Is "rebound" inevitable?

Here's my two cents worth:  obesity is a disease with a strong (very, very strong) genetic component.  How our bodies process calories, carbs, protein, whatever may actually be different from those who have never been obese.  The hormones that allow people to feel full are different in obese people, There are entire groups of people who are genetically set to have super efficent metabolisms--so they become obese quickly.  Gastric bypass addresses many of these issues, especially hormones which is one of the reasons it is more effective than restrictive proceedures alone. But--once you have a fat cell, you always have a fat cell (unless it is cut or sucked out!).  And fat cells are programed to be, well, fat.  So there will always be an aspect of your body that wants to gain some weight.  Now, how much depends in part on your, you guessed it, genetics, how long you were obese, how obese you were, your age, your diligence, your level of activity, and so forth.   But there is a Canadian study that suggests the wls can counter some of the genetic predispositions.  So all is not lost (or maybe gained?).   There are many who do find a "set point" and bounce back--hence the standard 10 to 20% regain.  There are others who diligently work to not regain.  Then there is just the normal gain that comes with aging.  Personally, I want to work to avoid even a 10% regain as that would be over 20 pounds.  But I don't yet know what to expect.  I can control my behaviors much better than I can control the scales! Sally 398/176/170

Hi Kris,   I rarely post here but do lurk often.  I'm 16 months post op & I'm below goal.  I do believe that we can regain our weight back if we slip back into our old habits.  I try hard every day to follow the pattern of protein first.  I believe we have this wonderful group here for support & if anyone needs it I'd be glad to help. Carly

Kris, I think we are all different in our weight loss and regain.  I was told I could gain up to 20 lbs, back.  That was a bummer, I have worked so hard to get to 127 lbs.  I am now at 129 lbs...I make sure I stick to what I was  told to do at 2yr. mark and to make sure I burn 2100 cals. every week with out fail.  I do go up and down a couple of pounds but I do stay most of the time at 129.  Just don't let it make you crazy because I have been there and it is not pretty. My family is ready to send me to the padded room...so I am learning to relax and live like a normal weight person. Of which I have no  idea  what  a normal  person at a normal weight is like.   So  don't  worry  - just do the best you can.   Take care and enjoy  your  good health.  deb k.

I guess I'm not clear on bounce back and regain. I dropped to 104 (pretty skeletal even tho I'm 5'1") and bounced back to 118 and settled for many years at 112.

UNTIL my first affair with sugar (5 yrs out) gain 6#, loss 6#. Then at 8 yrs, my affair with fruit, which I tried to pretend was not sugar. Gain 8#, white knucled loss, 8#. Unaccountably dropped below 110 for a year no idea why. But I fixed it. LOL

Then was very ill (not related to WLS) in 03, and dropped to 101. I like thin, but that looked very bad. Plus, i was sick for 9 months so i felt lousy. OK, got that problem fixed, leveled back at 112 again. (obviously my new set point, after WLS) and wsa cruising along fine.

UNTIL, my 3rd affair with sugar *** what about the first two did I not get?). This time, very slooooow gain, ultimately 12#. Usually, I just stopped the sugar and poof, the wt was gone. This time, not so easy. I have always done 180g protein supplement, except during the 8 yr gain (my fruit pounds), when I went as high as 270g to get the carb monster off my back.

Now I am doing as close to ONLY protein food (and my 180g) as possible, and only 6# are gone, so far. Yes, that puts me under 120, but I WANT 112 or so. I didn't mind the swing between 110-115 on a daily basis, but coming to visit and coming to STAY are two different things. I have never been much into formal exercise, so I've done it all with protein/water/no milk/no sugar all these years.

I don't know ANYONE *****ached 5 yrs without some bounceback at least, more like 10-15#, not %.

Thing to notice is that our disease makes us very susceptible to the call of sugar. AND it is a little bit harder to get it off each time.

Thank  you all for your input!  It seems we are all truly individuals, and regain is no different.  I admit that some of my regain was related to bad, bad habits including resuming diet sodas which seemed to stimulate cravings for carbs & sweets.  But that really only accounts for about 1/2 of my 16 pounds.  I'm working to lose as much of the regain as possible but I am having a very difficult time, especially with exercise.  Weekends seem to be my only free time and work stress is off the charts.  I changed jobs last fall and was weighing about 133-134 at that time (rollerblading several times per week).  When I started my new position, my time for exercise was severely reduced due to demands of the job and an hour commute each way, so my weight increased to 136-137.  I wasn't thrilled with that, but I could accept it.  I maintained that weight all through the food holidays including Christmas, New Year's and Valentine's day (and was drinking some diet soda during that whole time).  But "something" happened around Easter and ..... poof, I added nearly 15 pounds and got up to 150.  I have lost back down to 145, but at 5'4" that still leaves me in the overweight category     And I can't for the life of me figure out what changed at that time, except I passed my magical 3rd anniversary and the carb/sweet cravings descended on me like crazy.  What triggered that, I have no idea.  So, now I'm in detox again and again and again........

I think others have said it very well.  to me 10% is normal  bounceback.  I was told to expect it.  some people will always beat the averages, they are lucky. the rest of us will be average and  have a bounceback. I dont think we should beat ourselves up over something that we do not always have any control over. Some will have significant regains for various reasons from genetics to poor dietary habits or not exercising. That we can control. In the meantime I try to stick to my program and keep up my exercise routine. If I am behaving and I bounceback I can accept that. If I  am eating improperly and not exercising i will strive to relate that to my weight gain, and correct those habits.  and seek therapy as needed. I think that is all I can control.

I am mostly a lurker but have found this board to be most helpful.  I am 2yrs and 3 months out from lap RNY.  I was a light weight at least that was what my MD. called me 265pds.  My lowest weight was 175.  Never in my adult life did i weigh that.  i was gaunt looking and it scared me.  Then came knee pain after unable to walk or work out or so I thought and 20lbs. came on just like that.  Well after some knee surgery and jelousy at others who have had wls i have got back to the program and worked hard at getting rid of those pounds and it is working.  They fix our tummy but not our head.  I do believe a bounce back gain is inevitable.  that honeymoon period just makes you believe in majic.  Reality is I have to watch my intake not graze, and get some sort of workout.  My head is getting it to gether.  I have talked with one of my mentors and he also said that after 2 yrs. most people gain some weight back.  The trick is we have to identify the problem and work at it.  I worry about being a size 14 instead of a 12 or 10, but 14-16 is way better then a 24-26.  God did not want all people to be a size small,so i am thank-ful for the chance to be where i'm at.  I am much healthier and happier.  Thanks for letting me ramble.

Kris, According to my surgeon, we shouldn't accept a rebound gain.  He has all his patients who have reached goal -or a permanent plateau - weigh daily and as soon as you notice a 2-3 pound gain,  go back to basics - all liquid protein and water or Crystal Light, and that will get the gain off before it escalates. This is a relatively new protocol that he is using and wasn't around for me 5 years ago and I've been on a bad eating binge for a while and managed to gain quite a bit - am now in his Time Out and have been for 11 days and have lost 14 pounds. Good luck, Patty

I remember seeing one of your postings about the Time Out protocol but I missed the details.  Can you post them again? It certainly is interesting to see all the different experiences and thoughts on this topic! Thanks!

Kris, Essentially, I get three Nectar Protein drinks a day - and he specified Nectar because it is sugar free and very low calorie.  Other than that all I get is all the Crystal Light type drinks and water that I can hold.  I stay on this for two weeks and then call my doctor back.   So far, after 11 days, I have lost 14 pounds and haven't had to work at it much at all.  It has been so easy. However, I wouldn't suggest doing this without asking your surgeon - I do have to have my electrolytes checked next week. Patty