Percentage of People *****gain Their Weight

Sorry it's been so long.  I've been around just not posting.  I've been doing a lot of traveling and seeing people I haven't seen for a long time.  Four things I've heard a lot:  You look GREAT.  How much weight have you lost?  How did you do it?  Oh, everyone I know that did that gained their weight back and more!!!  Does anyone know the percentage of people *****gain their weight?  I know each person is different and I sure don't intend to be one of the ones that do, but I'm at a loss what to say to these people that are so negative about my surgery. 

Another thing:  I'm going on a six day cruise beginning Sunday and I'm a little concerned about all the food.  Every time someone talks about a cruise the first thing they say is "oh the food is wonderful and you can eat all day long."  So far I've been doing well with my travels.  I'm still loosing and I don't want this cruise to be a setback.  I haven't ever been on a cruise before.  Those of you that have is there plenty of food onboard that is healthy? 

Thanks for the information.

B

I think that you will do fine.  Just continue to eat the way that you have thus far.  All the food on the cruse is nothing.  Just eat what you know you can eat.

You know that you don't have to eat "all day".  If you want have like 6 small meals through the day instead of 3 normal ones.  Just make sure that you dont eat more than you would in three meals.

Also, looks like you are only about 8 lbs from your goal, that's GREAT!!

In regards to weight gain, we are all responsible for ourselves.  The people that gain the weight back either were not ready to have WLS, or never changed the eating habits in the first place.

If you know that you've changed the habits, then I think that you will be fine.  poo-poo to those nay sayers!!

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

Hope to see you at the Support group tomorrow night!

Michael.

I think you will do fine as well. I base this on the stressful year you've gone through and during those times you didn't turn to food for comfort. With me that was the true telling. Have fun eat quality food, get a little exercise and just enjoy life as you go. C'ya Bob

I've never been one for statistic because we know the can be turned in the direction of those benefiting. With that said a study reported in the Annals of Surgery said they followed 278 RNY patients for 5 and 10 years. Their conclusion was patients that were Morbidly Obese had a 20.4% regain, those that were Super Morbidly Obese had a 34.9% regain. Even with those that regained there was only a 3.1% in Mortality. So in conclusion even those that regained significantly changed their health for the better. Hopes that helps. C'ya

Thanks guys.  I do plan to eat healthy on this cruise and definitely get exercise.  This last year has been the hardest of my life and yet I haven't sought comfort with food so I'm hoping I have made strides in changing the way I handle stress.  I have also learned that I can go out to eat with a group of people and only have a cup of decaf coffee if there isn't anything on the menu that is really good for me and still enjoy myself.  Jim, my husband, didn't really like to eat out and his saying was, "why spend all that money when you're only going to come home and poop it out any way!"  I try to remember that when I think I just must have some food that I know I'm not suppose to eat. 

Having said all that I must confess that the other day I went into Publix grocery for the sole purpose of buying a piece of key lime pie.  Now I know I'm not suppose to eat it, but I knew I could buy one slice and I was going to make it last for days.  I went in picked it up and headed for the check out.  But I couldn't do it.  I thought of all I had been through to lose this weight and what the long term health benefits would be verus the very brief pleasure I would receive from eating that piece of pie.  When I walked out of that store I was both very proud of myself and sad of how close I had come to giving in to an old temptation.

I do plan to be at the support meeting at Baptist tomorrow night.  Hope to see some of ya then.

B

Hi! I am have been on several cruises in the past and love them. You will have a ball! However, I am pre-op and when i went i was one of those people that were like "wow! look at all the food!".  But, i can tell you that they do have healthier choices on the menu in the dining room at dinner time.  It may be a little bit harder with the buffets because well, they are buffets.  But the staff on every cruise i have been on are very nice and accommodating.  Their goal is to please you and they really do go above and beyond. I am not sure what cruise line you are going on.  I always sail Carnival, but i believe that Royal Caribbean has even more food options as to where u can eat.  There is food 24 hours a day.  Literally!  But there are tons of activities on-board and things to keep you occupied.  Remember if you do eat in the dining room for your dinner that you can have any appetizer for an entree or  vice versa.  Enjoy yourself! With all the things there are to do on the ships (they have full gyms as well).  I won't be surprise to hear you say that you lost 5 pounds that week! Have fun!

There are many studies out reflecting different stats regarding weight regain after bariatric surgery. In general, most bypass patients will hit an all time low weight briefly, then come back up 5-8 pounds and that is where their weight will maintain - this is normal. It is also normal for your weight to fluctuate by 1-3 pounds day to day, it's the overall trend upward you have to be careful of! Estimates are that somewhere between 14-20% of gastric bypass patients regain a signficant amount of their weight; however, this can be minimized by staying actively involved with your surgical program - continuing to follow the eating plan they give you for maintenance, continuing to stay more active and ongoing attendance at support groups long-term. When you hear someone say they've "regained all their weight", please ask them the following questions:
1. When was the last time you saw your surgeon/dietitian/attended a support group?
2. Are you still following the eating plan (diet) they gave you after surgery?
3. Are you drinking with your meals? any? at all? ever?
4. When you sit down with 4-6 ounces of lean baked chicken/fish/turkey in front of you and focus on eating it and nothing else until you feel comfortably full (not stuffed), how much can you eat?
5. Repeat question number 1.

Hope this helps!

 I'm with Bob on this one--with all you've been through the past year and you still couldn't bring yourself to buy a single slice of pie, you've got nothing to worry about!

Any time the food gets a little intense, just make a mad dash to a hot tub, the spa or the gym.  Get off at all the port stops and walk-walk-walk!!  Yes, there's lots of food to eat (I went on a cruise on Norwegian), but there's also so much to do that doesn't involve food that you can distract yourself easily.

There are a lot of good and healthy foods on cruise ships in addition to lots of crap.  The fruit was to die for--so fresh and incredibly yummy.  You should be able to make lots of healthy choices while you're on the boat.  If you like Crystal light or something, I'd bring along lots of packets so you can make your own.  Also, if you have some of your favorite personal supplements (bars, protein shakes, etc)., I'd bring some of those too.  You could get skim milk for b'fast and make a protein shake and have fruit with that, for example.

It's very do-able and if you've been traveling and still losing, the cruise should be fine for you.

Have fun and post some pictures when you get back!!!

HUGS!!!
Denise

Thanks for all the good advice.  Hadn't thought about making protein shakes with their fruit but that's a great idea.  I already have my bars, bullets and crystal light ready to pack.  We are getting off at all the ports.  I'm even going to swim with the dolphins!  I would never have done that before my surgery.  Jim would be so proud of me.

I have purchased a new camera for the trip and hopefully can post pictures on my return.  Will have to get someone to help me download them to this site.  Right now I only know how to e-mail them.  Probably my 9 year old granddaughter can do it for me!

B

Pam,

Thank you so much for all that wonderful information.  I will store it in my memory bank and pull it out as needed.  Not only for others but for myself as well.  I really want to be one of the success stories and in order to do that I will have to be diligent with my eating and attending support meetings.

B