Question:
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CARNIE WILSON? WHY IS SHE GAINING SO MUCH WEIGHT?

I saw her this morning on TV and she must have gained about 50 pounds back. Why is that? How is that possible if she had this surgery? I havent had the surgery I just find it very interesting and I read everything I can about it. I was exploring it for me at one time. I know you can out eat the surgery but do you guys think that is what is happening to her? I was so shocked to see her. The last time I saw her was right when she did her playboy thing.    — DBXX (posted on May 28, 2004)


May 28, 2004
I do believe that she is pregnant.
   — Angel E.

May 28, 2004
Didn't someone from this site post a pic of themselves with her just a month ago. She didn't look like she had gained any weight to me.
   — RebeccaP

May 28, 2004
she has not gained the weight back she was in mn last month for a wls and she looked really good there is pics on mn surgery board of her
   — monkey55037

May 28, 2004
I'm concerned about it, too - I saw her on TV and it does look like she gained ALOT of weight back.
   — jengrz

May 28, 2004
I dont know about Carnie but I can tell you that YES YOU CAN GAIN ALL YOUR WEIGHT BACK!!! You can gain by grazing, eating sweets, not exercising, ect... Rebound gain is normal with any weight loss surgery. This surgery is not a given that you will be skinny for life. You will have to work it from now on. If you think for one second that this surgery will keep you slim from now on, you need to do more research. I dont mean to sound like a B***h but I have seen it happen first hand. I have a friend who had WLS and thought that surgery would solve all her problems. She is now MO again and in bad health. YOU CAN OUT EAT YOUR SURGERY! You will have to watch what and how you eat for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 140+
   — Siddy I.

May 28, 2004
REALLY?? I didn't see that show, but did see her in person about 1.5 mo ago. She is only up a few pounds, She looked great. Perhaps it was the TV, which people look heavier? I know people who have put on up to 100...so its possible.
   — ZZ S.

May 28, 2004
I saw that same morning show with my husband and we both thought the same thing. I makes me panick because I am so scared of gaining weight. I feel for her being in the public eye and always scrutinized. No matter what she still inspired me to have this surgery.
   — ckreh

May 28, 2004
You don't know how much this question irritates me, on so many different levels. You sound like all the people who talk about "fat" people behind their backs. Don't you hear the people whispering behind you when you walk by? Commenting on how fat you are, or how much you are eating, because Lord knows obese people shouldn't eat anything. Having people at amusement parks look at you like you won't fit on any rides. And the flight attendents cringing as you try to squeeze yourself down those small ailes on the planes to find a seat you know you will have no chance of fitting in comfortably. YES!!!! She may have gained like 10 lbs or something from what I've read. BUT SO WHAT??? I've heard that there is something called bounce back weight that some people gain when they try to maintain their weight, it's perfectly normal. And YES, people CAN out eat the surgery, and play little games with food so it doesn't seem like they are cheating. This surgery is a tool, not a cure all. If you go into thinking this surgery is going to change all aspects of your life, you will be sadly mistaken. WLS helped me lose 122lbs. HELPED me. It didn't do it all on it's own. THere was and still is a lot of work on my part to keep the weight off. It really disturbs me when someone who knows what it's like to be ridiculed simply because they are obese can sit there and place judgement on someone like that. Do some research for yourself, and realize how that if you had said something like that to, or about a person that is not in the limelight how hurtful your comments would be. Ya know what? Carnie is a person to. And, although her life is in the spotlight, she still has feelings, and those feelings can get hurt too. I'm sorry if this sounds like a mish mosh of things. I just woke up and saw this question, and it irritated me. LOL. Okay jumping off my soapbox. Have a great day all.
   — KellyJeanB

May 28, 2004
I saw her on one of the morning network programs this week promoting her concert and yes she has gained some weight back---10 pounds total. What is the big uproar about! This came from her mouth!
   — Gene F.

May 29, 2004
10#s that is all and ppl will look heavier on camera, video or still! I am really getting sick of this question. It is a fact of this surgery that some people will gain 5-10# after they loose their weight it is just a fact of life, their body is just finding its set point as to where it is comfortable. You really need to research this surgery a little more because there are ppl that can eat around this surgery. The surgery is just a tool to help you loose and then it is up to you to keep the weight off with lifestyle changes and exercise for the rest of your life.
   — ChristineB

May 29, 2004
almost3 yrs out myself and I have put on about 10 pounds, but this isn't the end of the world, its life. where there are people there will always be talk, and not always good.God bless us all that keep on trying
   — Sandra S.

May 29, 2004
You have asked a very painful question Danielle. As time progresses and WLS as it is done today is no longer in it's infancy we are seeing more and more people who are experiencing the 10 or 15 pound bounce. Most of us were told to expect it when we were preparing for the surgery. But, just like we believe that "I'll be the only person in the world this surgery doesn't work for" we also believe "I'll be the one person in the world who doesn't have any problem with a bounce back gain". The FACT is that most people experience a regain of around 10% to 15% of their total loss. As the coordinator of a surgical weight loss program I can tell you I was POSITIVE that I wouldn't gain any weight back yet here I sit with a 13% (15 pounds) regain. Does that make me a bad patient? Heck no! I've maintained this weight for well over a year. Would I like to lose the 15 pounds? Heck yes! Have people noticed the gain? Sure - some have mentioned it. Sometimes it hurts my feelings but generally I can smile and say - "Hey, it's expected after WLS and I'm still a normal size and successfully maintaining". For the longest time I looked at the regain as a sign of failure. Now I am learning to look at myself instead of the regain. I wear a size 12. I used to wear a size 24 or even 26. Instead of stressing over wearing a size 12 I'm learning to wear flattering syles and colors that make ME feel good about ME. Size 12 is not fat. For heaven's sake - Marilyn Monroe was a size 16! Carnie hasn't gained 50 pounds. She's gained 10. I don't know if she's pregnant or not. But she's a lovely woman my husband and I had the pleasure of spending some time with and she showed me that despite her celebrity she's as human as we are. Put her before and after photos side by side and I think you'll find that she's a success any way you look at it. WLS saved my life and my 15 pound bounce is just a minor annoyance. Now I work at maintaining but not to the point of letting it take over my life. Still, everyone should go into this with their eyes wide open - it's a tool, not a miracle. But, it's a pretty miraculous tool! Best wishes to all along with tolerance, acceptance and support as we strive to be the best we can be.
   — ronascott

May 29, 2004
As I am trying to find my way through maintenance I have gained 6.5 lbs. I have since lost most of it, but I supect I will always float up and down, I hope less than 10 lbs, as I adjust to choices I made. Too many bad choices and then I need to buckle down some and get it back off. I'm coming up for extensive bloodwork soon and I am curious to see how things are as I am not as diligent with anything. I get in some of my calcium and usually all of my multivitamins and all of my b-12 but my protein at times is lower, although there are also very high protein meals. I suspect if there are any issues that it will help me refocus on everything and make some better choices all the way around. <p>People need to stop focusing on Carnie and Al Roker etc. and worry about themselves!
   — zoedogcbr

May 29, 2004
Hi Danielle, According to your profile your BMI is 32.1. That isn't high enough to have the surgery although you are still considered obese. If you were heavier, you would understand that carrying around an extra 100 or 150 lbs is quite different than carrying an extra 30 or 40. Carnie has been an inspiration to many many people and no one should condemn her for gaining a little weight back. Don't worry she won't regain all of it! She, along with all of us, are learning a new way of life and it takes time to change lifetime habits. She looks wonderful and may gain more weight back but she is healthy and alive! If not for this surgery, she may have been dead by now. Morbid obesity is a killer and anyone who is morbidly obese is dying each day, physically and emotionally. God bless Carnie Wilson and all of us who strive each day to beat food addiction!
   — Mylou52

May 29, 2004
I saw Carnie on TV too. She did look much heavier, not unike many of us do from time to time, when we choose the wrong outfit to wear. I really think that a large part of it was the cut of the jeans and top that she wore. I know that I have things that make me look smaller than I am and other things that I think look svelte and my daughter will tell me actually make me look much heavier. Connie Lap RNY (proximal) 2/12/03 352/189/165
   — cfpowers

May 29, 2004
one thing that no one mentioned is that 10 pounds seems to be a lot more on someone who is thin....Think back to when we were all at our heaviest.....a 20 lb. weight gain would may not have sent us into a larger size..but, on our new smaller bodies a 5 lb. gain can up us a couple of sizes.
   — hooterzgirl75

May 29, 2004
I have just been reading the posts to this question. It seems like we are so full of emotion. If we gain the weight back, is it our fault? We are all guinea pigs. There needs to be research in this area to see what is the average experience. I hope we all haven't jumped on the bandwagon for nothing.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 29, 2004
I also just saw her on tv, week of 05/28/04. She looked great to me. She did admit she has gained about 10 lbs back and she is working on getting it back off again. Yes it is possible to gain weight back again after this surgery. This surgery is just a tool for us to help us loose all the extra weight we are carrying now. We still have to work at it. Its not a quick fix. As time goes on we will be loosing the extra weight we have but if we allow ourselfs to over eat and stretch out our pouch then of course we can once again easily over eat and still not feel full. The idea of this surgery is to reduce the amount we are eating...a small pouch for our stomach will help us not eat so much. Malabsorbtion then helps because fat ect is not absorbed as much as it used to be. But if you continue to over eat and stretch everything back out again you will be in the same situation as you were before. It is our own responsibility to make sure we follow the rules and eat the way we are supposed to. Carney Wilson said on the TV show she was on the other day that yes she has gained back about 10 lbs because she has not been following the rules and she is now back to trying to take off those extra 10 she has gained. She also said.."I have only gained 10 lbs. What is everyone freaking out about? its alot different than being 150lbs over weight that i used to be." Lets give her a break here and understand we need to follow rules so we do not gain it back. I myself just had the surgery. I am two weeks post op and am doing all i can to follow the rules. It is difficult because i have always been a big eater and i love food. Making dinner for my two teen age kids is very hard right now cause i want to eat it. I do feel having the surgury is making it alittle easier so far as when i do ingest something "protien drink ect" i do feel full after just a half cup or so. I do still want to eat the great smelling food lol but it is up to me to use the tool that has been given to me and not eat it..or once i am able to start eating regular food again i will have to know that when my stomach "pouch" says im full...then do not eat anymore.
   — Crystal V.

May 29, 2004
I saw a few pictures of her and I don't think she looks like she has gained that much weight maybe between 10-20 lbs max, most people do regain some. I personally think Carnie is an inspiration and I wish her well.
   — Saxbyd

May 29, 2004
c w has an interesting point. There needs to be research in the area of post op regain. Our program is currently participating in a research study with The University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa on the psychological predictors of successful WLS patients. It will be a long process but it will be very interesting to see the results of this study. Best wishes!
   — ronascott

May 29, 2004
What is all the uproar about Carnie Wilson? She said it herself that she has gained 10lbs. By the way...she is pregnant. It is common to gain weight when you are pregnant.
   — jacquie-dee

May 29, 2004
PEOPLE CHILL OUT! i can't believe how nasty some people can be. the poster is a pre-op wanting to know how someone who had wls could gain weight back. that was the question. carnie wilson is a public person and has spoken openly about her wls. to get mad because someone wants to know if you can gain your weight back after wls is crazy. this IS a problem for alot of people. when you have wls you need to know all the info you can good or bad. dont' attack somone just because you dont' like their HONEST question.
   — franbvan

May 29, 2004
You know, first I would like to say that Carnie Wilson has been an inspiration to most of us here and she is the reason why I ever considered having WLS so I will fully support her every step of the way. I did not see that morning show, however every person who did that I know has come to me to tell me about it! Look, I just celebrated my 3 year anniversary since surgery, and if there is one thing I will shout from the rooftops is that this surgery is not a magic pill!!!!! You all should know that you will need to work hard for the rest of your life. This surgery gives us a tool which we can use properly in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. There is no medical miracle about it... you will have to eat right, exercise and make good choices or you can and will ruin the tool. It frustrates me to see how many people are having this surgery with the wrong mindset. I have been able to maintain a very healthy weight by exercising daily, eating only healthy foods and changing my lifestyle habits. People always attrubute this to the surgery but what I tell them is that after the first year I have been put on an equal playing field with the rest of the world and I have to work very hard at it now. I am in the best physical health of my life at 38 years old, I do cardio and weight training and I have not, I repeat, have not allowed myself to eat cake, cookies or other unhelathy foods, ever, not once, since surgery. Once you rid yourself of bad foods and utilize the opportunity that the surgery gave you, you really won't crave them anymore. I am not being preachy, I promise! I just can't tell people enough that you must work hard at it, there is no easy fix and Carnie herself apparantly admitted that she has faltered a bit. Hey she is human and we should support her the way she has supported the WLS community all these years. She is a beautiful person, both inside and out, as we all are. So, fear not, work hard and do the right things and you will succeed long term, I promise.
   — Vicki K.

May 29, 2004
LOL at Fran Van. You go, girl! That's exactly what I was thinking! I doubt this was asked to be malicious toward Carnie, I think the poster had an honest question regarding post-op regain. People ripping on her for asking and saying that she needs to do research? Pardon me, but I think that part of this forum's purpose is to provide insight and answers to pre-op folk based on our experiences. Point being, this IS research. I know that had I been treated as rudely as Danielle has been when I first started frequenting this site, I would never have had the surgery that has ended my uphill battles with blood pressure, GERD, asthma, osteoarthritis, etc-I would have assumed that all post-ops were cranky!!!
   — jenn_jenn

May 30, 2004
CARNIE ISN'T PREGNANT. HER SISTER AND CHINA ARE PREGNANT. I SAW THE MORNING SHOW AS WELL AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT 10 POUNDS HERE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. SHE IS STILL BEAUTIFUL, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WOULD QUESTION THIS SITUATION. WHEN SOMEONE IS INTERESTED AND DOING RESEARCH ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, THEY SHOULDN'T WONDER, BUT ASK -WHAT HAPPENED? I ASKED THE SAME THING AND I'M ALMOST 3 YEARS POST-OP. CARNIE IS A HIGH PROFILE PATIENT, SO THE QUESTIONS ARE TO BE EXPECTED. PEOPLE NEED TO ADMIT THAT THERE ARE SLACKERS WHO HAVE HAD GASTRIC BYPASS AND NEED TO GET BACK ON THE WAGON! STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR YOURSELVES AND OTHERS AND REGAIN YOUR SELF-CONTROL AND SELF-RESPECT! GAINING 10 POUNDS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE. 5 POUNDS ISN'T EITHER, UNLESS IT'S WATER RELATED TO A MENSTRUAL CYCLE. 20+ IS JUST RIDICULOUS! WITH PREGNANCY AS AN EXCEPTION, WEIGHT GAIN SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE IF YOU ARE USING THE TOOL CORRECTLY. THOSE WHO ARE IN THIS SITUATION NEED TO REMEMBER WHY THEY HAD THIS SURGERY TO BEGIN WITH. IT WAS PROBABLY FOR THE WRONG REASONS. SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE FAT AND LAZY AND WILL ABUSE THE TOOL THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN. A TOOL, MIGHT I ADD, THAT THEY GOT FROM GOING UNDER THE KNIFE. WHY SACRIFICE YOUR LIFE ON AN OPERATING TABLE AND NOT RESPECT YOUR BODY AFTERWARD? THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I DON'T MINCE WORDS AND WON'T APOLOGIZE TO ALL THE SUPER SENSITIVE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE OFFENDED BY THE TRUTH.
   — ANDREA S.

May 30, 2004
I saw Carnie and yes I noticed some weight gain. My gut reaction was FEAR, Fear that if happened to her, it can happen to me. I believe that is possibly what many are feeling and we must face our fear and realize we probably will be faced with this same challenge if we slack and decide ahead of time, NOW, how we want to meet the challenge. Give Carnie a break, she has acknowledged? the problem publicly and is working on it. Thank goodness we do not have to face the public like her. Good luck to all in their quest!! Shes our sister in this and lets support her.
   — Delores M.

May 30, 2004
Andrea wrote,"STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR YOURSELVES AND OTHERS AND REGAIN YOUR SELF-CONTROL AND SELF-RESPECT!". I'm sorry but that is just plain mean, disrespectful, and places blame on every single person who has struggled with weight gain post op. Its no wonder so many people with surgical issues will let themselves gain to very high weights before they ask for help. They don't want to face someone treating them that way! The truth is that if ANYONE starts to regain their weight despite best efforts and following the rules they need to see a doctor and have themselves checked out to see if they've developed a problem with their surgery. Things happen, stomas enlarge, pouches develop leaks into the old system, the system fails. Some peoples' surgeries weren't adequate to begin with. And for some people the surgery just simply doesn't work. Its great to have a mindset that says to one's self that certain things (like gaining 10 pounds) isn't acceptable. It's another to make a blanket statement like that. What about the people who have been struggling due to a surgery failure who are thinking its their fault, who may wonder if there is an answer in this question about Carnie to help themselves. They have just been slammed. They were just told to shut up, suck it up, and to take responsibility. AMOS is about insight, information, and support. I hope that no one has left this board feeling like a failure who needed to hear some facts or advice about weight regain. Ever wonder who might not be coming back again??
   — Shelly S.

May 30, 2004
WOW Andrea!!!! I didn't know that gaining a little back was totally UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! I'm soooooooo glad you are here to tell me that. Geez!!! After reading Andrea's rediculous response, I want to apologize for my insensative remarks in my original answer to this post. WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, not rip into each other. I know when I was a pre-op, and someone told me that I needed to lose weight (DUH!) or that I absolutly cannot gain anymore weight (double DUH!!) that would be the moment I would become defiant and say " Hell with you, I can do what I want." It is TOTALLY normal to "play with" a few pounds here and there, and to gain some back. However, if you are not comfortable with the weight gain, get back to basics and it will probably come off. The thing about this tool is, it's always there when we want to use it, if we get off track we can get back on it easier than before the surgery. Before, I would lose 10 and gain 20, now losing 123 and gaining 5 or 10 doesn't seem so bad when I know I can get it back under control. Andrea, now, remember this does NOT apply to you since you think gaining is lazy and unacceptable. I'm sorry we all aren't as perfect as that. But, then again, if we were, we wouldn't have needed WLS now would we. Have a great day all. :-)
   — KellyJeanB

May 31, 2004
AMOS MOD HERE!<P> Sadly regain can occur to anyone, and honestly I work hard to prevent it myself. But lets all treat each other nice. Public personalties that had WLS and go public do each and every person a service by helping publicize it. But they put thenmselves under the microscope too. Subject to stuff like this. While we discuss it lets treat everyone nice. If its true that carnie is pregnant, that would explain her size gain and is truly a good thing. Helping disuade those who mistakenely believe pregnancy after WLS is somehow impossible or bad. Theres lots of bad info out there. Carnie might be helping to educate even more people. If sadly its true that she is gaining her public struggle may still help educate the public that weight regain occurs after surgery. That too is something every pre op needs to know. In any case lets all be friends. After all our commion enemy is fat, hopefully not each other.
   — bob-haller

May 31, 2004
Hi all. I am sorry if I offended anyone. Like others have said I come here for information not to be attacked for asking questions. I think no one should be scared to ask a certain question of fear they will be attacted by the people here. I didnt find my question disresectful to carnie or anyone else. I myself have been 100 pound overweight and I know the struggles. I dont qualify for this surgery anymore but I come here because I love to read about it and find out the journey's you guys have been on because at one time in my life not to long ago I was ready to take that journey if I only had the money (self emp) I read about all the ups and downs of this surgery because if one day I FIND MYSELF GAINING IT BACK then I will know everything I can about this surgery enough to make a decision if needed. But anyway I am 30 pounds away from my goal weight (just gained back 10 nmyself) and I always have questions and never want to be afraid to ask them here that is not what this site is about. I dont want anyone to think I am bashing anyone because I know the struggles of being overweight. And I want to thank the few of you guys out there that took up for me. Thank you.
   — DBXX

May 31, 2004
Sometimes the self employeed can get grou rates on great health insurance thru the local chamber of commerce. Before I was married thats what I did. Its worth looking into, the contacts made might help your business even if the insurance aspect is a bust.
   — bob-haller

June 1, 2004
I know a couple women who've had wls and gained ALL or most of it back. So I went into wls wide eyed knowing that it is not a sure thing for permanet weight loss. That it really depends on me. By the way, I never got to goal and I'm still in the overweight bmi range. I lost around 160 lbs of the 190 I wanted to lose. I've gained around 10 lbs back but my weight seems stable. As far as Carnie Wilson, yes she has gained weight back. And it is'nt a mere 10 lbs ether! It's just another reminder to me that I need to be careful and not take wls for granted or have the attitude that many here have when they say "XXX pounds lost forever". No way. It is'nt forever and it can come back. My BMI is around 30. I thought someone said yours is 32? In any case unless you have some major heatlh problems, wls may not be for you. Surgery is'nt fun, nor is the recovery. But for some of us, it was worth it and there was nothing else left for us. Good luck.
   — Danmark

June 1, 2004
I do not post on this site much. Mainly due to the fact that many here make you feel unless you stick strictly to no carbs, you have wasted your surgery. Regardless, we should all be suportive of each other, rather than many of the recent posts that have attacked Carnie Wilson for her regain... Anyways.... If anyone would have simply visisted the news/events section of her website www.carniewilson.com, they would have seen that she just had a large hernia repaired, which did not allow her to work out as she had been. Furthermore--with her new album coming out, you know she has had to have had a crazy life---Wasn't that when most of us ate the worst, exercised less & didn't take the best care of ourselves in the past? She is human---just like each & every one of us. Show me someone on this earth who has never made bad choices---go ahead---show me. Becky Carlile Open RNY 10/08/02 292-145 or so
   — Becky C.

June 2, 2004
Hi! Coincidental that you would ask that question...I'm GAINING too! Still eating the way I was instructed, but currently under the care of BOTH a psychologist AND a psychiatrist. The medication that the psychiatrist has prescribed, I believe is contributing substantially with the weight gain. In December 2003, I weighed 132, then when there when I was sexually harassed in January 2004 (on-the-job), gradually, I've gained back E-V-E-R-Y bit of almost 30 pounds!!! I'm weaning myself off of this Paxil 37.5mg, because I'm scared. I NEVER want to be as big as I was...then I'll TRULY be a basket case!! There has to be e reasonable explanation for Carnie gaining her weight back. Think she'd object to "US" asking? LAP RNY 9/3/00 265/(up to 155-132)126-115 +23 pounds and not happy about it at all. Open to suggestions and comments from all. Hadiyah a.k.a~~~ The ONLY thing that I'm NOT doing was exercising every day, I still walk though.
   — yourdivaness

June 4, 2004
I had my 2 year anniversary on May 30th. Pre-surgery weight was 277 and today I weigh 125. give or take 5 pounds. I have found from personal experience and watching others around me that have had the surgery if you don't follow the rules fromt he very beginning one of two things will happen. You will never reach goal no matter what you try to do because you have not "adopted" the puch rules for a lifetime. Second you have will inevitably regain your weight. You can try to follow the "pouch rules" but you will not stick to them indefinately because you did not make the committment from the beginning. I am not perfect and I break the pouch rules once on a while but the rest of the time I stick to the pouch rules like I did right after surgery. I have also found through trial and error that if I want to eat "what I want" even for a day I feel like I have gained weight. The thought of weight regain is one of my worst nightmares and I will do everything within my power to never look or feel like I did at 277 pounds.
   — jharriesimrn

June 4, 2004

   — angela G.

June 9, 2004
In response to Kelly Jean B. EXCUSES! EXCUSES! EXCUSES! If WLS patients used the tool as you recommend (pick it up and use it to fix the mistake/negligence) they should expect to gain weight. You need to be proactive! I'd rather prevent weight gain than have it reappear, become disgusted with myself, then work like a depressed maniac to get it off. This is the message I'm trying to send. Having WLS is a complete life change and each day it takes dedication to stay on track. The tool should always be in use and respected, not used as a safety net. My intent is to be real and informative, not mean. I have encouraged many people to have WLS and I consider myself to be an example to them. They respect my dedication and know that they can call on me when they feel themselves slipping. Sometimes people need to hear the truth, instead of being pacified. I'm sure you have pre-op pics of yourself at a social event and several people told you how nice and beautiful you looked. If you look at those same pics now, you will probably realize that they were lying to you. Point being, don't let other peoples' sugar coating influence you. This will surely throw you off track. After you regain,I can hear them now- "You look great! Look how far you've come. Don't worry about those few extra pounds!" Then you continue to gain more and more and before you know it, your weight has spiraled out of control. I suppose now you want to use the tool? Beware. All things can only take so much abuse before they break and become useless.
   — ANDREA S.

June 9, 2004
Andrea, if you never regain a pound, then you need to count yourself as the lucky one. Even Michelle Curran has admitted that when she eats the wrong things, she regains. (I pointed to her as she seems to be one of the ones who has had this surgery for the longest time and is a success story.) The point is not to beat yourself up for making a mistake and to get back on track. That is one of the problems we made when we were dieters. It is not unforgivable. No one is perfect. Gaining a few pounds does not mean you are a failure. If you have researched this surgery you know you can do everything that you are doing now and still have a regain as your body begins to learn again how to absorb more calories. That is where most people get the slight regain. The thing is not to become complacent about it. I do recognize many people try to make people feel more secure by saying a few pounds won't hurt. One should have a goal and try to keep as close to it as possible, but I'm sorry thinking that one can stay at one level of weight without ever going up and down is unrealistic.
   — Lisa N M.

June 9, 2004
I just have to add a few statements...as far as the original posters comments go, as Fran said, I think she was simply inquiring how one can regain and trying to obtain information about regain rather than be judemental toward Carnie for regaining weight. I feel that many people who have had WLS would view a regain of a public figure to be scary and worry that it may happen to them and don't simply want to snicker behind backs. Now, Andrea...I realize that you are infact trying to be helpful and feel that the only way of helping people is to be completely truthful and honest; however, you need to know that not every pound regained is out of laziness or neglect of our tool. There are some biological factors which can cause a person to gain a few pounds (not 100 lbs!!!) but a few. I on the other hand, do understand your concerns as I have not regained but due to the same emotional reasons in which I became obese in the first place am having difficulty in taking care of myself post-op the same way I had difficulty doing it pre-op. I am so very happy for you that you were able to change the way that you treat your body after you had surgery; but unfortunately not all of us do. Perhaps, people wouldn't take your words so harshly, if you weren't judging people for something that you had at one time trouble with yourself. The fact that you were once obese and changed your lifestyle can be very helpful to other people; however, you can help more people if they didn't feel you were judging them. Some of us go into surgery ill-informed that this is going to change our lives without realizing that we are the only ones who can change our behavior and unfortunatley it takes those of us longer to do this than others. Perhaps, it takes a regain, or perhaps some of us will never get it, but we shouldn't judge other people for taking longer to realize this. That's no better than the people who judged us before we had surgery, saying that God gave us the perfect body and we shouldn't have had to have surgery to make us realize that we have to take care of it, but should have taken care of our bodies all along. I suppose there is truth to that but as individuals we all do things at our own pace. Best of luck to all!
   — denisel

June 9, 2004
andrea, i agree ALOT of people abuse their tool. i too get upset everytime someone talks about they eat whatever they want and don't excersice and don't have any clue why the are gaining weight. there are also alot of people who have never come to grips with the emotional part of eating. i think the emotional part is even MORE important than working out and eating right. without understanding why you eat the way you do, you can never make your tool work long term. one very important thing to remember is how people learn about wls before they have it. some research it, some go by hearsay from friends and other depend on their doctors to give them all the information they need to know. ANY general surgeon can do wls. there are alot of doctors out there that will do the surgery and just send you on your merry way without any after care, education or support. lots of people are so desparate that they will use any doctor or they don't have a choice which doctor their insurance uses. i was very lucky to have a complete pre-op education and a lifelong after care program...some people aren't so lucky. it still shocks me when people have to come online and ask the most simple questions that their DOCTOR should have told them. i think it is very wrong to do a life changing surgery on someone and not tell them everything they need to know. for example....there was a lady who did my insurance who also had wls(RNY)while i was there she was drinking a regular mountian dew. she asked me " are you sure you want to have wls, i have been sooooooo sick all the time since having it and i always feel weak". i asked her if it could be the mountian dew that was making her sick. she looked at me funny and asked why would THAT make her feel sick! she was never told that sugar can make you dump or what dumping was and she wasn't even told to take a multi-vitamin for the rest of her life. she trusted that if there was anything to know her doctor would have told her. she was also 3 years post-op and still hasn't made it to goal with a loss of 100 pounds in 3 years. sometimes the lack of education and be a cause of failure. alot of famous people who have wls aren't educated either. you would think that since they have money they would have the best of care. i saw randy jackson on oprah talking about his wls and how he get's sick alot. they also showed him eating big bites and not chewing and drinking with his meal( i think he was 3 months post).... andrea i am so glad that you have dealt with your eating and are using your tool, but don't be too quick to judge. don't forget you were over 300 pounds and had to LEARN how to be healthy. you seem like a very strong willed person now, but some aren't as strong as you. i too don't feel sorry for someone who laughs and says "ohh i know i'm not supposed to eat this but i had wls and i don't care i'll eat what i want." i do feel sorry for the people who are dealing with their emotional eating habits and feel like they can't get control without help but don't know where to get it. i think it is great that you are telling people the machanics on wls and what they need to do to be healthy, but we're not robots we have emotions too. congrats on your weightloss
   — franbvan

June 9, 2004
Andrea, (who sent me an email to make sure I read her response to me). OF COURSE the rules should not be abused. However, people are people, we are human, and make mistakes. To tell someone that gaining a few pounds back is unacceptable is, in my eyes, irresponsible. Personally I think it's better to comfort someone and tell them to get back to basics and the weight will come off. I would never be so cold as to tell someone they are making excuses, and what they are doing is unacceptable. As you know, most MB people have self esteem problems as it is, to tell them they're actions are unacceptable when they are already down is WRONG. Now I'm done. Andrea, please stay out of my mail box. :-) Have a great day all. RNY 5/15/04 down 123 lbs. and holding for the moment. (Is that acceptable? LOL)
   — KellyJeanB

June 9, 2004
Some of you people are extremely sensitive and I am sorry that my words seem to have devastated you. As for Kelly Jean, I don't care because you're ignorant. Instead of being so defensive, you should have actually read my responses. You would've recognized that I am not being harsh or judgemental. I am being honest and real. I agree that no one is perfect. Not even me! (Smile) I just get frustrated by people's lame excuses for weight gain- not legitimate reasons. I mentioned this in my original post. You obviously have no respect for others opinions, experiences and insight. I've recieved alot of mail from people for motivation since responding to this question. Why? Because they know they have slipped and appreciate my comments. Help those who want to be helped. Anyway, I won't be seeing you in Lane Bryant because those old pounds are about to come home! You seem to be a yo-yo GB patient with a yo-yo personality! Have a great, healthy life!
   — ANDREA S.

June 9, 2004
AMOS MOD HERE! Lets remember to be nice. I dont want to HAVE to pull any posts. Our enemy is fat not one another.
   — bob-haller

June 10, 2004
Sorry Bob. You're right. This is not the place for insults or harrasment. Won't happen again on my part. :-). Just for the record. As you can see by my profile I am not yo-yo anything. Thank you. KellyJean signing off. :-)
   — KellyJeanB




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