Question:
Is it normal to gain most of your weight back? I can now it anything and everying.
I had RNY about 4 years ago. — midnite17 (posted on February 19, 2011)
February 19, 2011
I am very curious to see your replies. This is my worst nightmare I must
say!!!!! The thing is, I can't eat a lot of things and I have had my RNY
surgery 18 months ago, but I am scared to death to gain weight.
Good luck
— FSUMom
February 19, 2011
I am almost 2 years out from my RNY and this winter was not kind to me. I
found I was becoming "blue" because of not being able to exercise
outside. I actually began gaining weight....I felt devastated and got even
more depressed...The we had a break in the weather and I gave myself a very
stern talking to (sounds crazy I am sure) and I came here and looked at all
the success pics and realized how important I am and what an incredible
gift I was given and got back on tract. My suggestion for you is to look
back at what you have "let go" as far as your eating
habits/amounts/types of food...go thru your kitchen and throw away
undesirable foods and get out and walk...walk...walk. Keep your food diary
again as they had us do before. Remember "we" are the only
reaason we fail....we make the choices ...no one forces us to eat what we
eat or not to exercise...and remember "YOU" are worth all the
effort......
I will keep you in my prayers...I know starting over is going to be
rough.....
— karensaporito
February 19, 2011
I know some who have gained weight back and others who have kept it off for
over ten years now. I know I do NOT want to gain it back so I get on the
scales every morning, and I follow the directions the doctor/nut gave me
and although I am only ten months out, I am still losing...good luck and go
back to what you were instructed to eat and get your exercise and you
should be fine.
— tfqh99
February 19, 2011
It depends on the person.Some people stay within their goal weight. I've
read posts from people who have gained up to 30 lbs, realize what they're
doing and get right back on track to lose the small regain.(Thank God, they
caught it then while it was still managable). There are some who gain
everything back. It all depends on the person and what ever they are going
through. The only thing I can think of is that we're not aware of the
years of bad habits slowly coming back into our lives.
— Kathleen W.
February 19, 2011
I am like foxymama. I weigh often and I will not let myself get above my
high goal weight (150 lbs). IF I do, like this morning when I weighed, I
was 151 lbs. so I will really be watching what I eat and upping my water. I
also joined the YMCA and will be going 3 days a week. I refuse to gain my
weight back!!!! I put to much work and money into this surgery almost 3
years ago and will NOT go back!!!!
— Kim M.
February 19, 2011
Hi! This is a good question..and tho I am curious to see what others
wrote..I wanted to write you before I read them. I was told that when I
had this surgery, not everyone would reach their goal weight. Also it was
only guaranteed that I would lose 70% of what I needed to lose. So if I had
100lbs to lose..at least 70 would come off. I took everything I learned in
support group and everything the clinic told me to do to be successful and
followed them to the letter for the first 2.5 yrs after surgery. I have
lost 120 lbs..leaving me at 115 lbs. I have changed the way I feel and
think about food. I try to eat only what is healthy and nutritious as my
body will absorb only a certain percentage of the nutrients consumed. I can
eat anything and everything I want, but I have chosen a healthy diet...no
white flour, no sugar ..or single digits if I have to. Portein
first..always. I choose not to eat much food outside of my home..instead
when I go out ..I enjoy soup broths, decaf coffee, and maybe ..maybe a
skewer of shrimp if I need to eat. What happens to you years after your
surgery, is up to you. Did you follow the rules? Are you eating healthy?
Did you adopt the eating to live not living to eat idea? Do you get regular
exercise? All these things matter. The surgery is a tool to help us adopt a
healthier style of living...a normal one, if you will. I keep my meals
small...cuz I choose to...I eat without guilt cuz I know I am eating right
for me...Do I splurge? you bet ya! But getting back on track is so much
easier now. If I do gain a few lbs..and it happened recently (holidays)..it
was easier to say...hey..what am i doing wrong.. and take care of it. I
still journal 2.5 yrs out. I am still following the rules but they are a
part of my life now..Not a chore, not a burden..part of life...and life is
good!!! I want everyone to be successful, but it starts in your
head...get all the info you need to be ready mentally...follow the
rules...they aren't there to make your life miserable..they are there to
make you a success! I hope this helps or encourages you..in whatever way
you need it to. hugs n God Bless, Kim
— gpcmist
February 19, 2011
I think this is a common issue and struggled with this also. I am 3 years
out. I know its pretty normal for people to gain back 15-20 pounds and then
level off. My mom had RNY almost 15 years ago and got to a size 8 (145ish)
and then back up and stayed around 170 and size 10-12 for about 12 years.
She has some stomach issues the last year or two and has dropped down to
140. I myself have gained about 10 pounds from my lowest point (which was
about 1 year out) I had plastic surgery 4/2010 and wasn't able to work out
for quite a while and got into that wrong mind set. Sorry this is long, but
suppport groups and log using fitday.com like others have said. Also check
with your surgeon, you may need a revision. If your able to eat more than
you should. Good Luck,
— ToniLee
February 20, 2011
There seem to be common threads here. Keeping a journal, exercising,
following the diet plan given you before surgery. Easy to say, I know, but
possible to do with some support. I personally use Overeaters Anonymous as
my major support group, other people use other groups. Some can do it
with no support group at all. I had the gastric sleeve a little over a
year ago, and have lost the 70% mentioned by one responder. I am no longer
obese, and I take great joy in that, but I am still overweight and want to
get the rest off. I can eat anything and often do, but I have been able to
determine what foods I tolerate well and what I should do without. So I
have joined an online diet club and chosen a diet plan that works well for
me, and seriously working on following it.
I urge you to get support in whatever way works best for you. find a
group, join a gym, do an online diet and support group, all of the above,
whatever seems attractive and doable for you. You have already taken the
first step. Good luck!
— pshock
February 20, 2011
Though I am only a few months out of surgery, I couldn't believe it when I
read that question. Really, why would people go thru this proceder if after
a while you gain it back. From the very beginning, I was told I have to
make changes, the way I think and consume food. I had a year prior to
surgery to practice eating slowly, chewing alot, not drinking before my
meals and not too soon after. Honestly this person has to realize she has
resorted to pre-op eating behaviors. If one is eating healthy and
excersising, from the beginning, the weight should not happen. To me, this
is common sense and I have a question, has this person not seen a Dr. in
the past 4 years? Another mistake.
— mtzlala
February 20, 2011
This is to mtzlala, until you have been out for a while and can eat
everything like normal, I would not cast judgement on this person that is
asking about gaining weight. I feel for this person so much!! I exercise,
watch what I eat and I weigh almost daily, but for me, and only for me, I
am a lb a way to where I was before my surgery. I lost 127 lbs, but there
are days now that I am hungry and it makes me so nervous. It's been 18
months or so since my surgery.
I agree with the other people that replied, I too go to a support group. I
need it. I also walk everyday. I watch my sugar and I try only to eat
complex carbs.
Weight loss is such a complex thing, and I hear from so many folks it is
all in the mind, and I do think it is.
BTW, I also go to a counselor. I worked to hard and went through hell to
go back to being 245 lbs.
I do not want to be complacent.
Again, good luck
— FSUMom
February 20, 2011
I am 10 YEARS out (RNY). I have gained/lost/gained at least 2 adult bodies
in my adult life through different weight loss plans and gastric bypass.
The very HARDEST thing after losing weight through all of them, including
gastric bypass, is keeping the weight off. If 'we' don't change our eating
habits and/or figure out what is the problem that is making us want to
eat...then 'we' will gain weight back. I lost 118 lbs and have gained
approx. 22 lbs back, so I started Wt. Watchers, just so I'd have go go and
weigh in front of someone AND pay a long as I was over my goal weight. I
have lost 15.5 lbs ... I really do NOT want to look like I did before and
it's not only vanity, but for health reasons. Be a conscious eater, just
because we are lucky enough to get to have these wt. loss surgeries, it
doesn't mean we'll get to be 'skinny' and get to eat everything and stay
thin; it's a bummer, I know.
— Betty Todd
February 20, 2011
Hello, thank you for being brave enough to post this question. I love that
so many OH people cared enough to reply. I am only 5 months out and have
lost 80lbs, but I am already starting to notice I am starting to get back
into old habits. I am so scared I won't control them before they get out
of control. I love the weight loss so far and want so much more. I feel
great, but when I get lonely or depressed I eat. It seems to be an oral
fixation... I can't chew gum and can't drink soda, so I eat before I
realize I did it. SO... the first step for both of us would be to identify
the problem (mine is sitting in front of the TV on the computer)... always
document your food intake on OH's Health Tracker. If you have to write it
down you have to acknowledge what you put in your mouth. Third, find a
great WLS support group near you because it helps so much to talk to people
about what you are going through. Also, at our last meeting someone
suggested finding an Over Eaters Annonoymus meeting in your area to talk
about your inital problem of over eating. It is a great suggestion and I
am searching for one in my area. Good Luck to you and keeping in touch
with OH people will help support you through this situation. Dana
— Dana M.
February 22, 2011
I am almost 4 years out in june, I have lost very slowly, I started at 377
now down to 284, I still have alot more to lose but I keep my dairy and
weight myself. My problem was a couple of surgery that kept me from walk
and exercise the way I needed to, I never blame my dr. at all. Just watch
what and how much you eat, go to dr regular and find a good buddy system
but be careful because some people will bring you down and not help. I had
to learn that the hard way. I went to small plates and do alot of beans to
get my protein, I do all my vits to this day. When you think you step off
the train, just dust off your bottom and go again. We all make mistakes but
we work way to hard to regain it back. Good lucky
— carman
February 26, 2011
Wow...I woke up early because I have been struggling with the same thing, I
am 3yr post RYN, and old habits are starting to creep back, I have gained
17lbs. I know that I have not exercise like I should, nor kept a journal.
Yes, I do watch and can still only eat so much, but I know that it is the
last of exercise and just the fact I can consume some foods without feeling
sick. Well today I am going to start over, that the beauty of this. I used
to go on this site daily to gain encouragement and have not been on for
months. What a blessing to sign on today and see the very question and the
answer I needed to hear. This was a life changing journey for me, and I
feel so much better, but I do not want to return to the way I was So I am
starting over today. Good luck to all who feel that that the weight may
return, however the beauty is once you realize that do something about it,
it is never to late.
— cbraxton
March 3, 2011
I had RNY 2 1/2 years ago. Lost 140# and have gained back 40 due to not
following the rules and as a side effect of a pain med I was on. This
posting was so uplifting to me this morning. I had my "enlightening
moment" about 2 months ago when I found out that this weight gain was
partly due to a medication. I have started attending a support group,
hitting the gym like I did after surgery and being very careful what I put
in my mouth realizing again that I am eating to live. I just got my husband
to agree to "Bike the Drive" with me at the end of May. (an
annual event where they close Lake Shore Drive in Chicago so bikers can
ride for a fundraiser). So I have my work cut out for me. Just remember how
you felt in your body right before you had your surgery. I felt like I was
imprisoned in mine, and that is what is getting me back on track. Good
luck!
— sandorah
Click Here to Return