HAS ANYONE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF??

I've been reading lots of posts on this site and others and it seems that most people that have had the vbg regain their weight? I thought that if you had to eat less forever, then you wouldn't gain it back. Am I wrong? I am concerned about long term results of the VBG. The way my Dr. explained to me was that if I ate right and exercised, I would not regain the weight. Is there anyone out there that has been able to keep it off? It just seems there are so many revisions taking place. One more thing....why does your weight loss slow down if your caloric intake doesn't increase....or does it always? Lia

The way that your Dr. explained it to you is correct. If you eat right and exercise you will not regain the weight. I had surgery 18 months ago. What I know today is if I eat right and don't exercise I will not lose any weight. If I eat "wrong" and don't exercise I will gain weight. If I eat right and exercise I will slowly continue to lose weight. It is my experience that success or failure is up to me. I must change my old habits into healthy new habits in order to be successful in the long run. Sharon -120#

It is true that you cannot eat as much, but you can consume just as many calories if you eat the wrong foods. I agree, eat right and exercise and you will succeed. I think that is true with most types of wls.

Hi Lia, Your doc is right...we can lose and keep it off, but it is totally up to us to make the right food choices and keep exercising. I am 6 months out, but I found out that this is all in my hands. I wasn't working out like i should and my weightloss slowed considerably. I got back on track and dropped 6 pounds in a week. I am still in the honeymoon phase, but the more I lose now the less I have to lose when the honeymoon is over Truth is it is just as easy to gain with the RNY as the VBG after a few years, so its not about the surgery type its about how you use your tool! Good luck to you. I wish you all the best!!! Big Hugs, Sara 356/269/175

HI MY DOC SAID NO MATTER WHAT SURGERY YOU HAD IF YOU DON'T WORK WITH IT ANY ONE CAN GAIN IT BACK. TAKE CARE. YOUR VBG SISTER ROBIN

Lia, started to not respond because they still have my old picture up and my new one has gotten lost or something. The old one is me at 115lbs. more. I guess I am just going to have to send a new one again. I had to write because I had my VBG 11-17-2003. I am 59 and my weight was 257. My goal weight was 144. I weigh between 130 to 133 now. I was 135 to 137 but after the flu I have been hanging on to the new weight. I thought it would be too thin for me but I love it. I am wearing size 4 pants. I didn't wear that when I was younger. Your doctor is right. I am very conscious of what I eat now and eat very nutrionally. Of course I am not an angel and will have dessert and maybe something fried now and then but on the whole I eat very healthy. I have gotten into the habit of not eating a lot of starches. I eat protein, good carbohydrates, good fat and veggies. I also eat several times a day. I can practically eat what I want just small meals many times a day. I have not had any after effect from the VBG except acid reflux right after the surgery. I took Nexium for the first year and I have not needed it since. I excercise at least 5 times a week except for the past month because of back problems. I thought sure I was going to gain weight then but I didn't. I ate as I always did and I actually would lose a pound. I weight every morning of my life to keep everything in control. I am trying not to lose lower than the 130's. I never thought I would ever hear myself say something like that. Imagine the little smile I had on my face when my doctor told me to be sure and not lose any more. Even though I am thin I still remember the obese and it will always be part of me. Far from having any ill effects of the VBG, it has given me a new life. My blood pressure is low again, my sleep apnea is gone, I am having no more injections in my knees right now and I can now walk without a cane and guess what???? I have energy. I am 59 years of age and born again. I will always have physical problems with my back and sometimes regress in my chronic fatigue syndrome but I must say I am a new woman. I have a relative who had the RNY which is more invasive and you have absorption problems. Any way she has stretched her stomach out, even doesn't get sick eating sweets anymore. She did not change her behavior and use her surgery as a tool and has gained back half her weight and guess what she will still probably have absorption problems. You have to always work with it. The surgery is just a tool. After the surgery its all up to you.

Lia, Found one of the new pictures. Just click on my name. I am 12lbs less than that now.

I am approaching 4 years post-op. It is common after any WLS to have some regain. The key is to keep an eye on your weight and learn when to put on the brakes. I did regain about 20 pounds simply because I decided I could eat a sweet here and there ! I caught what I was doing and went back to my post-op eating pattern, upped my water and protein intake and the weight came back off. I am holding steady with my loss after 4 years so YES--you can keep it off. WLS is not a cure but a tool and it is up to us to care for our tool. If you get a new car you don't drive it 100,000 miles and never change the oil and rotate the tires. We have to treat our VBG like an expensive car. Keep it serviced properly and it will continue to give good service.