Question:
Weight Gain
Hello all. I was two years post op (RNY) on Nov 4th. Starting my journey at 293, with my surgery date weight of 286. I got down as low as 146 by my 1 year anniversary. I am now up to 162 and scared to death of my weight gain. I recently took a job where I am much more sedentary. I have yet to have any refined sugar (do get natural sugars from fruit etc, and do indulge in "sugar free" treats occasionally) and still follow the basics of low carb, high protein and still maintain a vitamin regimen. I was considering joining weight watchers and was wondering if any post RNY women have had any success with WW. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated. — Karen K. (posted on November 29, 2011)
November 29, 2011
Our time lines are pretty close. I had my rny Sept, "09. Because of
certain problems, I spent time in hospitals and a nursing home. In June of
'10, I started WW to help keep me grounded.(I had already lost 145 lbs at
this point and wanted to lose another 45. Everything we do for our wls
needs such as protein, fluids, vitamins,(you know what I'm talking about),
I adapt my wls dietary needs to the WW program. I find that it keeps me
focused about eating right, getting weighed weekly(if I don't, I tend to
overlook alot of things), journal my food intake, weigh and measure, etc)
I've been able to lose 50 lbs and go on maintence to help keep me honest.
Even though I don't need to, I still get myself weighed every week to keep
myself accountalble for what I put in my mouth. It's going to sound weird,
WLS got me to this point where I could lose the lbs, WW is helping me stay
there. It's just that I do what I need to do to prevent going backwards.
— Kathleen W.
November 29, 2011
I was 338 and lost down to 175 in 9months following exactly what I was told
to do. I started adding fruit and vegtables and then started eating things
I should not slider food. We are different after this surgery. I am now 225
so in less then 1 yaer I have gained 50 pounds I have started weight
watchers but it is not really a diet for Bariatrics I am stilll looking for
help. I have not really food a diet plan set for us other then the 5 day
puoch test I am going to try it starting this weekend. It help by checking
how your pouch is and getting you back to the way you were after your
surgery. I have read that our body now will latch on to carbs and turn them
to fat to try to stick to complex carbs. I am going back to what I ate at
the beginning of this journey and use my Unjury shakes and protein until I
am back to my 175 or as I like to state my size 8. I would like to keep in
touch with you to find out what you find out in your search I am even
getting books on like after WLS I hope they will help I will try and pass
on the information and also let you know how the 5 day pouch test works.
— Linda McMinoway
November 29, 2011
Thank you, Karen, for sharing this. I am 4.5 years from RNY and have gained
36 pounds. A lot of that is because I don't exercise. Your column and the
answers from the above two are encouraging me to get back on track. I have
no excuse for not exercising other than laziness.
— Muggs
November 29, 2011
All your posts is my story. My surgery was January 2005. I weighed 333
lb. and at time of surgery 320 lb. I lost a total of 168 lb. (got down to
165 lb.) but have put on 43 lb. Besides the weight gain, I physically feel
lousy. I kept all the documents from the time I had my surgery to when the
surgeon retired......from the power points to the eating plans. I have
gone back to Phase 4 of my diet right after surgery with the unjury shakes.
I am on day 3 and not sure if I have lost any pounds but I do feel better.
Phase 4 for me is meats, cheeses, fruit, veggies, dairy (yogart/milk), and
the unjury protein shakes; NO breads, pastas, crunchy snacks of any kind.
About a year ago I tried the 5 day pouch test and it worked for me but
then I fell off the wagon and put myself in the same boat as before. My
personal care doctor did recommend weight watchers for me - not the diet
but for the meetings and weigh-ins to help keep myself accountable. My
daughter did join weight watchers but I found their diet not good for WLS
patients........too many carbs and not enough protein.
My surgeon retired from practice and I haven't attended any support group
meetings. My next step is to find another support group meeting.......we
all need someone/something to keep us accountable.
It is all about protein (80 - 90 gram), liquids (64 oz.), and the daily
vitamins/minerals.
good luck to all and God Bless!
Janet
— Janet H.
November 29, 2011
This post helps me. It may sound stupid...but I thought the surgery was
the cure-all when I had it. Nobody told me that the food addiction would
still be there! I have gained back about 15 lbs. Food addiction is very
real!
— Lezlie S.
November 29, 2011
Log your food in places like Web MD where you can log it and see how many
calories, how much protein etc you are getting. It really helps to stay on
track. I exercise with Zumba, feed my horses twice a day, and watch what I
eat.
— tfqh99
November 29, 2011
you are everyone....after two or three years everyone starts to regain. Its
bound to happen to everyone. I am not sure why and my support group thinks
there is a step the clinic is neglecting to learn or educate about. I am a
very strict and disciplined person since surgery. i had surgery in june
08..was 237 got down to 115 in 9 months.. and maintained and stayed there
until last month...life happened...stopped regular exercise, started eating
more often...up to 8 times a day!! i also blame some on time of year and
nature wanting to fatten me up. I havent gained an enormous amount..about 8
lbs. but i cant seem to control myself with the stress in my life. I feel
like i am failing. My therapist says its self sabatoge and food is
comfort..so I am dealing...I know what i have to do to get in control
again..its just a matter of motivating myself and getting my butt in gear.
I hope you all have success in losing what you have gained,,,go back to a
group for support. the most successful people go to a support group.Journal
again...SEEing your mistakes may help. Good luck to everone..and God
Bless,..hugs,kim
— gpcmist
November 29, 2011
I am almost 8 years post op. I am to skinny. I was sick for the last 3
years so that may have something to do with it. But I have advocated all
along that doing protein shakes will eventually put all your weight back on
you. As they were originally made for Body Builders to Bulk up with weight
training. When you use it as a source of protein and not weight training
your going to gain!!!!!! Go back to the rules. Do the cottage cheese test.
Then start eating small six times a day. Small is a half sandwich, Piece
cheese, anything that fits in the palm of your hand. Drink lots of water or
tea. Stay away from artificial sweeteners such as sweet n low and splenda
and equal. Use Truvia or stevia cane. The others are not natural and are
bleached they actually restrict weight loss. Get your protein from Dairy
and meat, fish, eggs, Not protein shakes! Walk or ride a bike every day! I
have never done protein shakes and I haven't gained an oz.
— Kimberly Ten Kate
November 29, 2011
Another thing. Weigh yourself every day. It keeps you accountable! No
soda's they stretch the pouch!
— Kimberly Ten Kate
November 30, 2011
There are protein shakes for folks who wish to "bulk up" and
there are protein shakes for folks who do not wish to "bulk up."
Folks who have had RNY-type surgeries need to know the difference and
choose accordingly. Folks also need to get educated. The best way is to
become a support group leader and support group coach (like I did and do to
remain up-to-date on accurate information to properly help folks) and take
the courses put on by the great staff at ObesityHelp.com. Cathy Wilson and
her staff are here for each one of us: get involved, get trained and truly
help with accurate information. Then, and only then, take the will you
have the correct information to share with folks. 100% whey protein
isolate is the appropriate protein shake for folks who have had RNY-type
surgeries. Additionally, folks who have had RNY-type surgeries need to
know the useable protein content in ordinary foods: it is called
"bioavailability" of foods. Go to my support group website,
where these topics are discussed as well as the amount of protein to take
for the rest of your/our entire lifetime. You will quickly discover that
you eat foods high in protein availability simply to exercise your chewing
muscles and rely on 100% whey protein isolate available in such powders as
Isopure, Ungury, or Any Whey, for your long-term success rate. Isopure
(available at VitaminShoppe.com) now has a flavorless 100% whey protein
isolate which is absolutely fantastic: it can be mixed with anything
whereas Any Whey or Unjury's flavorless are harder to mix and really turn
foods to rubber. Not so with Isopure's plain 100% whey protein isolate.
Yes, you can rely on eggs, they have 100% bioavailability, which means that
each egg has 6 grams of protein and is 100% useable in our bodies. So,
let's do the math: how many eggs must one consume to get a minimum of 100
grams of protein? Well, 10 eggs will give 60 grams, 16 eggs x 6 grams = 96
grams, so that is 43 grams of protein because of our 50% malabsorption
rate. This amount is still too low to maintain our skeletal and muscular
structure, so we "eat" away at our bones and muscles, all the
while thinking we are feeling great and the years pass by as we continue to
delude ourselves about our true health. Besides that, has anyone actually
tried to eat 16 eggs in one day? For years and years, I've always strived
to have a minimum of 100 grams of 100% whey protein isolate daily, relying
on "chewing" protein foods (turkey or chicken because my body
doesn't do well on beef) for the balance of my protein needs. I've also
been religious about my vitamin, mineral, Vitamin D, B12, and Calcium
Citrate consumption. Now, even with my religious attention to these needs,
I have severe Osteoporosis and it ain't funny! Last, it is critically
important to not only truly address the fact each of us who have had
RNY-type surgery where 80% of our small intestines are removed and we
remain 50% malabsorptive for the rest of our lifetime -- that is unless our
Lord Jesus miraculously provides for us this missing 80% of our small
intestines and makes us completely new. This means that unless you get
sufficient vitamins (generally 2 x normal), minerals, specifically Vitamin
B12, and D, and Calcium Citrate your body bone mass will greatly
deteriorate as the years pass and you will have screaming pain in your
joints because of loss of bone mass, ending up in extreme agony with
osteoporosis making your every-day living a challenge. Don't look to the
doctors or other health-care professionals to understand the malabsorption
issue or even the bioavailability of protein. In fact my own beloved
doctor who referred me to the bariatric surgeon to have this life-saving
surgery 12-30-04, told me one year ago, when he continued to prescribe
solid form pills in place of liquid prescriptions, "I have never been
trained in any malabsorption issues." How was I to know I was
"feeding my toilet bowl" and not my bones or muscles? 70 grams
of protein @ 50% malabsorption is 35 grams, and you are wasting away your
skeletal bone mass and muscles. Go to my website
www.obesityhelp.com/group/BellevueWA and use the helps there to understand
what you must do for the rest of your lifetime. My encouragement, support,
and love to all folks who have had or are considering this life-changing
operation. Blessings, Christine Gibson, OH Trained Support Group Leader
and Coach, & Bariatric University Trained Support Group Coach
— Christine Gibson
December 1, 2011
Thank you everyone. I am not sure what the 5 day test is, but the
overwhelming response seems to be against WW. I have some off board
responses and appreciate those as well. I guess I will just try to back to
only proteins and go from there. I'll keep you posted :-)
— Karen K.
December 1, 2011
Karen K: You certainly did get some awesome posts in response to your
inquiry and plea for help! Sorry for being late in the game, but I am just
getting caught up on yesterday's overdue email! You might want to consider
this in place of Wt.Watchers for an "ideal" protein source. It
is medically supervised and it does WORK! Check out the details:
www.idealprotein.com. Best of Luck and Happy Holidays!
— momeego
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