does everyone regain weight?

I am just a little over 1 year out.  I reached my goal by havent lost anymore weight.  I also am noticing I can eat more quantity then I even did a month ago and it scares me.  I have read so many posts that 1-3 yrs out people are regaining at least some of their weight if not all.  Does everyone regain?  What is the secret to keeping it off?

The ones that turn back to old habits and allow more calories in vs. out rather than finding a happy maintenance level will gain. 

We have this tool to help us get to our goals.. hopefully we established good habits and CHANGED our way of eating.. if we didn't change many do not reach goal and find once they can eat more the weight will come back on. 

Remember, it is only a tool, we have to use it to make it work, it won't do all the work for us.  We have been blessed with a gift and we need to treat it as such. 

Am I perfect? FAR from it but I remind myself by saying what I told you to myself..

Ya gotta work your tool to keep the weight off especially once we can eat more.. well if we make wrong choices = more calories in = weight gain.. simple as that.

Good luck and just stick to your guns by eating right, exercising, taking vitamins and not grazing.. protein first.. you can do it.  No worries if you follow the rules sweetie.

Hugs

Hey Melissa,

I was just over on the RNY board and reading all of the posts. I've now seen most of those same questions and posts over and over during the past 1 1/2 years. They just don't have the same kick that they used to. So I tooled on over to the May 07 board and found that most of those people had moved on, but still check in from time to time. I was remembering all of the "old days" when all of the friends were on that I lost my weight with. You were one of those, along with PK and Karen, and a whole mess of other good folks. Most of these people may check in from time to time, but the fact is that many of them just aren't here like they used to. I feel at times that it kind of marks the end of an era. A new cycle of WLS people come in and we are handing the baton off to them. It put a smile on my face to see a familiar one when I stumbled on your reply. I hope that all is going well with you.

John

Hi John!

So good to hear from you and you look *GREAT* and I bet you feel equally as good too!  How is your wife doing?  I know she had surgery you said as well!

I know what you are saying, it isn't the same group any more but the group that is there looks as though they have found their "circle" and that is great.  I just don't know *anyone* on that board anymore.  I post and they are like "who is that!?!" lol...

Part of the reason I left is PK, Jenny and I, we had a falling out, long story short.  About that time I made the decision to move on.. because I wasn't being uplifted any longer on OH because of that reason.  It wasn't providing me support it was providing me a very toxic environment unfortunately.  So i just focused on my dec 06 board (surgery board) and I also colead a local support group. I also have a few close friends online that I have stayed in contact with through instant messenger or over the phone.  That has been my support.  It really is too bad it had to end that way, we even went on a cruise together, and it was fun but it wasn't long after that the falling out occurred.  People were being accused of things that didn't happen and character traits were being judged and I just wasn't having it.  I am not the type of person and won't sink that low. 

Anyways, life sure has been hectic for me. I am in the process of applying to be a bariactric coordinator at my job, we just got a program instututed so I am extremely excited for that!  Husband and I are discussing pregnancy etc.. lots of changes in the near future I am thinking. Even talking about doing a membership site for WLS folks since him and I are both postops, him 6.5 years and me reaching 2 and both doing well with no real complications to speak of. We will see.

Please update me on you and your wife and family! I miss the "oldie goldies", this was such a family unit (on the RNY board) for many years.. previous to surgery and after.. its a shame I no longer feel the desire to partake as much :(  I go where I feel supported. 

*hugs* So great to hear from you!!!  Give me more feedback on you and the rest of the family!

I remember you Mel....and I miss ya!!!!  I'm pretty much hang'n out on the board ~ all by myself.  Getting to meet alot of new people.  You know, pay it forward and help them along...but I sure miss the good ole days.

I'm still having issues with gaining weight.  I am up to 108 lbs from 90 lbs...so that is a positive for me!!  But my daughter (17 yr old) was just diagnosed with brain cancer in May and we were supposed to have surgery on Sept 12th ~ in Houston, but thanks to IKE, that was canceled..so now I feel like we have to start all over and my daughter is going through major denial, thinking that this disease will just go away!!    SO MUCH STRESS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW ~ sometimes so much over stressing, I forget about me and my vitamins & supplements.

I have my good days and my ASS days.....working on more good days.  I would love to see more of your pretty face back on our old board!!!

pugs & kisses,
Dawn

I am glad you can still pay it forward Dawn!!!  That is what it is all about! 

I am sorry to hear about your Daughter.  I can't believe all the hoops u are jumping through, what a mess and a stresser!!! :(  I am praying for you Dawn and your family!    Try to remember to take care of you my dear, your family needs u and without your health u can't be there for them.  You know that.. I know you do.

Thanks for the sweet things you say Dawn about missing me on the boards, I miss you guys too.  I am hoping to be able to be more active in the winter, its bad here in Iowa, nothing else to do but stay inside.  It gets brutal up here.. 4 miles from MN border.

I am applying for a bariatric coordinator job at my work.  It's a brand new position and the bariatric clinic opens in october, interview is tomorrow.. huge panel. I am peeing my pants but excited also!!!

Please keep me posted on your daughter, I am lifting her up with prayers as I type and will think of her daily and wish her nothing but goodness... for her and your family.  take care of you darlin' OK?

Love ya!

Orion, congratulations on reaching your goal! Yes, most of us are able to eat more as time goes on, but that does not mean we should. The secret as the previous posted stated is to use our tool properly. Also I found that journaling my food intake and exercise helped me stay on track and weighing myself on the scale. I weigh myself daily, that might not be the best for everyone but it works for me. I am 2.5 years out from GBS and have not gained any of my weight back. That is not to say that I haven't gained any but at most 3-4 lbs which when I see that on the scale ,I cut back on my eating and drop those few pounds . So I have maintained my weight loss.

So, I think the answer is no, not everyone gains back their weight. You don't have too either, just follow the rules the majority of the time and get in your exercise and you too can maintain your weight loss. You will find that there are lots of others out there who have maintained their weight loss too.

Keep up the good work.

Sher

This isn't easy, we need to constantly be conscious of what we put into our mouths, it is hard to change a life time of poor eating habits but remember how much better you feel now and how much healthier you are and will be in the future not carrying around  that excess weight. Make this a life style change.

Congratulations on your success!!! Like you, regaining weight is my biggest fear still at 3.5yrs post op. I have done pretty well to stay on top of it, but have had times of slight regains that I had to fight to get back off. I think reverting back to old habits~grazing, eating too many refined carbs, over eating, emotional eating, food addiction, self sabotage, etc~all play a part in why people regain weight. We have to stay diligent with our weight and our eating plan and lets face it, sometimes we just don't feel like it, or life gets in the way, or we just need a break!!! I think daily or weekly weighing helps, tracking food and exercise at thedailyplate.com helps, continuing to exercise on a regular basis helps, staying in a support group either in your community or online helps. Good Luck on your first year and wishing you continued success!!!!!!!!!

I set a goal weight range of +/- 5 pounds within which I eat whatever I want.  I have a further weight range of +/- 10 pounds at which point I would invoke the "nuclear option" (900 calories, not one snack, 50% protein, 3 more days of excercise, etc.)  I've only had to use the nuclear option for -10 pounds (no excercise, 2 frappucinos with whip and a cookie per day, etc.)

I think one of the keys is to monitor your weight and make corrections for the first 10 pounds instead of waiting until you looking at 30 o 40 pounds.  Regularly evaluating your eating habits and making smaller corrections is also important.

I'm 3 yrs out, and have lost a couple more this year. Not everyone gains so you don't see those posting. You see the ones who did gain and post about it seeking advice.
I weigh every day and if I should gain more the a pound, I will low carb it until I am back on track. I think the key is to pay attention to what you eat and to what the scales say.