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Has anyone out there, 18 most or longer post-op, seen any weight gain. I was at 365, then 330 or so day of surgery, and got down to 226. Which my physician was about dead on with (my goal was 190, he laughed and said 225 was more realistic due to my bone density). I floated between 226 and 229 for about a year. Then as if like entering the next stage or something, I've begun gaining weight. 230, 235, 240, 245... So I begin a walking regiment. I do about 3-4 miles a time 5 times a week (3mph, 3.5 incline). I dropped to 241 within a couple weeks, but today I'm up to 244 again. I'll be honest, after 2.5 years post op, my biggest issue isn't that I feel hungry, it's that I never truly feel full compare to a year ago.

I gained 7 pounds of muscle while losing a total of 113 pounds. I guess I was speaking more from my personal experiences. As a former amateur competitive power lifter I was used to eating 300g of protein a day or more on a 7000+ calorie diet. I couldn't possibly and never will be able to eat that much in a day now with 75% of my stomach missing.

According to my dietitian 1 tablespoon is a small bite. Seeing as you're about a year out, I would think a meal for you, measurement wise, would be about 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of food. Keep in mind different types of food affect people differently. Example: potatoes of any kind for me fill me up. 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes and I can't eat anymore. However, it's nothing for me to eat 6oz of chicken breast, 1 corn on the cob, and 1/2 cup of broccoli.

@@audaciousmarie My surgeon sort of laughed at me when I told him my goal weight. I was 330 pre-op, and I said I wanted to get to 190-200. He said, 220 if you're very diligent about working out 5 days a week and follow the plan religiously, otherwise 225-230 was more realistic. This is due to bone density. As larger people our bones have built up mass to support our weight over the years. When you lose weight you don't lose bone mass. @dtiller1147. Ugh, complacent. That's pretty much what happened to me. I've since kicked the workouts into high gear and put Protein first and foremost back into the diet.

There's a couple reasons for this. 1) Drinking with meals or soon after can and will flush food from the stomach into the small intestine. This can result in malabsorption of nutrients as well as increase chance of dumping. 2) Eating so soon after drinking can have similar results. However, if can make you feel fuller. The problem there is, is that you're not eating enough Protein, nutrient rich food. Which will later lead you to feeling hungry and potentially over eating. If you must drink with your meal, keep it to less than 2oz of Water. Sometimes you eat something that's drier than you anticipated and just need to moisten the mouth. Understandable. I eat a pretty dry but good Protein Bar every morning, and I incorporate some fruit with it to "act" as a liquid.

Hang in there buddy. The cliche is real... It's a marathon not a sprint. Take a big breath... let it out... relax. Continue life by the program. Your first goal should be 6 mos out. See where you are then. This is something that can't be rushed. Do not rate your success based on what others have lost.

Talk to a nutritionist. Post op people will never be able to eat enough Protein to maintain the muscle mass they had pre-op. Keep the goal weight in mind as determined by your physician, eat protein proportionate to that level, and I wouldn't recommend starting a weight lifting program earlier than 6 mos post op. Keep in mind, everyone's experience is different.

I take Nature Made. 2000mg D, and sublingual B12. Never had an issue. http://www.target.com/p/nature-made-vitamin-d3-2000-i-u-tablets/-/A-15696467 http://www.target.com/p/nature-made-sublingual-b12-1000-mcg-lozenges-50-count/-/A-14567571 Both are also available from Amazon. I'm 2.5 years post op and have been on these since surgery, never had an issue.

Keep this in mind as it's something I'm struggling with right now (2.5 years post op). The point isn't always to feel full, but to not feel hungry. Your ghrelin probably isn't tell you you're hungry as well, so soon after surgery. So watch your energy levels and go with how you feel. Keep fluids going strong and be mindful of the 30 min before and after eating.

2/18/2014 SW: 365 Lowest Weight: 226 CW: 243 (frustrated, WTF) I'd still do this again in a heart beat. Can't figure out the weight gain, though.