weight gain

I am almost 4yrs out and have gained about 15lbs. I never reached my goal weight and guess its bc I didn't work hard enough. My question is are our stomachs back to normal now, I can eat a complete meal sometimes. Im going to start journaling my food and keep track of what I eat but I need to lose 30lbs to get to goal. So does anyone know if our stomachs are back to normal or do we still have a small pouch. Also I have this burning pain in the center of my abdomen, right below my sternum, anyone else had complications? Any help will be great.

Dolly we are in almost the exact same spot. 

My surgery was 7/15/09. I originally lost 108 lbs. from 253 (247 day of surgery) to 155. I am now hovering at 170-152 and would like to lose 15 lbs. My original goal was fuzzy. I kept thinking I wanted to get into the 140's, but found that in the 150's I was able to wear size 6-8 or Small in most things, and that was fine for me. Right now I would be very content to stablize at 155-160. 

Are our stomachs back to normal? No. We have had our stomachs permanently altered. There can be some stretching of course from the original post op size. What gets confusing is that I have days that I consider "big eating" days, and other days I can take it or leave it where food is concerned. 

The burning pain is definitely a symptom I would have checked out by my doc if I were you. I get occasional heartburn and take pepcid for that but if it is an ongoing problem - better be safe than sorry.

As for losing what I have regained....here are the areas I know I need to pick up on:

Exercise daily. (Right now I am at about 3x per week for an hour. Not enough.)

Log my food. (I am looking at using fitness tracker, but a plain old pad and paper was what I used early out.)

Drink water, water, and more water!

No liquids 30 minutes after eating. 

No mindless eating. Plan everything. 

We have a tool and it still works. The mental trick at this point is to play by the rules, and strictly by the rules. I am the victim of my own fuzzy thinking and rationalization. 

I would LOVE to keep this thread going and compare notes! Where are you located and when was your surgery date?

I need to get back on track as well. I have slacked off on not drinking with meals, need to start back. My lowest weight was 172, I am now 182. My original goal was 140. I would be happy at 150. I feel myself eating for comfort and not for hunger, I get stressed and eat, not to mention me and sweets have formed a strong bond I'm scheduling an appt next week with a Gastro md. I felt something pop right before it started bothering me. I also have episodes of severe chest pain, heart is fine so I just deal with it and write it off as esophageal spasms. Ugh, I'm so frustrated and DO NOT want to gain anymore! I'm in houston tx and my surgery was in 8/2009. Thx for the reply. It's nice to know your not the only one.

Dolly, what was your starting weight? 

Re: the sweets...did you ever dump? I had a couple of bad episodes triggered by (of all things) protein shakes. More lately I had a borderline episode with so called "light" ice cream (not no sugar added, which pushed the limit, I know). I've also had issues with Dannon Light and Fit yogurt (not Greek yogurt, though), apples, and a fairly random other assortment of things. 

Best of luck with the gastro appointment. Let me know what's up!

Hi- 

I am 3.5 years post op and have seen a regain of about 15 lbs too and I am horribly hard on myself.  The day after surgery I weighted 416 and got down to 226.  I hover in the low 240's now.  I am tracking EVERYTHING I eat via My Net Diary.  I have to say that on the whole, I still eat very healthy.  Protein first, veggies second and carbs last---that said the only carbs I eat are in fruit---no bread, pasta or rice.  On occasion I have one or two small pieces of dark chocolate.

I know they said some weight gain was normal but I am struggling with this. Friends and family don't understand and keep telling me I look great.  Problem emotionally, I don't feel so great.    I began graduate school and know I do not exercise as much as I should.  I just got a treadmill and my husband is making a walking desk so at least I will be able to move when I read versus sitting!

This is a life-long battle.  I understand your struggle....I say, let's conquer these 20lbs together!  I will say, it does feel good to need to lose 20 lbs versus 120!  LOL

You are right! You are at least doing everything right. I have lost track and am searching for that drive that will get me to my goal. Being that we are both battling this life long problem you know where I'm coming from. I'm frustrated and emotionally eating and am just reaching out for help. But yes 20lbs is def better than100+. We can do it!

Hi Everyone -

I have also experienced weight gain.  I am 3 years postop and started at 322 and got down (maybe for a day) to 175 - not my goal.  I am now back up to 198 and am horrified.  I know this is my fault because I stopped weighing, haven't exercised as hard as I did in the past (although I still exercise quite a bit) and I started to snack.  I still don't eat and drink at the same time (honor the 30 min before and after), still make healthy food choices - although I know there are some choices that I am banning from my world (Bread etc).  I realize I also am eating b/c I am bored (starting working at home in a position that doesn't challenge me).  I will not gain anymore weight -worked too hard to get down from 322 to gain weight back.  Let's keep in touch on line and help each other meet our goal (again).  We can all do this - we did it before.  I have joined weighwatchers to help me keep my food under control.  Not sure this is the answer for me - but I do know that writing down what I eat etc is key.

 

Thanks for the support in advance and sharing with me.

 

Natalie

You can reach out to me anytime! Yes, we have come way to far to go back to that miserable place. Good luck and keep in touch!

Just keeping in touch - feeling pretty positive about the changes I have made over the last few days/week.  Started the couch to 5K (again).  I did this before and finished and actually jogged and finished my first 5K in October, then had plastic surgery in Nov (it's a long recovery for those who haven't done it yet) and that is part of why I fell off the wagon.  Anyway, started the couch to 5K program again, have been eating healthy and watching how much I am eating and snacking etc.  I already can see a difference in the way my clothes are fitting.  How is everyone else doing?   I am excited to be back on track and making exercise and the right food choices a priority again.

Natalie

I am about three years out and have gained back 12 - 15 lbs.  After gastric bypass surgery I lost about 140 lbs, going from 297 to 157-160 (my lowest weight was 152).  I now hover around 170, and would like to get down to 155.  Last summer I began the couch to 5k program and it worked great.  I felt great, walked/ran every other day, and on my days off from running I used a kettle bell to strengthen my core.  Gradually I slacked off (partially due to NYS winters and no outdoor running) and the less I exercised the less attentive I was to what I ate.  So here I am, struggling to get the excess weight off (again) and determined to get back in the exercise and proper eating groove.  I restarted the couch to 5k program (at week 4) and find that the more I exercise the more attentive I am to my eating habits. 

Thank you for the journaling tip - it's something I need to be doing.

This is definitely a battle that is easier to win with support from others.