After 18mths?????

I'm hearing a lot lately about how things change at 18 mths out. Since we're coming up on that pretty quick here I thought I'd see what you all have heard on the subject. I was talking to a friend today (she's 3 years out) and she said that we absorb MORE after 18 mths. Now for me that's good cuz I really mal absorb - but at the same time I'm DEATHLY afraid of gaining weight!!!!!!! I wonder how we're going to balance this out? She also said that you can eat more at one sitting. I can already see that sometimes, although it's not consistant with me. Some days I can eat a whole serving of oatmeal and a piece of toast w/ pb.... other days I can't get in the oatmeal. I guess I'm just nervous about gaining weight. I didn't keep any clothes in bigger sizes!!! I like being at 130 and I don't want to find myself creaping up to 140, 150, etc... Just nervous about it I guess. Laurie

I worry about it too... I've been pretty much maintaining for several months now, since about March. Some days, I do pretty well... Most days, I would say. Some days, I don't... Luckily, the good days still far outweigh the bad. But, with PS coming up, I worry that I won't be able to maintain for the long run and all this hard work (and pain!) will be for nothing!

I guess that's part of my worry to. My tt is healing nicely and the very thought of stretching this out by gaining is HORRIFIC to me!! I too have many more good days then bad, but it's still a nagging thought in my brain.

Honestly, I don't think anything miraculously happens at 18 months that causes *poof* our bodies to change what it absorbs. Wish I knew more of the science/physiology of it all, ya know? I do know that our intestines sensing will hypertrophy if they do not get enough protein. They sense that they aren't getting enough and they will grow. And they can grow feet not just inches as they attempt to absorb more. This is one reason that I have done and continue to do protein shakes. I wanted my body to have protein that it could readily absorb and not have to "adapt". Not sure how much I can control of that but I definitely tried. All that being said... Rich is 24 months post-op and has gained weight. Yup. So much for my two thoughts above: 1. nothing miraculous happens at 18 months and 2. drinking protein shakes will decrease hypertrophy. Anyway, I guess Rich wasn't paying much mind to quantities and such - he never really had. He just eats. His lowest weight was 242, I think. He hovered for most of the last year between 245 and 252 or so which is a good range for him. Well, at the end of July he faced the scale at the oncologist's office at 268. He looked like a deer in headlights. Shock and awe. LOL. I dunno what numbers he was seeing on the scale leading up til then since I know he does weigh himself at home and at the gym but I think he was a bit of a Cleopatra cuz he didn't gain 20 or so pounds overnight. Duh. He has made a few changes and I think he is down to around 260 now. We'd like to see him get back to 250 or so. Anyway, so the dreaded 10% regain (or is it 20%) or whatever they say can happen post-op - Rich obviously is an example of such. Am I nervous? Sure. And I was nervous enough that I kept some clothing. I hated to do that but practicality told me that 10 lbs is a size so I kept the next size or two higher - just in case. The rest got donated. Do I stress about it? No. Heck I just went up 7 lbs in 2-3 weeks from one Power Crunch bar daily (190 cals). I'm used to scale anomalies. My body overreacts to things. Always has and always will. I'd love to be able to hover in a say 3-5 lb range but I know my body has a mind of it's own at times. Just gotta do what I'm doing that seems to be working. I'm ramblin... Kathy

I think if we do not exercise consistently (that's cardio and strength training) we will regain. It's not a question of "if" it's a question of "how much". Exercise will help offset increased absorption and increased intake. It's all about calories in versus calories out.

Unfortunately, I have the opposite problem. I am scared that I will keep losing!! I woke up this morning and was at 172 and thats another pound lost. Remember, my goal was 190. When I asked my surgeon he said I should be getting between 1700-1900 calories a day...that is a joke. I am lucky to hit 1200. Not to mention how many calories I burn off at work nightly at the Peter Hut!!

Laurie, I'm so afraid of this that I'm going to join Weigh****chers. I've been on a plateau for 3 months. I've actually gained 2 lbs. I don't think the malabsorption thing is working for me at all. I record everything I eat in fit day and usually get about 1700 to 1900 calories a day. I work out 90 minutes a day, every day. I weigh 238 lbs and really want to get to 199, but, really am afraid it is not going to happen. I feel like a kind of failure to join weigh****chers again, but, I don't know what to do. Lori 384/238/199

The failure is not in joining Weigh****chers... the failure would be to give up trying. Kathy

You are so right Kathy! Thanks!

I think WW is a great idea. It provides structure and accountability as well as support. All great things by themselves but get together - fabulous. Good luck with it! Kathy