WLS, Regain, and Loss

I wanted to post this for newbies considering WLS and those of us dealing with regain.

I had a VSG just over 4 years ago, was at my personal goal within 6 months and maintained well below that goal for 2 3/4 years. Then life happened and I regained close to 20 pounds over about a year.

I just dropped back into my preferred target range this morning. I had to work at it, but this is what I learned:

1. WLS is truly a "tool", not a panacea. This is what my surgeon told me at the outset.
2. Though WLS assists in initial weight loss through greatly reduced capacity, the healing process and enhanced metabolism, some of this is only in place for 1-2 years.
3. Eventually life will happen and you may regain. Don't beat yourself up. Just deal with it as soon as you can mentally.
4. You may need help losing the regain. It may require counseling, change in lifestyle or outside assistance. I greatly needed to feel some control in my life at the end of last year so chose to begin attending WW meetings (I had been a lifetime member at goal at least twice in the past).
5. Your WLS will continue to assist through this loss period. My metabolism is back to what it used to be prior to WLS and my capacity is more than right after surgery. I could eat endless high calorie useless carbs like cookies, chips, etc. BUT when I eat dense protein, WLS works! I still can't eat more than 4 ounces of dense protein and when I do it shuts down my hunger.
6. Weight loss after regain will likely be slower than immediately after WLS (metabolism...), but you can lose!
   
   

Hopefully this will help some of you. Good luck in your choices!

This is helpful for all of us to remember!!! Thank you!

LIZ - most EXCELLENT post, and I agree 200% !!!!!

You said everything so eloquently...You have been thru so much!!!!!

I hope EVERYONE will read your words, and really take it, to heart. I was the an expert at loss/gain/loss/gain...took me SO long to get my act together...I still have times I do "dumb things", but I finally know when, and HOW, to reign things in, before I run amuck...4 ounces dense protein....hmmm...lol

Yes, as you know life happens to all of us. You have been an inspiration for many of us for your honesty in sharing your experiences!

Thanks for sharing Liz. WLS can seem easy and magical for a while. But years, or decades of eating habits catch up to us. It's still a lot easier than before surgery, but it takes more work than when we were newbies, for sure.

You and JB are our inspirations in dealing with the reality of life after WLS.

I'm going to have to put you up front in the role model line.

Thank you for posting this! You are so helpful with everything you post!

Thanks for sharing. I needed to read this, especially in self isolaion where eating is just becoming wayyyyy too easy!