The pounds are returning!

 I'm 3 1/2 years out and lost 112 lb. I've gained 25 lb back. If this has happened to someone else please let me know what worked for you to get you back on track. I'm desperate!

Hi Debi,
Don't be desperate my friend, we do sometimes have weight gain. Some call it "bounce back"...some just admit to falling into old eating habits.

Now, I have gained some weight back and in the process of getting rid of those excess pounds. I returned from a 10 day cruise and then the holidays came along. Huuummm...I went up a size and I don't know if I'll ever get back into my size 6 pants but I'm back into my size 8 pants with practicing "mindful eating" and exercising.

Okay if you have to detox your body then do it. We are all different. YOU know how you gained those 25 pounds and you can get them off. Slowly. It won't happen overnight.

Here's what I did to detox my body...and I swore I'd never do Protein shakes again...I'm eating my words but I have accepted my body and how it works. YEP...I ate treats every single day on that cruise and my body paid for it.

For 3 days only I drank 3 Atkins shakes plus 3 fresh fruits. Believe me, I looked forward to those fruits! Then I kept drinking a shake for breakfast or lunch only then chicken, fish, beef with fresh veggies for dinner. And I hit the gym, I just did it...no excuses.

This is for lifetime, this really is about lifestyle change and exercise. Am I dieting? No, I just had to detox my body....my way.

Also please keep going to a bariatric support group in your area.
Now we have Easter candy to contend with...damn Easter Bunny!!! LOL
Hang in there, you are not alone. Join in the Rowing your boat tread. If you need to be held accountable, coming on here and telling us what you are eating...and join the exercise thread too.

I'm nearly 6 years out and have regained 20 pounds, so I know your desperation. Some of mine is from bad habits returning, inability to exercise, weight gain due to antidepressants (but I'm glad I'm on the antidepressants ... I feel much better), being home all day with nothing to do because of unemployment ... well, there's lots of reasons.

I'm not really good about getting rid of the bad habits, but I'm trying ... back to three meals and a snack. I have started going to a local pool ... it's hard to push myself out the door, but I'm happy once I get there because the water walking is really good for me. Haven't noticed a difference yet, but at least I'm trying. As for the antidepressants ... well, I'm not getting off them this time because I did that once and things went downhill.

I started regaining after my first knee replacement surgery went bad. My second (the revision) hasn't been much better. Hang in there ... keep coming here and it does seem to help. We are all here to support each other and keep each other accountable.

You aren't alone in this.....I am struggling too.

I have gained weight since I fell and broke my hip last June. I am just now feeling like taking walks again.  Then winter came and I was afraid of falling on the ice. Some days I still have pain. I did too much sitting around and grazing too often. I am working on changing that attitude now.

Good luck to you.....also....my surgeon said the average person can gain back up to 20% of their weight loss after 2 years. Not liking that much!!!

Hugs.....connie d

Hi Debi, You are definitely not alone. Not a place I like to be but I'm right there with you. However, starting in January I finally got my head out of the sand and got honest with myself. I was eating what I wanted, when I wanted, and not consistently exercising. Since January I rejoined a gym, made a commitment to exercise and starting trying to rebreak my "carb" habit. I'm working out consistently and reporting in on this forum. My husband and I have started counting carbs. He needs to get his blood sugar down and cutting back on the carbs can't hurt me either. In the past month the scale has gradually started to go in the right direction again. I think the key to it for me is that hour a day of exercise. Without it I gain weight, with it I can enjoy my meals and have an occassional treat. I don't like it but that's the reality. Don't panic, but do get back to what has worked for you in the past. My tool still works as I have seen recently I just have to work with it. Best wishes.

Regain is a fact of life for many post-WLS patients, because our surgery happens to our anatomy and not our brains.  You've taken a first step coming here and stating you want it to stop. 

So next it's about taking charge and doing what you know works. . .  Log your food daily (fitday.com, sparkpeople.com, daily plate (all free) and a way to stay accountable and to be able to realize what needs to be trimmed from our food intake).  Remember it's about calories in and calories spent, so if you are not exercising, then please find something to do and do it, it will help.  If you have strayed from the path that got you to lose 112 lbs. then recommit to doing whatever worked to get you losing it.  The tool works, but you have to work it!

Wishing you a successful return to what works.

P.S.  I have recently had some weight gain too, so I know how easy it is to gain.  We are not normal when it comes to food, nor because of chosing the path we have, it actually appears that there is very little margin for error after 2-1/2 years. . .