REAL TALK for the Post-Ops >2yrs

Thank you!

Hi Ya Ya,
I'm not past the 2 yrs post-op, but wanted to answer you post anyway.

I will be 2 yrs post-op January 30th.
I was what they consider a lightweight starting @ 260lbs.
my lowest weight was 166lbs. after being ill and my current
weight is 169lbs.
Yes I am struggling...more so struggling to lose more weight.
I do exercise, but not as regular as when I first had surgery,
but have slacked off
I weight myself everyday and watch what I eat...I wasn't keeping
a food log but find that on the weeks were I wright everything down
I show some weight loss on the scale.

Thank you...the struggles change as the years go by and that was the ONLY reason I wanted to limit my responses to only those who may be experiencing some of the same things. It sounds like you're already have some struggles. Thank you for responding and I think this board will be a great resource to you!

1) 3 years and 2 months post-op.
2) My highest weight was 296, my surgery weight was 286. My lowest weight is my current weight of 139.
3) I am struggling to maintain and not lose anymore weight. I had a Extended TT with muscle repair, and implants, and I weighed 162 at that time, last October 2007.  I have slowly lost more weight and am looking very much my age. My PCP doesn't want me to lose anymore.
4) I mostly walk for exercise.
5) I have a very distal RNY, I have a short common channel of 200cm. I beleive this is the reason I don't struggle with weight gain.  This common channel is more in line with a DS, than the general RNY.
I am able to eat more fats than most RNyers, but I am limited on portion due to having a small pouch.

Thank you for responding Sally. I was just ementioning to a friend of mine from another board that the struggle to stop from losing is no less a struggle than to struggle to maintain and not gain!

YOu know....if you can take the cracks we make about the RNY....lol...you're welcome on the DS forum. We have several very distal RNYers that post regularly on our forum. You might get something out of our threads...since you are probably dealing with a lot of the same issues as our group.

Scott

I had a mini-GB in the summer of 2004. 

Highest weight: 300

I'm currently stuck at 175, and this is really about as low as I've gotten.  My weight loss was SLOOOOWWWW even from the beginning, which really scared me at first.

I'm not really struggling to maintain 175, but I'd like to lose another 25 pounds or so, and I'm finding it to be so difficult.  I want to have a body lift done (damn apron!) and my doc has recommended a 20 pound weight loss beforehand to optimize results. 

I don't exercise consistently, and I NEED TO.  I'm so tired all the time, and I'm wondering if I have a thyroid issue.  My blood tests come back lowish-normal, but I have pretty much all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. 

I still get the dumping syndrome from time to time, after being silly and eating ice cream, usually.  I still struggle with emotional eating and all that goes with it.  My head is still a fat girl, you know? 

 

Hi YaYa!!! Long time no see!!!

I am 4 yrs 5 mos out from my Lap RNY. My starting weight was 325. I settled around 178. I got preggo 17mos post op with my daughter. After she was born I dropped down into the 160s, much to my surprise, as I had gained up to 191 the day she was born. I am actually at my lowest weight NOW, at 162-163 pounds and I love it.

I honestly DO feel like at times I really struggle to maintain. I had a small gain up to 172...THAT freaked me out!!! So I started in on James H's Wagon Plan and lost 10 pounds. It is a great plan...but at the end of the day, no matter HOW great something is...I HATE HATE HATE counting calories/protein/carbs/fat, etc. I begin to feel obsessive about it...which I hate. And then being obsessed about it eventually kicks me into a depression...because all I'm thinking about is numbers. I do still pretty much eat according to that philosophy...as I tracked myself enough to get a general idea of what fits the mold...5-6 meals a day, 2-3 hours apart, no more than 30-35g of carbs per meals, eaten at a ratio of 7g or protein for every 15g of carbs. It is working well, I am holding good and am in a solid 10 now and a sometimey 8. I am within spitting distance of the 150s...I don't feel like I'll see them, but I honestly never thought I would get this close so I am still very pleased.

As for exercise...I must admit I never ONCE exercised post op until 4 mos ago. I know it's bad, but it's a fact. And I have maintained very well. The Wagon Plan is what got me motivated to exercise...I finally bit the bullet and got my family a gym membership. I am back to a place where I love exercise again. I must have a hint of obsessive personality, as it's leaking over and I'm turning into a gym rat, I was going 7 days a week. It's just not realistic to keep up for the long term, so I am working on 'feeling OK' about 4-5 times a week. I'm getting there. I feel great and am starting to see results. Even though I am not losing anymore weight really, several people have commented that I look like I'm losing again so that must be mean something is shifting!

As for 'keys' to it...I would have to say that for me I think it is the tons of water I drink...I aim for 90-100oz a day. I also still don't really drink with my meals. There are rare occasions I will but for the most part it's just not a habit for me. I always wait 30mins minimum before and after. I do eat bread, but not much and not often. I can really realize the extent of this by trying to feed my daughter a sandwich. She doesn't care much for bread or buns...she only eats the middle! I think it's because we just don't eat much bread at home. I also think some of the reason I've been pretty good at maintaining because I don't have a "NEVER" list of foods/drinks. I eat rice, potatoes, Cheez-Its, ice cream, soda pop...none of those things are habits anymore (OK, except the CheezIts ). But I do allow myself to enjoy whatever I want in moderation. Yes,  I still dump this far out, but I tread carefully on suspect items. It is much easier to stick to a healthy way of life when you don't give yourself absolutes.
OK, that's my story. I'm sticking to it.

How far post-op are you?  I will be 4 years post-op next month.

What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight? Starting weight - 275 pounds, lowest weight - 150 pounds, current weight - 165 pounds

Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?  Well I've had two post-op pregnancies back to back, so of course that made me gain weight.  My highest weight after giving birth to my 2nd son was 194.  Since getting back on track and back to basics I've lost from 194 down to 165 and I plan to lose 25 more.

Do you exercise (please be honest)? I try to walk for 30 minutes or do an exercise dvd at least 4-5 times a week.  Don't always accomplish that, but most weeks I do.

What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?  I just try to eat healthy.  I don't restrict any major food groups.  I eat protein at every meal and also fruit, veg and whole grains every day.  Only two healthy snacks a day and no grazing.  I drink only water.  This is what I've been doing to lose my baby weight and it's been working.

So here's what I want to know if you're willing to share:
How far post-op are you?  I am over 5 years out.

What was your starting/lowest/and maintenance weight?  Started at 303, got down to 126 until I took a deep breath one morning, settled at 131.

Are you struggling/have you struggled to maintain?  Not really.  I mean, I have days where I eat what I am not supposed to, graze all day...I am still human, however, I usually get myself back to my routine within a few days.  I weigh daily and 5 lbs in either direction means TAKE ACTION NOW!   I did at a low point in my life put on 14 lbs, but I got it off when I stopped the self pity and got back to my routine.

Do you exercise (please be honest)? I excercise every single day.  I like running once again and usually run about 5-9 miles per day.  I also use elipticals, stairsteppers and other machines and I lift weights.

What do you feel are the key element(s) that prevent you from re-gaining a significant amount of weight?  My family.  I did this for myself, but also so I could be around for them.  A 303 lb woman is heading down "Early Grave" highway and I didn't want to leave my life early simply because I was FAT.  I also like to work out, when you don't have to haul around 303 lbs it makes it a heck of a lot easier.  I also watch what I eat.  Again, I do eat and will again eat food considered "bad."  However, I make allowances for it.  If I eat a slice of cake I have to run it off, Wheat Thins...same thing.  I am accountable for my actions and it makes a big difference.  Also, the daily weighing works for me.  I need it. It keeps me in line.

Traci
303/131