Question:
Is Al Roker gaining weight? If he is, I sure can relate!!

Is it my imagination, or does it look like Al Roker is gaining some weight back?<BR><BR>I certainly can understand how that can happen because I had WLS two years ago and am definitely struggling with keeping it off. It sure is NOT as easy as it used to be!! Beware newbie's, your stomach WILL get larger naturally and if you don't get into the habit now of exercising and eating right you will be right back in the same boat that brought you to WLS! I've gained about 10lbs in the last 6 months and am SO afraid that if I don't "nip it in the bud" now it will get out of control. I bought Dr. Phil's book and am going to join Weight Watchers. Have also started exercising more. My biggest fear for myself is going back to that "dieting" mentality and the yo-yoing I remember all too well that took me to 300lbs. I am trying so hard NOT have that attitude this time..you know, the feeling of deprivation that comes with "dieting" and then the consequential "going off it" and then the loading up on all the things that were "off limits". Instead I'm trying to make healthy food choices while incorporating cravings and "junk" within reason. Yes, yes, I know...I should have been doing that all along this past two years but I was SO naive! The surgery itself made losing weight so easy, at least for me! No complications, no off limit foods and a built it "stopper", so to speak. But again, that has all changed and I can now eat a completely "normal" amount of food. (Normal to me means the amount a person at their correct weight SHOULD eat, not the amount I ate at 300lbs!) Combine that with bad choices and it equals weight gain!! **sniff, sniff**    — Ann S. (posted on April 30, 2004)


April 30, 2004
I don't know if he's gaining, but I can understand why he doesn't like to discuss the surgery (and why Star Jones doesn't want to discuss whether she had it). Imagine millions of people looking at you every day, just *waiting* for you to regain. Oh, maaannn.<P>Anyway, I agree, anybody who goes into this surgery unaware that they can regain their weight is in for a rude shock. I sometimes think that those who got to goal easily, without changing their eating habits or exercising, are worse off than those of us who started counting protein grams from the time we woke up in the recovery room. I remember telling my nutritionist, at a group support meeting about a month post-op, that I was appalled they brought me full-sugar Italian ice on post-op day three, when I was finally allowed something to eat. She looked at me funny and said, Well you needed nutrition from something, it's important not to overreact to small things. I'm very glad I wrote her off as completely clueless about what drives my obesity. She was wrong. I was right. Some of us need to take full advantage of those early post-op months to get our habits totally changed, because we'll fight to keep them changed for the rest of our lives. Some of us just don't dare to presume we'll be okay by employing the same old failed thinking that made us big enough for WLS in the first place.<P>Pre-ops and new post-ops should make the pouch a partner in changing eating habits from the beginning, not some sort of stern taskmaster to be relied upon to save us from ourselves, or a cool gadget that gives us a free ride of some sort. It's really not designed to do any of that in the long run. At some point, it really is just a tool. A tool left hanging in the garage might as well not be there at all. If you don't prepare for the transition from enforcer to tool, and then don't use the tool properly, eventually you will be in a world of trouble. Anybody who says otherwise is either (1) simply not there *yet*, or (2) exceptionally lucky.<P>I am glad you are on top of this situation after just ten pounds. Many folks don't get on top of it that soon. Interestingly, despite all my protein-gram-counting, I still fell into an abyss of chocolate addiction at eighteen months post and am finally climbing out of it. There is no moderation with that particular food for me, after playing with it for the past year I can no longer handle it at all. (I was pretty cocky about it for a long while, though.) At least I had the rest of my good habits to cling too, though, like a life-preserver.<P>Boy I wish this wasn't so hard. At least I'm thin and healthy while being teed off that it's hard, instead of morbidly obese, not so healthy, and teed off that it's hard.
   — Suzy C.

April 30, 2004
I hope he is not gaining weight back... I am so glad I read your post. I am having surgery on May 5th. I am so excited. However, I am so scared that the weight could come back. I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN!!! Thank you for giving us NEWBIES some very GOOD advise.\
   — Dee Ann A.

April 30, 2004
He must be, cause I said and thought the same thing when I saw him yesterday, now out the blue you're asking, so I say yelp. LOL
   — B4real

April 30, 2004
So true! And if this helps your guilty feeling....after surgery 2 1/2 years ago, I DID change my eating habits! I started craving fruit and veggies, and was repulsed by fried foods, junk carbs, etc. I am STILL struggling to maintain my weight. I eat healthy and still eat smaller amounts, yet STRUGGLE day to day trying to lose those last few pounds and happy if I just keep off what I have lost. A few months ago I did the South Beach Diet and lost 8 lbs., went off for a while and BOOM...the 8 lbs. are back. I have a feeling a lot of it has to do with our metabolism, the way we were losing so much so fast, our bodies got used to existing off of less food, and now eating a normal portion is actually too much and causes the gain! I have to be constantly mindful of portions now. When I go to Chick fila, I eat half of my sandwich when I should only really eat 1/4. You would think that 1/2 would be ok. I am so very happy with where I am now, but I wish this tool was working better for me long term.
   — Cheri M.

April 30, 2004
Ann, unfortunately I think you wrote my letter! Boy I remember telling folks at work that you can't gain it back. Wrong! I did read all of the learn new way rules and didn't do it. I play all of the same games with this last 20lbs I want to lose as I did when I weighed 298. All of the same battles. Hubby, a 5 mo post op, is doing the same thing though he has witnessed the future thru me. Teresa 298/183 rny 12/01
   — lessofme170

April 30, 2004
I can definitely relate. I am 14 months out and at a stand still between 160-165. Yes I am proud of what I have lost, as I was 266, but now I am getting scared. I want to be around 140, but it is getting hard because I do not dump on anything. The only time I get sick is when I eat too fast or do not chew well enough. I can eat anything that has sugar and that is so depressing. I wish I did dump. I do exercise quite a bit and from what I have heard, if you exercise alot, then your body does require more fuel. I am sure there is not truth in that. But I have found myself eating because of the tremendous stress here at home and have got to quit that or I am going to end up right back where I was and I DO NOT WANT THAT!!!!! It is tough and I'd like to slap anyone who says we take the easy way out! Just keep up the good work. It's not easy, but it will be somewhat easier losing 10 lbs than 20, 30, and so on. We are with ya and I will keep you in my prayers! God bless!
   — dixieb

May 1, 2004
As I understand it many people do gain back some of the weight they lost. Somewhere between 7% and 10%. This is normal, it is sort of a bounceback. Your stomache does grow larger, but not nearly what it was. That is why it is important to eat very healthy and to have an exercise program in place. Of course there are those who manage to over eat to such an extent that they reagain a great deal, but it is totally with our power not to regain. I know that When I have my wls next month that it will be a tool I use to achieve a healthier me along with exercise and proper nutrition.
   — bubbleboo K.

May 1, 2004
Ann, I am almost 21 mos out (Aug will be 2 yrs) and I STRUGGLE everyday! I walk 5 miles a day, but, i still struggle. I can eat anything and everything and somedays I feel as though I do. I have gained back as much as 14lbs from my low last summer and have relost most but , my body fluctuates between 183-195 almost daily/weekly. I am having Plastics in 9 days, so, I expect to see the scale jump a great deal right afterwards, but, once I finish and am recovered, I will start a whole new phase where exercise will determine my future, not what I eat. I am commited to being active and I will eat whatever I want and I feel as long as I am active, I can do this and be normal. See, the difference between now and 300lbs+ is that I ate whatever I wanted without any though, or activity. That has changed. Good Luck to you. And, newbies reading this, weight regain is TOTALLY normal, 10-20% is NORMAL!
   — heathercross

May 1, 2004
Boy oh Boy, I sure can relate too. I new get a little frustrated when I hear someone say "20 lbs gone FOREVER" I started 5'8" 327lbs I lost down to 149lbs, I have gained 10 pounds in the past few months- VERY scary, now of course I know 10 pounds is not much, but from a lifetime of dieting, I know oh so well how 10 turns into 20 into 40 into 60 into 100...I am now 17.5 months post op- and I also STRUGGLE every day, I do not have limitations to WHAT I can eat, and I can eat "normal" size portions (often) The 10 pound gain is 100% my fault, for over a year, I would not touch sugar and limited my carbs, but these evil things have snuck back into my life..and the scale shows it. I am aware this will be a lifelong battle, the surgery helped me to slim down, but I KNOW its going to be up to ME to KEEP it off....I guess my point is....your not alone :) Take Care Kim
   — WABBIT F.

May 2, 2004
I am 20mo. post-op and have also gained back weight, 16# and then I lost a few pounds, so now I am 8-10lbs heavier, which seems like no big deal, but now my pants won't fit. I never thought 10lbs made such a difference! I am scared that this is going to turn into 10lbs every few months or year and before you know it, I am right back to where I started. I ate about 3/4 of a mexican sandwhich last night, ya it took me a while, but thats what I ate for dinner and it was big and fattening(I loved it and thats bad lol). I even drink with my meals. I can eat just about everything and anything now and I use to dump really bad!?! I know we can gain some back, but im scared to gain it all back. People keep making comments about my eating and actually watch what I eat more than I do, they always make comments like " You can eat that now?" or " Since when can you eat that much?" and it actually bothers me. I also did not lose weight after my TT like people think your going to do. Good luck! 267/134/150/142 (rollercoaster!)
   — Sandy M.

May 2, 2004
I've found it's definetly true...weight loss surgery is a tool not a cure. I've maintained my weight for the last five months, but its not easy. I'm still a long way away from goal. I have managed to stay away from sugar and pop. But I get into the grazing thing alot, love crackers and snacks...just love to eat. Best of luck to you.
   — debmi




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