Question:
Losing weight at 4 yrs post op

I will be 4 years post op on 1/10. I have gained about 45 lbs since 1.5 years post op. Has anybody gained weight back then started up again to lose that weight and then some more? Thanks - Tracy    — tracyr (posted on December 24, 2005)

December 24, 2005
Hi this is Tracy, ha ha If /I were you this is what I would do. Write a food journey for three days. See where you were at. if you starve yourdelf your bady will go into defense mode and hold onto everything it can. Are you doing protien drinks? Does your doctor have a nutritionist??? I would call and make an appointment. With Christmas and New Years coming and all the days off it will be awhile. You can goto fitday.com and it will tell you what calories,fat,protien and so forth. Good Luck. Iwill be two years out on 1/28 and that is my biggest fear to gain the weight back. if I were in your shoes that is what I would do. Good Luck Let me know if I can be of any help.
   — T. Rosario

December 24, 2005
Hello Tracy, we still have the potential to lose weight. That is what the surgery is designed to do. Gaining weight after about two years seem to be one of the drawbacks. In many cases, it is our own fault due to decreesed exercise and eating badly. I don't know the details of your situation, but re-evaluate your eating and exercise habits.
   — shoutjoy

December 25, 2005
At about 3 1/2 years out, I put on 40 pounds for absolutely no apparent reason. I was doing exactly the same thing I was doing to lose 184 lbs. Since I was about 20 lbs below my ideal weight, 20 of those pounds that came back were definitely unwelcome. My weight stabilized for some months...now, it seems to be moving backwards again, at a painstakingly slow rate, but back none-the-less. I am down 11 of those unwanted 20...I found that if I dog the scale, it's like the proverbial watched pot. Since I am losing more in the ounces a week as opposed to pounds, it was getting very discouraging. So, I get on the scale about once every 2 months....if my clothes started feeling tighter, I'd be concerned, but since everything seems to be fitting loser, I content myself with that. So, yes it is possible to lose after our initial loss and regain. It takes every bit as much discipline as losing before WLS, and in my case even more. Protein shakes are my mainstay, and I don't know what I'd do with out them. I'd probably be hungry a lot....but they satisfy. I'm religious about them, and also about my vitamin supplements, because I know I could never get what I need from the amount of food that I eat. It IS amazing to me though, what a tiny amount of food we actually NEED to keep our bodies functioning. So, those tiny amounts of food should be nutritious as they can be, and once again...protein shakes!! Regards~ Jacque
   — Statuesque

December 25, 2005
Tracy, increasing the frequency, duration, intensity and variety of your exercise program can help you lose those regained pounds. Best of luck. Kasey 365/210 (nonop)
   — Kasey

December 29, 2005
I am over 3.5 years out. I lost from 269 to 130. Even with my working out, I gained back 10 lbs. (some was ok since I was looking too skinny). What I did was continue to watch what I eat (I'm not completely psycho about it though) and added alot more weight training. I am now back down to 133 which is perfect for me and maintaining it. The weight training (3 days per week, about 45 min. to hour each) I believe has really boosted my metabolism. I highly recommend getting a program together with weight training and some cardio. Good luck and email me if I can help with further details!
   — emilyfink

December 30, 2005
Tracy I am 9 years post op and I still have to follow the nutritionist instruction on what to eat and what NOT to eat. It is easier now since I got used to it and I had built new eating habits. However, when I see myself wanting to go to old eating habits, I know that something is bothering me emotionally. Once I find out what is the issue, and I want to over eat when I am not physically hungry things get easier and I am able to make a better choice with my food. Getting in touch and being aware with the emotional eating will make things much easier to loose weight again. Give it a try you got nothing to loose but your excess weight. Good luck! Ask me some more questions and I will be delighted to help you. Happy Holidays.
   — Dani96