Question:
I've noticed many long term posties gaining weight- wondering about eating habits,etc

I've recently noticed some longer term post-ops talking about gaining weight after 2 or 3 years. I am 1 year post-op and reached my goal (130) and still losing very slowly. I was wondering about if those who have gained weight could pinpoint exactly what they were doing wrong, ie eating more in general, eating more carbs or sugar, too many treats, not enough exercise, etc. Or do they feel they have done the same since early post-op and just gained anyway (which is my fear!) I plan to continue what I do, exercising 3 times a week, eating protein first (usually 75grams per day), drinking atleast 80oz water, and getting about 1300 calories, but I'm scared that although its been easy so far, it won't be in the later years, even if I don't change anything. Just wanted to hear some of your perspectives. Thanks :-)    — Lezlie Y. (posted on May 17, 2003)

May 17, 2003
With the long cruddy winter I ganed 10 pounds because of inactivity. I am happy to report I got a nice treadmill from another member here so next winter I will be more active. I would really like to move to florida. Cold all the time and slippery walking is terrible. Orlando is calling to me big time.....
   — bob-haller

May 17, 2003
I think what happens is people get too "comfortable" with themselves and go back to their old habits. Being almost a year and half out, i find myself wanting to eat like i did before but i thank god i have a sensitive tummy that wont allow me to do that. We are human and sometimes living as a wls can be hard since we are having to still watch what we eat even though we are to live life normal and not think of it as dieting but the truth is, we are and we are committing to it for life with a tool to help us, when they operated on us they forgot to take our brains out lol...therefore our brains are telling us to eat the bad stuff if we can and our tummys are saying no at least for some of us...those that gain the weight back can probably tolerated a majority of food and so since they got comfortable with their new selves and they can eat what ever they want they probably tend to lose track and before they know it they have gained weight.....this is just my thoughts! i wouldnt spend to much time stressin over this, just keep doing what your doing and you will be fine...
   — Deanna Wise

May 17, 2003
You mean the 2 yr wall and 3 yr wall? Complacency & hypertrophy? The 2 yr wall is more thinking that because you "got away with it" (whatever) til now, than you can do it forever. If you had a bad post-op plane or bad ideas, now is when you pay the piper. If you had "too little" surgery and too little nutrition, the 3rd year is when your body decides to overcome all that has been done. The pouch relaxes even further, the common channel lengthens, thickens (it's doing this all along, anyway) and there you are. Back to fighting the original battle again, where just a few calories stick to your hips again. I've done it to myself twice by becoming complacent about sugar. Just a little, but a little too often. And the 2nd time was fruit. I know better. I knew better both times. I was able to drown the cravings in protein both times, but it took super-human efforts to reverse the process (& the damage). I also know that I am fighting a PHYSICAL disorder, not a mental disorder. I can spend a few minutes slapping myself around for my boobos, but then I'd better be onto the fact that I cannot ever pretend I am normal. And remind me that I can do many things a non-WLS person can't do, and quit my whining about the 2 things I cannot do: milk & sugar. And many do not have these tools at their disposal. My attitude, and my protein supplement. And I'm not afraid to use it.
   — vitalady