Horrible weight gain! Relieved to see supportive people, now to do something about it.

Wow you guys, I really thought I was the ONLY ONE who had gained weight back. I still feel like I have gained the MOST back, but at least I am not alone. I had surgery in February of 2002, so I am 4 years out. I can't believe that myself. I started out at 264 and lost down to 180 in the first six months post op. It was amazing. I was rarely hungry, but would snack on things all day "to keep my energy up". I tried to choose high protein foods, but really I just enjoyed the weight loss while eating what I wanted. After those 6 months, the weight loss stalled significantly so I started working out everyday, taking a muscle building supplement, and eating a strict low carb diet. I lost down to 150 by the end of that first year and felt fantastic. I loved the "new me". I was wearing a size 6-8 and just felt perfect. Then, the stress of life hit me hard and I started slipping. I have never really dumped, so I can unfortunately eat whatever I want and even drink real sodas. I started gaining slowly, like less than 5 lbs a month, and instead of going to see my surgeon or attending a support group meeting, I sought a therapist and psychiatrist. I was prescribed an antidepressant which caused me to really crave carbs and REALLY gain weight. I was back up to 185 by my 3rd year out. Last summer I decided to switch careers and go to school at night. I relied on fast food and soda to get me through. Now, I am all the way back up to 230. That's an 80lbs. gain! I feel really depressed and like a total failure, but I know now that there are others out there who slip too. I did see my surgeon in January of this year because I had sudden pain and was not able to hold anything down. He scoped me and my pouch is fine. I just had a severe stomach flu. So, I know I have the tool I just have to use it. When I actually eat protein and not drink with my meals, I feel full quickly. If I eat a dense meat, like chicken or steak, then the fullness lasts a really long time. If it's tuna or ground beef, something already crumbly, then I am hungry again within an hour or two. I know what to do, but I need support. I need to know if anyone else has gained back that kind of weight or what is the most weight that you lost AFTER 3 or more years post op? I am so happy to read messages in this forum and see all the support. No scolding. Of course if I could do everything perfectly I would never have needed WLS in the first place. So, I am so happy to find a place where people don't judge. I look forward to any advice, comments, or stories you have to share. Thanks SO MUCH!

I feel your pain. I have gained 6 pounds but I am on my way. hungry all the time can eat anything. Eat so much. Just don't know what to do anymore. Some many people can just not eat & not ever be hungry again. Maybe we can help eachother Sharon

Sharon, I would love to help each other. If I just have someone to check in with, it will make it easier. I have very few friends that know I had the surgery. I know I should share it with more people, but I was embarrassed to be overweight in the first place and now to have gained it back. Thanks for the reply. We'll keep in touch. Angela

Hi Angela!! I know how you feel!!! I am a little over three years post-op and have regained about 23 pounds from my lowest weight of 183. It is so frustrating - especially when we know what we are supposed to do - we know that we have this wonderful tool - and we KNOW how to use it.... but it's kind of like a runaway train when we fall off the wagon and can't seem to get back on track, huh? Take comfort in knowing that you are NOT alone! I have encountered so many people - 3+ years out of surgery - that can eat just about anything (and do!) and suffer the weight gain right along with the rest of us. Unfortunately, just because we have lost the weight doesn't necessarily mean that we have lost the bad habits that went along with the emotional eating. I wish I had the answer...... If I did, I'm certain that I would be at my goal by now, but I'm struggling along! I'm working really hard to get back on that "Wagon of Good Choices".... I made a list of all the right things that I was doing and a list of all the wrong things that I was doing and... color me surprised - the "wrong" list was far longer than the "right" one! I vowed that rather than try to change everything on the "wrong" list at once, I would concentrate on one or two things at a time until I was consistent enough to move them from the wrong list to the right list. So far, water consumption has been my target goal for right now..... I might not be setting the world on fire with weight loss, but I know I'm doing something good for myself and I'm (at least) headed in the right direction! Hang in there! You are not alone in this journey! I am there for you..... and hope that all of you are there for me, as well! Hugs to you! Kristi

Kristi, I did the same thing as far as choosing one or two things to change at a time. It seems to be working. First about 2 weeks ago, I picked the water too. I made sure I was getting at least 64 ounces of water a day and even tried for more on some days. I still ate what I wanted and drank with my meals. Then, last week I tried to not drink with my meals. I wasn't perfect, but at the meals that I didn't drink I was full for so long afterwards. This week I am focusing on sugar. I am trying to get in lots of protein and way less carbs. I don't really have a maximum number, but under 30 would probably be my goal. However, I did have a small glass of orange juice this morning without thinking and that was 27 carbs by itself. Yikes! Still, I think I can commit to low carb from now on. It takes alot of sugar for me to dump, but maybe I can reset that if I avoid sugar for serveral months. That way if I do slip, I'll feel miserable and won't do it again. Next week I plan to focus on exercise. I only plan to do a 20 minute walk or a short aerobic tape maybe twice that week to start. Baby steps. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck too. At least you caught it before you were so out of control. I tried to catch it at 35lbs gained, but just wasn't ready to re-commit. Now I am though. It's a lifelong journey for me and I just need to stay focused on the direction I want to go.

Hi Angela, Your post and everyone's replies made me cry. I am you. I'm over 2.5 yrs out, and a year ago, i was at 163, size 10 and very happy. I'm now up 40# (as of last check) and am miserable. Feet & knees hurt again, and Blood pressure is back to 150/100. Not to mention having no clothes that fit again. I can and do eat everything, sugar, alcohol.. and never had a problem with dumping. I've had all my plastics, but haven't excersized in 5 months. So, you are not alone. I feel like i can't get back on the wagon, almost like it was SOO hard and SOO much work to start all over again. Best of luck to you. Write if you want. I do like the make a list idea.. i'm going to print it and reread it.... maybe.. just maybe.... sigh... take care, Tina

Anyone know where I can view the "Rules of the Pouch"?? I've seen it mentioned several times on this website; however, I'm not sure which direction to go!!! It is definitely something that I need to re-learn!!!! Thanks! Kristi

Kristi, There are lots of websites with the rules if you just do a search online for "the rules of the pouch". I tried to put a link here to my favorite, but it was so long it didn't work. So, I copied and pasted the information I like the best. None of this is my own words, but copied from the website in pieces. "The father of bariatric surgery in this country, Dr. Edward Mason, performed a series of experiments on his patients' and their pouches. He found that all pouches grew in size during the first 2 years after surgery. Most pouches wound up with a capacity of about 6 ounces (180 mL). Some pouches were as big as 9-10 ounces. Interestingly, the size of each patients pouch did not correlate with weight loss (up to about 12 ounces or 1.5 cups). It turns out that how a pouch is used is more important than how small it is when considering weight maintenance. OBSERVATIONS FROM SUCCESSFUL PATIENTS AND BARIATRIC SURGEONS ? Getting a sense of 'fullness' with each meal is essential to success. Avoid grazing. ? Regular meals larger than 12 ounces (1.5 cups) will result in eventual weight gain. ? Lightly stretching the pouch sends a signal to your brain that you do not need any more food. ? Maintaining that sense of fullness requires keeping the pouch stretched for awhile. ? Fasting for more than 8 hours will lead to a profound sense of hunger. ? 'Soft foods' empty from the pouch quickly. 'Heavy' foods empty more slowly. ? Meat and slightly cooked or raw vegetables are good for you and empty very slowly from the pouch. ? Patients who exercise regularly lose more weight and maintain that weight loss longer. ? Bariatric surgery programs that provide long-term support and follow-up, and patients that participate in follow-up care and support groups have the best and most durable results. YOUR POUCH RULES(!) 1. Meals must be timed about 5 hours apart or you will become too hungry. 2. You should eat your entire meal in 10-15 minutes. This is contrary to what we told you immediately after your operation. While your pouch was healing, we emphasized tiny bites, thorough chewing, and long meal times (30-45 minutes). Now that your pouch is mature and your appetite has returned, eating quickly will help you to restrict your intake effectively. Eating small bites very slowly allows your pouch to slowly empty out one side as you fill the other. The end result is a much larger meal and higher calorie consumption. 3. No liquids for 1.5-2 hours after each meal. Same principle as above. Fluids wash your meal out of your pouch. Delaying fluid consumption for this amount of time after filling your pouch allows your pouch to remain full for a long period of time. This prevents your appetite from returning prematurely. 4. After 2 hours, begin slowly sipping fluids and gradually increase the rate of fluid intake until shortly before your next meal. Your fluid requirements are the same as they have always been. You still need a minimum of 64 ounces (8 cups) of fluid a day (more depending on factors such as exercise, activity, temperature...) This fluid goal requires a special strategy to achieve and still comply with rule #3 above. 5. Water loading can help you buy time and ward off your appetite between meals. Drinking as much water as possible, as fast as possible will produce a strong sense of fullness. This should last for about 20 minutes. ? With practice, the above rules and practices should become second nature. ? Avoid absolutes. Special occasions or momentary weaknesses happen to us all. Don't beat yourself up, just get back to your good habits and follow the rules of the pouch. Your decision to have a gastric bypass is a significant and important one. You have declared to your family, friends, physicians, nurses, and yourself that your health matters to you. Success requires a significant commitment on your part. It also requires a lot of help and support from those who care about you, including your bariatric surgeons! Learn and follow these rules and you will do well. Sincerely, Jon Gould and Mike Garren, Your Bariatric Surgeons UW Health Bariatric Surgery Program"

Tina, I know how much it hurts to put the weight back on. Trust me, I'm up 80 lbs. However, I am going to be "the one" who people will talk about on this site. The one who gained almost all the weight back and then lost it all again. This surgery is a tool right? Well, the first time I used a curling iron, I burned myself. The first time I shaved my legs, OUCH. So, who cares if the first time I used my tool I slipped up. Now I know how it works and I am using it correctly. I know you are hesitant to try again, but 40lbs isn't much. Just break it down into small goals. I plan to reward myself to the fullest when I lose just those first 10 lbs. Probably a massage or even a pair of jeans. Yeah, it's a waste of money to buy jeans when I plan on losing another 70lbs, but I have plenty of clothes that fit once I hit about 180. Plus, I wouldn't think twice of wasting $50 on dinner somewhere. I think you would feel really good about yourself if you would just pick one thing to change and stick to it for a month. I would say the sugar would be the best thing to get rid of, but I know how hard that is. I know that when I went to see my surgeon we talked about my addiction to sugar. He said "if you loved someone and they were an alcoholic and had been dry for a month and they wanted to just have one drink of alcohol, what would you do?" I started bawling and said I wouldn't let them. So, he said to love myself that much and not give in to the sugar. I still haven't given it up completely. I had a glass of orange juice this morning and a few sips of my daughter's strawberry banana smoothie this afternoon. I have a quote that I try to look at when I am about to give in. I have it written in my food journal. It says, "Do not give up on what you want most for what you want at the moment." Strong words. I know you can do it if you want, you just have to be ready. Don't worry, if you want to do it along with me you still have a while to wait, I'm up 80lbs. When I lose 40, I'll let you know it's time! lol Angela

Angela - Thanks for the info on the pouch rules! Nothing like getting back to the basics to relearn what I already (should) know!!! It seems we have our own little support group right here, so let's all stay in touch and cheer each other on to our goals! Hugs! Kristi