Question:
How did I gain weight?

I have a question for the long term post ops. I am 11.5 months post op and I gained 1 pound and 3 oz. How is the question? I did just start exercising. I never exercised which don't get me wrong is bad but I decided to change it, so for the past 2 weeks I have been getting up and walking a mile on the treadmill which I intend to increase after time. When I weighed myself I did just have dinner and the other time I weighed myself it was in the morning, could this have made a difference. Please help just a little worried and my hernia repair and panniculectomy is in less than 2 weeks, 5/5/04. I do usually eat oatmeal as my mid morning snack which I intend to change as of today. I bought some high protein lo carb Keto Oatmeal. And I always start my day with a protein shake. Thanks for all your help. 5/9/04 314/175/170    — Ronika D. (posted on April 23, 2004)

April 22, 2004
Could it be just a little water weight gain? You may be holding on to fluids if you are suddenly exercising and haven't upped your fluid intake. I'd be willing to bet that if you doubled your fluid intake for the next week, you'd loose those lbs and some additional ones too. It's is also possible that it's 'muscle' weight gain, which happens to some when they start exercising. Now would be a good time to start measuring and see if you are loosing inches. Also, you should consider making sure you are eating enouh calories for your body not to go into starvation mode, now that you've upped your energy output. Anywya, those are some of my rambling thoughts. I wouldn't freak out about it too much, I think it's realtively common. Just keep an eye on some of what's stated above and start measuring. Good luck to you!
   — LMCLILLY

April 23, 2004
Your weight naturally fluctuates during the day, depending on what you have eaten, eliminated, water intake etc. I would not be the slightest concerned over a pound or two. If I weigh in the am, I am always a few pounds lighter than if I weighed after dinner. Good for you for starting an exercise program, better late than never. Try increasing the intensity of your walk (faster pace, longer strides, put the treadmill on an incline) so that you get the heart pumping. Good idea to also look at changing snacks from carbs to protein. You've done very well in your weight loss for just under a year...
   — Cindy R.

April 23, 2004
you are building muscle and muscle has weight. your weight will shift up and down but will even out
   — christina G.

April 23, 2004
I think you need to relax! Most people have a natural fluctuation in weight depending on time of day, time of month for women, what you've recently eaten (or eliminated!), how salty your recent intake was...even the vagaries of the scale itself! To be weighing in *ounces* at a year out and getting nervous about less than a two pound fluctuation is a bit compulsive. Heck, my digital scale can have a 2.5 pound fluctuation in the same morning! I tend to get on and off it a couple of times and take the average. I'll play armchair psychologist and suggest that maybe you're transferring your understandable nervousness about the upcoming surgery into concern about the scale. Your weight WILL stabilize, the loss can't continue forever, and a stable weight for most people can mean daily fluctuation within a range that's normal for you. It sounds like your eating is fine and it's wonderful that you've gotten committed to exercise. Good luck with the surgery, I'm sure all will go well.
   — Celia A.

April 23, 2004
Ronika...Exercise will increase muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat--look at volume--ie cubic inch.You should weigh at the same time of day.Keep track of your measurements. You are probably losing inches. Keep up the good work. You are a success.
   — dianne E.