How many of you have gained weight?

Hi Karen, I am about 18 months out now (can't believe it). I am below "goal" (formerly 258 pounds at 5'8" tall, age 54) (now 132 pounds, still 5'8" tall, age 56). I am a little thin, but as we all know, it's hard to gauge our own size! I just lost a pound this week. By the way: a word about "goal weight" - goal weight is just an arbitrary number. I picked mine out of the sky as an "I know I'll never make it but sure would be happy" number (145 pounds). Now I'm below goal, but who's to say? I'm still in the "normal" weight range for my age and height. NO WAY can I eat what I once did, although sometimes I can eat quite a bit. Especially good, home-cooked meals, which I never make any more since both DH and I have now had WLS. DH continues to have problems with up-chucking, all tests are good but I think it's because he does not chew his food well... has no lower teeth and eats 'way too quick! We have to run EVERYthing through the food processor for him. The only thing I can see as messing this up for me, is ME. I could sabotage myself. I just want to be sure that I recognize it if that's what I start doing. If you see yourself doing that, I would say, "GET HELP!" Nothing is worth going back to where we once were. Sending you good wishes, Kitty

I'm 29 months out, lost 220 lbs. I quit losing at 16 months but no regain at this time. I made lifestyle changes that hopefully will make me successful long term. I don't think it matters how many times you eat a day but you need to figure out how many calories it takes for you to lose or maintain, then keep your daily calories under that #. My surgeon told me those who made lifestyle changes in the first six months would have new habits for a lifetime that would make them successful. I believe he was right but it's never too late to make those changes. Certainly it was easier to make the changes in the early months when we weren't hungry, but you can still change bad habits. I think successful people are successful because they gain a new awareness of every calorie that goes in their mouth. They quickly analyze the calories, nutritional value, protein value BEFORE they eat the food. Does that mean they never eat empty calories? No way, we are all human, but if we do it right 99% of the time we will be successful. Best of luck to you.

I'm almost 3 years post-op and I came within 20 pounds of goal and in the past 10 months have gained 20 pounds so now I'm 40 pounds from my goal. I know some days I make bad food choices, but honestly I've tried WW, OA,FA, and even a professional who specialized in eating disorders. Honestly I feel like I'm out on a limb and all alone and I don't know where to go. I cant eat as much as I did before surgery. Amy

I never got to goal but I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off for nearly 3 years. I am pretty stable weight wise , happy at a size 14/16 and am healthy and again active. I do not really diet, my body seems to maintain well at this weight...and the gift of still dumping on fats and excess sugars keeps me from binging (ate a cupcake one day and went to bed for 4 hours). I eat healthy and pretty much what I want and when I want...but I just do not want anything that makes me sick very often.....even a slow learner learns from negative reinforcement. Rochelle .