REAL TALK for the Post-Ops >2yrs
I want to have some real STRAIGHT talk with my post-ops that are 2 years or more out from WLS. I know that *most* of us here are RNY folks but I would love to have feedback from ALL of the older post-ops.
I'm coming up on my 3 year WLS anniversary date (11/17/05) and I started at 329. I lost down to 194 (for like 1 day I think) and then settled in at 195-200 range. I started having health issues and slowed down on the exercise and then bounced back up as high as 215. Then I had my tummy done 09/10/07 and got back down to 200-205 range and maintained because I was able to exercise again. Well the past 2 months I've been having problems with my foot again and I've been 207-211 due to decrese in exercise again. So, with or without exercise I'm still staying in a 10 pound range 200-210. I know what I have to do when the doc wants me to reduce my exercise...CUT CALORIES. I do and then when I can get back to my regular exercise I maintain without even blinking. BUT I think that there are a few things that really help me from gaining too much PERIOD. I weigh myself everyday and I may not like what I see but it keep me honest with myself. I don't let the number on the scale control me BUT I do gauge my weight by how I feel and I know when I have to get back to basics. Sometimes it's easy...sometimes it's a struggle...in the head not the body.
So here's what I want to know if you're willing to share:
How far post-op are you?
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
Please feel free to add anything you want to share. I'm interested to hear your thoughts. I have spoken to many "older" post-ops who most all of then seemed to have some re-gain and then their bodies settle into a weight and then they maintain from there. I'm happy body, mind, and soul BUT if I gained any more than the 10 pound range I have been dealing with I do NOT think I would be happy. So, I want to gather my thoughts and devise and long term plan. I have issues with my foot and hardware that is permanent. The reality of it all is that I will have good and bad days with this damn foot and there will be times when I just can't be as active as I want to be (as frustrating as it is). I also have female issues that cause a great amount of pain and that will not change until I go through menopause or they take this **** out (and I don't want to have another damn surgery if I can help it). SOOOOOOOOO I'm doing a little self evaluating and trying to make some changes and be realistic about things.
NO JUDGEMENT HERE...just share experiences, and thoughts PLEASE!!! Thank you in advance.
I'm coming up on my 3 year WLS anniversary date (11/17/05) and I started at 329. I lost down to 194 (for like 1 day I think) and then settled in at 195-200 range. I started having health issues and slowed down on the exercise and then bounced back up as high as 215. Then I had my tummy done 09/10/07 and got back down to 200-205 range and maintained because I was able to exercise again. Well the past 2 months I've been having problems with my foot again and I've been 207-211 due to decrese in exercise again. So, with or without exercise I'm still staying in a 10 pound range 200-210. I know what I have to do when the doc wants me to reduce my exercise...CUT CALORIES. I do and then when I can get back to my regular exercise I maintain without even blinking. BUT I think that there are a few things that really help me from gaining too much PERIOD. I weigh myself everyday and I may not like what I see but it keep me honest with myself. I don't let the number on the scale control me BUT I do gauge my weight by how I feel and I know when I have to get back to basics. Sometimes it's easy...sometimes it's a struggle...in the head not the body.
So here's what I want to know if you're willing to share:
How far post-op are you?
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
Please feel free to add anything you want to share. I'm interested to hear your thoughts. I have spoken to many "older" post-ops who most all of then seemed to have some re-gain and then their bodies settle into a weight and then they maintain from there. I'm happy body, mind, and soul BUT if I gained any more than the 10 pound range I have been dealing with I do NOT think I would be happy. So, I want to gather my thoughts and devise and long term plan. I have issues with my foot and hardware that is permanent. The reality of it all is that I will have good and bad days with this damn foot and there will be times when I just can't be as active as I want to be (as frustrating as it is). I also have female issues that cause a great amount of pain and that will not change until I go through menopause or they take this **** out (and I don't want to have another damn surgery if I can help it). SOOOOOOOOO I'm doing a little self evaluating and trying to make some changes and be realistic about things.
NO JUDGEMENT HERE...just share experiences, and thoughts PLEASE!!! Thank you in advance.
~Sexy YaYa~
Okay here's the answers to your questions:
1) I'm 7 years post op.
2) Starting weight: 315 Lowest weight: 155 Maintenance Weight: 170
3) I always struggle to maintain my weight and that will never change. I have to diet as though I've never had surgery in the first place just to lose any weight at all. I've been as high as 182 and as low as 155. My average is around 170.
4) I used to exercise regularly for the first 2-3 years but not so much now. I realize now that I'm 50 I am going to have to start up again because everything is falling to the floor and looks awful. I hate exercise though. ugh!
5) The key element in not gaining over 182 is my scale and my determination that 182 is my 'red light' number! When I get to that point, I halt everything and get back on the band wagon and eat mostly proteins and veggies and fruit and stay away from any starchy carbs. I honestly can't say that exercise has played a key in my weight loss, but it does help with the way my body looks when I do it on a consistent basis.
I have other health problems now that I am older and those bother me more than the weight gain mostly. I don't like being unhealthy and I never got to my goal weight of 140 and as old as I am now, I doubt it will ever happen. My poor metabolism is about shot!
If I had to do it all over again, I would have tried Jenny Craig or Nutri-systems or some weight loss plan ONE MORE TIME before I did this. Surgery on your intestines should only be a last resort for those who are 150 pounds or more overweight and for those who can't lose it any other way. There are too many post op problems to take it lightly as just another weight loss plan.
Just my two cents, for what it's worth....
by the way!!!
Hi!
I want to answer your post.
I am almost 4 years out (11/29/04) I started out at 256, my lowest weight was 148 that was for about a day, I was maintaining at 155 for about 2 years, then all of a sudden, I got onto the scale and it said 180, I dont know to this day what happened. Well yes I do, I stopped exercising on a regular basis, I discovered that I could eat sweets and that I loved CHEETO PUFFS, well when I discovered the weight gain, I got back on track, giving up the cheetos was hard, I then lost 10 lbs, and I started walking, so I was toning up and feeling better....I then had a set back, shame on me....
Now, I have found the 10lbs I lost and Im trying to work to get them off in a month, I have started a calender that helps me gauge my exercise, vit, and water intake.
I will weigh myself weekly!
Today, as you know is OCT 1st, so I have 31 days to lose 10lbs, I KNOW I can do it!!!!
Tina
I want to answer your post.
I am almost 4 years out (11/29/04) I started out at 256, my lowest weight was 148 that was for about a day, I was maintaining at 155 for about 2 years, then all of a sudden, I got onto the scale and it said 180, I dont know to this day what happened. Well yes I do, I stopped exercising on a regular basis, I discovered that I could eat sweets and that I loved CHEETO PUFFS, well when I discovered the weight gain, I got back on track, giving up the cheetos was hard, I then lost 10 lbs, and I started walking, so I was toning up and feeling better....I then had a set back, shame on me....
Now, I have found the 10lbs I lost and Im trying to work to get them off in a month, I have started a calender that helps me gauge my exercise, vit, and water intake.
I will weigh myself weekly!
Today, as you know is OCT 1st, so I have 31 days to lose 10lbs, I KNOW I can do it!!!!
Tina
Starting stats:
5'8'' 265lbs. spent only 10 years obese
current 143lbs 4 years out
Yes, I work out 4 to 5 x's a week both cardio and weight training (serious lifting). No bounce back I'm trying to stop the loss at this point. I made a life choice and stuck with the plan the doctor layed out. I'm obsessive with my vitamins and water and eat 6 to 8 times a day along with protein shakes.
What has kept me faithful and on track is working with another woman who had her surgery 2 years before I did and is now only 20lbs from her start weight. As bad as I feel for her it has kept me focused. Interestingly, the dedication was noticed and my career went from ho-hum to out of this world.
I'd be happy to share a picture privately.
5'8'' 265lbs. spent only 10 years obese
current 143lbs 4 years out
Yes, I work out 4 to 5 x's a week both cardio and weight training (serious lifting). No bounce back I'm trying to stop the loss at this point. I made a life choice and stuck with the plan the doctor layed out. I'm obsessive with my vitamins and water and eat 6 to 8 times a day along with protein shakes.
What has kept me faithful and on track is working with another woman who had her surgery 2 years before I did and is now only 20lbs from her start weight. As bad as I feel for her it has kept me focused. Interestingly, the dedication was noticed and my career went from ho-hum to out of this world.
I'd be happy to share a picture privately.
and I had a friend that gained a big amount of weight back too...that really is an eye opener huh!!!
I'll be 14 on Oct 5. Distal RNY, as in very distal.
You said:
So here's what I want to know if you're willing to share:
How far post-op are you?
********* 14
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
*************** 262, maintenance wt is 112, i'm 5'1"
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
******** not normally. If I keep my fingers away from sugar, I can maintain just doing my routine, 6protein drinks, 4-5 small meals.
I've had 3 regains, all from sugar. You'd think I'd wise up, but I fell into the sugar bowl at 5, 8 & 11 yrs out. First regain, 6#, fell off as soon as I removed fingers from sugar bowl. 2nd one, 8# took a little longer. 3rd one was 13# and didn't budge even after 3 months of being totally "pure". I was scared. Had to take extraordinary measures to remove that. But I did it. Whew. That was 07.
Am back to holding my wt because my fingers were removed from the sugar bowl 4/1/07 and I've kept them out.
I've also had 3 wt too low, but all physical reasons, and once I could eat again, wt went right back to the 110-115 neighborhood. (inner ear thing, stuff like that)
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
********* in an organized way? No, never did. I'm not a couch potato, do move all day, but working
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
*********
1. stick with my rules. single digit sugar PER MEAL
2. 180g protein IN SUPPS (no milk, no adders) per day OR MORE (more when I need to get out of the sugar bowl) or if I'm stressed
3. 4-5 small meals per day. My tendency would be to have 1-2 big meals vs the small ones. I never was a grazer, so that's not an issue.
4. take all my vites, every day, day after day.
5. get routine labs IN MY OWN HANDS, so I "own" those results
6. had regular visits for the first few years, but labs go to all my docs, and I see my surgeons in my work, so they also see me (so I'm still accountable)
7. live support groups. even when we travel and we are not attending our own groups here locally, we attend groups wherever we are and that is also accountability. If I tell you I weigh 112 and I visit you city and you invite me to your group, I'd BETTER look like that is my wt, hadn't I?
8. I stay on yahoo grads, even when I want to slap half a dozen of 'em (I'm sure it's mutual--LOL) and I keep coming back to newbies boards, like OH, so I never forget who I am and who I will always be. I'm morbidly obese, which is a fatal physical disease.
9. i aim to keep it in remission as best as I can
You said:
So here's what I want to know if you're willing to share:
How far post-op are you?
********* 14
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
*************** 262, maintenance wt is 112, i'm 5'1"
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
******** not normally. If I keep my fingers away from sugar, I can maintain just doing my routine, 6protein drinks, 4-5 small meals.
I've had 3 regains, all from sugar. You'd think I'd wise up, but I fell into the sugar bowl at 5, 8 & 11 yrs out. First regain, 6#, fell off as soon as I removed fingers from sugar bowl. 2nd one, 8# took a little longer. 3rd one was 13# and didn't budge even after 3 months of being totally "pure". I was scared. Had to take extraordinary measures to remove that. But I did it. Whew. That was 07.
Am back to holding my wt because my fingers were removed from the sugar bowl 4/1/07 and I've kept them out.
I've also had 3 wt too low, but all physical reasons, and once I could eat again, wt went right back to the 110-115 neighborhood. (inner ear thing, stuff like that)
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
********* in an organized way? No, never did. I'm not a couch potato, do move all day, but working
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
*********
1. stick with my rules. single digit sugar PER MEAL
2. 180g protein IN SUPPS (no milk, no adders) per day OR MORE (more when I need to get out of the sugar bowl) or if I'm stressed
3. 4-5 small meals per day. My tendency would be to have 1-2 big meals vs the small ones. I never was a grazer, so that's not an issue.
4. take all my vites, every day, day after day.
5. get routine labs IN MY OWN HANDS, so I "own" those results
6. had regular visits for the first few years, but labs go to all my docs, and I see my surgeons in my work, so they also see me (so I'm still accountable)
7. live support groups. even when we travel and we are not attending our own groups here locally, we attend groups wherever we are and that is also accountability. If I tell you I weigh 112 and I visit you city and you invite me to your group, I'd BETTER look like that is my wt, hadn't I?
8. I stay on yahoo grads, even when I want to slap half a dozen of 'em (I'm sure it's mutual--LOL) and I keep coming back to newbies boards, like OH, so I never forget who I am and who I will always be. I'm morbidly obese, which is a fatal physical disease.
9. i aim to keep it in remission as best as I can
Michelle
RNY, distal, 10/5/94
P.S. My year + long absence has NOTHING to do with my WLS, or my type of WLS. See my profile.
How far post-op are you?
3 years, 7 months post-op
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
Starting 260.5/ lowest 119/ maintenance 125-127 lbs
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
I've been pretty fortunate to not struggle with regain. I had slight regain to 133 (goal weight is 130 lbs) and about freaked out. It really scared the daylights out of me, that was almost 10 months ago. I was thankfully able to lose back to 127 quickly.
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
No planned, continuous exercise never have since surgery. I do not sit around allot though, I'm pretty hyper so I do attribute my moving to helping.
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
I weigh everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I know night weighing isn't good for us but it helps me gage what tomorrow will look like.
I do have woman issue more now that causes excessive PMS issues that I'd love to kick to the curb but my OB/GYN isn't at this point willing to proceed with a hysterectomy. During this time I have to fight the urge to live on chocolate.....so far so good but it isn't easy.
I do protein shakes pretty faithfully, occassionally when I venture off I find my way back as I can definitely tell a difference in compliance when I don't do shakes.
I love protein foods (meat, cheese, etc) and vegetables so not being a picky eater I think has helped allot.
Has it been easy, heck no. But it's doeable at this point, I hope I can remain within my set weight range and if/should I see regain I can wrap my mind around the situation and work my tail off to regain control.
3 years, 7 months post-op
What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?
Starting 260.5/ lowest 119/ maintenance 125-127 lbs
Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?
I've been pretty fortunate to not struggle with regain. I had slight regain to 133 (goal weight is 130 lbs) and about freaked out. It really scared the daylights out of me, that was almost 10 months ago. I was thankfully able to lose back to 127 quickly.
Do you exercise (please be honest)?
No planned, continuous exercise never have since surgery. I do not sit around allot though, I'm pretty hyper so I do attribute my moving to helping.
What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?
I weigh everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I know night weighing isn't good for us but it helps me gage what tomorrow will look like.
I do have woman issue more now that causes excessive PMS issues that I'd love to kick to the curb but my OB/GYN isn't at this point willing to proceed with a hysterectomy. During this time I have to fight the urge to live on chocolate.....so far so good but it isn't easy.
I do protein shakes pretty faithfully, occassionally when I venture off I find my way back as I can definitely tell a difference in compliance when I don't do shakes.
I love protein foods (meat, cheese, etc) and vegetables so not being a picky eater I think has helped allot.
Has it been easy, heck no. But it's doeable at this point, I hope I can remain within my set weight range and if/should I see regain I can wrap my mind around the situation and work my tail off to regain control.
Proximal RNY Lap - 02/21/05
9 years committed ~ 100% EWL and Maintaining
www.dazzlinglashesandbeyond.com
Most Active
Recent Topics
