Question:
How do I gain weight?

Has anyone out there lost too much weight? I am really scared. My BMI is now 18, (Down from 37 pre surgery) and I can't gain weight. Anyone have help to offer me. I look like skin and bones, my family is worried, and no matter what I do I can't gain weight. Help!    — shannon W. (posted on December 2, 2002)

December 1, 2002
Try mixing your protein shakes with milk, whole milk. Add fruit. Use real juice. Increase your protein shakes to 4 per day (30g each). Make them yummy, enjoy them. They will stabilize you much better than candy and cookies, even though that seems easier.
   — vitalady

December 1, 2002
Shannon, You don't say how far post op you are? Myself as well dropped at an alarming rate and it scared me as well. I was worried it wouldn't stop and I might die. But it finally did. I'm 5'6 and between 125 and 130 pounds my lowest was 122. what a difference those couple pounds make in your appearence. I was a walking bag of bones there for a while and scared my whole family. My doctor said not to worry that it was normal and my body would find where it needed to be. And it did, no regrets here. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't look to gain weight your body will adjust within time and find where it needs to be just make sure your getting in your protein. Best of luck!!!
   — LAURIE W.

December 2, 2002
Find a copy of the pouch rules for dummies and reverse it (excepting, of course, eating plenty of protein!). Drink while you eat, add more carbs to your diet, snack more (healthy stuff, tho), etc. You can work your way back to a healthy weight. BUT remember that you will rebound after you get to "goal." Like the previous poster said, that 5-10 pounds will make a big difference in your appearance. And there is a certain amount of rebound that happens with your skin, too. After you've been at a consistent weight for a while, your skin has a chance to catch up and you won't look so shrunken. Good luck!
   — ctyst

December 2, 2002
Do not start drinking with meals. It would allow you to eat more but it would also make you malabsorb all of the vitamins and nutrients in your food! Drinking with your foods would push it through faster and you would get no nutritional benefit from it. If you have lost too much and are bony looking that means that your body started breaking down muscles. The goal of this surgery should be to lose the fat but keep the muscle. If you weren't getting in enough protein you lost the muscle too. Start getting in extra amounts of protein and exercise to build the muscle again. You don't want to gain fat again only muscle. Try Real Meals it has 60 grams of protein. Go to www.protein-solution.com
   — Linda A.

December 3, 2002
hi there! i would increase the amount of times you eat a day and see if that helps. someone mentioned reversing the pouch rules for dummies and that was a good idea, it does offer advice on there as to how someone should go about putting weight back on if need be, such as taking in more calories, decrease exercise etc. i have it saved to my computer so if youd like it jsut give me an email anytime. and i hope i dont sound crazy but i hope in the future ill be able to post this same question cuz im always afraid i wont lose enough. best of luck to you and i hope all goes well for you. :)
   — carrie M.