Three years and gaining weight....

Help.. Is there anyone  in SC that is having the same problem? I am gaining weight... I have gained  30 lbs since January. I feel like I am a failure!!!  I don't excercise as I  should.. I know that.. Is this  normal  do people regain their weight? Thanks, Nan

Hi Nan.  I am sorry you are struggling, but I think everyone has the potential to struggle...and we all do on a daily basis.  This surgery is definitely a "tool" but you still gotta change or yes, the weight can come back. My advice is to get back to basics.  Push protein and water.  Once you "cleanse" yourself of all of the carbs again the constant cravings will subside again.  Do you do any protein shakes?  If not, now is the time to get started. Good luck and hang around here, there are lots of good, supportive people for you.

Susie, I think I replied to your letter and it went to cyber-space.... I needed to Thank you for your words of encouragement!!!!... I needed to hear this from someone that has been down the road.  I hit a bump in the road ... I had stopped losing weight.... and really gave up on myself...I thought that since I never  threw up that  .. hey it was okay.. I get naused  when I eat lettuce or sugar... but those are the only things  that have upset my pouch... Crazy isn't it?  I haven't had a protein shake in atleast a year..  I realize now that I need to get back to the basics! Thank you for caring enough  to respond to me. Please keep in touch. Nan

Our surgeon explained (and keeps explaining!) to us that regain is pretty much guaranteed ... unless we exercise and stick close to a low calorie-high protein diet, the weight WILL come back.  After 18 months to 2 years, our bodies adapt ...  the pouch grows bigger, and the intestine even changes to absorb more calories from the foods we eat.   You're not a failure.  You just need to re-motivate yourself to start some exercise and focus on eliminating the unhealthy parts of your diet.  Sounds a lot like what "everybody" has to do to maintain a healthy weight, yeah?  WLS isn't a miracle cure or an easy answer, no matter what all the naysayers would have people believe. Good luck!

Thank you So much !!! I guess I thought that everything would take care of it's self... That I wouldn't have to really change everything.. I have never really thrown up..  I get nauseaed but I never throw up. I have been able to eat pretty much anything I have wanted.... There wasn't anything that made me naused except sugar... everthing had been okay .. but not as much as before the bypass... I found out last yea r that I could eat chips and all the other Bad carbs.... It wasn't until January that I started gaining the weight back.... I should have realized then that I was falling back into the pre operation me.. I needed to hear from someone that had been through to tell me that I needed to get back to the basics... I haven't had a protein shake .. in at least a year. I am so glad that I to the time to write and the two of you  have given me HOPE!!!!!!... Thank you girls and PLEASE keep in touch.  Thanks again , Nan

Please don't feel like a failure.  I am almost two years out now and it scares me.  I can eat pretty much anything.  I have to weigh myself everyday and I STILL want to lose another 10 or 15 pounds. I think that if we aren't careful forever, we could regain the weight. easily  When I get upset I start to reach for food and have to really stop myself.  Its hard to learn new habits. I'm right with you, its scary.  I know exercise is the key and eating healthy.  I watch my mom and sister who are small and they do this regularly, its not a big deal. Please let us know how you do.  We need to work on the exercise together, I swim but haven't been lately (always an excuse) Mary

Thanks Mary, I went to our GNC and bought protein shakes yesterday.. I worked out this morning... I just have to stay focused. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll let you know how it goes. Nan