Question:
Need someone who's been there and gotten out of the slump of gaining weight back...
I am 3 1/2 years post-op and gained back 40+ lbs. I am really struggling with this. I know get back to the basics!! I do drink water and go to the gym for 1 hr at least 3-4 times a week. I work out hard there too. But the eating thing is where I am doing wrong. I did really well for 2 1/2 weeks following the South Beach Diet this month, but I only lost 7 lbs and then got discouraged. So I've been eating whatever again the last 5 days. I need someone that gained weight and then lost again to help me out. Be my friend and not hollar!! I can do that to myself. I am so tired all the time. I could care less what I do during the day, or if I even get up. I have to because of my kids but....I really struggle with it. I do want to lose again. I need some advice. — Robin A. (posted on January 24, 2006)
January 24, 2006
Hi Robin,
Although I have not gained any weight yet I saw myself in a plateau with
40-50 pounds to lose to reach goal, and I was developing bad eating habits
but I just wanted to offer you some words of encouragement. I found that I
had to go back to the basics: eating at least 60 grams of protein daily, 64
oz of water, keeping a journal of foods I eat, eat less carbs and fat, and
exercise. I have made a commitment to myself to work hard to live. When we
have this surgery we make a commitment to change our very lives and change
can be difficult. Seven pounds might not seem like a lot but think of it as
one five pound bag of sugar and one two pound box of sugar less on your
body. Also as we get further out we start to lose more inches than pounds
so don't be discouraged by this. Try to find a support group in your area
because you are not the only person going through this so do not do it
alone. The support groups offer us the opportunity to meet with others who
have had the surgery and deal with the daily struggles that food and eating
can bring. Also www.fitday.com has a great website to help you track your
daily intake so try it because it helped me to see what I was eating that
was causing my plateau. Always remember that your WLS family is here for
you and I wish you all the best. Take care of yourself and if you ever need
someone to talk to e-mail me.
Prycey Lady
RNY 2/2/05
373/236/?
— one twenty five sixty to go
January 24, 2006
Don't get discouraged. 7lbs in 2 weeks is actually very good. You are not
going to lose at the same rate as you did right after your surgery. That
initial weight loss was due to two factors, one the immediate reduction in
calories from your pre-surgery intake which may have been up to 4,000+
cal/day and some malabsorption. When you go from around 4,000 calories per
day to about 1,000 calories per day, you are going to lose about 1lb/day
(3,500 calories). The malabsorption through the gut also aids in this, BUT
your body adapts after about 18 months to 24 months and you begin absorbing
normally again. Now your caloric intake has probably gradually increased
without the filling bulk of protein because you have added more carbs.
Your are on a great diet though, the South Beach diet is perfect because
you increase your protein and still get fruits and vegatables. Don't think
about what you can't have, think about all the yummy stuff you can
have.....thick, juicy steaks, grilled shrimp....imagine all the yummy
dishes you love, now just take out the side of potato, rice or pasta and
enjoy. Lots of meat will fill you up. Craving sweets? Remember right
after surgery some of the sweets you could eat, sugar-free jello, sugar
free popsicles (since they are only 15 calories, eat 2 or three to kill
that sweet tooth), sugar free hard candies. If chocolate is your weakness,
try sugar free hot cocoa rather than sugar free chocolate candy which does
not give you a full feeling, actually has a lot of calories and is hard to
stop after just one. You CAN do this. Also, you said you are tired all
the time. Were you ever diagnosed with Type II diabetes, if not please
have your MD do a HgA1C, not just a blood glucose test. You may have
developed insulin resistant Type II diabetes since your surgery. If you
already had this and your doctor took you off of your Glucophage, big
mistake. I am an RN, I work for a company that provides education to
diabetics. My MD also felt that since my labs had come back normal about
three months after surgery that she should take me off of my Glucophage
since she felt I didn' need it anymore. Next labs came back and my HgA1c
was elevated, she kept asking me what had I done? Nothing I replied, as I
had been adhering to my high protein diet. She didn't believe me and so I
told her to send me to an endocrenologist. She did and he said "Well,
this is easy. She should never have taken you off the Glucophage. Once
you are insulin resistant, you are are always insulin resistant. He put
back on now all labs are normal." But eventully he said that we
become resistant to Glucophage and need to switch to something else.
Telltale sign, feeling tired and putting on weight. So regardless, of
whether you were insulin resistant before surgery or not, have a HgA1C to
see if you are now. If it is above 6.0 ask your MD to send you to an
endocrinologist, they are the best trained and up to date. Good luck and
God Bless. E-Mail me anytime at [email protected].
— pammatria
January 24, 2006
I just wanted to add that seven pounds in a month is phenomenal. We get
fooled into thinking that rapid weight loss is the only measure of success.
But the kind of weight loss we experience from WLS is ABNORMAL and can not
be duplicated (also shouldn't be) After the intial honeymoon phase we lose
at a normal pace. 7 lbs is GREAT. Please don't fall into the trap of - If
i don't lose 10 punds this week I might as well give up. That's just
another of the Obesity games that our mind plays us. Remember how we all
said there was a thin person inside trying to get out? Well now there is a
hungry person inside trying to make us eat, and they will trick us anyway
they can. Rapid weight loss is exciting but slow and steady WINS the
race.
11/08/04 - RNY - 362/159
— carlaplank
January 24, 2006
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that I had read on several profiles of people
who developed hypothyroidism a couple of years out from surgery. I say
developed because it is hard to believe that they had never been tested for
this prior to surgery, but it is possible. Again an endocrinologist is
best for this, because what my internal med doc considered normal for
thyroid function my endo did not. My internal med doctor looked at the
ranges and said " you are within normal limits, but the endo noticed
that over the last five years it had slowly been creeping towards abnormal
values, and that sent up red flags for him. So get that tested, both
diabetes and your thyroid are regulated by hormones and one can affect the
other. Fat tissue is a huge source of estrogen and weight gain and loss
will affect the amount of estrogen which in turn can affect other hormone
producing glands in the body. Don't be down on yourself, you have down so
well and there are many people who have struggled with weight gain right
about the 3-5 year mark. Finally, you probably need to be scoped by a
gastrointerolgist to see if your stoma is stretched and may need a
revision. i know the idea of gaining weight is terrifying but you are okay,
you will get throught this, and here is hug and a prayer.
— pammatria
January 24, 2006
Thanks everyone!! I want to go to my doctor but I'm afraid of her
disappointment in me. I'm afraid of the failures that I have done and
afraid to talk to her. She is a great DR and I'm sure will understand but
I have been going to her for years with my weight problem and we thought we
would solve it but the surgery. I guess I just need to make an appointment
and face the problem, once again :(
— Robin A.
January 24, 2006
Hey Robin!! You can do this Girl!!! I am 3 1/2 years out, gained 20 lbs and
now have lost 12. I know you don't want to hear this but, get yourself back
on protein shakes if you have stopped them. It made all the difference for
me. Email me personally if you want, I will be more than happy to be your
friend and even give you a little kick in the tucus every now and then if
you need it. I know I do!!
— Sharon1964
January 24, 2006
I have had regain 3 times, each one SUGAR. I don't think it's unusual at
all to regain some. MANY of us have these issues, might be mechanical
(broken surgery), wrong surgery type for you, might be you, of course, but
I tend to look at that as the last resort. I'll offer you the Grad list,
where many of us are more than 5 yrs out. You will not feel alone in this
struggle. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
— vitalady
January 24, 2006
As some people have said, you might be facing hypothyroidism and that needs
to be checked soon. The weight gain and weariness makes me think that could
be it. I also craved weird food when I had low functioning thyroid.
That said, don't be embarrassed to go back to your doctor. That is the only
way you can get help. I don't know much about the nature of your WLS, but
is a smaller ring possible? I know some people from my surgeon have gone
back and had a smaller ring used from their gastric bypass.
Jamie
— newslady72712
January 25, 2006
I just wanted to say that, except for the first month post op, I never lost
7 pounds in only 2 1/2 weeks!!! I don't understand why that discouraged
you.
— Novashannon
January 25, 2006
Hi Robin; Girl I feel ya...so much. I am 2 years out and did fabulous the
first year. Lost about 70 lbs. Then my marriage hit the rocks and I gave
up on everything. I have gained at least 20 lbs back and have had no
motivation to do anything. Then I beat myself up because I spent all this
money and look at me?? I am tired because of work and the kids. The
marriage is better but there are times that I/we still struggle. I almost
feel like I am in a midlife crisis. Am I crazy?? I just made an
appointment for my first fill in a year. It was very difficult to call the
MD office and admit I had gained. I was so embarassed but I feel like I
have taken a step in the right direction. I also went and got myself some
Iron and a B12 vitamin because I am so tired. Joined curves too. You know
it is when I started putting everyone else first above my own needs that
things hit the shitter. Now I am going to try to reverse it without
causing complete and utter chaos in my home! If you need a friend email
[email protected] I will be your friend. Take care and keep
your chin up!
— ljtsullivan
January 25, 2006
Hi Robin!
I'm in your shoes - except I am 24-mos. out. My main cause? Lack of
motivation and thinking I was "cured". I mean - logically I know
this isn't right, but sentimentally it felt good! Until I got on the
scale. WHOA! I had gained 11 lbs, then 17. Now reality is setting in. I've
gotten good tips from the other responders. I just wanted to add that I
too, have always had a problem with my thyroid. My levels always came back
on the low side of normal - then I began to grow a small goiter. After
seeing the same endo for three years - we worked out a dose plan that kept
my levels a little higher than avg., and kept my goiter from growing. I
felt better, I had more energy and after a three week "Oh my GOSH I
can't get enough to eat!" phase at the start of my medicine, I began
losing a little more weight - nothing drastic, but it gave me the energy to
move a little bit more. Hope this helps!
Barbie
1/21/04
— BarbieCarroll
January 25, 2006
Thanks everyone!! I did make a dr appointment for Monday so I am making a
list of things that are wrong with me. Like my arms and hands are always
falling a sleep or is numb in bed. Almost all night!! Just some weriod
stuff going on. this week I have gone way out of control but when I get
grocerys tomorrow, I am going to buy good things so no bad food in the
house. I
m cleaning the frig out today!! Also, at my gym, they are having a
"biggest loser" program and I signed up. It starts next
Thursday. I have to get weighed in. I'm not sure of all the details but
the winner is a trip for two on a cruise. Boy, would I love that!! I
think in my mind, I figured for the next 6 weeks, I will be doing what I am
suppost to, so this week, I'll eat what I love and will miss. (Like pizza)
I am excited about this pogram, but nervous too. I hope I can stick with
it. There is a nutrution class every week and you get a personal trainer
through out the time. I need a kick in the but!! Thanks again for all the
posts and I will get on the ball, hopefully the dr might find something
too, and helpe me out.
— Robin A.
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