Question:
I'm 14 months post-op and have gained weight. I'm scared...

I feel so alone... no one has talked about gaining weight longer term post-op. I lost almost 100 lbs - now some weight has crept on - almost 10 lbs! I am scared and feel I can't talk to anyone about it... ashamed that I have let this happen. I KNOW I need to eat more protein, I KNOW I need to stop grazing - - but these old habits came back. Do I need couselling? I'm afraid to admit to anyone that I have failed (because that is how I see it, even though I have lost a lot of weight). I turn to you... my fellow WLS people to give me some support and advice. Thank you.    — Adrienne E. (posted on June 4, 2002)

June 4, 2002
Hi! I have often heard that surgeons say they operate on our bodies not our brains. They can only do so much. Don't beat yourself up. That only perpetuates the eating that has caused the regain. You KNOW what YOU have to do to kickstart the weight loss. Have you lost 70% of your excess body weight? If so, you will have to work at it to lose to what you want to weigh. It is still possible but you have to go back to protein first, veggies and fruit and then carbs. You have lost 100 lbs. so you know how to do it. Just have faith in yourself that you can. Our negative feelings are why we are obese. Counseling may help you understand why you are going back to old habits. Best of luck and never give up trying.
   — grammie5

June 4, 2002
First congrats on your loss! I think that what you are going through is normal. As your body has adjusted you may have been able to eat more of things that you know you shouldn't. I know personally once I have this surgery (waiting for insurance approval now) I will have to cont w/ therapy. It has taken me alot of years to get to where I am today & I'm sure I will need mental help after surgery. Your body & mind has went through a amazing journey & talking with a counsler would help in ALL expects of your life. I know I look forward to going to see my counsler! :) Keep your head up & good luck! I hope to join you on the other side soon!
   — Beth G.

June 4, 2002
What procedure did you have done?
   — Kathi S.

June 4, 2002
Congratulations on your weight loss up to now. It is hard to modify old habits. The BEST thing that you have done is admitted and asked for help with it, that you didn't wait and gained more back before you asked for help. I suggest that you see the dietician that you did pre and post op. I am recommending this as I thought I was "off track" and went to see the dietician before things got really off track. (I am only 4 months post-op but it can happen at any time! Stick with what you know and what works best for YOU! Good luck!
   — dianehanson

June 4, 2002
I know I'm still pre-op, so please take my response with a grain of salt. :-) Now that you realize your old habits are coming back and you are starting to gain weight, grab hold of it and do what you can to correct things now. Starting to gain weight is a heck of a lot better than already having gained it. 10 pounds is not 100 - don't let it get to that point. Sounds easy coming from me, right? Well, I do know that losing 10 pounds is easier than losing 100 and if you nip this in the bud now you will start to feel in control of your eating habits instead of being powerless to them. Good luck. :-)
   — K. Joyce Smith

June 4, 2002
HI! Boy, you are certainly NOT alone! I am 18 months post op, "only" lost about 100 pounds and have gained and lost the same 6-8 pounds over and over for the last 8 months or so. It is VERY frustrating. I don't think that makes you (or me!) a failure. Everyone keeps saying to get back to basics, which I understand, except that if I could stick to the post-op diet forever, I probably would have been successful without the surgery. That said, I don't think it's ever too late to examine what you are doing and see if there is something that would be relatively easy for you to do about it. ONE thing that you can change at first, then when you get a handle on that, try fixing (changing) another. I KNOW it is not easy, believe me. I am terrified of gaining my weight back. However, I have also heard that when people reach goal, or a weight that their body feels very comfy at, they may gain back about 10 pounds and then stop gaining and stay at that weight. Maybe this is what is happening with you. Whatever it is, please know that you are definitely not alone. I have felt like a failure at times, then other times I realize that I am human. I am MUCH healthier than I was, and I've come to realize that I will NEVER be "skinny." That's OK, too. We were all meant to be different sizes. I'm sure the 100 pounds you've lost have made a big differnce in your health. I am getting counseling, and am starting to see things much differently. I no longer beat myself up about what I HAVEN'T done, and celebrate the 100 pounds I've lost. Realize that you have accomplished a tremendous feat, and that you are still in much, much better shape than you were before. Be kind to yourself. If you ever just want to chat, so you don't feel so alone, please email me. Maria [email protected]
   — Maria H.

June 4, 2002
Maybe it's not mental? Maybe it's nutritional? Possible? Plenty of water? Plenty of protein supplement? No sugar? Sugar (even small amounts) makes you hungrier & want to eat more, and then more. Protein satisfies.
   — vitalady

June 5, 2002
Congratulations on your weight loss! I can totally understand being scared by gaining 10 pounds. I just had surgery a month ago, and I know if I lose a lot of weight and then gain some back, I'll be scared that it will ALL come back. But first ask yourself, "What percentage of your excess weight did you lose?" If it was more than about 65%, you lost more than average. Also, I know some doctors tell their patients to expect to gain back about 10-20 pounds, but that it doesn't mean you will gain back anywhere near your pre-op weight. Again, I understand your fear, but try to keep in mind that it's only 10 pounds, not the 50, 75, 100, or more pounds we were used to fighting with pre-op. Good luck!
   — Kristie B.

June 5, 2002
From Original Poster - - -Thank you all so much for your kind words of motivation and guidance. I feel a lot better, and perhaps ready to take those steps to get back on track. I think I needed to realize that I am only human, and that I also have the ability to make better choices. Thank you all.
   — Adrienne E.

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