Do WLS Grads Still lose weight like we used to or are we losing like non surgical people now

I am 3.5 yrs post op and I have gained 40 pounds and I am terrified I am heading back in the direction from which I came. I crave carbs and sugar....HELP!!!! Thanks, Jan

Well Jan you have come to the right place. You need to detox from those BAD carbs. The more you have the more your body craves them. Do you track your food and water intake? If not maybe that would be a good place  to  start so you can see what you need to improve. I like spark people.com to track things but there are other sites to use like fitday.  Go back to basics, protien first, no drinking with meals watch those portions and eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains after your protien. Start exercising if you are not already. You can get back on track. Good luck Sher

The first two times I had regain, I just stopped sugar and the wt fell back off in 2 weeks. 5 yrs post-op was 6#; 8 yrs was 8#. I know they don't sound like much, but to me they were a disaster and they didn't come to visit, they came to stay!

3rd time was 11 yrs out. I turned off the sugar 3 times during that 2 yr period, 3 months each time and the wt did NOT fall off like it did before.

To get it off, I continued with my 6 protein drinks per day (30g each, made with water) and did as close to no carbs at all as I could. I still had 4 meals, but not being much of a fan of meat or fish, most of my meals were a bar or half a protein bar. So, the highest carb one was 3g per half. It took 8 week to lose 9 lbs. of the 13 I needed to lose.

I wish I could tell you how it worked, but then I broke my arm and the ONLY thing I wanted to put in my face was pain meds (makes having babies feel like a paper cut in comparison) and to stay asleep. So, I lost another gob of wt, but that didn't really count. The lbs were really gone, but I know it doesn't mean anything. I didn't buy any clothes to fit that smaller me. Now that my appetite is returning, my total wt loss is at 15 lbs from last spring (i had at one pt lost 21).

I'm still doing my 6 protein drinks & my meals are still often bar or half a bar (depends on the size of the bar). I do now have salads and other good carbs when I eat a regular meal.

The reason for noteven keeping good carbs for awhile was to break the carb/sugar cycle. It as hard but it was worth it. I'm still as pure as a fresh post op re: sugar, so 6 months now. I know I can't have "just one" or I'll be eating sugar again in 5 minutes!

Michelle, I know I should know this and feel dumb asking but will you tell us about good and bad carbs?  I am not sure what they are and which ones are good and which ones are bad.  I, of course, know about sugar and white bread, but from there I get lost. Please help.  Thanks for all the help you give us. Patricia 

I think WLS grads can still lose weight easier than "regular" dieters.  At least I think I can because I'm not hungry like I was pre op.  I do experience hunger but not the constant gnawing in my stomach when I did diets like Weigh****chers.  If I pay attention and stick to the protein and liquids program, I feel satisfied much longer and eat less. 

Thanks for your responses.  I am going to try to break the habit starting tomorrow...keep your fingers crossed for me...*S*  I will keep you posted on  how I do...that way I feel I have to report to someone....give me more will power... Thanks again, Jan

Hey Jan, I wanted to add that I had been having big munchies, really bad cravings.  My weight loss stalled , then I gained three pounds on top of that.  I cut out the milk products I was eating to get rid of the milk sugar, and I added in four protein drinks a day mixed with water, and my cravings have totally stopped.    Plus I noticed that when I ate a Lean Cuisine meal yesterday I couldn't eat all of it, though a couple of weeks ago I could eat the whole thing.  I think my pouch is tightening up again or something because I stopped overfilling it.   You can do this!  I am amazed how well it has worked for me.  I give credit to Michelle (vitalady.com) for giving me the information to do this. Blessings, Steph

I am 6 years out from a proximal RNY and have gained back  72 lbs. from my lowest weight.  I just started Weigh****chers, and find that it seems pretty easy to stay on track with that.  I tried it a couple of years ago and lost 12 pounds.  It was easier than pre-op, because the serving sizes that I should be eating on Weigh****chers are about perfect as to how much I can eat.  But, it is still a struggle to not be compulsive.

I've gained up to 182 pounds three separate times in six years but every time I manage to get the weight off again.  I, like Vitalady (Michelle), have to totally cut out carbs to lose fast, but I can still lose fairly steadily if I only eat one thing an hour.  The key for me is to NOT GET FULL at any time!  If I get full, even on non-fattening foods, I gain weight!  So, in my opinion, in answer to your question, yes I have to diet as though I've never had surgery in the first place, but it DOES come off when I do it right!  Now, the key is to STOP eating bad things when I get within five pounds of my average weight, instead of letting it creep up on me.....

Jan,  Thanks for asking this question...  I'm 5 years out and have gained about 25lbs over 2 years.  I'm working to get it off now.   It is definately harder than when we were in our "honeymoon" stage, but I don't think it's as hard as before I had WLS. It's hard to get off sugar and carbs but both of us can do it.  I've lost about 2 lbs this past week... yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep in touch!