3+ years post op... Gaining weight??

I am over three years post op and quit smoking on New Years Eve. I have gained weight since, which everyone says is normal... however I am wondering why, and how?? I haven't changed my eatting habits, I am scared as hell because I don't want to gain anymore. I am working out harder than before. Trying to eat even better foods because you know some days I would eat whatever I wanted. I am cutting down portion sizes again like back to the day after I got out of the hosptial, measuring my food. I cant gain weight! Last night I tried to put on my favorite size 11 jeans and I was in tears... I have a lot of skin from loosing all the weight, and I am used to "tuckin' it in" my jeans but this was terrible. I know I have gained in my hips, and my tummy.  I am glad I noticed now before I gained even more. It's about to be summertime here in MN and I need to get back to my size 8 and 11 jeans before summer. Help!!! Ideas...

Everyone is reading my post but no one has replied...

I know I HATE that feature that you can see the "views"..... First and foremost - I am so proud to hear that you have QUIT SMOKING !!! yeah ....So, that would have to make you weepy too I guess.  I've never smoked, so I can only imagine what kind of loop that threw you for!  But I hope you just stay away from that NO MATTER WHAT.... I feel your pain about the weight gain - I am close to 4 years out and really having to watch what I eat.  I have gained about 50 pounds and not happy about it.....I am just going back to protein supplements, working out - portion size....I think you are on the right track too....So, just wanted to tell you that you are not alone, but congrats to the max on the smoking cessation!!! DeAnna

You gain weight when you quit smoking because smoking speeds up your metabolism.  So when you quit, if you eat the same and exercise the same, you'll gain weight anyway.  My weight loss stopped when I quit smoking, too. The only thing you can do, I think, is cut down on the eating and ramp up the exercise.  :( Lisa

Sad that I am so upset by it, that I would rather be smoking than be gaining weight..... and there are thoughts and wants, and cravings of starting again...... 

I understand where you are coming from.  I recently quit smoking for my upcoming PS.  I was told to up my water intake since smoking changes so much in our body that we actually retain fluids when we quit.  I was freaking out since I was watching what I was eating and montioring everything since I knew I would gain.  I upped my exersice and everything - still gained.  So I changed up things a little. Since I eat pretty much the same things everyday,( totally boring but safe, or so I thought)  I decided to change my food choices.  I don't monitor carbs like I did before (but I don't go crazy on them either)  I make sure (using Fitday) that I get in 1200 calories a day. No less than 1200..... when I get in less, I stay the same.  When I go over 1200 I gain.   So in order to lose the weight I gain, I stuck to the 1200 calorie deal and lost it within 2 months.   Don't give up - shake up your routine like I did and increase your water.  I went from 65 oz to 100 oz a day - sometimes more.  Change up your exersice also (besides the many more trips to the bathroom with the increase of fluids).... it will work!!!!   Keep the faith!  :)

I'll chime in too, being a just recent non-smoker (January 27th).  I had the incentive to quit as I was preparing for plastic surgery (3/14/07) and had to be spoke free for surgery. I put on 6-7 lbs in less than 3 weeks and did the same thing you are doing freaked out.  I understand from others that 7 lbs seems to be a common number among those that stop smoking and weight gain. I'm back down 4 of those lbs and I think I'll see more as I lose some of the swelling/fluid from surgery. Your body tends to hold water also when you stop smoking.  You will need to find that magic between calories and exercise that will help you.  You can lose the weight, it's just not as easy as it was originally.  Remember you are healthier without the cigarettes and shouldn't be craving them at all now, don't fall back to smoking.........focus on yourself, I bet with determination you'll reach your size goal soon.

I am going to take everyone's advice... I am willing to try anything! I have to keep the faith because I didn't loose all this weight to gain it back. I am on a mission. I know that I have been snacking a lot more lately... keeping something at my desk to snack on instead of going outside to smoke.  I do miss it though. I am a talker, and people person and whenever I can get away from my desk to stand outside and associate with the public it felt good. So I miss it... and I am currently around it alot. But that's ok... I can handle that. I just can't handle the weight gain. So the water thing sounds like it is easy enough...  I was having problems getting enough protein even before all this, and was drinking one protein shake drink in the morning... and that held me off on breakfast until I got to work. I started doing that again, as I stopped for awhile. I am going to drink it again in the evening before bed too. That way I am guaranteed 40 grams of protein right there besides what I eat.  It's going to be very hard to change again, go back to the same foods I ate right after surgery sounds like the best bet. The yogurts and cottage cheeses... and fruits and veggies. Not much else... I am not a big meat person... a few bites of chicken and I am full. I love seafood though.  Well enough babbling......... time to go get a glass of water!!!!  Thanks everyone... and if anyone thinks of more advise let me know!!!!

Hey there, Couple of thoughts re: your TEMPORARY (see, I've got confidence in you!!!) gain: 1)  you say you're exercising - you KNOW you're building MUSCLE which weighs more than fat. How your pants fit is a combination of muscle definition AND possible SMALL weight gain from "snacking" as your "habit replacement." 2)re:  "go back to the same foods I ate right after surgery sounds like the best bet. The yogurts and cottage cheeses... and fruits and veggies."   YES!! on the Veggies & limited FRUITS!!! however... At 5.5 years post op - losing too much, regaining too much, losing excess and maintaining almost 3 years now - I tend to do far better when my eating is DENSE protein or Raw veggies - (fish/poultry/legumes/tofu etc. vs. cottage cheese & yogurt which passes almost immediately through stoma which is probably enlarged some by now, anyway) (For the record:  some veggies -like Cauliflower & Broccoli - take more calories to BURN THEM UP as fuel, than what the veggies have in them to begin with = net caloric loss!) One area I had to REALLY address was "sipping" with my meals.   If I sipped I ingested far more than if I didn't.  Period.  Weight gain. Boom.  Guaranteed.  I hadn't realized I had developed a HABIT of "sipping" - "sipping" ALOT.   "Soup" does not keep me full. I have not quit smoking lately (28 years ago!) but I HAVE quit 3 medications that my body was "dependent" on and the ramifications of hunger / cravings/ water retention, etc. If GAINING (improving)  HEALTH has been your motivation for the WLS AND quitting smoking then continue reminding yourself the AMAZING benefits of no nicotine in your body and lungs!!!  I'm so proud of you!  This shock to your body - missing the "stuff" it was used to AND the emotional craving of the habit - even the "something to do" in it's place is TOUGH  BUT you've proven by your AMAZING loss and the fact you've kept off so much for so long - that YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR TOOL! You can do this!  Don't fear it!  You can do this! Take care! Judy 289/159 @ goal almost 3 years!  (with a 5 pound spread up/down)

I don't really have any advice for you.  I'm almost 3 years out and, also, gained 5-10 pounds (it varies daily) since December w/no change in my eating and exercising more.  I read something the other day that there's an actual hormonal change when you stop smoking that affects weight some.    My nutritionist, also, told me that we all have a setpoint.  When you first lose weight, you tend to go about 10 pounds below this setpoint and stay there for quite a while - then creep up 10 pounds and that's where your body will stay.  If this is true, I don't like it!!!!!     All I know is changing my eating (w/o being drastic) and exercising more have done nothing - and I'm now wondering if I just have to accept it.  I hate that I still have to be obsessed w/this weight crap!!!!! Good luck - and hang in there!!!!!!  At least you know you're not the only one going through it.