Momcat

My experience is a little different from what I've read here...I am 6 years out from VSG. Went from 263 to 150 in about a year. Kept the weight off for about three years, and then started gaining. Over the last three years I've gained about 25 pounds. Problem is, I have no idea why I'm gaining, which is really scary for me. I am 63 years old, which may have something to do with the gain??? I have never strayed from the program. Have eaten very low carb, absolutely no sugar, for the past six years. I eat only protein, veggies, and a little fruit. I do eat a product called Thinslim Pasta, as well as their bagels, which are low carb and low calorie (55 calories and 8 carbs for the pasta and 90 calories, 0 carbs for the bagels). I also occasionally eat Built Bars and Enlightened ice cream bars (also low cal and low carb). I track my calories and stay at around 1400. I exercise regularly (I walk 3 to 4 miles about three to four days a week at a pace of 3 miles per hour). And yet, I am gaining. I have tried and tried again to take off the 25 pounds I have gained without success. In fact, I am continuing to gain a little at a time. Have had my thyroid checked, which is normal. Any advice???

UGH!!! Week two update, I actually GAINED 1-1/2 pounds!! This is getting old, very frustrating!

Also, just as an update, at one week out had lost 3 pounds! Am very excited, and hope it continues...

Slim Dreams, It is the BOT program with the Inspire shakes, but I'm not using the Inspire shakes! I thought they were a little too pricey. I am using the Premier Protein shakes from Costco, and am doing fine with those. I may try the Inspire shakes at some point. Please let me know what you think of them! Good luck!!

Wow!!! Great thread. Thanks for doing this. So glad I found it!!! My story is pretty similar to everyone else's. Had surgery in December, 2014. Did well, but never got to goal. I gained about 12 pounds in the last year and really don't know how. I never went back to chips, sweets, pasta, bread, or any of that and have eaten pretty well since surgery. Have continued to exercise. The weight crept back anyway! I am so afraid of regaining all that I lost. I would like to lose the 12 pounds I gained plus the additional 10 to get me to my goal. I found a No Regain program that says to drink four protein shakes per day and then eat a healthy dinner. Today was my first day, and it is HARD!! Today's weight is 167.... hoping to get to 145!

I got a product at Costco called Healthy Noodle. It is really good. Has nothing in it, basically cellulose, but it definitely tastes and feels like pasta. 25 calories for 1/2 cup with practically no carbs.

I am 10 months post op and am losing relatively slowly for the past few months, about 2-3 pounds per month. How many calories should I be eating now? I am much hungrier lately... is that normal???? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi I've been reading a lot about how we ruin our metabolisms due to extremely low calorie diet and how to get our metabolisms back to normal by slowly increasing calories to a normal amount and then reducing them again (but not too low) to lose weight. This supposedly resets your metabolism so you can eat a normal amount and not gain weight., Has anyone actually tried this? Did it work for you?

Thanks for all your thoughts. My experience has been that the calorie calculator thing doesn't work, which is why I'm curious about other ideas such as raising your set point. The conventional calorie calculators say that I should be able to eat about 2100 calories per day to maintain my current weight. I track my calories faithfully and usually eat around 1200 per day, and have actually gained a few pounds doing so. The problem as I understand it is that because we have lost weight through severe calorie restriction for a long period of time, we've messed up our metabolisms. The 2100 calories is probably what a "normal" person who has not been on a calorie restricted diet would need to maintain their weight. That obviously doesn't work for people like me who have lost a large amount of weight on a very calorie restricted diet. I feel like if I started eating anywhere close to 2100 calories per day I'd blow up like a balloon! I also can't imagine having to stick to only 1200 calories per day for the rest of my life! That's why I'm really hoping some of you have had success with this raising your set point thing.

Thank you so much for the informatoin, Newme17!!! It looks interesting, but I am terrified of gaining weight. Definitely worth a try though! Anyone else out there tried this???

Serenity James, I could have written your post. I am a little over two years out and still have about 15 pounds to lose but have been in a stall for at least a year. I DO count calories, and try to also eat about 1200 or so. I try to keep my carb count low, under 75 net. I also exercise several times per week, cardio and weight lifting. The scale will not budge, no matter what I do. I feel your frustration. Please let me know if you figure this thing out...

Hi I have posted about this before, so please forgive my whining!!! I really need help/advice! I am a 59 year old woman, two years post VSG. Did great the first year, lost nearly 100 pounds, but am still about 20 pounds from goal. I have not been able to lose an ounce for the past 9 months, and have actually gained 4 pounds. I would like to lose those last 15-20 pounds, but am so frustrated I could scream!!! I eat approximately 1200 - 1400 calories per day, 60-100g Protein and under 100 net carbs. No bread, Pasta, rice since surgery. I exercise faithfully, at least a few days per week, cardio and weight lifting. The only thing I don't do well is Water. I usually fall pretty short there. Have tried reset with Protein shakes and a small meal, which allows me to lose a couple of pounds, but the minute I start eating real food again I'm back to being stuck. My doctor says that maybe my body is just done, be happy where I am, which would be okay if I wasn't gainging! He has no real advice for me. Has anyone else had experience like this? What did you do to start losing again? Thanks so much for your input!!!

I was probably eating under 1000 calories while losing. If I wrecked my metabolism, how do I fix it now? Thanks.

I experienced the same thing you are. I think it took about a month for me to feel "normal." I also had a lot of weakness, couldn't even raise my arms above my head to wash my hair in the shower!! It does get better!!!

I have to agree with the poster who said his only regret was not getting the surgery sooner. I feel it's the best thing I have ever done for myself. Before surgery, dieted on and off my entire life. Lost some, gained more back, lost some again, repeat. For the first time in my life, food is really not an issue for me. Can I eat the same way I did before surgery? No. But I don't want to. I no longer crave carbs or sweets. I also cancelled my surgery several times over the years after reading horror stories about others who took the plunge, but finally went ahead with it two years ago. It's rough in the beginning, but totally worth it.

Thanks so much for the information!!!

So is it possible to increase your metabolic rate two years or more after surgery if you're one of those who ate very low calorie while in the "honeymoon" phase? I still have about another 20 pounds to lose but have been stuck at about the same weight for about one year. I am now eating about 1300 calories per day and exercise 3 to 4 times per week, including cardio and lifting weights. If I eat more than about 1400 calories per day I gain. Any suggestions???

I recently noticed the same thing. My son in law is a professional athlete and I talked to him about it. He said he didn't think I was eating enough calories before my workout. I tried upping my calories before my workout and then having a Protein snack right after, and it took care of the problem. Good luck.

Like Tfarr, I too am 2 years post op and am in pretty much the same place she is. I am happy with my weight loss overall, but would like to lose those last 15 or so pounds. I have stayed pretty much the same weight for about 9 months now and seem to be unable to lose any more. My eating habits are pretty good, very low carb, lots of exercise. Calories around 1400. Still can't lose. My doctor says that maybe my body is just where it wants to be. Anyone else gone through this? How did you start losing again?

I am 1-1/2 years out and take Advil pretty regularly.... is that not allowed even a while after surgery???

Hi. I could have written your post. I too have an idea in my head that I should weigh 145. About 1-1/2 years out and can't seem to lose anymore. I now weigh 157, and no matter what I do the scale won't budge!! Very frustrating!!

I do like some of the Quest bars....but my new favorite is Combat Crunch! Nutrition is about the same as Quest, but it really is like eating a candy bar. Delicious!!! I do worry about eating them too often though...

In my opinion Siggis is the best for flavored yogurts. Their plain is good too though. For plain, I also really like Fage!

Thank you so much for your insights... and congrats!! Keep up the good work.

Everyone is different. Unfortunately, I feel like I am blessed with the metabolism of a slug!!!