Question about Weight Gaining! 1st time ever since Surgery!

Okay, I am exactly 3 yrs post op, and my body has gained almost overnight, no lie, 10lbs!!  What the heck is up with that?  I had started taking Premarin hormone pills and my doc said stop immediately and the weight will go away, but it did not.

In June I was down to 140lbs, VERY high stress job, and I lost about 5 lbs overall from that job, as I have always bounced around 145-147, and I had my last plastics in April, so after surgery I had gained to 159, normal after surgery though.  It came back down fast, and then I started my new job, and then I lost so much, almost a pound a day for two weeks straight!!!

So, then around July 4th I was back to my normal 144-147ish and that was fine, clothes are fine, everything good.

Then in August I started on the Premarin, and went off after 2 weeks, and now I am around 157-160!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW the heck can I get this weight off!!  I am in school now in the evenings, 5pm-10pm, Mon-Thurs, and I am not working (looking for a part time job) and I know I can eat more now, but I really really am careful. 

I try to do a banana in the morning or a protein shake, and then sometimes I eat lunch, or I don't, and when I do its something like a salad like from Wendys, just salad and chili, which I put on top of the salad, and I cannot eat it all, only about 5-8 good bites.

Then I will have some fruit like grapes, or a few saltine crackers if my stomach feels queezy which it can.

Then dinner is either something really fast, on the run trying to get to school, so usually don't eat dinner, I will either go on my break between classes for 20minutes and walk about 4blocks each way to the grocery store and get like a banana, or salad, or sugar free rice pudding if my tummy is funky which it has lately, or sometimes I will eat a salad or a protein shake, and maybe a few crackers, and then when I come home, I try not to eat a full meal as that is too much food to digest close to bedtime.

I am sorry this is long, but wanted to give all the facts I can think of.

I did go off Premarin in August having only taken it for 2 weeks, when I noticed I gained weight on it, my doc said to get off immedately and it would go away.   Well, I have been off of it, and still hangin around 157, and at nights after lots of water drinking I usually weigh 160, which I know is fluids from the day as well as the 2-3 bottles I drink at school or at home.

SO, I really really am SCARED TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried to do just protein drinks, like Nectar, or Protein Delite, but I cannot stick to them< I am so hungry!  I hate that feeling and I am so scared that I will put on another 10, and then will be 170- then 180!!!!!!!!!

I am freaking out, and none of my clothes fit now.  I told my husband I wanted to have the stomaphyx done where they tighten up the stoma and opening to the pouch, but since I heard insurance won't cover it, he said we cannot afford it, and tough luck!!!

After losing all that weight, and then going through the painful hell of all the plastic surgeries, I will just die, or something if I gain it all back.  I cannot even imagine what I would do if I gained it back....I am serious, it is really messing with my mind so much that I don't think I could ever literally show my face again to my family and old friends *****ally made fun of me for having the surgery, then saw how skinny I was and if I get fat again, I do not know what I would do, seriously.

This is depressing the crap out of me, and sorry for all the "language", but I am a Christian, so I of course trust God, and know that He is in control, but this being out of control on my weight, is so depressing, I just feel like I would die if I gain weight back.

I asked my doctor at support group and he said, "Oh, you look great, you don't need that surgery!"  His response was that it was rebound weight, and if it bothered me then to do the opti fast for a week.  Well, I was going to, but it has loads of sugar in it!!  I saw it at Bariatric Advantage.

I do know about the quick start diet on here, going back to basics, doing only protein drinks and Nectar, but the nectar after a day or so, and protein drinks, makes my mouth get tons of acid bumps or cancker sores,whatever you want to call them.  I just have always said Acid Bump, because that is what causes it.

Any help is appreciated!

Oh, I do exercise everyday, either walking or jumping on my mini tramp or running up and then down the stairs several times.

When I talked to the dietician, 2 of them, they said they felt most of it is water weight, since I am retaining fluids, and that my diet was fine.

Okay, so then what???

Thanks you guys, I really need some expertise in this area......I have never gained this much ever since surgery 3 years ago, and had maintained my weight of 145-ish for over a year and a half, so I know 3 yrs ago I would kill to be 157, but I feel like the fat kid again....I suppose internally we will always be the "Fat girl" even though I was a very thin girl and teen, only gained weight after kids were born 20 yrs ago.


So sorry this is long, but I am at my rope's end, and I am in pure anguish over this!!

Hugs!!!  :(

Love you all, Thanks for any support, tips, diet, help!!

PS...how do I combat constant hunger too????

Deb

Sweetie you are not alone, this happens to alot of us.  I will be three years out in Novemember and I am stuck at 160.  One thing that I have done for about 3 months now has been to start writing down everything I eat and what exersises I am doing.  First of all you need to find out how many calories your body needs to maintain before it goes into starvation mode.  We all have fat cells and they will hold on to calories if your body thinks you are not getting enough calories.  I am 160 and I try to stay in between 1500-1800 a day.  I need to check that out because with my excersising I may need to up them.  There is an accountability post on here everyday where we write down what we have eaten.  Sometimes it is very hard to be honest and say what we have truely eaten but we do because it helps the others realize that we are  not alone.  I would recommend that you find out how many calories you need and then start a journal of what you have eaten.  Of course drink your water, get your protein in and take your vitamins.  Its this far out that we have to really use our tool and not rely on it completely.  It will be a battle for you because you are probably addicted to food like the rest of us.  I know you are busy but you have to start planning what you eat and not just grab something because you are starving.  It help to carry a protein bar or something low cal. high protein with you so that when you start to feel hunger coming on you can eat that so you don't really get hungry and pig out on anything you see.  Unfortunatly you will be thinking about food all the time because if we don't think about it and plan we will gain back.  I totally understand how you are feeling because I was and am feeling like that some but since I have tried to be more in control lately it has been better.  Good luck!  Come and post what you eat everyday so we can encourage you and give you tips and you could start giving us tips as well--we can all use the help.  Have a great day and be happy!  God bless, Penni

Hi Deb,

I am early on in my recovery from surgery, I am almost 15 months out and I have not experienced what you have yet so I can't relate yet, but it scares me whether this will eventually happen to me. 

On this board I have read a lot of posts about gaining the weight back.  You have to remember that eventually you will have too learn how to maintain your weight on your own.  I think if you continue to watch what you eat, you shouldn't have a problem. 

If you let this stress you out, you will eventually eat the wrong things, and then you will really be depressed.  Just continue to do what you are doing.  Take one day at a time.  Try to watch your carbs, more protein.  Sometimes when we skip meals it doesn't benefit us, it makes it harder for us to lose the weight, because you stop your metabolism from working. 

You need to continue to eat through out the day, but remember to continue to eat the right things.  You sound like you know what to do.  When I used to diet before the surgery, there was a trick that helped me.  I would make my body think I was going back to my old eating habits, for a day or two, and then eat healthy again, which would trick my metabolism, and I would lose again.  It worked for me. 

I am just giving you a few Ideas, that may help you.  You have to learn to feel good about yourself, and not let this take you over.  If you are eating right and excercizing than just do that just be healthy.  I don't think you will gain a 100lbs, if you are doing what you need to do.  I hope I was able to make you feel better.  Also remember who cares about what other people have to say about your weight, love yourself for who you are.  Good-Luck!!!!

Hey Deb! Boy do I understand the emotions you're going thru. It gets harder and harder the farther out that we get and for you, taking that med had an effect I'm sure. I think consistency will be the key for you in getting those unwanted pounds back off. You CAN do this if you stick with a plan~it might take a little while, but you'll do it! Track your food/exercise at thedailyplate.com. Find the right balance for you~don't go so low in calories that you defeat the purpose, push protein first, drink plenty of liquids, etc. Try changing up your workout routine and try adding some light weights to see if you can build up a little lean muscle to help burn off calories. It is depressing and I know right now it sucks, but you'll work it out. The tool will still work if you work the tool. Patience and persistance will pay off!!!! Oh, and come here for support, go to support group, hang out with friends that are supportive~we need all the support we can get!!! Good Luck and keep us posted on how things are going for you! Don't give up!!!!!

(((((((HUGS))))))))

Ok Deb, take a deep breath and relax.
Im three years out, and suffered the same thing. I had gained about 14 pounds, no matter what I seemed to do, it wouldnt budge! I would lose a pound and gain a pound, or lose three and regain two. I was so depressed and frustrated! I felt like a failure too. I just knew that everyone who watched me lose 140 pounds was waiting to watch me regain it all , because two friends who had the surgery around the same time, are regaining large amounts, I was terrified!
Then my husband was diagnosed with prediabetes and told to lose weight, Well, he decided he wanted to do weigh****chers. He had done it before and lost well. I went to a meeting and joined so I could get the stuff for him, and decided to give it a go. That was three weeks ago, and so far I have lost 7 pounds! (he has lost 18! NOT FAIR!! LOL) I tweak it a bit, by drinking my protein shakes, and it is working for me. At first I was a little depressed, I mean, I had joined weigh****chers at least a dozen times in the past when I was trying to do it on my own, before surgery, But then I thought, hey, wait, I dont have much to lose here, and I am one of the smallest ones at the meeting! This is cool!
I never did reach my goal after WLS, so maybe now I will. I know it has put me back on track, got me to drinking my water again and writing everything down..I dont have a weight loss surgery support meeting nearby, so this works for that purpose too. No, I didnt tell anyone there that I had the surgery, but I intend to. Our leader has others that have and they are doing well.
Like we all know, its a tool..and tools were meant to be used, and thats what Im doin. The depression and anxiety is gone, and thats a plus too.
Hang in there.  You are not a failure, you have just hit a bump in the road. It can be conquerored!
Write, drink, count,and get that protein in! It will keep you from getting hungry.
Be Blessed!
Betsy

Hi musicmama88,
I am one year post bypass and have lost about 50% of the total weight I'd like to lose.
I must say I've lost it without EVER weighing the food I was eating nor denying myself anything, having said this I was not eating mountains of food and was eating overall a lot less junk that I was pre-op.
Now it's 6 months I am not losing anymore, but the good news is that I am not gaining either.
I'd like to lose another 20 to 30 lbs so I think the time has come for me to try and watch what and when I eat.
I was thinking of following the weigh****chers method as I did this thousands of times in the past, only maybe it may need to be adapted as I've had the bypass.
My main question to you is:
have you tried for a period of time to stick to the points assigned to you by WW according to your weight/gender/activity level? if so, do you lose weight too quickly? do you get too hungry? do you find those points need to be 'upped' now that you've had a bypass?
I have tried only a week so far to stick to the 21 daily points that WW says I should stick to but am finding myself SO HUNGRY way more than I ever did on WW before the bypass, so I just eat more than my points.  I end up eating around 30 which I think it may be too many.
Anyhow, could you tell me a bit more how you are getting on with it?
even privately if the rest of the board does not want to read about WW, do you need me to send you my private email for that?
thanks in advance

I can totally relate to what is happening to you - I had some medication changes and experienced the same thing. Work related problems didn't help (job elimination) got a  new job within the company, but  in a more visual area. Got so depressed I started to graze, stress eat  and gained 30 pounds. I agree with the postings of others here - I am going to start over - with writing down what I eat and how I feel, changing up exercise, because your body does get used to doing the same thing and as others have posted, changing it up does help. If you would like someone to "start over" with - please contact me - we could support each other.
RNY - 10/2003
TSO(Hysterectomy) 11/2004
TT w/Muscle Tightening - 4/2005

Hi Deb, another Deb here...well girlfriend you know what to do and how to lose those 10 pds. But first of all take a deep breath, you are not alone and you will get support here.
Things to ask yourself: Are you drinking with meals? Are you waiting 30 minutes after eating and before eating? Do you drink alcohol? Do you drink diet soda's or worse yet...regular soda? Is it time to increase your exercise routine? Shake up that body a bit. Stress will not help so try something like yoga or pilates or taking a long fast walk to help with your stress level.
Premarin made me gain weight and the weight didn't come off either, that was way before my WLS revision.
Don't worry about what people think of you but do start taking control of your eating issues. We reach for food when we are stressed, happy, depressed. Don't let food control you. This is a life style change not a diet. Now is the time to sit back quietly, re-evaluate your eating, exercise and drinking habits. Follow the 30/30 rule, eat dense foods, no slider foods, reach for protien first then fresh veggies and fruits. Most important: Are you attending a bariatric support group on a regular basis? If you are, talk about your struggles, find a work-out buddy. Good luck you can take those last 10 pounds back off. You are a success. Gaining those 10 pounds is not the end of the world and you are addressing your fears. Keep posting, you are not alone.

I'll be three years out in another 6 weeks or so. I've been maintaining betweek 128-133 for 18 months and had my plastics just over a year ago.

To me, it sounds like you're not eating enough and your body is in starvation mode and holding on to that 10 lbs. for sustenance.

I have to eat every 2 hours to maintain and I eat even more on the days I'm working out. You need to give your body a regular source of fuel, so skipping meals isn't a great idea. If you're rushed, take packages of nuts, a protein bar, some high protein snack to keep your body fed.

Also, you don't mention your fluid intake. Make sure you're getting plenty of water to keep flushing everything your body doesn't need out.

Keep a food and exercise journal and when you weigh weekly, track your progress so you know what foods are good fuel for your body and which ones your body isn't as fond of.

You guys are scaring the hell out of me! I gained (seemingly) 6 pounds in a weekend and had a major mental meltdown...I can't even imagine what they would have to tranquilize me with if I woke up one morning and had gained 10 pounds...I'm only two years out but so help me, at three years if I do gain 10 pounds I'm going to be in a world of mental HURT.

I looked at the scale and saw an extra 6 pounds (never mind that it was at night, never weigh at night. never mind that I'm building muscle. Nevermind that I had a bunch of salty stuff that weekend) I was figuring at 3 pounds a day..I'll be 300 pounds by Christmas. Extreme but that's the way my mind works.

I want to definitely send hugs your way...I know the panic mode and it's ugly...Even as a Christian, it's not pretty, losing control. It's a very helpless feeling. You have to work through the fears and deal with the mental issues on your own...We're there for you.

Constant hunger? Are you drinking enough? My signals for thirst have always been mixed in with the ones for hunger. I feel hungry but really need something to drink. I modeled my drinking habit after a smoking habit. When I drive, I drink a 24 oz bottle of water so I get at least 48 ounces to and from work. That helps. When I start to feel hungry, I reach for another bottle of water and drink that.