Regaining vs. Maintaining

I am three years out and maintain my loss within a 5 to 7 pound range. But to do this I have to weigh every day and make sure I keep my food journal and stay within my limits of calories in and calories out. I also exercise 4 to 5 days per week to help me maintain. I could see where it would be very easy to gain it all back if I didn't pay close attention to my routine daily. Good luck to you. It is really great you are doing all of this research. You should be ready when your day comes. Melissa Rny 1/15/04 277/136

I'm 5 1/2 years out and I lost 120 lbs in the first 18 months after surgery. I have maintained that weight all that time. Yes up and down within a 10 lb range but mostly holding the 110 lbs for 4 years. Christy

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. It's just that I have enjoyed such a great life so far (except for being fat) and I don't want to mess with a good thing. Also I have only had one surgery in my whole life (tubal ligation) and I do not want to start getting sliced up unless it will do some good and not make things worse. I have a lot to do in my work and personal life still! I don't have time to get messed up or go up & down on the scale. Thanks again! Fiona

Fiona, I hope the advise you received so far does more to prepare you for this life changing event. I had this operation about 3.5 years ago. I was 348 pounds and in bad shape. I had the operation and followed what the doctor recommended. In about a years time I was down to 249 pounds. I then change jobs and became very busy and had no time to do any exercise and I wasn't sleeping or eating correctly either. well in a six month period I gain about 50 pounds. I change jobs again and i am now trying to get myself back into a exercise plan. I need to figure out what i could do with my food as well. I need to figure out a way to lose the weight again. If anyone *****ads this has any good suggestions please reply to this. If i can do this over again, I would have kept to a exercise plan and would have stick to eating plan. Good luck looks like you getting a lot of good advice. Angelo

I am almost 5 years port op. I have maintained my weight...Pre-op:298 pounds, size 28. Post-op weight: 158 pounds, size 10. I am 5"10"...it feels great to be at a healthy weight!!!