2yrs post-op and 6 weeks post partum

I'm not sure if this is the righ place to pose this question or not....I had surgery in June of 2005 and have lost a total of 150lbs (pre-pregnancy). I gained approximately 45lbs during pregnancy. I dropped 20lbs by 2 or 3 weeks post partum. I assum that was purely from delivery and loss of excess fluids, its the other 25lbs I am worried about. I need to lose that weight, but don't know if I have the constitution to go back to shakes. If anyone,especially someone who has gone through this has any suggestions/ideas/advice it would be greatly appreciated. I thought I might go to weigh****chers or follow a 1200 calorie/day eating plan, but wasn't sure if either were too much or too little. Thoughts? Thanks ~ Christine

Don't worry about that weight ...6 weeks post partum your body still isn't sure what the heck is going on!!! You really just need to take care of you and the baby (congrats by the way) The weight will come back off if you follow your basic rules. I had two babies back to back 12/04 and 12/05 and lost all the weight I wanted afterwards with no problems. It can take up to 6 months after having a baby to get your body back to normal...don't stress!!! BIG HUGS, Deanna K

Deanna, Thanks for the encouragement. I was still losing when I found out I was pregnant, slowly and with difficulty, but losing none the less. You read so much here on the boards about people who have had surgery and go back to bad habits and undo everything they worked so hard for, I don't want to fall into that trap. When you are pregnant you get use to eating because you need too. My biggest fear is that I have gotten so use to it that it will be hard to give it up again. How long did it take you to lose the pregnancy weight? How easy/difficult was it to lose the pregnancy weight? Did you do anything inparticular, besides following the basic rules that helped to get the weight off? Thanks again ~ Christine

It's not going to be easy...but what of our journey has been?!?!?  I just went back to the basics...got as much rest as possible, exercised regularly, yada  yada yada. Seriously though. I'm not a scale junkie...I only weigh at the doc's office so I really can't tell you how long it took. But I was really happy and felt healthy at my 6 month or so mark. I haven't lost EVERYTHING (10-15 lbs) I gained (47lbs) but I'm happier and healthier at this weight. Really try not to worry, just take care of yourself...make sure your getting what YOU need as well as that baby!!! It makes us better Mommy's when we take care of ourselves!!! Your tool is still there and when the time is right to really work it, you can. BIG HUGS, Deanna P.S. Holler at me anytime...

I agree not to worry just yet.  But I would say to go back to the basics and follow the rules.  I had my second child post op and ate again because I could.  Then I was nursing so I still thought I could.  Then, when I stopped nursing, I had lost my focus and healthy habits.   Not to scare you but I am still almost 30 pounds above my lowest weight and my daughter is 21 months.  I make poor choices, I eat out a lot, I eat sugar, I drink with my meals, etc.  I know the reasons I haven't lost the weight!!! Take care!  If you ever want to talk, email me at [email protected] and I'll give you my phone number.  You might also check out the pregnancy board.  I spent a LOT of time there when I was pregnant and many women stay long after their pregnancies! Laina Lap RNY 9/9/03 Mommy to JT (04/23/02) and Sarah (11/18/05)

Laina, Thanks for the encouragement. I know what you mean about thinking you can eat. I ate differently while pregnant than I did the year prior to pregnancy. I don't drink with meals, that's the one rule I keep. But I have been known ro make poor choices and we do eat out alot. I find that I have been grazing alot, maybe even stress/boredum eating. I worry about how much I should be able to eat and portion size. It seems to me that the increased amounts I am able to ingest are a lot but I'm not sure. How much should I be able to eat at 2 years post-op? I was out on the pregnancy board and saw a lot of questions from newer post-op RNy patients, or at least that was the sense I got and I really wanted to talk to someone who was post-op for at least as long as I am. I'll check it out some more maybe I didn't stay long enough or look hard enough. And thanks for your e-mail, I may just take you up on your offer to chat. Thanks again ~ Christine

One thing I've noticed personally - the more I eat the more I CAN eat.  For example - grazing (me too) - I can eat MUCH more at mealtime than if I had not been grazing.  My theory is that grazing is keeping my pouch larger and if I haven't eaten anything in several hours it shrinks up a bit.  I don't know if it's true but it feels true for me.   I just ate lunch (fast food) and I ate less than 1/2 of the burger and maybe 6 tater tots.  But, I can eat PAST that  full point and eat more.  If I stop at the initial full point, I'm good.  But I could eat the whole thing if I bypass that first full point and start pushing the food through my pouch by eating more. I am doing better here recently.  I started walking with my neighbor so that's good!  Plus I'm having a few health issues - went for a physical - showed anemia and thyroid problems.  Ob/gyn says possible female problems (sonogram Tuesday).  I'm kind of stressed!!!  Food doesn't seem to be my friend / comfort right now and for that, I'm greatful!!!!  Usually I eat more when stressed.  MY experience and thoughts!!!  Good luck to you!!! Take care, Laina

i have gone thru the same thing, but i had 2 pregnancies post op and have about a good 30-50 lbs to be where i wanna be again. i took it slow and i'm getting there. go back to your post op diet and take your water. 1 of my pregnancies was post TT and i am glad that wasn't ruined. 25 lbs isn't much, so you can do it. i went back to my post op diet and about 1200 cal a day and i have a lost about a good 15. take your time and watch the carbs.... =) smile the weight was worth it wasn't it? =) gina if you ever need to talk let me know and i will give you my number.... or you can email me [email protected]

Gina, Thanks for sharing your experience with me. I know 25lbs isn't alot and I realize I'm only 6 weeks post-partum, but I have a tremendous fear of ruining the surgery, backsliding and losing control again. I was really freaked out during the pregnancy as I gained and the doctor kept saying "your fine" I thought how could you say that when I only gained 23lbs with the first pregnancy and I'm now at 35lbs and still have 3 months to go before this one is over. Of course this was the OB/gyn and not my surgeon. The only thing my surgeon siad to me when told him I was pregnant was "the key is not to gain too much weight during pregnancy" but he never said how much was too much and he never talked to me about how my appetite would change so I was scared, still am. Thanks ~ Christine

i gained 37 with my first and 44 with my second. i followed up monthly with my wls surgeon, just cause that's how he wanted it, since i got pregnant 9 months after surgery. i never lost all the weight after my 1st. i lost only half. it took me almost 3 yrs, cause of my bad habit, just don't slip back into those bad habits. i was 164 lowest and after 3 yrs after birth i was down to 180, happy mind you, but before i got pregnant with my 2nd i actually lost some weight by watching what i was doing wrong, so i got down to 175 (then found out i was pregnant 1 month later). i hade the same problems again after birth, i stuck to my pregnancy eating habits, i nursed didn't loose weight. i now have lost 15 lbs, by going back to my prop diet. if you are nursing be careful, cause you will need more calories to feed your baby. put it this was, it was WORTH the weight. give it time, like you said you are only 6 weeks post partum, enjoy this new life that you brought into the world, hug and kiss your child. that's what i do when i start to get down about the gain, i couldn't have gotten pregnant without the surgery, my surgeon calls them his surgery babies. now my 4 year olds just a monster and i wanna send him back..... =) lol  smile =) it will work out, if you need someone we are always here.... gina