Question:
Am I the only one who gets scared that my pouch is streching out?

I am a little over 10 months pos op and have lost 122.5 lbs but have recently gained back 7lbs. And I can eat more food I am upset at my self. . .I dont want to be back in the same situation I was in before. Also I find myself not working out nearly as much as I used to. If you or anyone you know is or has gone throu this please let me know I need to hear from you . . .Am I going crazy? PLEASE HELP ME! My email is [email protected] or work [email protected] Emily :(    — Emily S. (posted on March 31, 2003)

March 31, 2003
Emily, I haven't gained any weight, but I do understand how you feel. I got my hunger to come back full force and am scared of how things will be in the future. I am 5lbs. away from my goal weight of 130 and hope to stay there for years to come, but I know it won't be too easy. That is why they call WLS a "tool." Our stomachs do stretch a bit, so that is the reason for eating more. But we have to make sure to eat the healthy things, or we can gain the weight. It is great that you realized this now, instead of 20 or 50lbs, down the road- that's a great start! One thing you mentioned is you're not exercising as much, so maybe you can try to do one more day a week. Try cutting back 100 calories a day. Every little bit helps. I also know that many people will go back to a liquid diet for a couple weeks, so that can help make the pouch smaller, or atleast give that illusion, and then you can kind of have a new start. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

March 31, 2003
hi, i'm scared about my pouch being streched also and i'm only 4 1/2 months out. i can eat a whole 9oz lean cusine a whole blt on two slices of orowheat bread. others out the same as me can barely consume 2-4oz at this stage but my doctor says not to worry i don't know. all i can say is try to make healthy choices and keep up the exercise as much as possible. best wishes, kimberly open distal bypass 11/12/02 -72lbs
   — kimberly T.

March 31, 2003
Hi Emily, you are definitely not alone! And watch out, it could get worse! I am 14 months post-op and I can now eat quite a bit, and sometimes I do. I have to DIET again, and that is rather depressing. I have to work hard at losing any more weight, but seem to be able to maintain. The problem is I don't want to maintain at this point, I have 50 pounds to go!! My suggestions - be very careful, start the exercising again, force yourself to do it at least 5 days per week, and if you are still scared, try going back on liquids (for as long as you can stand it!). I wish you the BEST of luck!! Open RNY 1/31/02, down 90 lbs, 50 to go!
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 1, 2003
As time goes by, our pouches do stretch naturally and by the 1 year or 1 1/2 years, its reached somewhere between 6 and 10 oz. Unless you are overstuffing yourself continuously then you have not stretched the pouch beyond where it should be. What you have run into is what many of us further out find out, that to maintain these new weights or to continue losing, we have to DIET..that dreaded 4 letter word! However, this time, unlike when we were pre-op, we have a tool to help us and it is easier than it was pre-op. You know what you need to do to get those 7 pounds off and you have to make up your mind if a change in your diet and an increase in exercise is worth those 7 pounds. So, if they are, increase the protein, cut down some on the carbs/sugars and calories, increase the water and exercise and no drinking with or right after meals. I'm close to 14 months post-op and if I slack off the exercise or eat too many carbs or sugars, I gain a few pounds, then have to buckle down to take it off. It comes off pretty easy now, unlike before, but its still work.
   — Cindy R.