Search the Community
Showing results for 'weight gain'.
Found 17,501 results
-
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Guest replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You're very welcome. Honestly, bariatric surgery - even just being a person who needs that - was such a big thing pre-op, and it's such a minor thing in my life 15 months out. Do some digging into obesity studies. You won't doubt it afterwards. Check out (citing from memory, but it's a start for your googling): Harvard Health Biggest Loser study (shockingly, people's metabolism slows and is still much slower even after regaining all the lost weight) Studies on rat populations that have their calorie pool reduced (lowest social hierarchy rats do not starve as predicted, they get fatter!) Studies on how childhood stress and trauma alter your body's idea of a weight set point (trauma or stress = your body stops wanting to maintain a healthy weight, but wants to add weight constantly) Overfeeding studies (it turns out feeding people 1000 calories per day in a 100% controlled environment does not, at all, mean a similar weight increase - so calories in, calories out is dead as an absolute concept. Obesity is a chronic disease. It's one we have tools to manage. But we need to get rid of the idea that bariatric surgery is capitulation, an easy way out, or for losers. You two's feeling of We Can Do This! is spot on - but why do it without using the tools we know work? Best of luck. -
March 2022 Surgery Buddies
Toomany#s replied to LilaNicole20's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It’s normal to be scared. Try to focus on how losing excess weight will help your physical difficulties. It certainly sounds like you’ve had more than your share. No one can guarantee that you won’t have any complications, but they are relatively uncommon. I definitely don’t think that you will come out worse. I know it sounds stupid, but try to think positive and hopeful thoughts. You have lots of support on this forum and you can do this! -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
fourmonthspreop replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hey. I'm about 16 days post op from gastric bypass so I have yet to know how this will turn out long term but to be honest, with this post op stomach, my hopes are high. Someone made a good point in the thread, with the surgery, you don't feel like your body is conspiring against you while trying to lose weight. The pre op diet was so hard because of my actual old anatomy and physiology. Now post op, I first off haven't felt real hunger since my surgery and when I do eat, I can actually hear myself and my body. It tells me when to stop or take a break. Obviously we have the ability to gain weight back but you have to also have faith and discipline, like everyone says it's just a tool. Mental health counseling has really helped me understand why I binged so much in the past. I don't think I'd be where am I today without my psychologist and psychiatrist. I had a lot of moments in my life where I thought I can just do it on my own, but every single time I was still binging when I was having off days. I lost about 70 lbs naturally in the past and then gained 100 lbs back because I never worked on the important part, listening to my body and finding healthy coping mechanisms. The rest of the time was spent miserably losing 10-15 lbs at a time on unstable crash routines. When I reached my highest weight and injured my knee, I knew I needed medical help. I saw a psychiatrist who was able to diagnose me and get me medicated then did 8 intensive months of counseling with a psychologist on my eating behaviors in order to prepare for surgery. I only lost 25 lbs before my pre op diet (that was a 8 month time span) and that didn't matter because the weight comes off post op. I'm now down 45 lbs total and have about 70lbs more to go until I'm in my ideal range. As long as you feel ready, you've followed your surgeon's orders, and you understand the commitment that this takes then do it. It's seriously an amazing tool and a privilege to be on the journey. I wish you luck with it and sending love to you and your husband on your journey. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Guest replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This. People think about bariatric surgery in a way that's nowhere near close to reality. Surgery won't change your dieting behavior. Sure, it will in the short term, but if I wanted to gain weight at 15 months out, I probably could. Surgery will change your body's response to the diet behavior. It will stop fighting you. You'll need both the mindset of 'we can do this!' and surgery to make it happen. I hate to push surgery like this, but there's no real data to support any other way of thinking about this: Find out why you're obese. If disordered eating, fix that first. Make a plan. (This is the We Can Do This! phase) Choose a surgery carefully. Look at the data, lifestyle requirements, cost, recovery etc. Make plan for how you'll get the surgery and for how you'll recover. Start path and new lifestyle. Note: it's not about what you weigh now. Most bodies will want to get to their highest weight without surgery. We all know the high from having lost 20 lbs on our own. And we all know the "wtf happened?!!" when you gained it all back. The body is really that powerful. It will make you eat, eventually. That's why surgery works. It's not a behavior modification. It's a hormonal intervention to give you a second chance to be a healthy weight (whatever that may be for you). -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Guest replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It's much less, unfortunately. Even the new obesity drugs don't work once you stop taking them. https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/complicated-reality-weight-gain-weight-loss-and-weight-stigma -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Splenda replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I don't know your age, situation, weight, other health problems, etc. If you think you can do this without surgery, then do it without surgery. I am not being sarcastic. It is a huge, life-altering decision and if I could do it without surgery, I would. But the surgery isn't just another way of saying, "Eat right and exercise." I understand what your husband is saying: with or without surgery, you will have to watch what you eat and stay active. But I struggle to explain to people how the surgery changed me, in terms of my relationship with food. Bypass/sleeve doesn't just make your stomach physically smaller; it changes the hormones from your stomach. My cravings for food are so much weaker and different; I don't crave rich foods (I am much more likely to crave saltines than cake). More than any time in my life, I see food simply as fuel rather than a source of pleasure/joy. I choose foods as much for how they will make my stomach feel than how they taste (my stomach will find it much easier to digest fish than steak, so I am much more likely to order salmon at a restaurant than sirloin). It's easier to stay disciplined when you don't even feel the same tug toward the foods that destroyed your old diets. -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Queen ApisM replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It is a difficult decision, and I can understand going back and forth. I certainly did, and I was very worried about all the things that could go wrong. Honestly, I wish I did this years ago now. The time I spent telling myself I could do it on my own could have been spent losing weight and living life happier. Having said that, I wasn't in the right place mentally before, and I certainly wouldn't have been ready to have success. I'm still in the honeymoon period right now, and I know things will get harder as time goes on, but I feel a sense of hopefulness which I rarely felt any other time I've been losing weight. I don't obsess about food, other than worrying if I will get to my calorie goal or not (when have I ever had to work to eat more, vs less?) It is also ok for you to be ready to do the surgery, and for your husband to not be ready. He may still be in the "I'm not sure stage." That's fine, but you are different people. You have to do what's right for you, whether that is doing it now or waiting and seeing what happens. -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
mrsjo replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thank you both for the replies! I feel like my mind was settled and then my husband started down this journey more with me and he says things like “well that doctor said you can gain it all back anyway so what’s the point” or he says “ these changes you have to make after surgery will make you lose weight anyway, just make the changes without surgery”. I honestly know with PCOS and as many diets as I’ve ever been on I think I need the surgery for true long term success. I am a different person now, already after 8 months in. I exercise regularly and have gained so much endurance and cardiovascular fitness doing CrossFit exercises. I do eat better and don’t see the “quick fast diet” mentality in my life anymore. I’ve made changes that I could’ve never imagined. At the end of the day I do fear the outcomes-what if I’m weak and malnourished or sickly? Or have complications? But then I remember I’ve been in this 8 months with only lost 25lbs AND I’ve never lost more than 40 on my own and never kept it off. My husbands rebuttals say but you’ve never changed your life like this before for this long. I think he keeps dragging me back to the fence lol! -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Queen ApisM replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'll speak for myself, but I think it applies to many of us. First off, many of us can do this - until we can't. I flat out rejected the idea of surgery for years, thinking exactly what you did in your post. And sure, I would have successes - the best time, I lost 75 lbs. Another time, probably about 50 lb. But then, it got harder and harder to do it, no matter how much I knew what I needed to do. And keeping it off? Forget it. Gained all those back and with friends. The reality is what you said, only a tiny percentage of people can keep it off successfully. It's not a moral failing. Our bodies make it hard, and it gets harder every time we lose weight. Compared to people who have never dieted, our metabolisms are affected in the long term by the yo-yo. The surgery doesn't guarantee success, but it gives you another tool to use toward getting there. This experience is just so different than every other time I've tried to lose weight. It's not easy, but it feels attainable. It doesn't feel like a a long, losing battle where my body is conspiring against me. And, the surgeries can have major, positive impacts on metabolism that dieting alone will not accomplish. -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
Splenda replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I can only speak from my experience. I had several of those "I can do this without surgery" moments throughout my life. I first started down the path of surgery in 2013/14. I was doing the Tim Ferriss Slow Carb Diet (6 days/wk, eat only beans/meats/veggies, 7th day is cheat day) and having great success. I explained what I was doing to the bariatric surgery coordinator and her response (paraphrased) was, "That's nice, but you won't be able to do that post-surgery." I didn't want to hear that, figuring that I had already lost 40+ pounds this way and cancelled my appointments. I ended up losing roughly 150 pounds on that diet, but gained it all back. Why? It reinforced binge eating habits and didn't set me up for future success. Like a lot of overweight people, I thought my next lifestyle change (clean eating! intermittent fasting! keto!) would be the one that allowed me to lose the weight and keep it off. I finally realized that I was only fooling myself. It takes an incredible amount of discipline to lose weight and keep it off without surgery. You have to commit to eating a certain way for the rest of your life; I have yet to meet someone who did a diet for 6 months, lost the weight, went off the diet and kept the weight off. I reached a mental state where I had two choices: 1) continue living my life as I had been or 2) making a truly radical change, the change most likely to keep the weight off. I chose Option 2, because I owed it to myself, my wife and my kids to be the healthiest person I could be. I do not regret my choice. But while I do not regret my choice, I don't go around telling other people to do it. I don't think I would have succeeded in 2013 the way I have today with the surgery. In 2013, I would have seen it as "I do a surgery, I eat less, I lose weight, winner, winner, smaller chicken dinner." That is a set up for long-term failure. Now, I see it as "I have been given a great chance to live a healthy life and I need to take advantage of it." Until you reach that mental state, you are not ready to succeed with this surgery. -
Went to the support group, now cold feet?
mrsjo posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So I’ve been in preop phase for 8 months in prep for bypass. Long story short I switched doctors after 6 months with old doc. I love the new doctor and almost ready for surgery, just took some time to get all records from old dr. Now my husband is on board and he’s seeing new doctor to go through WLS as well. We went to our first support group meeting last night and now I’m very confused and I think he is too. We now have this mindset that “we can do this”. He hasn’t been one to read or research much as I do, and he was amazed at all the lifestyle changes and tools you use to rewire your head and to be successful. He says well if we can learn that now I think we can totally do this! He bragged on how far I had already come and changes I’d made and he said I really think we can do this. I’ve kinda had that feeling all along but then again here I am 8 months in and only 25lbs down. Tell me this is normal or tell me something, anything? Isn’t it only like 3-5% of people can actually lose the weight and keep it off without surgery? I’m just so at a loss on what to do now…. -
how does sleeve gastrectomy affect your appetite?
Tony B - NJ replied to bombshellocks's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
From my experience, after the surgery, I was not hungry for a couple months. I was eating the amount the doctor recommended and could not even get one drop more in me. I get hungry now but I make a conscious effort to not eat. I see the weight that I have lost over this past 6 months and I do not want to go back. When I eat something I always determine if the calories, fat and carbs are worth it. I eat only to nourish myself and rarely treat myself because that is a slippery slope to overeating. I still reach my restriction pretty quickly so it is hard to over eat without feeling like hell or getting sick. I really focus on water during the day to keep myself hydrated and full. If I drink a lot of water then I don't have the urge to eat and even if I did, there is very little room for food. I was a big eater, multiple portions of the main course and snacks before bed. I stick to my portions and if I do eat a snack it is nuts, sugar free pudding or some other lean type snack. -
Need help can’t eat almost 3 months post op
gabe0521 replied to gabe0521's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah it doesn’t seem normal but I honestly don’t look up a lot of forums or ask for help. I like the weight falling off and amazingly I don’t really have a lack of energy despite never really eating anything. I work out at the gym three times a week. I mainly drink water through the day and one cup of oikos yogurt and that’s it -
March 2022 Surgery Buddies
becca10294 replied to LilaNicole20's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi All, I have my surgery scheduled for March 15 and am about 2 weeks into my liquid+1 meal preop diet. But I'm struggling to lose weight even though I'm following the surgeon's guidelines. I'm super nervous they will postpone my surgery if I haven't met their weight loss goals for pre-op. Has this happened to anyone, any advice is welcomed? -
YAY! Mine is the 21st too! I am supposed to start my pre-op diet on the 11th. I too think I am going to start early for 2 reasons. First, the 11th is a Friday, I think it will be harder to get thru the first few days over the weekend. I always think it is harder to stick with my routine on the weekends as far as healthy eating. Being busy and occupied at work helps a lot. Secondly, to loose more weight. I have been on a steady decline since I started all of the pre-op requirements 6 months ago. Once I did my final weigh in, I had some "goodbye" meals. Didn't go over my calories but I didn't eat good (and my body knows). Well, I also gained 4 lbs so I need to make sure I loose that PLUS some. My surgeon requires that you are BELOW your final weigh in the day of surgery. Doesn't matter how much but you have to be less than that final weight check weight. Regardless. Good luck to us. We got this!!!
-
how does sleeve gastrectomy affect your appetite?
Arabesque replied to bombshellocks's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yes, the surgery does remove a lot of the area that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin. While the stomach is the primary producer it’s not the only place a hunger hormone is produced (small intestine, pancreas & brain too). For many, the surgery dues reduce appetite & hunger but it is temporary. It’s almost like the other areas compensate & start to produce more of the hormone to compensate because feeling hunger is important because our bodies do need food to function. The temporary loss of hunger does help our weight loss but equally as important is that it helps us to discern the difference between head hunger (cravings &/or emotionally driven hunger) and real hunger. Real hunger feels different. You’ll learn your cues for real hunger & how it feels for you. I feel restless & like something is wrong and when I realise I’m hungry I don’t crave a specific food or food type like sweet, carby or salty. Food is still a consideration every day & I do tend to eat to routine to ensure I get my protein in & the other nutrients in I need & that is the difference. I eat not as a comfort, to stop boredom, to satisfy a craving, etc. I eat to consume what my body needs to function. I still enjoy food & want to eat yummy tasty things but the yummy tasty foods are healthier & more nutritionally dense. -
February 2019 weight loss buds
Goody222 replied to TheMarine79's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hello, I totally understand. I never actually got to my ideal weight ( I was about 8 pound away). Now it is more like 28 pounds away. No excuses, I know better. I am still amazed at how quickly I can STILL gain weight! Not really looking forward to the doctors visit. WE CAN DO THIS! We will get it together. -
Sending hugs you will be in a bit of pain the first couple of days but it will be worth it when you see the weight come off and a couple of weeks out you will start to feel better you will love the new you and you've already started on this side of the road , let me know how you get on sending healing prays and look after your self speak to you soon
-
I am just beginning this process. I am required to do 4 months of dietary sessions with my primary. We have actually been doing this since I got on prednisone. I keep blowing up. 109 lbs in 11 mths with a 1000calorie or less diet. I have 2 lung diseases and RA so I will be on some dose of prednisone for the rest of my life. I am working on a taper down. I am hoping to get down to 5mg? I think 10 mg is going to be my magic number, unfortunately so my battle will be forever but getting all this weight off now is going to be a good thing. I am at a point where I can barely walk anywhere without my O2 dropping down in the low 80s. I am on oxygen 24/7. My risk of a cardiac event is alarming. This is the main reason why my dr wanted me to have the sleeve surgery. I want to get rid of the type 1 diabetes that prednisone threw me into after my SECOND dose! I have already started a scheduled meal day and cut my portions down to child size(I 1use a kids plate and utensils). I sub one meal with a protein shake. I will graduate to 2 shakes closer to surgery pre-op. I am really concerned about my support system. My husband already does most of the housework. I cook when I feel up to it. Maybe 3-4 times a week. However, he works nights so that he can take me to dr appts. Well, he sleeps ALL DAY LONG. From 9ish until 7 pm at night. He says he can't function without 10 full hours of sleep. On his days off, he sleeps all day and most of the night. He says he has to catch up. He is exhausted and sore. I don't know if I can manage by myself post-op. My son lives in the same town but he has work and such, I am sure he would come to help for a few days. My daughter lives in Florida. She has 3 kids. When I asked if she would come for the surgery since I am high-risk with my lungs, she said that my youngest 2 grandchildren's birthdays are near the time I will be scheduled. Could I plan it some other time? I was devastated that she said that. My Pulmonologist said I have over a 65% chance of not waking up(my risk of a cardiac event if I don't have surgery, is 100%). So, I am not sure how much help I am going to need after surgery. I know everyone is different but, can I do things on my own? I even have 4 dogs to take out all day. One on a leash. Please tell me I will be ok?
-
Accountability Post .... Being honest with yourself
blackcatsandbaddecisions replied to MandoGetsSleeved's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hey we had surgery about the same time and I was thinking the same thing. I hit my goal weight and stalled…I’d still like to drop a bit more, but it hasn’t really happened. I want to take the month of March to really make sure that this is my “final weight”, and it’s not just where I landed because I loosened up my food plan. I want to start tracking this month, really cut down on snacking and get my evening time eating back to where I want it. So for me my resolutions are: I will track my food, even if it’s a guess on some items like dinners out. I get stuck on “well I don’t know how much this is so I won’t bother”, and I know that’s a cop out. I will make sure that snack food doesn’t get into the house- no nuts, Greek yogurt bars, chips, etc. I’ll keep up my current exercise routine Let’s have an awesome March! -
I have PCOS and have been on Depo (the shot) for 5 years. I had VSG 9/2021. I can't speak to the fertility piece, as I am not trying to get pregnant. But I have not noticed any return in my PCOS symptoms, PMDD, or any other fertility related issues. The shot continues to work well to keep my symptoms at bay and I am losing weight steadily as hoped.
-
Bizarre Water Retention Incident
GradyCat replied to Prestonandme's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
That's bizarre. I'm glad you're okay and back to normal weight now. -
Vaginal Bleeding
Toesinthewater replied to bluu1204's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Fat cells store and produce estrogen so when one loses weight your estrogen levels can fluctuate. The changing hormone levels can cause breakthrough bleeding. -
Fat cells store and produce estrogen so as one loses weight estrogen levels can change. The low or changing levels of estrogen in particular are the cause of night sweats. Plus perimenopause typical occurs been 40 and 50 so that could be another reason for fluctuating estrogen levels.
-
Bizarre Water Retention Incident
Prestonandme posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I know most of you are not doctors, but perhaps you can speculate about something that just happened to me. For the past year, I have maintained within a 3-4 lb range, never deviating. About six weeks ago, within three days I had gained seven pounds to my highest weight in about two years. I dismissed it as water retention because I hadn't changed my diet or any medications, but for the next six weeks I stayed five to seven pounds above my baseline, so I began dieting and drinking more water but to no avail. I couldn't figure out how it could be from food because I log calories every day and there were no changes in calories or types of foods that I ate. Then a few days ago, I had a horrible mood swing -- so bad a depression that my family and friends were really worried about me -- and they said they had never seen me act like that before. I recovered from it but the following day, I began vomiting out of nowhere, tons of water, something that has never happened before since WLS and was something I can't ever recall happening even before WLS. And then for these past few recent days, I'm exactly back to where I was for the entire year -- within that 3-4 lb range again. The five to seven pound gain is gone. I'm post-menopausal so it's not hormonal I think. No dietary changes. No new medications or getting off old ones. No changes in activities and exercise. The massive weight gain seems to have just "happened," remained in my body for weeks, then dispersed. And possibly could have caused a serious mood swing. Oh, and for an annual checkup I had an EKG which was normal so it has nothing to do with my heart. And I had a recent brain scan six months ago that showed no abnormalities. My blood work also is normal.
