Back on track

[EricR 0]

Hey everyone,

I had the sleeve surgery almost 3 years ago, lost about 80lbs. But as time went on, I began eating more and my portions have been getting bigger and bigger. I've gained back some of the weight that I lost instead of continuing my weight loss to my goal weight.

I didn't join any support groups and I stopped browsing these forums, but I am back on here and I want to get back on the weight loss path.

If anyone on here has any experience/advice with this, I am all ears.

Thanks,

Eric

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[biginjapan 647]

Good luck Eric. I had the same problem - sleeve 3 years ago, lost 100 pounds in 8 months, gained back 60 over the next 2.5 years. I tried resetting my pouch and going back to pre-op diet mode, but nothing really worked for me. In the end I decided to have a revision to bypass earlier this year. I've been losing weight consistently (but slowly) since then. However, it hasn't affected any real change - I can eat just about anything (pizza, bread, Pasta, whatever - serving sizes are normal portions, not bariatric portions). For the most part I DON'T eat these things (still doing shakes and fish and salad, etc.), but every now and then I've just been pushing to see if there is anything that my body does not like/can't handle. There's nothing. I'm really disappointed because I thought the even smaller stomach would help with Portion Control (it doesn't), that having bypass would make me not like sugar (it doesn't), or that I would have other food issues (like lactose intolerance - I don't). So it's a good wake-up call for me that portion control and what I eat is the key - I can't depend on the surgery to help me out, other than initial weight loss. For whatever reason, my body has reacted to these surgeries really well. In both cases I was up and walking and feeling great within a day after surgery, I never had food restrictions like so many others (I could eat at 3 months what many patients could at 2 years post-op), and I never had any food issues after surgery either. I'm saying all this in that the second surgery didn't fix any of my food/body issues, it's all a mind game, really. In a way I wish I hadn't had the second surgery (money-wise), but if I hadn't done it, I don't know if I would have learned these lessons as well.

FWIW, I think the best plan for me going forward is a mix of protein-prioritized Keto (or maybe paleo) mixed with intermittent fasting (I'll start with 12 hours and work my way down to 8 hours, maybe to 6 eventually), plus adding some weight training to my regimen. I'm working on weaning myself off of all my bad habits over the next week or so and will be starting fresh on July 1st.

Hopefully others can chime in with what they've done to deal with weight regain after surgery. Unfortunately I think a lot of people who do tend to leave these forums (as I did), so I'm hoping that sticking around here on a regular basis will keep me more motivated.

[ChubRub 1,707]

I just wanted to say Welcome to the board and best of luck to you!!!

[catwoman7 11,218]

I had my surgery five years ago, lost 235 lbs, have gained back 20. Since most people do gain about 10% of their lost weight back the second or third year post-op (and unfortunately, some gain much more than that), I was expecting that. But I can tell you it is a CONSTANT battle to keep from gaining more. It's all a head game. I can maintain my weight as long as I stay at or under 1700 calories/day. But I can definitely eat MUCH more than that at this point. As I said, it's a constant, daily battle. The surgery only gives you a strong tail wind as well as a much better chance of taking - and keeping - the weight off (I'm sure you've heard that without surgery, fewer than 5% of people can lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off. The odds are much higher for those of us who've had surgery, but not 100%). But you still have to work at it every day for the rest of your life. Ugh - but - that's the way it is, it seems. I still weigh/measure and track my food. If I don't monitor it closely most of the time, my weight starts heading north again really fast.

[California Guy 131]

I saw some great responses. I agree it is possible to get the same results with no surgery. I definitely considered going the no revision route by just dieting correctly. Surgery doesn't make you lose weight. Your body loses weight if you eat healthy food with fewer calories. Problem is, we've failed at some point so any advantage you can get is a good thing. For me, the out of pocket cost of the surgery $5k isn't a factor since I eat meals at home or pack lunches now instead of take out. I'm eating less and the surgery pays for itself. The health benefits I can expect getting out of the Obesity class are worth it. If I can get off high blood pressure medication, avoid getting diabetes or needing a hip replacement, that's life changing. I'm 48 years old. I tell people I'm doing this to add years to my 70s.