Question:
weight gain

I am only 6 months out and can eat almost anything. including suger stuff. the reason i had this surgery is because i have not will power. i have gained back 2lbs. i know its not a lot but i am so scared to regain the weight i have lost 95lbs. i often am hungry and think about food all the time. what do i do.    — pinky_711 (posted on June 25, 2009)

June 25, 2009
if i were you i would google something called the "five day pouch test". apparently it is a way to get your pouch back in order, continue weight loss and get back on track. your surgeon should also have a list of local support groups. good luck!
   — greenpunchbuggie

June 25, 2009
I was told that if you will be sure to get all your protein in, it will lessen the craving for sweets.
   — Aziz.Gramma

June 25, 2009
I am 7 mos out. Also at a stall and actually up two lbs. It is depressing. I have to make sure that whatever I put in my mouth is protein. I can also tolerate sweets. I catch myself at work with the bad habits before WLS. It is such an effort and hard work.
   — DeniseHolstege

June 26, 2009
Dear Shelly....when you eat carbs, you crave carbs. Most of your food should be protein, and the carbs that you DO eat should be complex carbs - whole grain breads, pastas and cereals. Eating sugar is just going to make you crave it more, and can actually make you feel hungry because of the way it works on your blood sugar levels. Thinking about food all the time is a hard thing to get rid of, especially for me...as I watch all the darn television commercials about foods I've always loved (and that got me this way to begin with, like MacDonald's Fillet of Fish Sandwiches, or Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizza, or any pasta with a rich white sauce on it). It's called "head hunger" and I/you have to battle it every day. We're here for you...but you should also check out some support groups in your area. Does your surgeon have support groups for his or her patients to go to? If not, maybe you can ask about setting up one. Good luck to you.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

June 26, 2009
I am 7 years post op...and have myself had weight gain in the last 4 years. I have to lose 35-40 pounds now. With that said, I do still support the surgery 100% (it saved my life)...but I will DEFINITELY WARN people that the surgery DOES NOT FIX old behaviors and eating disorders, and YES you can gain weight back after. I crave carbs....all the time....and I am constantly picking. I try to pick on PROTEIN foods...but I can tell you that I am ABLE, and HAVE BEEN able to eat just about anything since 3 yrs post op. The surgery is NOT a magic pill....it is a TOOL. If you abuse the tool, you can stretch your stomach back out and can eat more. Luckily I still dump if I consume too much sugar...so that keeps me in check...but ultimately it has to BE YOU that controls yourself. This I say with many YEARS of EXPERIENCE. It's a battle....even after surgery....but I will NOT let FOOD WIN. I have come so far, and gone through so much in the last 7 years to let this go any further....so you have to stop and say to yourself....DO I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE SURGERY>>>???? The answer for me is "ABSOLUTELY NOT!". You need to find things to keep yourself occupied so that you do not sit around thinking about food. Drink LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER before your meals...this will help you feel full. Drink lots of water all day long too. Eat HIGH protein items....if you are picking all day on things...choose NON-carb items. Once you start eating carbs again...you crave them even more! Take it from someone who has been doing this for years!!! GOOD luck...hang in there...and maybe try to get some counseling for your "food issues".....I know for myself, food was my comfort when I was happy, sad, depressed, etc... you have to find other things to replace food for those emotional times. I still catch myself eating when happy or sad (for no reason at all)...so that is something you have to recognize and ask for help with (if you cant do it yourself). Never be araid to ask for help, or admit you have issues with food. We all have been there a time or two ourselves.
   — JEANINE_RNY_2002

June 27, 2009
Jeanine, I'm with you. I am 4 years post Lap Band surgery and if I have my adjustments (fills) on schedule I never even think of food but if I'm late in getting in to see the doctor for a fill then I start to get hungry and think of food all day long, just like in the 'old' days. So we really have to still trick our minds and not go back. I've lost 100 lbs. and so you can see why I don't want to go 'back', yet I still need to lose about 60 more to reach my goal so I can have the much needed spinal surgery. Right now I'm at a plateau and because of my severe degenerative disc disease and Psoriatic Arthritis I really cannot exercise unless I'm in water so I have to keep my calorie intake low because still- what goes in must equal what calories are burned or we will gain weight. I sometime use a walker and always use a cane so I don't do 'fast' anything. So I try to keep my calories at 500 but I'm not losing weight right now and I think it's time for me to see the nutritionist that is in my doctors practice. Maybe she can tell me what is good for me to eat so I'm not hungry but still burn calories with the minimal amount of exercise that I get. So, really to answer the woman's question, she should either exercise more or see a nutritionist so they can tell her which foods to eat that will hold her the longest and not trigger her to eat more. Good luck to everyone, Marylou
   — looneywmn

June 28, 2009
shelly i have been post for 8years and have gained back 45lbs, and im mad at myself. i am an emotional eater and i need to incorporate more excersice and make better food choices. stay away from sugar, it is not your friend, it will sabatage your weight loss. choose fruits, snack on some ice chips, read a book and do not stop your support group meetings, your really do need them. Support groups help because you go through so many stages in your life and they shed light in areas you cant see. Stay on your protein and only drink water. Carbination is not your friend, stay away as well, it will strech your pouch. take care, God bless. Evelyn Lemus
   — eviegal0827