I had surgery 2 1/2 years ago and had gained back 20 pounds. I notice I don't dump nearly as easily as I used to, and can eat larger portions.

I have also noticed my main problem and trigger is carbohydrates/sugar. When I eat carbs - anything that has flour (including 100% whole wheat), potatoes, rice, or sugar I start craving carbs and just can't stop. I wake up and immediately want carbs. I think of them, crave them all day and am never full.

Then somehow I managed to go cold-turkey and cut carbs and sugar out. I went through a period of "withdrawal" like a drug addict - I craved carbs really badly.
Once I got past that, I stopped craving them, ate healthy foods like veggies, natural raw fruits, lean meats, cheeses, and the weight started to drop back off. I eat "breadless" sandwiches. I put the turkey, chese, lettuce, tomato on a plate and eat it with a fork. Instead of peanut butter on bred, I dip apple slices in a little peanut butter. I  stopped craving the carbs/sugar, although I'd get a craving a little here and there like a drug addict. I felt lighter and healthier and more energetic. I have lost 8 pounds of the 20 and plan on losing the rest.

I am 100% sure it was the flour and sugar and starches I was eating. I am an ADDICT to those things and they make me feel always hungry and irritable and tired and sluggish. I suspect a lo of us out there are addicted to sugar and flour and starches. I recommend avoiding them COMPLETELY - once you get past the withdrawel, you'll find you feel alot better, your appetite is more under control, and the weight will start coming back off.

 

I cant believe it has been 8 years since WLS. This is a way of life changes. not 50% but it changes your life 100%. This surgery is a TOOL not an answer. After a few years it is very easy for people to gain back ALL there weight.(and revisions are hard to come by)  I have seen this with my own eyes. I have kept my weight off....-220bs....but I do gain 5-10 pounds and I have to watch my diet. I also have a lot of health problems due to WLS but I think I would not be alive today if I didnt have WLS. Pro's and con's....I need more skin taken off and I hope that will happen in the next few years....
WLS has been a big ride in life. It can be a wonderful positive experience, but remember there is good and bad in everything!
I wish everyone GOOD luck and hang in there!

Hello

I too am from Toledo and find that after having surgery July 2001.   I lost 135 pounds with the surgery and felt great.    I wasn't skinny but it was good for me.    I find that I am putting weight back on.  It is a huge mental game.   I also find that I feel hungry a lot.   Not sure why?  I am disappointed and do NOT want to put all the weight back on.  I don't want to be a statistic.  I heard or read somewhere that after 10 years many people have put their weight back on.  I don't want that to be me.    What is your story?    Are you talking to any groups or doing anything?

I recently joined a fit swim exercise program and joined with 1st place 4 health to try to get  my mind wrapped around this obesity disease.    I am working on it but it is a difficult process.

What about you?

Thanks
Rhodena Wentland

OK, I see from some of the posts that I am not in this battle alone! I have gained weight, lost weight, then gained it back. I am currently at 206 and I think it's because I have stopped exercising. Stress can add a lot of pounds! Now that my hubby is on the mend and no longer battling cancer, I think I can refocus on my own weight loss. When he was sick, I fattened him up and when he had his surgery, he lost all of it! He and I joke because he lost some of his intestines when to be used for his "new" bladder. So now we both eat smaller, AND we both are around the same weight, so it's like we have each other to battle the weight gain. Support is very important in our struggle with weight loss/gain. I am glad to have a good support system and I hope all of you that are dealing with the yo-yo effect have a support system in place. Feel free to email me if you have comments, questions, or concerns. Cheers! Jenn.

I cannot get over that I have begun to put the weight back on. I do not eat CHOCOLATE (still have GAS and DUMPING), although my PORTIONS are OUT OF CONTROL. My LOWEST that i have been down to was 165# (my I plateaued at 180#) and now I am AFRAID to get on the scale....the last I looked I was at 248... I wish I knew what to do...I have thought about having the LAP-Band done....did not know if I would qualify.