3+ years post op... Gaining weight??

well I am right there with you on regain. I had RNY in 2001...went from 233 to 133, but have gained some and got up to 159.....I go between 140-155 now..... I do not smoke...I am a stress eater. I have cut back and increased my workouts......nothing helps. Just so you know you are not alone. I am in a size 12 jeans today but next month might be in an 8. Todays weight is 155, I am only 5 ft tall so I look bigger. I also have an image issue where I see myself still at 233 even though I am not. also I just had a boob job.....I blame them for a few extra pounds. had that done 05-march-2007 just keep your chin up and keep the faith take care, tammy

I understand. and I am very glad to hear that I am not alone. I honestly don't think that I look terrible... it's the fact that I can't get into my favorite jeans. My family and everyone thinks that if I stay this weight, and get approved to have my belt line lipectomy skin removal surgery... that with the skin gone, I will be in perfect size 8... which is what I want. I had on 12's last night and it was a sad site to see my skin hanging over my belt. I cry a lot because of that. I want a boob job too... and wouldn't mind the weight up there.!!! But I have to get my skin cut off first. I am working on it.  Honestly I haven't weighed myself in awhile. I try not to stick to the #'s.... I go by how I look, and how I feel. I can see the change, and I don't like it. And here in MN summertime is a big thing. Less clothes... lookin cute... ya know?! I am increasing my work outs and cutting back on the food I eat. I would rather sit here with hunger pains all day long than try and sqeeze into my 12's... and look at all my 8 and 9's in the closet and remember the days when I used to be fitting so nice into them.  Sad.... very sad. I am on a mission... and I would love someone to check in with me every once in awhile to see how I am doing. If you are on a mission like me, or anyone out there is.... let me know if you would like to keep in contact with me.... keep each other on the right track!!!

I was told the further out you get the more your body adjust to wls that's why it not unusual to see people gain weight as time goes by.  You might  have been  able to maintain weight eating 1200 calories one year ago, but the same amount of calories  today might make you gain weight.  My doctors office said it not unusual to see a 20 -25 pound weight gain the further out you get. Also, too smoking raises your metabolism. A friend on mine(non wls) quit smoking and ended up gaining 7 pounds.  Just keep following the "pouch" rules and exercising regularly and I believe your body will naturaly find the weight that's right for you.  Donna

I will be 4 yrs post op in August and I have gained 25 lbs...I started the Karen B' Timer Plan on Monday and the scale moved, it has not moved in months especially in the direction I wanted it to. I found some shakes someone on the board mentioned and I can mix them with water and they taste real good, they are called Lean Dessert protein shakes, they have some better flavors and taste good even mixed with water. I know the scale moving has alot to do with water weight, but I will accept that as long as I can stick with it and get this weight off. You can do it..and I found those shakes at the Vitamin Shoppe... and you can order online at bsn.com..

Tyecha - What is the Karen B' Timer Plan? Thanks, Betsy

Hi Betsy, I was interested too so I did a search online. Here is what I found and I am definitely going to try it to start losing those extra 20 pounds. 

The idea of this is to stimulate your metabolism to start burning fat and stop the grazing!!!

 

Of course, adjust the times to your schedule, however, do NOT go past 1 ½ hours between some kind of “feedings”.

 

 

6 am coffee, tea, or some other kind of warm beverage to “get things going”

 

 

7 am 8 or more oz of PURE water

 

 

8 am protein shake 9 am 1-3 oz of protein type food*

 

 

10 am 8 or more oz of pure water

 

 

11 am protein shake noon 1-3 oz of protein type food

 

 

1 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

 

 

2 pm protein shake

 

 

3 pm 1-3 oz of protein type food

 

 

4 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

 

 

5 pm protein shake (like while cooking dinner – prevents ‘tasting” and “grazing”)

 

 

6 pm dinner 1-3 oz of food total, i.e., 2 oz of protein food, a bite or two of veggie and perhaps a ‘taste” of a complex carb

 

 

7 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

 

 

8 pm protein shake

 

 

9 pm light snack like string cheese, deli meat or cheese, about 1 or 2 oz total

 

 

10 pm 8 or more oz pure water

 

 

Pure water is very important to optimum health and to flush the fat cells through your body. You may drink crystal light, diet Snapple, flavored waters, etc., however, you still MUST get in the 64 oz of PURE water every day and do not count the water in shakes or the flavored waters UNLESS you are flavoring them yourself with lemon, etc. Propel is good, but still do not count towards your water.

 

 

You may make your protein shakes with just 1 scoop for 20 g of protein or less, but your total protein shake consumption must be at least 90 g. I use the full 30 g portion for each of my shakes, but my body requires more protein supplement.

 

 

Please adjust accordingly, however the importance is actually drinking them.

 

 

You can make up a half a portion in 2-3 oz of water to equal 15-20 g of protein then your daily total of drinking 5 shakes would be around 100 g which is perfect for a proximal RNY.

 

 

You will find that by setting the timer, you will never be hungry, and in fact, by the latter part of the day, you will be surprised when the timer goes off to have water, protein, or food again!

 

 

All meals must have a beginning and an end. No more than 15-20 minutes per “mini-meal”.

 

 

If you are full in five minutes, STOP and discard food or put away for the next meal. It doesn’t mean that you can still eat during that hour. This constitutes grazing.

 

 

Track your food in Fitday. This helps. You will find that even tho you are eating every three hours your pouchie can’t handle as much as it could have before.

 

 

If you aren’t “carbophobic” add some whole grains to your meals, but eat them LAST.

 

 

Mix all protein shakes with water and ice only. No milk or fruit. This adds calories and causes cravings for more carbs. You may add SF syrups, or mix your shakes with SF beverages, i.e., Propel, crystal light, Fruit 2-0, etc.

 

First, Congratulations on quitting smoking! That is such a hard thing to do and I give you so much credit for sticking with it!!!!! As far as the weight thing goes, I think being aware of your body is the key. You are being proactive and doing all the right things~eating properly, getting plenty of exercise, etc. In reading thru all of the other reponses I think there was alot of wisdom there. Do we have a "set point" that our bodies will want to get to and stay at?? I've been told that by alot of long time post ops. Also changes could have occured b/c of not smoking. Our bodies sometimes have a mind of their own. Since it sounds like you're doing all the right things already, my only advice is maybe to shake things up a *****ange up your work out routine. Push to up your water intake to 100oz daily. I know one thing that helped me in the past was upping my protein (I can't do protein shakes so I added in an Isopure every day and that sparked a 3lb weightloss). Good Luck and keep us posted on how things are going and also any advice that you can give us on what works or what doesn't work.

I think maybe your body is just trying to adjust to the change.  Just like with surgery, not smoking after having been a smoker for a while, your body is used to having those chemicals in your body, and when you take them away our body tends to store.  So it is storing the nicotine that is in the fat cells.  Once you adjust, you should start losing weight again.  Congrats on quitting the ciggys, and just keep your head up and keep your strength and this too shall pass. Darlene

 Thanks!!! I just want to say thank you... thank you and thank you some more!!! Everyone has been very helpful. After reading majority of everyone saying that I need to increase my water intake I started that moment here at work... drank 5... 16oz bottles before I left yesterday and a few more at home. I was up all night going potty... but that is to be expected when my body wasn't really used to that much water at all. I am not a big fan of water, but I am doing it now. I have to!!! I am counting how many bottles of my 16oz I keep refilling that I drink... I even got a couple co workers that want to loose a few pounds drinking water with me! More fun that way.  I am hearing a lot that my body is doing some adjusting... which makes sense. So I am just going to keep doing what I am doing, drinking a lot of water... and doing my exercise. Eatting smaller portions than usual... and see where it gets me!!! Hopefully back into those size 8 jeans before summer!!!!  Thanks again everyone! I appreciate it. I am still open to hear ideas, suggestions!!!

I can send you an attachment... I need an e-mail address..