Anyone 3+ years post WLS?

Wanted to hear how people are doing after 3 or more years post WLS wether it be the Band or the RNY.  I have heard a few stories now and I am getting a little nervous.  I know everyone is different but I wanted to hear people stories that are post WLS 3+ years and to see how they are doing and what they are doing to maintain or what they did wrong or right?? 

I am 3+ years outfrom RNY.  I had surgery 9/2006.  I lost 110# and have gained about 20 back.  I got a bit too thin, so I'd like to lose 10#.

Things I did right:  Exercise faithfully, vitamins faithfully, watch portions, no soda, moisturize face & body to minimize loose skin, follow-up with surgeon's office.

Things I did wrong:  Ate dessert/sweets, drank alcohol, and stopped watching portions and ate too many carbs.

Everyone will tell you, it's best to not test the waters - don't eat sweets, drink alcohol, and keep taking care of your body with exercise and nutrition.

Best wishes to you on your journey!

I had Open RNY in 2003 and a revision (band) in 2007.  I've lost about 230 total.  I've probably reached the end as far as significant loss, but that doesn't mean I quit trying.  It's just few and far between and I think the battle now is more maintaining and not gaining than actually losing.

I'm healthier now than I've ever been.  I am terrible at exercising and tend to utilize things I have to do anyway as my exercise (summer job, lawn work, walking, skiing).  I used to play racquetball and would love to start again, just hard to find people who share that desire and are equally matched.  Usually the people who are into the sport will wipe my butt.

I would do it again if I had to, no regrets.  I've had very few complications but there are some things that have become more difficult and you can never live like you didn't have surgery.  I can tolerate any food, which I prefer.  Yes, that can cause problems, but the upside is that I'm quite happy to not be picky.

Great question.

Paul

I had lap band surgery in October of '06. I lost around 110 pounds - gained a little back when I had a leak in the tubing (highly unusual) in February of '09. It's horrible how easy some of the bad eating habits came back while I didn't have restriction from the band. I'm still working on losing those 20 pounds. But, I went back in December for another fill and with good restriction again, the pounds are coming off again. Grazing is my biggest problem, especially in the evening. (That's more of a head issue than anything and can happen with any of the surgeries.) I am extremely happy I had the surgery though. I've never been able to maintain a weight loss like this before.
Jean B.

Thanks guys for sharing your opinion!! I appreciate the sharing....

I'm 6yrs out this July. I did EVERYTHING right for the 1st 2yrs, then developed some bad habits. I originally lost 126lbs and have gained back 10-15 in general. Not all of that is related to the WLS though, but due to several pregnancies. My biggest screw up is that I stopped exercising the way I did before. I'm still active, but it's not the same as actual exercise. If I started that back up on a regular basis, I know at least 10lbs would come off fairly quickly. I just haven't been as obsessive about it as I used to be. Am I thrilled w/the extra weight? Nope. However, I love myself more now w/the extra than I would have even 2-4yrs ago because of why it's there.
I don't make it a practice to beat myself up either if I mess up for the day. I just start all over the next day and let the past go. WLS is a tool. Like any tool, if you use it properly, it'll do what it's supposed to do. If you abuse it or don't use it the way you should, there are consequences to it.

WOW!!! that's still really good that that is the only weight you gained after a few pregnancies and 6 years later.  So I take it your pregnancies went good..that's good!! were you able to eat normal and have enough vitamins and food go to the baby? sounds like you didn't gain much during them too.

I have to still say that is really good after have a couple more kids.  way to go!!!

Actually, I gained the MOST w/my post-op pg's. I got pg w/my last baby (#4) about 9mos out sort of freaked. (was NOT planned!!) I gained 23lbs w/her, which was the most at that point I'd ever gained. It was really disconcerting, but the weight came off fast. I was eating 'ok' w/her, but of course was still learning what worked and what didn't for me. The pg after that was my 1st surrogate pg, in which I gained a whooping 30lbs!!! That was a harder pg for me because I was almost 3yrs out and was having some HUGE cravings! As long as it didn't have too much fat or sugar in it, I could eat so much it wasn't funny. It was this pg that we learned my body no longer absorbes iron from supplements, and not much from food. I had to have a blood transfusion and was on ungodly high amts of liquid iron (that didn't do much at all). After that birth, I lost all but about 3-6lbs of the weight. This past August, knowing how anemic I am and that we were getting ready to do another surrogacy, I went in and had to have IV iron infusions and am now able to take a much lower dose of liquid iron, and we're hoping that will be enough to keep things even. I'm 22wks and have gained roughly 8lbs or so (I'll know next Monday for sure. It was 6lbs at 18wks and I haven't gained much since then) at this point. I'm thinking I'll hit at least 20lbs....the cravings are back!

If I'd get off my butt and exercise, I'd be doing much better w/the weight. Still, it beats my old 248lbs on my short frame!

I'm 7 years postop from RNY.  I lost 150 lbs - 15-20 snuck back on, but it's gone again.  I gained because I got lazy and was eating too much crap.  But, all is well again and I'm wearing a 8-10 and feel great.  My surgery is no big deal to anyone anymore, and that's just what I want.  I'm faithful with my vitamins and yearly checkups.  I can still dump like a dog when I eat stupid, but all in all...the plumbing works - and life goes on.