Full weight loss after weight regain is possible, for example:

Two of my neices and I all had the RNY. My niece Jess had it first, then Amber and I had it one day apart from each other, about a year after Jess.  At about 18 months after jess's surgery we saw her gaining weight, of course never said anything but kind of  (lovingly) talked behind her back "can you believe she's gaining weight.. I will NEVER let myself get to that point." "yeah..s he told me she's gained 35 lbs.. she was down to 150 now she's about 185..oh my gosh, I can't believe she let herself do that.. " at that point Amber and I are 6 months out and still losing like crazy. Well jess kept this weight regain for almost another year. At this point Amber and I are now 18 month out...who else started to gain?! Yep! You guessed it! and I know there are people talking about me now!! I've gained 35 Amber has gained about 20.

BUT there is GOOD NEWS!!! Jessica came to her FINAL freakout point, and in two months lost ALL her excess weight, she is now back to 150 and has been there for 10 months. I think this is a "pattern" that  a LOT of people follow. Now Amber and I have been at our weight gain for several months, and both of us kind of got a handle on things at the same time, and we've both put into motion a concrete plan to get this weight regain off, just like Jess did... it's just funny how we followed the exact pattern she did!

MORAL? Weight gain happens... but so does weight loss!

Leslee

Thanks for sharing this Leslee.  I hope I am near my FINAL freakout point.  lol lol   Denise

"Weight gain happens... but so does weight loss!" Well said...  I couldn't agree more!!!

Hey Leslee! Thanks so much for sharing that!!! Although I've had only small, manageable gains so far, it gives me hope for the future b/c ya never know what will happen. One things I've learned along the way is to never say never, no that won't happen to me b/c guess what?!?!? It can happen to anyone!!!!!!! I have a HUGE fear of me gaining and people talking about me behind my back and being happy that I've failed~it actually can be a motivating factor for me some days. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration today!!!!!!!!!

Yes it does & yes it can! Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks Leslee,,you made my day! Like Tracy I have only had small gains,,but live in fear it will get worse. Now I know that if that happens,,there is hope! Blessings Betsy

Oh that is so good to know! Thanks for sharing!

Gains do happen. I'm so happy Jessica found her way to lose it again. I'm so glad you and your neice caught it in time.  In support group we talk about what happens to people who gain weight back. They get to feeling ashamed and won't look for support. They hide. That is such shame when people feel so ashamed of themselves that they don't look for help. But I can certainly identify with that. In july of 2005, I was 240 pounds but was so ashamed of myself that I didn't go to the doctor, wouldn't go to the WLS surgeon. I had to lose nearly 20 pounds before I could bring myself to even seek help...ouch.. We're all here for support...All of us need it and all of us can provide it. We're a team around here..

Thank you for posting this Leslee. I am a big example of weight gain. I am sure people do talk behind my back. I am so mad at my self. I am 14 years out. I  reached my goal in 1997. Then I got pregnant. I gained 60 lbs with my DS. Then I lost 30 of that after he was born. Then I got lazy and did not continue my exercising like I was doing. Then in 2007 had a hysterectomy and shoulder surgery. Now I am 99 lbs away from my goal.  Then I couldn't exercise at all because of the 2 surgery's . I am so mad at my self. The only way I reached  my goal was. I did aerobics 2x a day and walked my dog 2 miles a day. I did that for 3 years. Then I got lazy and had 2 surgerys. My shoulder still hurts. But I do not care. I did my aerobics 3 days in a row this week. So I hope I can accomplish what I did before. My advice to people is. DO NOT GIVE UP EXERCISE. Because even though you had the surgery. You need to exercise and don't give that up like I did. That was the only way I reached and held my goal for 3 years. Have a great night Karen

Sounds like you know what to do! Well, I'm 80 lbs from my goal. I got to 50 lbs from my goal before I started gaining, so we're both at about the same place. I REALLY did not want exercise to be as important as I'm finding it is. I was REALLY hoping I could get away without doing it. I think some people need to workout a lot to get a weight loss. I don't think it's fair to consider one person lazy  or complacent just because they gained some weight, they may simply  just have to work HARDER at it then the next person, and once they realize that and get to work they too can lose the weight. I think that's where I fall. I think I need to workout a LOT. This week on average I"ve worked out about 2 hrs a day, burning between 1,000 and 1,500 calories a day. And you look at some athletes they can eat whatever they want, but they are cycling 3 hrs a day..that means they're burning around 3,000 calories a day, so sure, they can eat a TONE and maintain a healthy body weight. You take those same athletes who get an injury and stop their sport, and if they don't change the way they eat they start gaining weigiht pretty fast.  So I'm starting to think exercise IS key. I worked out a LOT before surgery, I would be committed and work so hard and still not lose weight (was never fully consistant with diet AND exercise for a long enough time to make significant difference) but with the surgery I was losing weight automatically withOUT exercise, that I just never got in the habit, I thought maybe I didn't really  need it after all. But now two and a half years out I'm seeing WHY I should have established that habit early on. BUT, it's NEVER too late to start! Good for you for doing three days ina row! Are you ready to make it FOUR next week?! I'll do it if you do!.. (I'll do it anyway..I'm preparing for a BIG hike in three months, but it just sounded good) Leslee