Weight Gain??? The ugly truth....

Ok, so I am almost 6 weeks post (as most of us are) and in two weeks I have managed to gain 8 lbs. Yes, pms and my cycle, yes retaining water, yes I am diabetic........but no one mentioned anything about the possibility of gaining 3 weeks after surgery! I am by no means an angel with the program, but for the most part I stick to it. I have even been walking 1-2 miles 3-5 times a week. But the week I started gaining I had a falling out with the scale. The scale won, I turned off the lights and went back to bed. My cycle is over, but I am humiliated and very discouraged. Should I call my dr? I fret that I have stretched my pouch. Most foods dont bother me......I can eat normally, just not as much. I feel like I will be a failure............

Eight? Try 12!!!!!!!!! That's right, the same thing happened to me during my time a week and a half ago. I kept thinking there was something wrong with the scale, but it's a doctor's office scale at work, so I doubt it. In any case, I was really pissed off, but I didn't give up. I knew that it had to be only temporary, since much like you, I was walking a mile in the morning and working out 30 minutes 5 days a week+ Sure enough, the following week, my weight was right back where it had been before my period, and 5 days later I had dropped 7 more pounds! You're not alone, neighbor, so keep your chin up and keep on that routine! Julie

At this stage you're getting maybe 600-800 calories a day, right? Unless you're slurping down milkshakes and melted Crisco, you're not gaining fat, so don't worry! It's just annoying, nasty, evil water retention. I gained six pounds in two days - right before a surgeon visit/official weigh-in, of course! This seems to be my body's pattern... it retains a lot of water, hangs on to it for a while (we're talking a week or so), and then lets it go and sends a few new pounds with it down the drain. Nothing I can do about it but stick to the program, drink a lot of water, and bang my head against the wall.

I gained my 2nd week post op - it's awful, I know!!! Just keep doing what you know to be doing and it'll come off again! (((HUGS))) Michelle

I can so relate to what you're saying. I lost 37 lbs. the first 5 weeks after surgery---of course 18 of it was what I gained in the hospital from the iv's! Then I've been stuck ever since. I was wondering what I had done wrong, so posted an e-mail to the support group I belong to and they all told me to be patient and just keep doing what I was doing! It's scarry when you really don't know exactly what to expect and things don't go quite the way you imagined they would. I guess that's why these websites/e-mails are really important! They help me to know that other people have been through what I'm going through! Thanks, all!

Carrie, I think what happens to all of us is that we don't have realistic expectations. It is so easy to compare ourselves to others, when some people are easily losing 7lbs a week, and others like me, are inching along. The exercise you are doing is terrific. Please keep it up! I've read many many times that people think they will be the only ones that WLS doesn't work for. It will work for all of us. We need to stay the course! Lori 384/339/170

Lori: I think I have very realistic expectations. What I didnt expect was to actually gain weight after surgery.......especially 3 weeks post. That is not anything anyone has ever talked about. Do I compare? Sure. Do I wished that I was one of those that could lose 7lbs a week? Absolutely. Is it going to depress me? nope, I just keep going day by day. I guess part of me just wishes I could fast forward my life about 6 months. Im happy, just struggling sometimes. Walked 2 miles this morning! I have been journaling in my fitday.com journal. That has been a challenge. I hate accountability.....but since I have been watching what I am eating and writing it down, it makes it all a little easier. Thanks to everyone that has posted! Its nice to know I am not alone with the gaining so soon out.........Please keep in touch!!! Im so glad I found this board (May surgery kids!) Carrie

I agree with Lori that sometimes people have unrealistic expectations. What fuels that, usualy we see those like me who are rapidly loosing pounds (purely cause i started at 600) putting up msgs, and sometimes those who are stuck on a flat spot, but never see how many have hit a water retention spot and put a couple of lbs on. This kind of builds up a sort of myth that everybody can or will loose an avg of 7-10 lbs a week. I have made this comment before, use your measuring tape as a better indicator of how much fat you have lost. Hang in there. Drink plenty of water, Try to get in your protien first, then your veggies and or carbs. Oh yeah exercise.

I feel like a failure too, but I have been stalling for like 4 weeks now... We put our bodies through a lot, and they have to take a break sometimes. Plus I think the water retention is crazy lately. I can eat normal foods, too. I just try to stay on the nutritionist's plan and know that if I do that and exercise, I'll be in better shape eventually. It's hard to stay motivated, and I wish someone had told me before surgery that a stall could happen so early. It's true that our ears are full of the first few months being so smooth and easy, and I think it's a myth.

Carrie, I can completely relate. I am currently going through this. About two weeks ago the weight finally started coming off like crazy. I noticed though the last several days since I started PMSing the weight loss dropped off and I can see a difference in having a swollen abdomen. I can really notice the water retention. I feel slightly down about it, but I keep my head up and keep reminding myself that once its over I will loose the extra water weight and be laughing about it. Now I try to stay focused on the positive and not drive myself crazy by spending even more time in the gym trying to make up for it.(thought crossed my mind) Keep your head up, I think most of us can understand what your going through. In a few weeks when suddenly it just starts dropping like crazy you will be chuckling. It sounds like your doing all the right things. Sometimes the body just needs a rest. --Sabrina