Strangefruit

I'm 3 years out, I've gained about 35lbs back from my lowest of 172, and really wish I did have. supportive surgeon... My guy is so much if a dick, I actually call him Dr. House (from the Hugh Laurie character)... He's rude and abrasive - I would never have selected him, but with Kaiser Permanente, I didn't have a choice of surgeon ... He's thin as a reed, which really makes my wonder why he went into Bariatric surgery, but he's such a dick, he made me cry in the hospital when I was dehydrated and couldn't even eat ice chips.
I bought a Bowflex Treadclimber hoping to help with my exercise - I absolutely hate it, but continue to use it because I don't want my family to say, "I told you so"... I've stopped using the elevator at work, I walk around the building at lunch time, I log everything I eat in My Fitness Pal and still cannot get the scale to move. Reading about others opinion that this surgery messes up our metabolism is comforting while at the same time depressing. *sigh*

If you don't have medical support,
the best I can offer in addition to all that you know, is to lift weights every day for at least 10 minutes. Different muscle groups. No pain, though. 12-15 reps. Start with one set and work up to 3. Building muscle helps boost metabolism. You don't have to go gang busters.
Make sure you're drinking Water and meeting Protein requirements. So important to break a stall. I eat a lot of raw veggies. Still I sooooooo appreciate that we are all different and in many ways, the same.
By example, I work out 6 days a week for 60-75 minutes. Over the last 18 months I had dropped weight training and thought I'd maintain my gains with vinyasa yoga on non dance days. This is where I made my error. So now, again, I never go longer than 48 hours without weight training. I dropped 15 pounds of regain in 3 weeks. Crazy!!!
I hope you find a solution! Don't give up

Thank you for posting this. Reading this and other posts that seem to say that for some of us, the surgery makes our already sluggish metabolisms even more wonky is encouraging and depressing at the same time ... I generally eat less than 1300 calories a day and cannot lose weight ... ????

I'm 3 years out, I've gained about 35lbs back from my lowest of 172, and really wish I did have. supportive surgeon... My guy is so much if a dick, I actually call him Dr. House (from the Hugh Laurie character)... He's rude and abrasive - I would never have selected him, but with Kaiser Permanente, I didn't have a choice of surgeon ... He's thin as a reed, which really makes my wonder why he went into Bariatric surgery, but he's such a dick, he made me cry in the hospital when I was dehydrated and couldn't even eat ice chips.
I bought a Bowflex Treadclimber hoping to help with my exercise - I absolutely hate it, but continue to use it because I don't want my family to say, "I told you so"... I've stopped using the elevator at work, I walk around the building at lunch time, I log everything I eat in My Fitness Pal and still cannot get the scale to move. Reading about others opinion that this surgery messes up our metabolism is comforting while at the same time depressing. *sigh*

I am. You are. He is over there… and she is too. Everyone reading this article is a success. Being a success has nothing to do with how much weight you have lost. It isn’t determined by your tape measure. It’s not proclaimed by everyone on your buddy list. You are a success as long as you wake up trying and go to bed planning to fight tomorrow.


Who is a “Success Story”? I’ll tell you…

I am. You are. He is over there… and she is too. Everyone reading this article is a success. Being a success has nothing to do with how much weight you have lost. It isn’t determined by your tape measure. It’s not proclaimed by everyone on your buddy list. You are a success as long as you wake up trying and go to bed planning to fight tomorrow.

I just realized it at this very moment. I mean, I’ve always known… but it never really hit me in my gut (no pun intended) until right now. What I have been searching for, for so long – ten years now to be exact. That is when I really started getting into the health and fitness community. It was when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and I was scared enough to change my life. I’d recently lost an Uncle when I was diagnosed, due to complications (many tormenting and painful years of it) of this horrible disease also known as “The Silent Killer”. And from there I was set to change my life, forever.

Fast Forward many years to 2011. That was the height of my health and fitness and going into 2012 until I blew out my knees. I created a thread here called “Bariatric Surgery Do’s and Don’ts”. In case you have not seen this thread yet, here’s the link: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/194624-bariatric-surgery-dos-and-donts/

Well, little did I know at the time of creating that thread that today it would become the Top Most Liked Post here at BariatricPal.com – now you might be wondering what the heck that thread has to do with this magazine article? Well, here it is: what you do today will someday have a profound effect toward your distant future. Have you heard of the “Butterfly Effect”? Well it’s exactly the same idea. Tomorrow you may not even notice the results of yesterday’s decision make, but one of these days – maybe next week, maybe not until 5 years from now but you will realize the finality of your decision.

That’s not all though, back in 2007 I finally realized that I needed help. I started to research Weight Loss Surgery on Google. Well those searches lead me here. I mean, back then it was called LapBandTalk. My, my… has it grown since then! Since that time I have had 2 revision surgeries due to complications but I know there is absolutely no way I wouldn’t have gotten through all of it without the support of this website. I am forever grateful to the Site Owner, he (Alex) has been a true blessing for me.

In that time I have become somewhat of a Bariatric Community leader, both here and abroad. It’s special to me because making that tiny Google Search was the first flutter of my wings to now. Even being a Global Moderator here and writing my very own magazine articles. I am so thankful for the opportunity to express myself the way I believe I am meant to.

Even though I am fluttering all over sharing my story, I always know where my home is.

Life is not all wonderful however; you have to be just as prepared for the results of your bad decisions too. If you’re choosing to binge for several days your result will show up on your next weigh-in. Just like if you chose not to make your house payment for a few months, you can scar your credit report for maybe an entire decade of your life... it’s the same idea.

So again, if you woke up this morning with the idea that you are going to at least try… then you are a success. Your results may take time to catch up to this truth (you just need to have faith and practice patience) but it will come about.

Just keep in mind to maintain, you will have to continue what you are doing now to a degree... like fasting for one day a week....

I had the surgery fall 2012... The first year was great... The end of the second year, I have gained 18lbs and went through menopause... I am wondering if this is common... I still average about 1300 calories a day, but cannot seem to shake this weight gain... On 1/15, I started doing the 5:2 Intermittent Fast Diet... One week out, I am finally down 3.6lbs... I am committed to doing this 5:2 plan for at least a month to see if this gives me the results I need... I have read that a weight gain after menopause is not uncommon, but I thought 18lbs was quite a bit for one year. ????

Today is a fast day... I made a pot of that weight watchers 0 point vegetable Soup for fast days...it works out to be about 21 calories for a 1 cup bowl. Nice and filling... I had a Protein Shake with frozen fruit in the blender for Breakfast, the veggie soup for lunch and will have a nice salad with chicken on it for dinner... The advantage that some of us have from others doing this plan, is that having to fast for TWO WEEKS living on only Protein Shakes pre surgery makes this one day fast seem like butter. Oooh...shouldn't think about butter on fast days.

Today is a fast day... I made a pot of that weight watchers 0 point vegetable Soup for fast days...it works out to be about 21 calories for a 1 cup bowl. Nice and filling... I had a Protein Shake with frozen fruit in the blender for Breakfast, the veggie soup for lunch and will have a nice salad with chicken on it for dinner... The advantage that some of us have from others doing this plan, is that having to fast for TWO WEEKS living on only Protein Shakes pre surgery makes this one day fast seem like butter. Oooh...shouldn't think about butter on fast days.

the idea behind the 5:2 is keeping eating as normal as possible... that makes it easier to stick with. A Protein Shake now and then, no problem, but try to make it NOT look like a diet, because as we all know, diets dont work very well... they are just to hard to stick too! Do watch the 5:2 documentary.... it explanes a lot... and the fast diet web site has lots of good ideas for food plans as well.

This is the end of Day 1 of my fast for the 5:2 plan...It is going really well... I really haven't been that hungry, except for head hunger... I had planned to have Protein Shakes for all 3 meals with some tweaks- am, vanilla with frozen fruit, lunch - chocolate with added powdered instant coffee and powdered unsweetened cocoa (cuts some of the shake sweetness), and I have planned another vanilla shake for dinner... when it occurred to me - I could have a Green Giant steamers broccoli and cheese sauce...the entire box is less than the Protein Shake, and it's way more filling, physically and psychologically... I am stoked! That sets me in for the day at 494 calories! And, I did my yoga tape today, so I feel really good...

I think I'm gonna try this... I'm worried that I won't last or it won't work, or that I'll feel ill (light headed or shaky) at work and punk out and eat... But I'm gonna try.

After three fast days without any loss, I changed my aproach a bit, lower carbs on fast day (around 60- being a vegetarian makes it a little harder to keep it low), more raw and nothing before dinner... and lost a pound.... VERY happy to see this. lowering the carbs really helped the Water weight to come off. Still there, and fasting tomorrow... so hope this is a sign the stall is over and I'm heading south again!
Good job ladies! Stick with it!

I think I'm gonna try this... I'm worried that I won't last or it won't work, or that I'll feel ill (light headed or shaky) at work and punk out and eat... But I'm gonna try.

AMAZEBALLS! Bloody wicked. Crikeys! That's all the slang I've got! Proud of you!!

Gotta add my experience... I was in a stall for nearly two years; no matter what I ate, how I moved or any diet I could not shift a pound. Disheartened and fed up didn't come close to how I felt. I wasn't at goal and I really felt that my eight loss journey had ended.
The Georgia told us about the 5:2 and how it was working for her. I decided to try it, well, I hay tried everything else!
That was June... I have broken that stall and lost 10lb. Now, that might seem slow to some reading this, but for me it was amazing. I am now 3lb away from my surgeon's goal and when that day comes I will think about going for my personal goal, which will be an extra 14lb or so extra.
This, albeit slow, has worked for me... And even though I don't lose on a weekly basis, I am seeing results in measurements.
Sorry for the long post

Im sure the 5:2 vets will be happy to give support here on this thread if anyone has questions.
This site has a copy of the Eat, Fast, Live longer BBC documentary that started this protocol... excuse the popup adds, annoying, but the doc (50+ minutes long) is so worth watching. This plan is a longevity plan, not a weight loss plan, but weight loss can accompany the practice... which is the kind of company I like! If you start the plan, report here so we can see how your doing!
http://leangainsguide.com/diet/igf-1-and-fasting/

See my signature line for my 5:2 loss..... I eat around 12-1500 on feast days (depending on exercise) and 550 or so on the two fast days (mon and ths for me) I had a 22 pound regain, lost 5 of that, started the 5:2 protocal and lost the rest, plus got to goal. I am now maintaining still using the 5:2.... or occasionally 6:1. Its pretty easy to do, theres always tomorrow to eat what you want. It worked for me when it seemed nothing else would.
...start the 5:2 plan (6-11-2013)- 190.9
almost 3 years after surgery First Goal, get to the 160's (11-7-13) 168.7 still on the 5:2!
There is a private 5:2 group. We might entertain a new member or two, but new members must show a commitment to the lifestyle, and show they can get along in a positive way... we are a very close and supportive group.

I'm 4 years 7 months out. I'd be lying if I said I eat correctly all the time. I regained about 27 pounds somewhere around end of year three. Lost all my regain using 5:2 Intermittent Fasting. In the last 8 months, I've allowed myself to add back about 15 pounds so tightening up and gaining control and utilizing 5:2 again. With that said, you just have to keep in mind that this is a TOOL not a easy fix. Like it was said, sliders ALWAYS slide and ANYBODY gains weight eating junk!

Thanks strangefruit. I will stay off the scales! I figured it was Water weight, but pretty discouraging!

Premier Protein now has strawberry... very sweet but I like it. Same stats - 30g of Protein, 160cals and I think 5grams of carbs (love the chocolate, hate the vanilla).. Anyhoo... all flavors were $4 off a case today! The premier Protein Bars are also on sale... I think 3.50 off per box. They are high carb though...
I also found a new AmyLu product in the fridge section. "Chicken burgers" with cheese and lots of flavor in them. 150 calories, low carb at 2 grams and a whooping 22 grams of protein. I consider THAT a protein bargain!
I buy a couple of other protein items at costco regularly - sandwich meat (love the pastrami!), AmyLu's chicken maple Breakfast sausage ( 90 cals, 14g protein and 2g carbs). I also buy an italian sausage that is very low calorie, but i don't remember all the details anymore.

To date, I've lost 91 pounds. At a smidge under 5'3", I've gone from a tight size 20 to a comfy size 12 pants, from a 2x (42DDD) top to a L (36D). I weighed 263.4 at my highest, I am 172.2 as of this morning. I still have 23.2 pounds to go to my personal goal but that's a number I just picked out of my ass, with absolutely no idea what that's going to look like or where I really want to end up.

I'm just realizing what a delusional fat person I was before. I could look at myself in my bathroom mirror thinking I looked good. I had my "skinny" days quite often where I went out with my head held high thinking no one could possibly see how morbidly obese I was. At the same time, I always tucked myself in the back of pictures if I wasn't offering to take them. As one of the shorter people, that was no easy task as everyone tried to shove me up front. (As if they could move THIS mountain! HA!) The result from this is that I have very few pictures to compare my current body size to.
Now, my head is telling me that I am "normal" sized. I am no longer the largest size in the store. I am no longer the largest person in the room anywhere I go. When I go shopping with friends who I've always considered average in stature, I am in their size or one smaller. I can pick up clothes and think that there is no fuckeding way that my assed will fit in that and it does. I am not skinny by any stretch of the imagination but I do think that I am fit. I am no longer afraid of a fitness class. I am no longer afraid of a day of hiking in the apple orchards. I am no longer afraid of a marathon day in hot weather at the park with the kids and the dog. I can easily jog in place for 45 minutes while I teach a kickboxing class joining in seamlessly whenever I care to without losing my breath. I am willing to try new exercises not caring what I look like and no longer making the excuse that I am uncoordinated so I can't possible try. All that said...

I CAN'T SEE IT. I JUST CAN'T SEE IT!!! I am in constant doubt that I really am normal sized. I am in constant doubt that I am not still the big girl. I look at pictures of myself and while I know in my head I look better, all I can actually see is my fat thighs and the roll that's still apparent around my belly. I used to be able to pick up an article of clothing and know if it would fit and now I am terrified of being disappointed because it's too small because I am so unaware of my body size.I am constantly trying to compare myself to everyone around me, not because I want to tear them down and make myself feel better but because I want to see what everyone else sees. I am dying to ask everyone around me what size they wear, how much they weigh, if I can take a picture next to them so I can compare. I restrain myself, but it's hard. It's really really hard. You know how when you hear yourself on a recording, it's bizarre because that's not what you sound like in your head? You know how you can't hear your own accent? That's how I feel about my appearance. I can't see it.
I am not fishing for compliments. I am not asking for reassurance because intellectually I know I am getting there. I just want to know when my self awareness will catch up with my actual being.
ARGH!!!!! HELP ME!

I'm not sure if anyone else struggles with this, but I REALLY do. I drive myself, and everyone I know, crazy with this question. I find myself asking strangers sometimes, if the conversations makes it's way there (which I know how to drive that, lol). So, that's what I'm doing here, too. Please don't judge me harshly
I wanted to be one of those people who set their goal and succeeded to get there. I find that I'm not one of them, and that magic number is elusive to me. So the commentary in my head goes like this, day after day, all day, every day:
- I haven't reached my goal....I'm going to have to DO something.....
- Maybe this is all I'll ever lose, and that's OK
- No, you had a goal, you can do it.....
- Well, you look good. You wear a size 10
- But I could wear a size 8! And, my BMI is still high. So I must be FAT.
- You aren't that fat, all your bones are sticking out and it hurts when you bump them.
- Well, maybe the weight would just come off my thighs, not where I'm already bony.
- That's just stupid, you never had thin thighs. Just be happy.
- Yes, that's right. I can be happy like this, my life is great. Just shift my goal a little, be realistic!
- But wait, AM I being realistic? Maybe I'm just giving myself an easy out.
- Yeah, you are just giving yourself permission to go into maintenance. After all with a BMI of 28, you are overweight. Better kick it up a notch.
And on, and on, and on. It's exhausting! So, am I fat?? It's not a rhetorical question. The surgeon says I'm good to go. The dietitian at my docs office says I'm not fat, and just go into maintenance. She said most people end up with a BMI around 28, and that it is successful. I'll be honest, I don't exercise, (bad knee) and I think that's one thing that I could do to impact it. Also, my calories creep up on the weekends, and I know that's also impacting it. So, maybe I could get there, but I've been on a plateau and I haven't lost in months, even when I was doing those things.
The real question is, am I fat? Not compared to the weight I was (I think people who know me always have that point of reference), but compared to normal people. How important is the number to all of you? Thanks for listening!

I had my surgery march 2010 I went from 280 down to 160. I go up and down depending on the kind of calories I consume. If I don't concentrate on Protein and eat sweets and junk I can climb. It's very easy to take off once I refocus though. I am at 162 as of today but last week was at 167.... I was obviously getting off track but caught myself and am now refocused!!

I was one year out October of 2013... I had pretty much lost and then maintained, but have gained about 5-6lbs since the holidays as my workout routine has changed. (I used to do a lot of walking outside and we have had a severe winter)... I am trying hard not to gain any more, but am confident - ok, hopeful - that this spring I can resume my workout routine and get back to where I was in the fall. I don't think I am eating a whole lot more, but my stomach *has* stretched some in that I can consume more than last summer... I hope that is normal... I thought I was supposed to eat more than directly after surgery, but much less than before surgery.