Question:
Does EVERYONE gain back weight ???
I am 11 months out and have been slowing losing. My question...DOes ANYONE ever NOT gain back the weight? — Kathy S. (posted on September 2, 2004)
September 1, 2004
YES, some keep it off, I personally know a bunch of them! See them
occasionally as good friends the longest one is about 6 years out. Look I
am 3 years out and float in the 190s. got up to 205 after getting addicted
to oreo cookie bars:( One a day was probably ok, but 2 boxes a day? that
was insane and that did occur:( Went cold turkey, back to basics, and my
weight went back down. Its all in my long winded profile. Each day all of
us are challenged, follow some simple rules for success, or eat what we
like, and over time gain:( Its a individuals choice. Which one will you be?
— bob-haller
September 1, 2004
Got down to 160, size 8, then slowloy over a year, back up to 180. I
joined T.O.P.S and am now 155 since January and holding. Have to watch
yourself!!! Don't take anything for granite.
— Phiddy B.
September 1, 2004
I'm 3 years out, and although I had a ten pound bounce back which I
continue to fight (I go up and down), I still have maintained a 150 pounds
loss and wear an 8/10. It takes work though, and careful food choices.
— mom2jtx3
September 2, 2004
Yes, MOST do. You will have some bounce back weight. How much is up to
you. I have had a 13 pound bounce back. In my case it is ok because I was
underweight BUT, I struggle to not exceed the 13 pounds. It is definitely
work and ultimately, it is up to you.
Hope this helps darlin!
Hugs....
Erika
— Egyptianeyesdiva
September 2, 2004
The ones I know that are several years out look great and have maintained
their weight loss, thru healthy choices and exercise.
I'm 18 months post op and have lost 115 pounds (9 months) and under goal
and have maintained this weight for 9+ months.
My good health & my maintaining my weight can only be attributed to
healthy eating and exercise. Working the tool is the "Key"
I journal daily my food/protein/water/exercise and have since day one.
Exercise and good eating goes hand in hand with this surgery. To become lax
will only promote bad habits and weight regain.
This surgery is not the key to one's weight loss. It is an aid. We are the
key! It's up to us to insure we remain healthy and keep our weight off. The
tool can only do so much!
Our surgeons gave us this tool, but it is up to us to work it to the
fullest.
I for one plan on being a success story 5 years or more from now, as a post
op. But, I know to be this...I must remain persistant in my routine as I am
now to insure this.
I love exercising and eating healthy. It has been the easiest journey for
me and I see no reason for things to change now or in the future.
Thanks to me seeing a therapist 6 months prior to my surgery.... I
"no" longer have the need to abuse food. In fact, food has never
been an issue since my surgery. I eat to nourish my body only. Would it not
be for this...I never would eat, since I have never experienced hunger,
since surgery 18 months ago.
Good Luck!
— Hazel S.
September 2, 2004
Keeping mine off at 2 1/2 yrs post op. Lots of people keep it off... they
remember that this is FOR LIFE, not just until we lose to our goal. And
getting other issues (behavioral, emotional stuff) treated/taken care of is
a big help. Set yourself up to succeed, and it will stay off. Of course,
following the rules for life is the best way to use the tool/gift you have
been given!<br><br>
**It's not a race :) <br><br>
Good luck, and good health to you! Shelli K
— kultgirl
September 2, 2004
I know post ops who have gained weight and those who have maintained are
extremely healthy. I also know post ops who are very sick, terrible lab
reports, even going to specialists because they say their body will no long
absorb nutrients. Im 21 months out and maintaining my weight well--still
aways from goal though. I know my body well enough...and that I could
easily start gaining weight if I'm not careful about what I eat and dont
keep up the exercize.
Having WLS doesnt mean we are cured...we just have a tool to work with. I
have been critized by other post ops because I wont eat refined sugar, I
know I'm just like an alcholic with booze when it comes to sweets.
Watching my food intake and exercize will always be a part of my life if I
choose to be healthy and I dont ever want to go back to a 5X again.
— debmi
September 2, 2004
I think only 15% of people gain the weight back. And they are not
exercising. Just exercise daily and you'll be fine.
— mrsmyranow
September 2, 2004
This issue scares me more than any other issue. I'm 25 mos. out now and
I'm maintaining very, very well, but it's a daily thing I go through. I
know that if I continue to maintain, I'll have to be careful about what I
eat and continue to exercise. I guess I'll be successful as long as I can
remain diligent doing the things I've done for the last 25 mos.
— Cathy S.
September 2, 2004
I am 2 years, 2 months post and have been at goal since about the one year
mark. I fluctuate about 2 pounds. I eat very normally now (not my old fat
person normal, but like a normal thin person), but don't do sugar. I
attribute the easy maintenance to WALKING every day. Not every other, or
here and there. I walk EVERY day. I also go to the gym for some toning,
but believe me it's the walking that works and makes up for a multitude of
digressions. Good luck and just stay moving.
— Mary U.
September 2, 2004
Some will regain, others won't -- and it depends on a lot of different
things like: did you have the right surgery for you? Do you exercise daily?
Do you get your vitamins and enough protein? Do you get enough water? Are
you eating the right types and amounts of food? More importantly, I think
we all need to get past this idea that the number of pounds lost is the
most important thing-- it's not. Getting to goal is great, staying there is
wonderful but it's not the end all, be all of life. Being healthy and
living a long happy, healthy life should be the ultimate goal.
— lizinPA
September 2, 2004
The body is an amazing machine. To compensate for the malabsorbtion and or
greatly reduced food intake, one of two things or both can happen. The
villa (sp) in the intestines (sort of like teeny fingers)multiply to be
able to to "grab" more nutrients and/ or the bypass stretches.
I just had a revision and my common channel which was originally 100(5
years ago) was now 175. My surgeon assured me a stretched intestine will
not restretch. I hope he is right.That is why diet, exercise and portion
control are so important as time goes on. The surgery will get the weight
off, then it is up to you to keep it off.
— Lynne C.
September 2, 2004
In answer to Bobs statement....I will be a LOSER FOR LIFE :)
Thanks for all your answers, I work daily at this and will continue to but
scared me when I see so many regain seemingly thru no fault of their
own...I am loving this though...Hugs to all.
— Kathy S.
September 3, 2004
There are some who regain thru no fault of their own, but that is not the
norm. Most regain because they eat more and relax the pouch rules, stop
exercising and are going back to bad habits. And for others they chose a
weight that was easy to obtain in year 1 but too difficult to keep up, like
those size 2-4-6's. Its still a calories game. You get to eat alot less
to maintain a size 2 than you can at a size 10, so choose wisely and it
should be easier to maintain. Maintenance can be work, but with our tool
and at a much lower weight, making exercise easier, it can be done. To
answer your question, lots of post-ops do not gain weight back, but very
few can maintain the loss without doing some work. I'm 2 1/2 years
post-op, chose to maintain at a size 10, and give myself a 4 pound window.
Reach the top of my window, which I do, and I start cutting back on the
snacking and upping the exercise and in no time back to the lower end of my
window. One of the most valuable lessons learned as a post-op..its much
easier to take off 3 pounds than 30!!
— Cindy R.
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