Regain

Hello. I am almost 13 years post op and have regained about 35 pounds.  Anyone have this problem and any tips on helping to get rid of this?  Feeling very frustrated.  Thank you.

You've done the first step...you can do this.

Many have trouble with regain. I'm working on a 20 pound regain and it isn't an easy process to lose again, but it can be done. 

From reading many posts on OH, I've found great ideas. We have to go back to basics...log everything, eat protein first, decrease carbs, increase water intake, increase your exercise. These are a place to start. There is also a group on OH called Back on Track Together...it's a great forum.

Good luck

I'm struggling with regain too. I am so frustrated. I go from not hungry to ravenous and wanting everything in sight. 

Please check out the Back On Track Together group and join.  We have a daily thread where we post what's going on with us and our eats for the day.  It really helps me with accountability plus lots of support.  

Are you logging your food and activity?  That helps getting and staying on track too.  OH has a tracker - Health Tracker that you can use.

I have found the biggest secret to getting rid of regain is to be realistic.  I can cut out 500 calories a day and lose a pound a week.  So if I needed to lose 35 pounds, I would allow 35 weeks.  It is not going to be like right after surgery when you lose five pounds a week.  Five pounds a month would be excellent.

Weigh yourself everyday, even if it stresses you out to do that.  It is better to be stressed out by facing the scale than to be stressed out by regain.  Don't make excuses when the scale goes up and say it is water weight or even worse fat turning into muscle.  Get out of denial and face up to what you are doing.

Regain is frustrating but you can lose it.  

I've had two regains.  I've lost but it was very frustrating.  I lost very slowly.  I went back to eating protein first.  I stopped grazing and cut out the sugar simple carbs.  

You've already started being back on track by posting about your regain and reaching out for support.  You can join Back On Track Together group too.  

Don't give up!  You can do this!

I have been working on 35 lbs of regain since mid November. The BIGGEST thing is, IMO, facing it. Otherwise your 35 will become 50...and right on up. 

I have had to take very specific steps to handle the problem. Losing is slow. Frustrating. Not nearly like the "honeymoon" post RNY. But I have lost 19 lbs. (almost 20!) since November. I've had to face shame and guilt and the feeling that I was a failure yet again. 

But here's what I did - no, what I am doing:

Logging my food - the accountability helps

Working with a dietitian on a basic eating plan (I'll give you details if you want). Focus on protein and veggies. 

Weekly weigh ins - the accountability helps Part II

64 oz of water a day 

Very limited caffeine intake

Exercise - but I admit that with my schedule this is hard right now

Watch sugar closely - no refined sugar. Sugar only from fruit and that is in very controlled amounts. 

Extremely limited refined carbs - but I find that even very limited amounts can stall my weight loss. 

A lot of this sounds familiar, no? But beyond what we eat or the exercise - the MOST important thing is that we ADDRESS THE PROBLEM!!!! I keep in touch with a lot of post ops....about 100, give or take. Many had surgery about the time I did, or a year or so before. And many of them have regained significant amounts of weight. They have quit going to support groups. They no longer come to OH (where many posted daily, shared recipes, etc. on our state forum). Their facebook pages showed chocolate towers they received for Valentines Day, or plates mounded with Italian food (that's code for pasta, cheese, and garlic bread). Some, sadly, have developed serious drinking problems - some dared to address that issue, but not all. 

The success stories? My friend who now teaches spin, the one who ran the Philly marathon, and (get this) the one that climbed to the base camp on Mt. Everest. (YES! Mt. Everest!) 

I may never run a marathon, and mountain climbing just isn't my thing - but it's SO worth it to be moving the right direction once again. Do try the Back on Track Together group as well as WLS Grads forum as well!