Post-Op Weight Gain

Hello,  I had the laproscopic gastric bypass about 3 years ago.  I have enjoyed weight loss of nearly 200 lbs!   I lost more than the average person, from what the surgeon told me.  No food intolerances and awful pain or nausea.
The problem is that over these past 6 months,  I have gained about 20 lbs.   It frightens me.
I eat right and exercise EVERY day.  No weightlifting.   I walk and I also try to jog a little bit or do some aerobics or climb stairs a little.  But I walk 1 to 3 miles each day and I have been drinking lots of water and sugar free jello.   I still cannot drop weight!!   I don't know WHAT to do.  I have been eating salad with NO dressing.   No bread, no sugars, not even milk.  I have really been watching what I eat over these past couple of weeks but I gain weight or it stays the same!   Is anyone else going through this?   It is scary.
People say I don't look any different,  but the scale says I am gaining weight.   I am hoping this is water weight gain.  In any case, I am scared and upset.  I am not eating rubbish or avoiding exercise.   It seems that the only way I can really start losing weight is to STARVE.   I don't like doing that, but I am about to.  I am at the end of my rope with ideas here.  Sadly,  I DO actually lose weight when I don't eat anything.  I just don't want to do that.
Please let me know any ideas you may have!!

If you're exercising each day, walking and jogging..are you building muscle? Are your clothes fitting tight? Are you sure it's not muscle weight gain? 

20 pounds isn't alot but it can be muscle.

I'm a size 6. I have a friend who is a size six too. she's same height, same shape..but she weighs about 40 more than me because she's an athlete..she's solid muscle. I'm not at all..

The number on the scale is just a number..it says nothing about what that number comprises..a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle but the latter fits in a much smaller area.

What I'm saying is that if you're doing everything and haven't gotten into bad habits, there isn't much you can do..

Congratulations on YOUR weight loss anniversary!  Mine is May 15th.   I have decided to go back on the protein shakes twice a day and drink more water and have sugar free jello and sugar free freezer pops in between AND continue my exercise daily.   I have been forcing myself to go up and down stadium stairs.   Hopefully that will help!!   I also contacted the nurse at the surgeon's office.  After all, they are still there to help!   She said to Get PLENTY of liquids and to WATCH the portion sizes and the amount of carbs!!   The meat should be no larger than a deck of cards and watch the portions that go with it and avoid carbs.   She does not think I am drinking enough and it is possible that a lot of this is water retention.   I think muscle is a little heavier than fat is, too on a scale.   
But is SCARY when those numbers on the scale go UP.   So, I said to myself,  "SELF - you did NOT go through all of THIS just to end up hitting 200 lbs all over again or beyond!  Do something about it NOW before you become a big fat@ss."   (Yes, I really tell myself this.  Hahaha).  I tell myself I will NOT feel like a failure or go back shopping for larger clothes or feel horrible when I look at everyone who watched me get thin and then fat again.  I just refuse to go through that.  It would be too depleting and depressing for me....I am still 185 and I am DOING something about it to not gain weight.  That is the first thing.   So I am getting daily cardio exercise for at least a half hour and I am getting sugar free liquids in and I cut way down on those carbs!   I lost a pound today and I am even ok with that.  As long as I am not gaining weight.  It scared me into taking action.  Suddenly I have that old determination I started out with three years ago.   I don't know if these ideas might help you or anyone else going through stress of weight loss.   Another good suggestion is to try that 5 day pouch test that we all began with.   Stick to those liquids for five days.  (But don't do canned soups or you'll get hit with SODIUM which will make you retain water weight!!)   I have been on low sodium liquids and sugar free jello and anything sugar free and fat free liquids and puddings and freezer pops.   Also drink those Atkins Advantage protein shakes.   REMEMBER THAT SOME OTHER BRANDS ARE LOADED WITH SUGARS!   ATKINS ADVANTAGE ISN'T.   THAT ONE IS GOOD FOR YOU!
Thank you for responding to me and good luck to you and to everyone wrestling to keep off the weight gain! 

I could have written your post, except I'm 2 years ahead of you. I also lost nearly 200 pounds, more than average, and tried to eat right and exercise. I've got 20 pounds I want to lose, but no matter what I do, it seems stuck to me. I had my surgiversary yesterday and had a revelation this morning. If I had known 5 years ago that I would be this healthy at this weight at this age, I would have been thrilled. I don't have the answers, but if I find a magic solution, I'll be sure and tell you. Don't starve though - you don't want to mess yourself up. Follow the rules the best you can, and don't let a number on the scale ruin your day. :)

 I believe about 99.9% of RNY patients regain about 20 pounds between year 2 and year 3.  It is because the pouch is larger and also because the intestines learn how to overcome the effects of the surgery.  The therory is that we grow more of the villi (hairlike appendages that grab food and keep it in contact with the intestines so that more of the calories from the food can be absorbed by the body).  

My surgeon advises his patients to lose about 20 or even 30 pounds below their goal weight during the honeymoon period.  Then the bounceback gain is not as devastating.  As long as you are continuing with your plan and exercise, this should not get worse.  Many people just get discouraged and start eating like before their surgery.  Then they can go back to what they weighed before surgery.

One last thing are you might want to have your thyroid tested. Being on such a low calorie food program slows down the metabolism and if it was sluggish before surgery it may be slowing down further. It is something worth considering. Although you didn't mention how many calories you were currently intaking cutting them any further won't help you in the long run making it much harder to keep weight off. I hope my suggestions help. In any case your body is warning you that something is not right and you need to find out what it is. Take care and I will keep you i my prayers that the scale starts dropping for you again and you can maintain your weight loss and be health.

Best wishes

Ps maybe a small cheat for a day or two: nothing too extreme and then back to the rules might get you body back to losing weight again. Like muscle confusion, if the body get to use to a routine it will wise up and stop giving you the result you want unless you mix it up a little. Its so a battle of wills so to speak. But I would still considering having some blood work done particularly on your thyroid it may be more sluggish being so use to what it considers a starvation mode. Congratulations on what you have accomplished. If you persist the weight will eventually come off. I know because I similar episode over the past couple of months and switched things up and my body is losing the weight that I had gained, and believe me gaining the weight when I thought I was following the rules gave me a major anxiety attack. If its fluid retention maybe might want to talk to your doctor to give you a low dose diuretic. If it is water weight you'll know over night.
Hope this advice helps and you get your body going in the right direction again. Take care and God Bless.
OOPsthenewthinnermeisshowing

          I am in a similar situation as you are.  I dropped to 128lbs and a size 5 at my 2 yr anniversary. Then everything changed in my life. I changed jobs to a less active one and got divorced.  I gained 12 lbs over the past year and now weight 140lbs and wear a size 7.  I hate it.  My problem is that I get carb cravings that are so bad I feel like I am going to die if I don't satisfy them.  I have a sister who also had the surgery a year after me and she is no help either.  She constatnly compares our sizes and weight.  Actually came to my job and told me I was getting fat. (I know nice sister huh)  I'm okay with the size 7 but would love to lose at least 5-10 lbs.  Getting back to basics is what my surgeon suggested.  No more than 8 grams of sugar per serving of anything, lots and lots of fluids and very little carbs.  Not easy but necessary.  He also suggested very little contact with my sister. Negative people cause negative effects.  I wish you the best of luck with your continuing journey.