When is it considered regain?

I was devastated this morning when I got on the scale and it read 168 lbs. Most of you are probably thinking "is this guy kidding me?" One year ago, I would have been right there with you.  One thing that I've realized is that just as scary as wondering if you will ever be able to lose the weight -- is getting there and then as you get more and more relaxed, can eat more, become less motivated etc...are the doubts that start entering your mind about weather you will be able to keep it off for good, or god forbid, go back. That's scary too! My surgeon told me a few weeks ago when I met with him that some regain was normal. But you know what I think is not normal? The idea that you could tell someone that, and beleive that they're just going to accept that. This might not sound right, but I'm really not willing to accept regain in any form! Right now though, I'm struggling to define what is regain. When I got back from Ireland and Poland I somehow dropped from my normal 162 lbs (*/- 2 lbs.) to 158 lbs. I guess the Guinnes and Pierogie diet is a miracle. Now it is two months later and I've gone up ten pounds. So is that regain? I'm trying to tell myself that "well I ate a ton of sodium yesterday and it's mostly water "(I did weigh 3 POUNDS lighter yesterday morning!)...but at the same time, ten pounds is a pretty big spread. But then I say that it is really only six pounds above that 162 average that I keep seeing. I don't want to lie to myself by rationalizing the situation. Somebody made a point in a support group that I think is worth repeating. She said she always weighs herself at least once a week, frequently more, so that if her weight never rises above the amount she can lose in a day or two of dieting or "really working the program"  she knows there is a problem. I think that is a good philosophy.  I guess that right now I'm just finding myself in a gray area between regain and fluctuation. I think I'm a little extra concerned because like i mentioned, I see myself feeling more hungry, eating more, and more frequently, drinking more (alchohol too), exercising less do mostly to a setback with my back pain, but I'm also less motivated now that I'm not a loser anymore. Now I'm jus****ching my weight, day after day. I just don't want to keep watching it go up!  If this doesn't apply to you, then it is just something to watch out for later...If it does, then do you have any advice? Actually, any advice is appreciated.

I don't accept that regain thing either.  Why in the heck would I lose 160 pounds only to gain 10-20 of them back?  No way dude, not on my watch.  I know it happens more often than not, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit by and watch the scale go back up. While I am not an advocate for freaking out about fluctuations (though I do it too), you are right to be concerned and it is appropriate to do just what the woman in your support group suggested  - really work the program - and those pounds will come back off.  Don't just "watch" the weight go back up.  You know what to do and you have the power to do it. And now I read what I typed again and it sounds like I am advocating for freaking out....sheesh.  This post-op stuff can get complicated when you reach the tricky "maintain and get on with your life" phase.  There is a happy balance somewhere between obsessing over every fluctuation and not paying attention at all until your skinny pants don't fit. So I'll just tell you what I have been doing since I started maintaining.  I weigh most days in the morning and stick within the 127-133 range.  If I get to or a little above 133 and stay there for more than a few days (a few days = more than 3 days in a row - otherwise I consider it a normal fluctuation), I get more vigilent.  Another thing I really pay attention to more than the weight is how my clothes feel.  I have purchased my official post-op wardrobe in the size I am going to stay at.  If / when my clothes don't fit the way I know they should I get more "hard core" - less than 80g carbs a day, a significant source of protien at every feeding, less salt, more water, and I even sometimes cut caffine.  I have allowed myself alcoholic beverages more and more, and they are the first to go when my clothes start to get a little tight because they are the least useful calories to my body. If you're feeling more hungry evaluate what you're eating and try to figure out why - are you eating too many slider foods? not enough protien?  If you're eating more often than you should, evaluate why - boredom? too much temptation? remergence of bad habits? And then fix it, because you know you can. You can do it Mike.  We can totally beat the dreaded regain! 

Mike & Amy...just wanted you both to know that I completely agree with both of you about the regain!   I know I am a newer post-op, but I have thought a lot about it.   Many people I work with that had the surgery are in or near their 50's, so if they regain 10-30 pounds most of them haven't freaked out about it.   But for me, being 26....I am so scared that the initial regain could be just that initial...what happens when I have kids, another few pounds....then menopause....another few pounds.....  I think as 20 somethings we have to stay even more on top of it.  JMHO I had this surgery to fight my personal battle with SMO, and I have realized that for me it will be a life long battle.   But it is going to be so worth it!!!

Your support group girl - I dont think its possible to lose weight in a day or two of 'dieting'... if she is weekly she is naturally going to see changes - typically up to 5lbs... Im guessing she 'thinks' she is dieting, sees the scale go back down so she feels her actions made it do so. More than likely if the scale went up a little, it would go back down on its own if its just a natural change.  According to the Beck Diet Solution you have to set an 'alarm amount' - my NUT also said the same thing... 5lbs is typically good because its not too high and not too low (my NUT said 10-15 but that seems a little much to me)- if the scale goes up 5lbs and stays there (I would say at least 1-2 weeks of consistantly being that weight) then you truly regained ... you really have to learn your body and its personal ups and downs. I personally bounce between 146-148, sometimes as high as 149-150... when I hit 150 is when I 'worry' but so far Ive dropped back down every single time. Most of the time I can attribute it to diet change (salt) or change in exercise. I do weigh daily - I believe this allows me to really understand my body and know the changes it goes thru... if I weighed weekly and one week was 146 the next 150 I would freak a little... but if I saw during the week I was up and down then I know its just natural changes. Yesterday I weighed 147, this morning 150 - I know I didnt gain 3lbs last night thou. As for the regain - my opinion is that you should easily be able to maintain your weight... if you are struggling to maintain a lower weight but find it easier to maintain a few pounds more then you need to accept the fact you are not at your bodies happy point. I find it easy to stay at the weight I am at... could I lose more - sure... do I think I could maintain it? not so sure. Do I want to hit lower and constantly battle with the scale and feel bad mentally about it - or just go about my day and be happy. *shrug* so far Im just sticking where I am at... if I lose more, great... if I dont, great. My friend is 6 years out and starves herself to be as small as she is.. she lives off caffeine and cigarettes and eating only 1 small meal a day... she would rather be a size 4/6 and starving then eat, be healthy and a size 8. She *cannot* deal with a regain so she does whatever it takes to keep her weight where it is at. The 10%... my thoughts on this are that those who lose weight quickly and get low are the ones that experience the regain... I think some people zip to goal so quickly and get so small they are bound to gain some weight back to where their body wants to be... many people Ive seen who have regained were size 2s, size 4s and complain about getting up to a 6, 8.. maybe a 10 - thats *average* and still healthy. Ive also seen some who were still overweight/obese regain some weight and my thought is that its typically because of their own actions. More often than not I see posts stating "Ive regained and changed NOTHING" then it goes on to say they are snacking more, drinking with meals, doing liquid calories and not exercising etc. I think that the 10% hits many because they 'relax' with the rules and just go on living a little more 'normally' which is going to account for the additional weight gain. As more time passes the body adjusts to the surgery so 'sins' are less forgiven.  As for your issue - if you keep seeing the 162 and average about a 6lb regain but drop back down that could just be your body... you will have to decide what your 'alarm point' is and know that if you hit and hold that number that you need to look and make some changes. You stated you are eating more, frequently, drinking more etc - so you have to decide if you are not happy hitting that 168 high its time to make changes so you are more towards the lower end of the 160s... you basically have to make a decide how you want to live your and what you are willing to 'give up' if you want to be a lower weight. You have to find that happy medium and make rules for yourself that will allow you to stay there.

Mike i don't think you should be freakin out too bad yet. It really does sound like you are just fluctuating. And for those of us who are at goal and have been there for awhile know when we are fluctuating or gaining. and i think you are one of them, just over reacting. we all know  our bodies now and what we need to do. i know i have my range of 190-195. and i am almost always in that range. and i know exactly what to do and what to eat when i fall out of it. See i also tend to fall below my range which i hate just as much as i hate being above it. I get too low, i just up my carbs, and get to high, i cut them and add more protein. I have never felt such in control of my body in my entire life and it feels good. I think you will learn ur target zone, and figure out how to stay there too. and like melissa said, your body may just want to maintain at slightly higher weight for the amount of calories your taking in. 168 lbs. i don't think you should worry about man. as long as you can maintain you should cool. Wish you the best of luck.