Question:
how many people gain there weight back after one year
My somewhat non supportive mother claims everyone who has my type of surgery "RNY GBP" will gain all there weight back after one year, This really pissed me off "sorry to offend" I had surgery 5 weeks ago, did great went to work in 9 weeks, started eating meat and cheese around 2 and 1/2 weeks out, my surgeon is thrilled with me , I eat all meats and get most all my protein in that way but still do real meals "shakes", Ive worked very very hard, exercise alot when ever I can, Ive only lost close to 35 pounds , but I sure DONT need someone saying this is all for not. If any of you know any real stats or are long timers please tell me this just isnt so! — jessie J. (posted on September 14, 2003)
September 14, 2003
My sister had the surgery 5 or 6 years ago. She's 60 years old and has only
gained about 10 pounds (she really looks better there). As for the weight
loss, listen to your dr. I'm a slower loser, too, but very persistent. Down
72 pounds in a little more than 6 mos. Hang in there.
— lharbison
September 14, 2003
You would have to eat an aweful lot of sugar and greasy foods in order to
gain all of your weight back. Then coupled with that you would be sick all
the time with dumping syndrome because of the sugar and greasy foods. Your
mother is thinking about the persons that had the old stomach stapling that
was commonly done back 20+ yrs ago, those ppl could gain their weight back.
It really is almost next to impossible (in my opinion) to gain all of all
of my weight back with the size of my stomach pouch. I am so full after 1/3
to 1/2 cup of food that I am uncomfortable. I would have to be eating 24/7
to get enough calories in to gain all of my weight again. Do some research
on this site and Spot Light Health about your mother's pessimism about the
weight gain. You need to educate her and yourself so you can explain to
them about why you will not gain the weight back. You have been given an
important tool to keep yourself from gaining weight. I am sure that you
will do a great job with your new tool, keep up the good work.
— ChristineB
September 14, 2003
I am over 2 years out, and now fight minor regain. My PCP{ said 195 was
good for me and to not loose any more than that. I bottomed for a short
time at 179 and honestly looked sick. I now weigh 201 down from 205 and
that weight came off fairly easy. My profile details this. Some regain a
part of what they lost:( My surgeon has never had any of his patients
regain it all. See my profiles very bottom theres barb thompsons book it
covers this question in details.
— bob-haller
September 14, 2003
Whatever you set your mind to will be the end result. It won't be easy to
always fight the feeling to succumb to old habits but it can be done. I am
7-1/2 months PO and over 2/3rd of the way to my goal and I find things
challenging me now more. Sometimes I slip but then get back on track.
Actually eating too much and being miserable/sick is helpful to push in the
right direction. Fortunately it does not happen often. I also wonder
about it being successful this time as I get closer to goal, but I do know
I have this wonderful little tool that if I listen to it and just make
reasonable choices, it will help me. I do not need to be perfect all the
time, just be reasonable.
<p>Tell your mom that you have already made your choice and it was
not easy, but that preaching negativity is not going to help you be
successful. Loving support is!
<p>You are doing absolutely wonderful! 35 lbs in 5 weeks. That's
significantly ahead of where I was at that point. Sounds like you are
adjusting to post-op eating quite well also. Kepp up the good work and
hold your head up and be proud. Take this next year to develop good life
long habits that will sustain you through the rough times. If your mom's
negativity is really getting to you consider some counseling to find a way
to either get it across to her that it's not helping or help you find a way
to deal with it. While this is her issue, it is affecting you. There are
a number of people in our support group that are a year or more post op and
they are doing very well. They may have regain as much as 10% but that's
about it. Most stay within 15-20 lbs and many maintain at their goal. So
it can be done, but it will come down to you, as I'm sure you are aware.
Find some exercise that you enjoy and make it a regular part of your life.
You will do great!
— zoedogcbr
September 14, 2003
I saw a lady on tv the other night that had wls at 300lbs. Now three years
later she weighs 530. She is a preschool teacher and said she was just not
ready for the lifestyle changes you have to make and in her words,
"all they want you to do is jog".. Some commitment, aye? From
all my research on here and other places some people do gain all and more
of their weight back. Yes, even with the little pouches and NOT eating a
lot of greasy and sugary foods. It is a lifestyle change FOR LIFE. All
you have to do is read a few profiles and you will see that full regain is
possible for various reasons. Thats why there are so many revisions.
nearly all of us will eventually gain 5-10 pounds back once our weight
stablizes and the majority will not regain all the weight but some people
do. I have a friend who had wls a few months before i did. She eats sweets
and anything else she wants. She is not a dumper. Her theory is that
because she can only eat a small amt due to pouch size she has nothing to
worry about. She is setting herself up for a big letdown on down the road.
— Delores S.
September 14, 2003
If I had $1 for every person who has said they know some one who had the
surgery and they either 1. didn't lose any weight, or 2. gained ita ll
back, I'd have enough for a whole new wardrobe. (& not from on sale
clearance at walmart either)
— **willow**
September 14, 2003
Jessie: Barring mechanical failures, we all get out of this what we're
willing to put into it long term. It sounds like you're comitted to living
the lifestyle that's required for long term success. As long as you
continue to do so, there is no reason to think you'll gain significant
weight in the future. I understand that it's normal to eventually regain
10% to 15% of what you've lost. That's a long way from gaining it all
back. Stick to your comittment, and you'll be fine. (And 35 pounds is
great in five weeks! Keep on keepin' on.)
— Vespa R.
September 14, 2003
Hi Jessie: Congratulations on how well you're done so far. Chris is
right, tell your mom you don't care how many people she's heard of who've
failed at this, that won't be what happens to you. It doesn't matter if
she believes you or not, it only matters that you do. Set you mind that
this will be the last time you have to lose weight and do whatever it takes
to make that true. I don't think there's any statistics on how many people
gain their weight back. It does happen, but I don't think it's that
common. Good luck with your continued success. S
— sherry hedgecock
September 14, 2003
Hi Jessie- I had a friend tell me of a woman she worked with who gained it
all back and then some. But I quote my friend "Everytime I saw her
(her co-worker who'd had WLS), she had a candy bar in one hand and a soda
in the other." Not there yet, but I believe it's all in how we use
this wonderful tool. You are doing a GREAT job so far, don't let anyone or
anything get you down :o) Mea P.S. Maybe it would help your mother to
read some profiles on this site :o)
— Mea A.
September 14, 2003
To me this is less about your surgery and more about your mother's
treatment of you. I have a mother like that. I had to get therapy and read
a lot of books before I finally had the courage to tell her--and had to
repeat several times--that her behavior was hurting me, was unacceptable,
and I was not going to take this treatment from her any more. She finally
got it and our relationship is pretty good now! I'm very glad I did this.
We are both getting older and it's been really nice to have a more loving
relationship in both directions. BTW she has always been slim and can't for
the life of her understand why someone would need surgery to lose weight,
but she's been very supportive and happy with my success.
— Chris T.
September 14, 2003
Those who gain their weight back are those who don't stick to the diet and
exercise that is needed after wls. I am nearly two years out, lost 212 lbs
and only gained back 6.5, and that's because I am 15 weeks pregnant! LOL!!
Seriously... from what I have seen adn read, it is only those who stop
controlling their eating habits and think they can go back to all they want
to eat who gain their weight back. Just keep it under control, and you will
be FINE!! Just tell your mom to be POSITIVE!!! And, then just let her
negativity go out the window... okay! :~) Hugs!
— Sharon m. B.
September 14, 2003
If she knows so much about it... ask her to show you the information in
writing.. the study she's talking about... sure.. people gain weight back..
its really all up to you... its not magic.. but stick with it.. and you'll
be fine, I'm sure.
— Lisa C.
September 15, 2003
I don't know your family dynamics, but I sure know that mine are
dysfunctional with a capital D. Maybe the issue is really that your mother
is jealous?? My mother was very against my surgery & kept
"hoping" for complications or failure. The reason: she didn't
want to be the only fat person in the family!! I used to be the fattest
and that was a great mental comfort for her, now she is the fatest and it
really annoys her. Also, if I am with her, I can't eat like I used to, so
she feels that she is being "put down" when she eats as usual.
Really, the entire thing revolves around your mother's issues and you
should try to put it out of your mind. I ended up moving 16 hours away and
it saved my mind!! Some people are so jealous of others doing something
and not sitting and whining about it that they just can't handle it. You
sound like you are doing absolutely wonderful and keep up the good work.
All the best to you!!!
— Karen M.
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