Question:
Weight Gain..? for Longterm Post-op..
I have read just about every journal entry on OH. I am seeing that there are quite a few people that are regaining their weight back. I am in the pre-op phase....but was quite curious about the long term post ops on here. I understand this surgery is a tool. It seems ....to me...by reading some journals on here, that it doesnt take too long to start gaining the weight back...like we all do when we diet. You lose it...then slowly gain it back and then some...is this tool the same as atkins...slimfast...xendarine??? Are we really putting ourselves thru all of this just for a couple years of pure joy? I know I've read that you must obey all the post op rules..diets..water..protein..but ..If we follow the rules to any diet we will succeed also..right? We are only human, so we will stray from the "diet" occasionally I am sure. so with all of that said..I am wondering what percentage of WLS patients have gained their weight back....and what percentage have maintained their weight loss. I am still so excited to get my surgery in Jan. Any info would be great! Thanks! — candymarie3 (posted on December 14, 2005)
December 14, 2005
I had by GBP surgery in 1996, I lost 152 Lbs and I maintained my new figure
and my weight loss since. I did not gain any weight and I do eat
everything. However I eat with moderation and I did develop new eating
habits. What helped me the most is learning how to react to craving &
life problems without depending and using food/eating to cope. For this I
went to a psychologist who specialize in behavior and addiction. It did
paid off and helped me 1000%. I no longer obcess over food and this is a
blessing. I believe with my new tools in coping with life problems I am
able to maintain my weight loss and remain skinny for life.
Good luck to you
Dani
— Dani96
December 14, 2005
Hi Candy, research has shown that there is a two year window where you
have the best chance to lose the most weight. Many people don't know this
or take advantage of this. However, everyone is different. No one can say
how you will react. There are also variables like, what WE feel our weight
should be versus what our body's say our weight should be. Also, alot of
it depends on what eating habits we develop. How well we stay eating
healthy and exercise too. There are so many variables. I think as a
pre-op you need to make your game plan ahead of time. How you plan to work
your "tool". Are you going to see a Dietician? Are you going to
get some behavior modification counseling. There are so many things you
can do to set yourself up for better success. Don't think diet. Think
eating right and healthy. Diets don't work, as we know. So the more
prepared you are before surgery, the better success you should have.
— shoutjoy
December 14, 2005
Candy,
When I was a pre-op I was fortunate to meet a whole bunch of longer-term
post-ops from a wide variety of the different types of WLS done. One thing
that I saw over and over again was that WHICH surgery you chose, how
willing you were to live with the post-op requirements, and your commitment
to lifestyle modification made every difference in the world as to how well
they did long-term.
A great chart to use for comparative study is found at
http://www.gr-ds.com/generalinformation/comparison.html
Today I'm just shy of 3.5 years post-op BPD/DS - I have the most awesome
surgeon in the world whose philosophy is, "Why give my patients a
tool, why not give them the fix?" I love that! Honestly, I've failed
at every diet under the sun - why would I be any better at dieting now?
That said, I will say that I am 100% committed to making wise choices about
what I need nutritionally to maintain good post-op labs - but the world
doesn't come to a crashing halt if I'm not a food saint. I've lost 210
lbs, a boatload of co-morbidities, a wheelchair, and a life filled with
chronic pain. I feel like I've been liberated and reborn. I've lost my
weight effortlessly and maintained that loss with basic common sense
behavior. My surgery and post-op life have been nothing short of a gift
straight from the hand of God!
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
December 14, 2005
I am 2.5 years post op from a Gastric Bypass. I gain and lose the same 8
to 10 lbs. If I do not excersise for several weeks, like when recovering
from my plastic surgery, I gain that 8 to 10 lbs real fast. During that
time of the months I gain around 5 to 8 lbs, but then it goes away. The
thought of eating the way I use to is something I fight everyday, but I am
still fighting and still winning. Yes, I have sweets, carbs and things
like that, but in moderation. I never want to go back to insulin shots,
high blood pressure, high cholertrol, heart problems, back problems, and
just feeling awful, so when I am eating that one cookie, I think about how
far I have come and that is all I have is one cookie. I do not have to,
but I still enjoy a protein shake or a protein bar as a snack or a meal.
When I keep up my excersise, I have no problem staying at my goal weight.
That is the way a normal persons body should be, when I was 340 lbs, I use
to get so mad at those skinny girls that would say, I gained 10 lbs, I have
to start a diet. Now, I love being able to say, I gained 10 lbs, I need to
excercise, and being able to excersise.........wahooooooooooooooooo.
— cindy
December 14, 2005
— Bert J.
December 14, 2005
Most everyone gains back some weight. Some it's only a couple of pounds,
while others it's 40,60, or more. Personally, I think it all has to do
with being completely honest about your eating habits. (if nothing
mechanically is wrong) YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS! Period. The
year or two it takes to lose the majority of the weight is like a magic
drug, it seems as if you can eat anything and everything and still lose.
Unfortunately this does come to an end. Somewhere at about the third year
your body wakes up and wants to gain weight. I think this is where most
people have problems. You body wants to gain, and you've let your eating
habits lapse back to something similar to what they were. This is all my
opinion, but one that was formed by seeing it over and over again. For me,
I am over 4 years post op from RNY. I currently weigh between 145-150 from
a low of 135. I constantly fight with the 5 pounds, but feel that is much
better than fighting with 100. My mother who will be 30 years post op next
year did not gain all her weight back either. She started to climb when
menopause came in to play, but is doing her best to keep that in check.
Good luck to you.
— RebeccaP
December 14, 2005
I am unable to have a rny, and have learned of the DS, it is hard to get,
insurance if hard to get to pay for it, doctor are hard to find that are
capable to do it. so they dont "sell" ,but I have come to favor
it. come learn about it on the DS forum and ask about it. It may be right
for you.
— walter A.
December 15, 2005
I echo what everyone has said. I just have to wonder what our surgeons are
telling folks regarding this issue. I am almost three years post op and
have not gained any weight back. I do this though by constantly watching
what I eat and monitoring calories, and reckon I will have to do so for the
rest of my life in order to maintain. So, as I've said so many times now
in my opinion I'll be on a diet for the rest of my life. The surgery after
a fashion will not take away your cravings for food, the emotional triggers
that make you want to eat large quantities, or your ability to gain weight.
A person simply has to change their eating habits in order to be
successful. The two-year "magic" "high" period allows
you to do this. We all know ourselves pretty well, if you don't think you
will be successful with changing your eating habits, and long term post op
dieting so to speak, then you may want to think about this surgery very
carefully, and if it's going to be right for you. Good Luck! Mark
330/170/160
— Mark
December 15, 2005
— Kasey
December 16, 2005
A lot of your future and continued success will be what you do after
surgery, and after the honeymoon period.
IMNHO, it's all in the aftercare program . . . lots of protein shakes,
vites, minerals, NO MILK, NO SUGAR, and exercise.
It's also vital to get best surgery for you . . . for me, it was distal RnY
(60" common channel) . . . altho I have seen people make it with
proximals, even VBG, or band.
Do lots of research, and join [email protected] to learn from
Grads.
— rayehawk
December 16, 2005
I weighed 561 prior to my 1st RNY on 11-16-2000 and eventually got down to
331 before starting to regain some weight. I had been told that it was
normal to regain under 25% of your lost weight. I've since been told
that's a bit high. When I saw my surgeon at 18 mos post op I weighed 386,
but my surgeon assured me that I was within the normal range of success. I
had been "cheating" since about 3 mos post op and was unable to
stop between meal snacking. In 2004 I had an endoscope and found that I
had a staple line disruption. My weight before my revision was 426 and I'm
back down to 385. But, I was stuck there for a while because I was
depressed. My meds have been adjusted and I feel great. I'm now sugar and
white flour free.
— sjbob
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