Dr.'s update....everything's OK.....after 16 years!!!

Great post.  Good luck to you and speedy return to the leather pants.

Wow -- CONGRATS!  You are truly an inspiration, motivation and a wake up call ALL IN ONE!!!!!! I am almost 3 yrs out and have gained about 25 lbs back.  All for the reasons you site in your post!   It's never been easy.....it's never going to be easy.  The sooner we all face that and come to grips with the, the sooner we will have the TRUE control of our lives. Thanks -- and keep us posted!

Coreena, Let me join the others in thanking you for this very honest and very motivational post!  I can relate to everything you wrote (well, not the having babies part after wls . . . that was long ago for me!), and I know EXACTLY why I have regained 25 lbs.--the very reasons you have stated! I am a h.s. guidance counselor who just retired 2 wks. ago (yeah!), and my first project is to re-commit to losing my gained weight.  I have never completely stopped exercising, but I have slowed way down the last couple months.  I just joined a step/aerobic class at the fitness center I go to, and after just getting home from a vacation, I am ready to attack my "bad carb" addiction and get back to eating the way I should.  When I do, I not only look better, but also feel much better.   Thanks again for having the courage to post and for motivating so many of us!

You are a true inspiration! Thank you for sharing your story and for giving us all great hope for the future! I KNOW that you WILL make it to your goal by the end of July! Congrats on all of your many years of success!!!!!!!!!

WOW Coreena, What an inspirational WLS story...Thank you so much for posting it...I know if really helps me to know what others further out then I are experiencing and also great to know that the pouchie still stays little even we I screw with it... Congratulations on getting back on track and re-taking control of your destiny ...I know you will make it...You have the right attitude, it will just take time and diligence, you are well on your way... Alesia

Coreena, Thanks for posting such an open and honest recounting of your wls journey.  I can understand your slide back into old eating patterns b/c I see myself beginning to do the same thing.  Your story highlights the need for permanent changes in our eating habits.  I admire your determination to get back to your goal. I posted inspirational quotes near my computer when I began my wls journey and one of my favorites is " Most dreams are lost by giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment."  Unfortunately, I began to forget that thought and experienced a little weight regain.  Now I'm working hard to get back to the basics, follow the pouch rules and lose these extra pounds before 8 lbs. becomes 80 lbs. Thanks again for reminding us that we're in this battle for the rest of our lives. Vickie J.

Wow!........what wonderful responses from everyone.!!!      Thank you all so much.  I appreciate all your warm thoughts. I am very happy to be a wake-up call for others.  That is how we learn.  For myself, I never had others to learn by.  There weren't any support groups and my surgeon retired many years ago.  My province no longer performs WLSs.  So we are all on our own here.   The failure rate for VBG is very high here (85%).  The x-ray tech was very impressed with my staples.  He did tell me I had a good surgeon but it was up to the patient to take care of the surgery.  Luckily for me I did.  I never over ate (just started eating the wrong foods), but did have (and still do) have times when something didn't go down right.  Probably too big of a piece.  This is likely why I switched my types of foods to easier stuff, to avoid the foamies.  I've never gotten nausea from this surgery (no dumping with VBG either),.  I usually had to manually induce the vomit because something was stuck.  This of course had done a toll on my teeth and last year spent $3500 to have them fixed up.  The dentist said it's common with WLS patients as the stomach acid eats away the enamel on the teeth. Anyways....It's good to know I've beaten the odds, learned what can happen if I'm slack with diet and exercise.  Right now I'm keeping small goals of 10 lbs at a time, so I'm not overwhelmed.  By reading on this board, I feel comfortable to know I'm not the only one that has a regain.  I see many of you working on losing a few unwanted pounds.  --Best of luck!  The best I can say is:   Thank you everyone for not being judgemental, for understanding how hard obesity disease really is and for sharing your stories of encouragement so I know losing weight long after surgery is still possible. The way I look at all this now is, "I stalled on my WLS journey to start a family, now I'm picking up where I left off".  It's a better thought considering I never did get to "goal".  But I did lose 78 lbs in 9mths. Here's how my journey started for those curious: 1991--WLS  (stomach stapled) 245lbs 1992--Tummy Tuck 167lbs 1993--size 10, stalled at 165 lbs. 1994--got Married, then pregnant 3 mths later 1995--had 1st child (gained 18 lbs, lost 22) 161 LBS 1996--car accident, injured back, physio for 1 yr for recovery 1997--pregnant 1998--2nd child (gained 23 lbs, lost 0) 1999--20lbs still holding from pregnancy 2000--maintained at 180 lbs. (size 15) 2002--started gaining slowly by 5lb increments 2005--lost about 10lbs from stress of selling house (size 17) 2006--Dec. gained back that 10lbs, plus more (size 19) 2007--Feb. weighed 215 largest since WLS 2007--June lost 20 lbs, (size 16) 195 lbs.  ...and the journey continues!  Lesson learned:  Should've had WLS after children, but probably would have weighed more than 245 lbs.  **Everything happens for a reason!** Have a healthy and happy day everyone!  Coreena

Wow, what a journey.  I am one of my own.  I signed into this site today after being away for two years.  I am 5 years post op as of March 13th 07.  I too have put on a bit of weight.  40lbs to be exact.  I am very disheartened about it.  I have stuck to weighing myself everyday since my surgery as a way to just keep an eye on things and  if I got more than three or four pounds away from my normal weight taking care of it right then either by exercising more or eating less.  Well my scale got broken and I didn't think it would be a big deal to live without it.  Turns out it is.   so I am shopping on line right now for a new one.  Thanks for your words of inspiration.   Time for my own TIME OUT!   Hugs and smiles.  Myra

Superb! is what comes to mind. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I have been moping around cause ive gained some weight, but reading your story gives me the hope that i lost.. norma

Thanks for the post, what an inspiration you are. To know that after a long period of time we can still restart and take control is awesome. It also warns us that not paying attention can make us gain. thank donna