Always hear people have gained!

Why is it not only Doctors tell me he knows people who have had surgery gained it all back plus more, and I have talked to a few more people that say the same thing. I don't know why I never hear good things. I hear how much have you lost, oh I know this person that had that done and they gained all their weight back. Talk about a bummer, I never hear good stories. My niece said I would never get that done you gain all your weight back.  Now that scares me.

If everyone who says that they know someone who had gastric bypass and gained "all" of their weight back really did know someone, no insurance company in the country would pay for it!  Yes, there are some people who do gain it all back. They are definitely the minority, however. There are also some people who gain none of it back. The vast majority of people, though, are in the middle where they gain some back.  That amount can vary from gaining 10 pounds back to 40 or 50 pounds or even to 100 pounds.

Based on my experience with people that I know IRL, most people *****gain seem to regain somewhere in the 20-50 pound range.

The bad news is that the vast majority gain SOME weight back. The good news is that it doesn't just happen magically or automatically, and it isn't something that you have no control over!  People regain because they start getting complacent about their food choices, they stop paying close attention to their portion sizes, or they slack off on, or entirely abandon, any increased physical activity they were originally doing, or they start ignoring the rules of "protein first" and "no drinking with meals".

There are many of us vets here on Obesity Help who are 5+ years out and have maintained all, or almost all, of our weight loss. Coming here to give and get support and staying mindful of the fact that surgery is not a magic bullet definitely contribute to our success.

You can be as successful as you set your mind to be.

Lora

Perfectly expressed.

I get so tired of hearing about people who only know those who either gain all of their weight back or die on the operating table. Some people just like sensational stories.

Lora 

Thank you for posting this.I remember in the beginning I kept hearing about the amount of people that gain their weight back. Everyone loves horrible stories about WLS.

Hearing success stories from vets totally does help. Thank you to the vets that are always there to answer questions. 

Happy RNY Customer here ;) 8 years and maintaining my -158 pound weight loss w/in 2 pound flux depending on fiber in my diet (LOL) and the time of the month. 

Hope this helps: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2013/11/life- after-weight-loss-surgery-q-a.html

Best wishes in your research. WLS was the best gift I ever gave myself.

~Michelle "Shelly"

P.S. Now you have heard good things ;)

I loved that blog EggFace. You and a few others, were instrumental in assisting me to pursue RNY.  I'm SOOOOOO HAPPY AND PRAISE GOD, that I did this for myself. I WAS NOT LIVING BEFORE THIS! My life has become so enriched!!!! Words can not express. 

Thanking Laura (****ro's Girl) and PoetKelly for KEEPING ME HERE, with their "on point" knowledge, and great advice! 

I had RNY on 11/1/11 (HOW CAN I EVER FORGET THAT DATE).  My gosh! I was a TERRIBLY SLOW loser (I even think I'm in a bit of a "stall" even right now), but my highest weight was 314, my pre intervention weight was 294, I laid on the operating table at 279, and my weight today is........ 163 -165.   HALLELUJAH! 

YES you will ALWAYS HEAR THE HORROR STORIES. Ummh, I know someone who had RNY and all they could drink for the rest of their life was "Pop Rocks and Coke"....ummmh AND...they eventually exploded!

Bottom line....research ...research...research!  Make the decision based on what you are actually WILLING TO RISK! 

To be completely honest...some folks have DIED. This is a reality. My friend's father actually DIED while still in the hospital (ummh, and he's STILL DEAD).

Not to sound all "grim", but I PERSONALLY ...was WILLING to risk my LIFE. Because I HAD NO LIFE at 314! I was nearly wheelchair bound, in pain all the time, depressed, hopeless, mean, bitter, yada yada yada. These days I'm just mean and bitter! 

So, although I PERSONALLY, have not stepped FOOT in hospital SINCE WLS on 11/1/11 (except for a few nips and tucks), I DO KNOW people who have had some significant complications. But I'd bet "dollars to donuts" that the folks that I know, are STILL FAR better off medically, than before surgery (diabetes, hypertension etc.) . 

Wishing you the best!

It cracks me up when I hear that stuff.  It is all about educating yourself and being mentally in the right place to do it.  I had buyers remorse for about 15 minutes after surgery.  Have not regretted it since.  I always say to the ones with the negatives, Really?  My doctor gave me a tool, and I use it.  Your friend must not be using theirs.

People are like that with a variety of topics.

When people find out I ride a motorcycle, many want to tell me all about the nephew of their third cousin's barber's son that had a horrible wreck that split him in half and they had to have a closed coffin and it ripped the family apart.  Seriously, why do you need to tell me a gruesome story?  How many bikers ride every day safely?  And I am going to die some day, might as well be doing what I love.

Yes, some do gain back.  I know someone that has and she has honestly said, it was due to grazing.  Consuming too many calories all through out the day.  She was also one that said right after surgery that she did not see how anyone could ever do WW after surgery cause you ate so little.  And now believes that WLS screwed up her metabolism (no you just cannot eat as much cause you weigh less).

The point is, yes, if it was not overall successful, then insurance would not pay for it at all.

It is also why they give statistics of you will lose 60% or 70% of your excess body weight, all those gainers and maintainers and losers go together and it gives that number.  Some will lose more and keep it off, some will not keep it off.

Mindsets have to change to be long term successful.

I had RYN 12 years ago this September.i went from 287 to 135 then after a few years gained back 20. Stayed at that weight until 2 years ago. I retired and became very active, did not change eating. Due to activity I lost the 20 pounds. I had ALOT of pre op nutritional and behavioral therapy pre op. My pouch works as well today as it did post op. I have to remind myself to eat. I make sure what I eat is good for me because I can't eat a lot. I am a success story and you can be too .

I am glad that I have heard the bad stories and know that the risk of regain is real. 

As Lora pointed out so well, it is easy to become complacent, or as my surgeon puts it "just plain bored".

After a while the newness wears off, people stop complimenting you on your weight loss achievement, and it feels like you have been cured of obesity.  That is when the bad eating habits come back and the pounds come back with them. 

I always remember that my surgery is just a tool and if I don't use it wisely then it will not work for me any more.