2.5 years out - Sleeve stretching / Weight gain?

[NoMoreWeightNJ 225]

In May I will Celebrate my 3rd surgiversary and I should be thrilled but this past year has been a struggle. I started out at 250lbs, did excellent the first year of my sleeve with weight loss, by May of 2016 I'd released about 80lbs and was 170lbs -about 10-15lbs from my 155-160 lb goal. Then I started having gallbladder attacks and ended up having it removed in an emergency procedure in August of that same year. The following month my father passed away (he was only 65) and I started to notice that I wasn't following my diet plan as closely. I gained about 10lbs within and was 180lbs by January of 2017. A few months later I had some other family changes that involved several very close family members moving away out of state, some of my core support. I tried to stay on track with exercise, training for a 5k then developed a bone spur (osteoarthritis) and was told not to run by my Dr. That was this past summer. I am now at 192lbs and feel like I can eat more before becoming full, have been completely unmotivated to exercise and eat right. I'm feeling angry, guilty, upset and completely confused about how this is getting out of control. Has something similar happened to anyone else? Can anyone please recommend some resources to help motivate me or get me back on the journey towards my healthy goal? I am very independent and hate asking for help, but for goodness sake, I had an operation that involved cutting out half my stomach and now I'm gaining weight again? I never thought I'd find myself here...

[GreenTealael 25,336]

This sounds rough. Losing a loved one is very hard. May I ask what kind of food choices you were making during weight gain periods?

Also do you still see your surgeon or are your follow up visits only yearly?

Edited January 18, 2018 by Tealael

[Sherrie70403 1]

@NoMoreWeightNJ so sorry for your lost. Yes, I'm in the same situation now. I went 324lb to 220lbs. Today, I'm currently back up to 286lbs. I no the struggle you are going through. I was working and thought now the weight will come off. Yes, it did but nothing prepared me for was coming my way. Back pain, two herniated disc had to quit my job. I'm basically walking with a walker and doing no exercise. We need guidance on how to get back on track again. Thanks for sharing your story and I will follow your updates.

Sent from my SM-N910V using BariatricPal mobile app

[NoMoreWeightNJ 225]

3 hours ago, Tealael said:

This sounds rough. Losing a loved one is very hard. May I ask what kind of food choices you were making during weight gain periods?

Also do you still see your surgeon or are your follow up visits only yearly?

Thank you. I have definitely started grazing again which is a horrible habit, stopped using myfitnesspal and have been eating off plan especially breads and carbs. I need to get back to my Dr. and am making an appointment today. I usually only go once a year but I need to get back there and maybe even start going back to the support groups. Old habits sneak back in when you're under stress and strain. I guess the first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one, right??

[NoMoreWeightNJ 225]

2 hours ago, Sherrie70403 said:

@NoMoreWeightNJ so sorry for your lost. Yes, I'm in the same situation now. I went 324lb to 220lbs. Today, I'm currently back up to 286lbs. I no the struggle you are going through. I was working and thought now the weight will come off. Yes, it did but nothing prepared me for was coming my way. Back pain, two herniated disc had to quit my job. I'm basically walking with a walker and doing no exercise. We need guidance on how to get back on track again. Thanks for sharing your story and I will follow your updates.

Sent from my SM-N910V using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you Sherrie, I'm sorry to hear of our similar struggle. I am thinking that the first step will be for me to talk with my doctor and stop ignoring the issue. I think I feel a lot of guilt and shame related to weight gain as if I am failing the process when all I'm doing is hurting myself with that attitude. I came to this site because it's the next best thing to an in person support group for me and wanted to be able to walk through the steps on how to get back on track. We all started in the same place and worked through the program step by step. Need to get back to holding myself accountable and just moving forward in a positive way from here on. But of course if anyone else has any methods that they recommend I would love to hear. I've heard of a kickstart diet for sleevers who are +1 year post op called the 5 and 2 or another called the 4 and 3, which is a modification of the original 5 and 2. I'll let you know what I find! Best of health to you

[facebro29 272]

I understand your pain. I lost 100lbs and it seems like that’s it for me. I want to lose another 35lbs but I’ve made bad choices re food and I graze A LOT. My stomach has stretched but lucky enough my weight has only fluctuated 1-3lbs. I need to get back to eat properly again but I don’t know how.

So sorry about your loss. I hope you can get back on track again.

[NoMoreWeightNJ 225]

Thank you - it's a daily effort but I'm taking steps to get there. I started using the Calm app and meditating for the past 10 days or so and I feel like it's helping me pay closer attention to the things that trigger my stress eating.