How to avoid weight GAIN after WLS

   

The risks of weight gain after gastric bypass surgery must be understood well before you have your stomach stapled or banded. Few things are as disheartening to someone who has struggled with obesity than to go through surgery, recover and then discover that he is gaining weight. Reality is that this does happen—primarily when people aren't ready or willing to follow the strict dietary guidelines necessary after gastric bypass surgery.

Why It Happens
Weight gain after gastric bypass tends to occur for the same reasons we gain weight in the first place. High calorie foods, lack of exercise and unstructured eating patterns are the culprits.

One of the eating habits that is necessary during recovery can often lead to overeating and weight gain. As you first begin eating after surgery, the stomach can only handle about an ounce of food. This means, in order to get the appropriate amount of nutrition, the patient needs to eat about six times a day. As you start increasing the amount of food in one sitting, the number of meals is scaled back to three. If the six meals a day grazing habit continues with larger portions of food, there will be significant weight gain.

How to Avoid It
To avoid weight gain after gastric bypass surgery, it is critical to approach eating from a brand new viewpoint. Learn to savor each bite of food—this will go a long way toward avoiding weight gain after gastric bypass. Strive to get every morsel of flavor out of each taste so you are satisfied with a smaller amount of food. Even the strongest cravings will subside after the first bite of anything if you really savor the flavor.

The other critical piece of not gaining weight after surgery is to add exercise to your daily routine. Without participating in regular physical activity, your body will begin to revert to your pre-surgical state. Try different hobbies or activities until you find something you enjoy—this is a lifestyle change, so make it a pleasurable one. As you increase your physical fitness, you might be surprised at how many new activities you enjoy.

Bariatric surgery is a big step; you owe it to yourself to do everything you can to achieve the success you desire.

Thanks for posting ... something we all need to be aware of as we exit the honeymoon period.

 Oh I agree 100% honey! We all have to keep one another on track to prevent this. I know there have been a few people on the board in the last week upset over weight gain. SOME weight gain is normal and expected but not  gaining it all back. So we just have to stay focused. (((Hugs)))

 a great post Jilly thanks.   clearly you have to follow the rules of healthy living with or without WLS but  the tool of WLS should make it easier.  

and I think that exercise is really key in this....

 Very true. My surgeon and my NUT said that if I keep an eye on what I eat and excercise atleast 4 days a week, the weight should NOT come back. So I will do everything I can do. I have to because I came to far to let myself down. I mean I dont have high blood pressure anymore and I am no longer pre diabetic and no more sleep apnea. Why would I want that all back? Not to mention the weight. WE HAVE TO KEEP OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER ON TRACK!!

You hit the nail on the head -- not only are we responsible for ourself first, but we need to keep each other on track as well.  I know that I can eat much more in my 8th month than I could in my 4th month -- and I don't like it!  I've had to remind myself several times over the last few weeks to STOP while I'm ahead.  I'm headed out the door right now for my one mile walk on the boardwalk.  In fact, change that to two miles -- the extra one is for Jilly for keeping me on track.

oh I love it have a nice walk.

 WOO HOO!!! Thats my girl.....................you will feel GREAT afterwards.........tired as all get out but hey THAT IS OKAY!!! (((Hugs)))

Thanks for these important reminders. It's also important to note that at least for some of us, you gain the ability to eat way beyond pouch capacity with little or no discomfort. I can. I try not to, instead focusing on when my pouch is full and moving on to something else. I am eating half an apple right now and it never ceases to amaze me how FILLING that is.

 Oh I know fruit fills me fast too............and I am back to substituting breakfast with protein coffee. That protein sits in for me 4-6 hours and I am not hungry at all. I can for sure eat a lot more then I could 6 months out but I dont let myself. It is mind over matter and NOT ALWAYS EASY!!!