Question:
Will I be able to keep the weight off?

i am 5 months and a week out and am sooooo happy to day i have lost 96 pounds but i am so starrting to worry if i am actually going to be able to keep it off and/ or ever lose any more i exercise everyday "hard" i have a trainer at the ymca i go to and have been doing this for 4 months already but for the last couple of weeks i have been eating everything i have been sooo hungry!!!!!!!!! and have been going back to old habits of eating to get stuffed not to just get satisfied and i use to dump but not like before....i do admitt i have not been taking protien but it is so expensive for me right now i am not working and am a full time student help me!!!!!!!!!!!! and i drink toons of water everyday    — LUVY L. (posted on August 1, 2002)

July 31, 2002
First RELAX! Protein doesnt have to be exopensive liquids! Its better to eat high protein REAL foods. That way you get the protein and feel full. Its NORMAl to get a appetite and be able to eat mre at this time. Sad but normal... But try this one time. Dont eat anything all day, just once. Now sure you will be hungry but not the ravenous hunger you had pre op. Just relax and take one day at a time.
   — bob-haller

July 31, 2002
cheese, low fat deli meats and all meats are great protein sources.
   — bob-haller

August 1, 2002
First off you are doing GREAT! Your weight loss is great and it sounds like you are doing all the right things. Bob is absolutely right that it is normal to regain your appetite at about this time--disappointing, I know, BUT . . . Try eating something every two hours, preferably protein. Since you can eat more (and you are exercising a lot) now is a good time to up your protein. I had a rough time for a couple months until I increased my protein to 100 grams a day. It helped curb my carb/sugar cravings and I didn't feel as hungry. If you are eating something every two hours you will probably not feel the need to eat to the point of feeling stuffed since you can tell yourself it will only be a little while before you can eat again. I ate every 2 hours for a couple of months then the ravenous hunger seemed to dissipate and now I am back at every 3-4 hours.<p>Some inexpensive sources of protein are tuna, eggs, cheese, deli meat, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. You don't have to eat a big ol' steak or drink protein drinks! Milk has lots of protein, too, as long as it doesn't stimulate your appetite like it does for some folks. I like one of those individual serving cans of tuna mixed with garden veggie cream cheese on a couple of crackers for a "meal." It has lots of protein and tastes good, too.<p>If you want to dump again, you can reset your dump-o-meter by going sugar free for a few days. You build up a tolerance to sugar but it can be reset. Don't worry! You are doing fine. Good luck and happy losing!
   — ctyst

August 1, 2002
Hi Luvy, I am just a few weeks ahead of you post-op, and I, too, have been dismayed that the hunger has returned. Liked it better a few months ago, but, even now, the hunger is easily satisfied with just small amounts. I find I am snacking more, but try to snack on good things like nuts, 1/3 of a protein bar, fruit. I admit I also snack on not such good things, like cookies, but I didn't have this surgery to deny myself some goodies. The fact that you are working out everyday and get your water will serve you well. So, as the others suggest, add some protein snacks to your day and you should see the hunger calm down. BTW, congrats on the super weight loss..awesome.
   — Cindy R.

August 1, 2002
As a foolow up to my earlier post. IF BUSY I can go a entire day without eating anything. Now I dont do that intentionally or often, but pre op it was impossible.... So getting hungry for a few hours between meals isnt like pre op. But we tend to forget..
   — bob-haller

August 1, 2002
Boy, do we sound alike...I found that as soon as I started getting serious about exercising, I started needing more calories. My surgeon told me to eat 6 small meals a day concentrating on protein...he doesn't recommend protein drinks or supllements for protein. He was ok with me eating a Balance Gold nutrition bar. They are absolutely wonderful and I don't dump on them. I sometimes eat 2 a day, one for breakfast and one in the evening after working out. I know what you are going through...just stick to the workouts and up your calories a little bit. Remember to keep your portions small and just eat more often...you are doing fabulous.
   — Teri D.

August 1, 2002
I can totally relate to that panicky, "Can I keep it off?" script that keeps running through your head after having lost a lot of weight. I have lost 190+ lbs. and thank God everyday for this surgery. I would like to get off a few more pounds, but for the most part, I am trying to at least maintain my loss. How do I do this? I eat ... regular meals ... every day. No skipping meals. In fact, I eat 5 small meals of no more than 300 calories/meal. That is between 1200-1500 calories/day. Great amount for maintenance and even weight loss. I drink TONS of water everyday and concentrate on my protein. I try to avoid processed carbs and get in my exercise. This is HABIT now, and I have NO FEAR that I'm ever going to have a serious weight problem again. Relax ... your new habits won't fail you.
   — Terissa R.