Anyone lost a significant amt of weight after gaining ?(40#+)

40# + 3  years + out If so, can you share what and how you did it ?...  I need to know it's possible, especially if you are 3  years or more out... My question is in the post from "Can you shrink your pouch? ".. I thought maybe this would reach more posties :-) thanks again all! T

Tina,  I'm 3.5 years out and let me start by saying.. I gained 12 lbs. But here's the good news story. I got rid of the pretzals and the crackers that were killing me. I joined the gym 6 weeks ago and do little more than walk on the treadmill... about 2-3 miles ... 4 times a week. In 6 weeks I've lost 10 lbs. I have 40 to go. I never got to goal.. but I'll keep trying. I don't know if its possible to shrink your pouch but I'm going to watch the replies on your post and see if others respond. This weight is a battle we will probably always fight. Stay active... it will make a difference. Really connect with some things that are causing gain and take it one day at a time. I also increased my water intake... of course when you drink none... even 20 oz is an increase! Best of luck to you... and don't give up.  10 down.... 40 to go.... but I will not be a slave to the scale. No diet for me... just more awareness of the things that are good... and the things that are bad.

Tina, My NUT says no matter how far out you are, if you go "back to basics":  lean, dense protein, eliminate the refined carbs (flour, sugar, pasta, rice), exercise, drink 64 oz. fluid (not right before or after eating), and not graze, the pouch will always work.   Good luck!

I dont know if "shrink" is the right word but I can tell you that I have had severe colds a few times in the last 4 years that kept me from eating (dont like to eat when i feel bad)  and then when I was better and able to eat I got so full so quick.  And sometimes I forget to eat, yes I know its crazy, and then remember to eat dinner and can only get a few bites in.  now I am just wishing I had a cold or could forget to eat cause everyone just ordered chinese & im hungry :-) Good luck Diana RNY 9/17/03 360/200/still aiming at 180 

Hi Tina ... between my 15th and 25th months post-op I had gained 20 pounds.  I have since lost 85 (and have 20-25 to go).  During that 10 months of regain, I got smug.  I thought I "had it" down.  I stopped weighing, seeing the nut, therapist, support groups, journaling, etc.  The carb monster was out of control (started with pretzels, then pita chips, then popcorn -- these are now known as my trigger foods). I don't know about shrinking your pouch, but you can still lose ... not easily, but it can be done. Karyn

T I have been where you are and then some.  I had my surgery almost 6 yrs ago.  I regained 40 lbs over time.  January of this year I rededicated myself to the basics.  I was certainly feeling like a failure and doomed, but once I returned to the good habits I started feeling better physicially and emotionally.  Now I am on the other side, I have lost the regained weight and then some!   I went back to eating no more than half a cup of food at a meal.  I know prior to that I was eating more and now I feel full with that amount.  So it feels like I have shrunk my pouch back.  Don't loose hope it is possible to turn things around.  Terri

Thanks everyone. Terri, you made me cry.  It's so hard, even harder than before surgery, because we know what it felt like to be 'lighter', and feel good about yourself.  I didn't have it long, but I'd walk out of the gym and out loud say, 'jeez i feel great' don't ever forget how good this feels.  But I did forget.  I know that I need to go back to basics.   I have a really hard time with being hungry, I panic, it scares me and I hate it.  I'm afraid to only eat 1/2 cup cause I know it won't hold me long. (since 8 mos out I could eat a lot).  Maybe it's from not having enough food in the house as a kid, who knows.  My doc said it's okay to eat frequently, I just have to get it in my head.  I haven't given up. yet. lol So you lost 40+ pounds since January?  GREAT JOB!  wow.. Did you go back to mostly protein and water? Did you do protein shakes?  Thanks so much for ur post. Tina

Hi Tina,

I am almost 7 years out and since 2003 I have steadily gained weight until I reached 181 pounds in March 2005.   In January of this year, I "started over" for what I hope is the last time. I just did the usual lifestyle changes by consistently making better food choices, exercise and drinking water.  We all know what to do, its just so hard to do what we know to do.  It's taken two years but I am finally on the losing side again.  So far, I have lost some ot the 42 pounds I gained and my current weight is 160.  Now that I made my struggle public, I have to keep losing in order to give others and myself the belief that is is possible to lose after such a large gain.  Not easy but its possible.  Please see my profile. Be encouraged. Char S

Tina I have actually lost 55lbs   I did this by going back to basics.  Like Char stated making better choices.  I did not go back to a liquid diet such as the TO plan.  I know myself and that would have resulted in failure.  So I started with the pouch rules, no drinking with meals and no drinking 30 minutes before or after, protien first, only low glycemic carbs, and here is the big one for me no sugar.  It took about 3 days of an extreme headache but I no longer crave or desire sugar.  That says something for me who loved chocolate.  I make sure to get at least 64 oz of water in a day.  I started logging everything I eat on fitday and weighing myself everday.  These two things keep me accountable.  Before I would avoid the scale if I thought I might have gained which was a way to ignore the 40 pounds that creeped back on.  I am still trying to get my exercising up to where I want it to be, so I am still working on goals in that area. Terri