Typiccal weight gain after surgery

Hi, I'm Kathy and I am three years 4 months since my WLS surgery.  Recently, I have just gained 17 pounds back. I have been eating naughtily like sugar, flour etc, but I want to know if the weight gain is typical for this time out.  I have heard that most people gained back, is it 85% or 65% of the weight.  Is that the weight lost or the original weight before surgery.  Is this true.  Because if it is, I will feel much better.  I have gotten back on track now and am cutting out the sugar.  Still working on the flour, however.  If anyone has an answer, let me know.  Thanks.

Kathy,

From my observations, 17 lbs is an average gain for people who have reverted to old habits.  Too many carbs, not eating protein first, drinking while eating or too soon after, alcohol, snacking and not enough exercise are a few examples of the habits that lead to weight gain.  Unfortunately many of us at 3+ years do some or all of these things.

IMO, the 5DPT is a good way to jump start your self into good habits again.  But however you do it, get back to basics.  You'll stop the gain and lose the 17 lbs if you work at it.

Michele

Thanks for your response.  It's really hard again to break these back habits.  I start out great in the morning with a poached egg and one piece of light bread and coffee but as the day goes on, I find myself snacking on candy and the such.  I have cut out sugar completely by not buying anything or having anything like that in my cabinets, but then I always relapse and go out and buy more.  I know for a fact, if I cut these things out again, I will lose this 17 pounds.  The reality is that I look really good. I am 5'2" and weighed at my lowest 98 pounds going up to 103.  I was gaunt and unhealthy looking, had no energy and my skin looked sick. Now, I'm filled out a little, my skin looks silky smooth, and I'm boundless with energy.  So, maybe this weight gain is a good thing.  Can you tell me was the 5DPT is?  Kathy

They say generally there will be a rebound gain around 3yrs out and its usually 10-15% of the weight lost. I'm sure this is due to the fact that many of us get into a comfort zone and begin to add things back into our diets like sugar, refined carbs, etc. Most people do not gain back 65-85% of their weight, although I realize some do, but its not an overwhelming majority. I guess its a personal decision if you want to tackle the 17lbs. Getting back to basics and increasing exercise will help. I have found that my tool works great when I work my tool properly. No drinking while eating and 30/30 before/after eating is a big help too! Good Luck to You!

I have just gained 17 pounds back. I have been eating naughtily like sugar, flour etc

jlmartin quote #3 comes to mind here:  There is no fate but that which you make.

I thought I had read that 10% regain is "typical" but like most things that are averages that means a few people regain 100% and some regain 0%.  I hope you're not thinking along the lines of: "I've gained 17 pounds back when will I stop?"  Because the answer for that would be that gaining stops as soon as YOU stop it.

Easier said than done, obviously, so this is where journaling, counseling, or whatever comes into play.

Well right on.  Thank you. I have a question.  What does the "not drinking with a meal" do.  Is it because the liquid makes the food go down faster allowing a person to eat more?  I just experienced that. I just had a half of turkey and cheese sandwich and did not drink with my meal and I found it hard to chew and really did not want more.  So, is that it?  Anyway, you are absolutely right and I can't change what I don't acknowlege.  Yes, I have gained weight and the reason I gained weight is because I have been eating everything I can, which is just about anything now, including candy, donuts, etc.  Yuk....just thinking about all the sugar makes me sick.  Thank you for the support.  I need some pushing to get me started again.  K

OMG...I am having the same problem, only much worse!  I am 5 1/2 years out of surgery and I'm gaining weight at record speed.  I am getting more and more frustrated and depressed...which is making it harder to get back on track.  I really need help!

Terra
330/160/220

Okay, now I'm really scared after reading your post.  I just told my girlfriend that if I gained more weight and got fat again, I would kill myself.  I just couldn't go through it again.  The isolation, desperation, looking hideously fat being I'm only 5'2".  I weighed at my most 240 pounds and no one who knows me now cannot believe that I was that much.  At my lowest last year, I was 98 pounds and totally loving it.  However, I didn't feel well, didn't look well, and had no energy and eventually started abusing Xanax, which made things worse cause I was so high, I never ate.  So now 60 days off the drugs and I've gained 17 pounds.  It will stop here.  No more.  I'm going back to basics if I can remember what they are.  Thanks for your post, It got me off my butt to do something now.  Kat

I gained a few pounds sine the 98 pound weight to 103 pounds and now I am 118.  So 15 pounds I gained which is a little less than 10% of my original weight of 240.  I think I remember you.  Did you join the chat room back in 2005?  Your name sounds familiar.  I hated that chat room.  They called me a lightweight cause I only had 100 pounds to lose.  Well, that was my goal to get down to 140, but God had different plans for me losing 40 more pounds in a year. 

118 is a good weight for that height, if you have a small-ish frame.

I'm 5' 0.5" and bounce around in the 112-115 range (well, a little higher in the winter when it's harder to work out).