MichiganChic

Hi, your story sounds a little like mine! I am 8 years out, had great success, and then life got in my way, too. My highest was 325, and I was 306 on the day of my surgery. I’ve been struggling for the last 3-4 years to get back to goal, but the truth is that I am hanging around 215, and I need to be at 175 (my lowest was 160, but it was shockingly thin on me). Anyway, over The winter I ballooned up to 132, and in the last 10 weeks I’ve lost down to 212. My first goal is 199, and then 185, and then we will go from there. I even went to my surgeon to see about a revision, which he will do. For the moment I’ve decided against it because as long as I restrict my eating, I don’t have as much trouble with reflex, and clearly, I can lose weight. I just don’t want another surgery if I can avoid it. The hard reality for me is that I have to remain ever vigilant and keep my calories consistently 1000-1100 for slow loss, and more like 900 to see the scale move at 1-2 pounds per week. I would love to connect with you and support each other, and anyone else who wants to join in!

I think your examples really show how life does happen, and how common regain is, as well as how normal it is! I was also a success story, keeping off most of everything I lost for years. But there were pockets of time, tragic life events that proved to be too much for me to cope with, and I hate to admit this, sent me spiraling into stress eating. When I was caring for my husband in his 50s with early onset dementia, and his subsequent death at 62, I actually made a conscious decision to just let my focus on my diet go. It really takes a lot of focus and energy for me to stay on track, and I just didn’t have that left. Then came dealing with grief and then pandemic....blah blah blah. The 5 and then 2 and then 10 pounds here and there really add up!! Anyway, while I’m finding it very difficult to do, I agree with you, it possible to lose the regain. I’ve finally gone back to the way I ate when I lost the weight, (low calorie, low carb, high protein) and it is starting to come off. I really have to keep check on my expectations. I want to lose 2-3 pounds/week, and that’s just not going to happen for me. Remembering that time goes on either way and the 0.2 losses add up over time help to keep me focused. Wishing you much success on your continued journey to health!

Every. Single. Day. 100% of the time when I stop weighing, it’s because I don’t want to see what it’s going to say. As a result, over the past 3-4 years I’ve gained 60 pounds, in 5-10 pound increments during periods of not stepping on the scale. Sigh. So, I’m back to daily weights.

Wow, I could have written that! I’m 8 years out, and my stats are very close to yours. I’m currently up to 223...which is down 10 pounds from 3 weeks ago. I’ve started watching carbs, and I do count calories, too. I stay around 1100-1200 calories and 30-50 carbs. Basically eating the way I did to lose the weight. I’m also good about working out and staying active. I just am so aggravated I let this happen, but that’s a waste of energy. You’re so right, we have to figure out what works and stick with it.

I am 7 years post VSG. I lost 145 pounds and kept it off 3-4 years, had plastics and looked and felt great, and then life happened. I cared for Sick parents, husband with early onset dementia and dearth subsequent death, a year of grieving....then one day I woke up and faced the truth of a 55 pound weight gain. September 2019 I began focusing on my health and goals again, and I’ve lost 22 pounds. I had a barium swallow which revealed I have a normal capacity stomach, so really, no restriction. I never had the restriction others describe. Anyway, as much as I hated to do it, I joined WW. I basically eat like a Bariatric patient, using WW as guardrails. I also have increased my exercise and am totally in the Peloton “cult”, which is great because I am loving exercise for the first time ever. I never thought I’d be here..yet here I am, living proof that stomachs DO stretch and even smart, determined people can end up with regain. I believe it will take me until June or July to get back to goal, but every pound lost is a great feeling of accomplishment.

I’m 7 years out, and gained about 60 pounds over 3 years. Life was stressful and pretty terrible, and I just didn’t have the bandwidth to focus on my diet. Now that life has settled into a new normal, I began putting energy back into weight management. For me, it’s pretty consuming and takes significant energy on a daily, sometimes minute to minute, basis. In addition, i had a UGI and my stomach is the size of a normal person, so I don’t even have sleeve restriction to help. 3 months ago I joined WW online. I really didn’t want to do it, but it has helped a lot. I have lost 25 pounds, so I am feeling better. I focus on eating Whole Foods and avoid processed foods, (WW really helps this for me) I avoid chemicals like artificial sweeteners. I also limit bread, rice and pasta. I don’t eat before noon, so I do intermittent fasting I increased my exercise, but not over the top I track every bite, and am brutally honest about it I do not graze As @mcfluffington said, expect it to go slow. For me, it’s just like before weight loss surgery. I have to fight for every pound lost. Motivation comes from within. It really is one of those “just do it” things. The good news is that you have the power and you CAN do it.

Thanks for your response! That must have been awful. How close to goal are you? I saw my stomach and it looks pretty normal. As in like didn’t have surgery. I never felt restriction like others describe. However, I lost a significant amount of weight and felt really good. I’m afraid I will end up with strictures if I have another surgery. But I’m more afraid of being fat!

This is an interesting thread to me. I originally lost about 150 pounds. I never reached a BMI of less than 26, but I wore a size 8 and looked and felt good. Now almost 6 years later, I’ve gained 40 pounds that I can’t get off. I saw my surgeon and he is willing to redo my sleeve because it’s so big. I never felt like I had much restriction, but I was super careful and under ate, which is how I was successful. My doc has never never performed a repeat sleeve because he said he never had anyone with a stomach big enough to need it, but mine is. I’m on the fence about it...but I sure hate the weight I’ve gained. @Lainybee1987 experience a,es me nervous!

I still check in once in a while. It’s been 5+ years for me.

Just thought I’d circle back. I have to say I’m still loving that bike! I had regained some weight, and it is helping me get control of my health again. I’ve ridden steadily 4-5x weekly for 13 weeks, and I have lost 10 pounds (mostly diet) and have toned up. But the biggest bonus for me is the way that intense exercise helps manage stress, as well as the improvement in my strength and endurance.

I'm considering buying a Peleton exercise Bike and just wondered if anyone has one. If so, how do you like it? Do you think its worth the cost? Thanks!

Just thought I’d check in and see how everyone is doing? I’m still fighting the good fight, and maybe winning a little. Long way to go, for sure. My stress level is lower in the last month than it was in the last two years, and man, does that make a difference! Life isn’t easy, but it’s certainly better. I’ve started exercising again, not for weight loss, but for cardio health and stress management. Some days I convince myself I love it, lol! Anyway, I pretty much went back to eating like in the early days. Lean protein, nothing processed, few vegetables, rare fruits, and very low calories and lowish carbs. I don’t count carbs, but avoid bread, rice and pasta. Probably the biggest change was giving up coffee creamer and skinny caramel macchiatos from Starbucks. It’s a boring diet but it works, lol. At the moment, boring isn’t bothering me. Anyone? What’s working/not working for you?

I think we get used to the restriction, and over time, it does loosen up some. At 5+ years out, there’s no where near the same restriction I had at 12 months. But as the others said, grazing allows you to eat way more than you should. For me, it is a lifetime of diet and intentional restriction. I spent the last two years in an incredibly stressful and difficult situation, and part of the time, didn’t have the energy to devote to diet. My sleeve is relaxed enough to allow me to eat enough to gain. Even when I did manage to not overeat for a few weeks, the stress hormones must have been working overtime. I put on about 40 pounds in that time, and nothing I did helped. Now my stress level is down, and I am able to focus on diet and exercise, and the weight is coming off. Even though I know it’s a fact, I’m shocked at the way stress affects weight.

I just a 20 minutes ride-sort of. I’m still trying to adjust the bike for comfort and fit. But that seat is hideous! I can’t stay seated for more than a minute or two. Even still, I’m prepared to love the bike someday!! [emoji23][emoji23]

I bought one, and just got it. I had a total knee 8 weeks ago, so my leg muscles are pretty atrophied. So.....I’m finding it more than a little challenging to even get started!! Glad to hear you like yours. Words of wisdom?

Hi, @hopeliveshere, just thought I'd see hoe you're doing? Hope all is well!

Congrats, and Good for you. Why are getting a revision? I'm considering it for regain.

Hey everyone! Good to see some old timers here I have also suffered some regain. I'm up 20 pounds (or a little more) from my average of three years. It just packed on over a couple of holidays, (5 pounds here, then another 3, and so on) but I can never seem to get if off. So frustrating! It doesn't seem to matter what I do, what I eat, it just won't come off. I find myself getting frustrated and not watching what I eat because I feel like its a losing battle. I'm also a stress eater, and boy, do have stress! Hi pressure job and husband with early onset dementia (in mid to late stage). So, between all of that and a body that just wants to be fat, it is an uphill battle. Even with surgery, I was always one who had to count every calorie. The only way I ever lost was to eat around 900 calories a day, and I guess that's what it still takes but I have a hard time sticking to that. So, thanks for listening. I've gotten back on track and hope I can continue to be successful. While I'm not sure how much weight I might lose, at least it can prevent more gain! I'm considering converting to a gastric bypass, but I really hate to. Has anyone done that, or considered it?

@@fd319 that's just incredible!! What a great outcome, and so motivating. You must feel just awesome! Congratulations! Mind if I ask, what is that app you are using? Love the way all those stats show on one screen - that's also motivating.

You may need to take a look at your diet. You'll have to figure this out, because it's different for everyone. I have learned that 1200-1300 calories is maintenance for me, and I need to eat around 800-900 to lose weight at a rate of 1-2 pounds per week. I keep carbs moderately low, and get 80+ gm Protein a day. I don't worry too much about fat, because I'm generally following the bariatric diet of protein first, non starchy vegetables, and no bread, rice, or Pasta. Of course I get my fluids in, too. I avoid sugar and most processed food. So, while I find it absurd and maddening, there is no way around it for me. My body fights tooth and nail to put on weight, but at the moment (4+ years post op) this is what works for me. I had a little regain over the holidays, and thought I would just eat around 1000 calories, but I was only losing less than half a pound a week or nothing the first two weeks in January. Now that I've decreased to 800-900, I'm seeing a better loss. Totally worth it, to me.

@@Cape Crooner I could not agree more. I've been saying for years that 3500 calories on me does not equal a pound. It seems like I can gain a pound if I'm over by about 2000. I can maintain on around 1200-1300, and I can only lose at around 800. It inflames me when people chime in and say you have to eat more to "prevent starvation". Tried it - not true for me. It don't think obesity ruined my metabolism, I think my metabolism was already this way and I over ate, both in terms of what my body needs, or by any standard. One other thing - I kept on at the same level of over eating for years, yet my body had a set point that while very high, I never went over a certain weight, when I was probably eating enough to continue gaining. So, my absolute truth is that I could not have done this without WLS, and would have never understood what I needed to do to lose weight. It's my depressing reality to know I'm going to need to watch every bite I put in my mouth for the rest of my life, or just return to morbid obesity. One other thing - I had some regain over the holidays, and not from very much indulgence. I've lost 5 pounds of it as of this morning, and it was the hardest 5 pounds I've ever lost. It's so easy to put on, and so hard to get off! It really does not want to budge. I hated being fat worse than I hate restricting food, so I'll keep fighting.

That is seriously one of the best successes I've seen! Congratulations and enjoy the sweet rewards of your hard labor! You look awesome Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My surprises are not from my early post op days since my surgery was over 4 years ago. I am a little surprised and more dismayed that the early effects of the gastric sleeve were not permanent. I loved it when all I could tolerate was a few bites and that was all I wanted. My appetite returned, and at 4 years out, I can eat more than I wish I could. I can see how easy it would be to gain all my weight back. Also, I am still surprised at how little I need to eat to maintain my weight. WAY less than any mainstream medical school of thought). Having WLS taught me that my obesity wasn't just a problem with will power, it is also due a really slow metabolism that doesn't have a diagnosis, but certainly can't be right!

When did you gain it back? Recently?

I haven't done that, though I would consider it an option if I need it. Why are you considering it?