I need to be back around 160-165lbs. I talked to the doctor and was told it’s not uncommon to feel like this. He said to up my protein. I guess I’m more concerned because I wonder if I’m starting to develop an eating disorder. I say that because I can go to dinner and eat…then when I get home I might eat again. Or I wake up multiple times during the night and feel as if I haven’t eaten all day. I couldn’t possibly be hungry, but why do I feel that way??? Is it in my mind? Is it the Fat me trying to come back? I feel like everyone is judging me and waiting to see if I will get fat again. My biggest fear is getting fat again. I keep thinking is my DS not working any more. Did I break my DS? I used to notice that if I ate something too fatty that I would see oil in my stool, but I would also see that I would drop a pound or two. This is no longer happening. I think that is normal since I’m well out of the weight loss phase. Sometimes my stomach is bloated and I look like I’m a few months pregnant.    A month ago I relocated to another state for a new job. So, I have fallen off of my workout and normal schedule as I get adjusted to my new surroundings. However, this eating all the time started long before I moved. I guess I’m just looking for some moral support and recommendations. Should I consider an appetite suppressant? Any suggestions on healthy snack foods (maybe I’m getting bored with the food choices)? Should I seek help from a therapist/support group? Why can’t I sleep all night??    I have started working back out and just this week started tracking my food again. I had a personal trainer before I moved…maybe I will get another one to help me get on track.      Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m so worried about it and I feel like I cannot talk to anyone for fear they will be judging me or they really don’t understand.    Thanks!!

Sounds like you're body is hungry allll the time becuase it is deficient in something - that's my guess.  Think of a pregnant woman with all kinds of weird cravings.  I've heard it say the cravings are a simptom of a deficiency and the body is searching for what it needs.

Have you had your labs done lately?  What was your protein like?  Being hungry all the time can be a big symptom of low protein. Are you craving sweets?  Again - that can be a symptom of low protein.  Also, hunger can be a symptom of dehydration.

At this point, don't try to suppress the information that your body is trying So Hard to send you!  Instead, start looking at what it's saying. Don't worry about the wt gain right now.  Focus on the question, what is it your body says it needs. When you get that sorted out, you'll have a better idea of what other adjustments you can make to start seeing the type of weight loss or maintenance results you want to see.

Good luck!!!

First of all, slow down and take a breath.  Next, NO, your tool is not broken and you cannot "break" the DS.  You can, however, gain weight with poor eating habits.  The great thing about the DS is you can see immediate results if you get back to basics and start working the tool.  Stop worrying about all of the why's and put yourself back in the mind-frame of immediately post-op.  Get strictly back to basics.  One thing to keep in mind is that while the mal-absorption is still very strong, it is strongest the first couple of years.  After that, you do absorb a bit more from what you eat, so it's not necessary to push protein quite so much to get what you need because you are absorbing more.  That being said, it is possible that you are just eating a bit too much, even of the right things.  It's mind game, really.  I realized I could each much more if I didn't think about it.  But once I reigned things in, got back to basics - even portion sizes from immediately post-op and started paying close attention to how my body felt when eating, I realized I was full much sooner than when I actually stopped eating.

The bottom line is, your tool is there, sounds like perhaps you just need to really reign in and start working the tool again.  Perhaps even completely cut out foods that are triggers for you until you get things more under control.    I'd recommend monitoring the daily vites & bites thread, you'll get some good ideas on food choices and portions.  Don't worry about anyone else judging you . . . you did this for you and only you have to live with the decision.  There's a lot going on in your life right now and that can be stressful.  Just take it a day at a time and I think you'll be fine.  If you feel you need to talk to someone, therapist, etc., then go for it.  Good luck.

When you say go back to the basics...can you refresh me on what that really means?

 Welcome to the maintenance phase.

Easy to talk about and much harder to do.  First of all, many do gain back a few pounds.  Don't worry, just take control.

Here's what I was told to do many years ago and it still works today.  Pick your reasonable weight.  Every morning, get up and weigh yourself.  If you are over for 2 days in a row, no carbs at all till it's gone.  Meat, eggs, cheese.  That's it.

So let's say I have REALLY gained and I want to drop it.  I buy a turkey and bake it.  That's it till the scale reads what I want it to.

JMHO but it sounds like with the move and all the changes, you just lost your focus.