Question:
Why am I gaining -

   — Morgan R. (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 4, 2003
I didnt go and to 'the math' BUT if you were maintaining at 1000 cal and are NOW eating 1800 your WILL gain.. Thats 5600 more calories (over a pound) per week extra. I think you might benefit in seeing the nutritionist. Find out what 'weight' is 'healthy/normal' for you. The find out the amount of calories needed to maintain that weight. As, might check your Iron /blood since you said you were tired. Also, twisted intestines is an ongoing THREAT to anyone who has WLS and can happen to any of us at any time.
   — star .

June 4, 2003
it's been awhile.....but if i am remembering correctly it seems that the "average" female, with an "average" activity level....not sedentary to maintain your weight you need 10 calories per pound of weight. at 125 you would need 1250 per day to maintain. if you are going to consume more you have to go from "average" in your activity to high....enough to burn the extra.
   — bjrfromwa

June 4, 2003
Try logging *exactly* what you're eating on fitday.com, to get an idea of your precise calorie intake, and how much you're getting in terms of protein grams and carb grams. Eighteen hundred calories a day may not be maintenance for the weight you set as your goal. Also, there's controversy over how long we "malabsorb," and a weight gain after the two-year mark isn't unusual from what I've read (and I wonder if we stop malabsorbing so much, in some cases, so that weight gain appears where none was before). The formula for you may be, upping your exercise, cutting back on carbs and substituting protein foods instead, reducing overall calories, and/or rethinking precisely the maintenance weight you want to be at. I've also heard twisted bowels are not an unusual development for WLS patients (or others, for that matter), so I wouldn't just presume there's a legal issue there without more. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

June 4, 2003
my comment isn't about you gaining but your comment on seeking legal advise on the twisted intestines. You should know that twisted intestines can happen to anyone at any time. Not just after wls. I had twisted intestines last year before i had wls. I also have not had gallbladder surgery. I had multiple kinks and the doc said they were twisted like a rope all the way. You are fortunate it showed up on testing. Usually it does not. I had all the testing in the world and they didn't know I had that problem until they opened me up for another totally unrelated problem. I just thank the Lord that they did find mine i time. According to the doc, I was living on borrowed time. I am sure this is what your attorney will tell you also once he has time to check it all out.
   — Delores S.

June 4, 2003
You were at 130 before you went thru the last round of surgeries which caused your weight to go down to 120. since you are eating more calories, your body has adjusted back to the weight it wants to be at. After the 2 year mark post-op, I've heard that it is normal for post-ops to gain back 10 percent of what they lost. Is it because they eat more over time, slack off the exercise, the body adjusts and does not malabsorb anymore? I don't know but it is not uncommon for this to happen. If you want to continue eating the amount of calories that you do, you just may have to accept that your body wants to be a certain weight and size not to your liking. If you want to stay a size 4 and remain 120 , you will have to cut the calories. Simple as that- still a game of calories in = calories out, and the amount is different for all of us. As for the twisted bowel/intestine, I had that occur to me 5 days after WLS. Once our systems are rearranged, there is less room in there for the intestines and although we may be bypassed, the intestine still remains and is subject to twisting or kinking.
   — Cindy R.

June 4, 2003
Morgan I'm just as baffled as you. I'm almost 25 mo po and within the last 9 mo I've put back on 14 lbs, everything is the same for me except I quit the protein supp, being scared to death that the weight will continue to climb I'm back on the protein again, a month now without a loss, but hoping to see a positive difference soon. I fear what others have said about our bodies learning to bypass the malabsorbtion part and find other ways to put the pounds back on, ewwwh that makes me cringe. I would like to think of this as a normal process and nothing more. Hang in there and log the changes you see, their may or may not be a pattern.
   — Barbara M.

June 5, 2003
You have gone through a lot. It's possible your body has finally healed and has gone back to where it feels comfortable. At 5'4" and even 140 your BMI would be 24.0 which is still "normal". You might consider seeing a therapist to help you deal with your body image issues. If you are trying to throw up that is not a good sign. This is another manifestation of our obesity disease. Also, women are trained to hate our bodies. You are OK, cut yourself some slack. Good Luck. Peace
   — Sunny S.