Prestonandme

A friend of mine gained back 60 lbs. seven years after her weight loss surgery. She was hovering at about 185 when she decided to take radical action to lose the weight. She began weighing and logging everything she ate and drank. She exercised more. And she became very careful about her diet -- giving up processed foods.
She is now back to 125 lbs. So it can be done.

Perimenopause is the scourge of the gods. I had been normal weight until then and had been able to eat huge quantities of food and never gain weight. Then perimenopause: 136 to 245 at my highest, over the years. For some of us, our metabolism nosedives.
You were doing great and still are in good shape. You've caught the gain creep in time and you're doing everything right -- logging/exercising... Maybe you might consider making a long list of really low-calorie foods (e.g., radishes, cherry tomatoes) that taste good and can satisfy snack cravings. Also, come to the forum whenever you need encouragement. Even if that means a few times a day for awhile. There are hundreds of thousands of posts by people who are in similar situations and also by people who have managed to overcome weight regain. We're in this together through the ups and downs. And we all, every one of us, go through them.

Before surgery, people repeatedly suggested that I log my food at MyFitnessPal and weigh the food every day. That was way too burdensome for me.
But when I reached maintenance weight a year post-surgery, this became my life-saver. Through MyFitnessPal, I discovered that prior to logging, I was eating about 300 calories a day more than my daily required caloric needs (1200/day) and was wildly off when I guesstimated how much food was in a cup. (I always overestimated). If I hadn't started logging and weighing, I would be quickly regaining all the weight I had just lost.
Yah, it's a pain. It's time-consuming. And it's burdensome.
But it may be what helps you lose those 10 pounds and shed even more.

Before surgery, people repeatedly suggested that I log my food at MyFitnessPal and weigh the food every day. That was way too burdensome for me.
But when I reached maintenance weight a year post-surgery, this became my life-saver. Through MyFitnessPal, I discovered that prior to logging, I was eating about 300 calories a day more than my daily required caloric needs (1200/day) and was wildly off when I guesstimated how much food was in a cup. (I always overestimated). If I hadn't started logging and weighing, I would be quickly regaining all the weight I had just lost.
Yah, it's a pain. It's time-consuming. And it's burdensome.
But it may be what helps you lose those 10 pounds and shed even more.

So I first had VBG (banded gastroplasty) in 2001. I lost 100 pounds and then plateaued and stayed at the new weight until 2012. All of the sudden I couldn’t eat anything. I threw up everything I ate. I had an endoscopy which showed scar tissue blockage. I had a revision into a gastric bypass. After that the weight flew off, eventually I had lost a total (including the 100 from the first surgery) 197 pounds. Three pounds away from my goal of losing 200 pounds. Then all of the sudden weight loss stopped. One day I had a few sips of Mtn Dew and I didn’t get sick. So the next day I had a whole glass. Then a whole can. Wow, I had all that sugar and no dumping. Maybe I can have a candy bar. Same result. You see where this is going. Now eight years later I have gained 160 pounds back. It makes me physically sick to think of what I’m putting my body through, let alone the emotional part of feeling like a big fat loser (no pun intended). I cut out the Mtn Dew and am drinking Mtn Dew Zero. I want to cut that out too but can’t find a drink that satisfies me. For those of you who know the feeling of gaining weight back, how are you handling it and do you have suggestions on how to get motivated to start losing? I’m desperate and need feedback. Thanks ahead of time.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for several years. It didn't interfere whatsoever with my weight loss.

The fear of regain is what motivates me daily. So many people say that WLS patients start regaining weight around the third year post-surgery. I know four people who had WLS ten years ago, and three of them regained -- one 40 lbs., another 60 lbs., and the third about 100 lbs. Only my former roommate stayed at 125 lbs. and it's a bit of a miracle because she eats pretty mindlessly -- but always stops when she feels full.
I had my one year WLS anniversary five days ago and that is when I changed up my game. Before this, I eyeballed my food and exercised a little and the weight came easily off. But now I am logging and weighing everything, and am exercising daily. I really don't want to regain. That's my motivation.

I started calorie counting when I was about a year out, and still do it at five years out. It's the only way I can keep on top of my weight (although not everyone likes this method - some find it a bit obsessive. But it's worked for ME). I can maintain my weight if I stay within the 1500-1700 calorie range, but this is going to be different for everyone. To lose, I stay at the low end of my range (or under) most days. If I go over 1700 too often, my weight starts heading north.
you might want to start tracking what you're eating in something like My Fitness Pal (although there are other decent apps, too), just to see how many calories you're averaging. You'll probably have to do it for a week or two to get a good average, since some days you'll eat more than others (as we all do...). Then try to cut your average by 100 calories. If after a couple of weeks you're not seeing results on the scale, cut another 100 calories. Rinse and repeat. I find it difficult to drastically cut my calories, but if I ease them down like this, it's much easier to adjust. At some point, you're going to reach your sweet spot where you're losing again.
btw - I still count Protein grams, but I don't count carb grams anymore - but some people have to because they're very carb sensitive (I'm not particularly carb sensitive). For me it's the protein and overall calories at this point.

I am 10 years out. Lost 140 pounds. In last 5 years gained 40back. Life happens. In the last year I have lost 36 of those pounds. How ? Back to basics. Protein - I grill fish or chicken or beef. Portion it up - then I make lots of vegetables - fresh riced cauliflower brocolli carrots and chop in onions or garlic fresh herbs steamed and then a quick sautéed in olive oil - meals for lunch and dinner for a few days. Hot cold - over salad - add stir fry veggies to that .... filling and all healthy. My carbs come from the veggies and fresh fruit. I also will have a daily treat that I don’t count - as anything. One skinny cow ice cream or a piece of chocolate - 2 little dove bites are heaven. And I am in control !!! Intentional eating.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for several years. It didn't interfere whatsoever with my weight loss.

Here's a link to a Ricotta Bake recipe from BariatricBits, for when you are able to tolerate soft foods:
https://bariatricbits.com/single-serve-baked-ricotta/
It's quick and easy to make, and is less than 150 calories.

Right after surgery, I experienced terrible Constipation, too. I tried all sorts of remedies to no avail. The only thing that helped in my case was Fleet enemas.

I'm currently reading "Hunger" by Roxane Gay. It is a memoir about being morbidly obese, how one perceives the world, and how the world perceives the obese. At her heaviest, Gay was 577 pounds at 6'3. She does not disclose her current weight, but Google Images shows that she's still very obese.
I found it interesting that Gay went with her father to a seminar about weight loss surgery and walked out disgusted. She called the videos of the surgery "grotesque and chilling" and the weight loss seminar "a total freak show." She and her father concluded that she is "not at this point yet." "A little more self control. Exercising twice a day. That's all you need," said her father. Gay admits she desires the results of weight loss surgery but does not want to undergo the surgery.
Though she repeatedly denies the damaging health effects of obesity and devotes an entire book to the struggles of being obese and and coping with the harsh perceptions and judgment of others, she is unable and unwilling to do what's necessary to change her life.
According to one study, only one obese woman out of seven is still alive at 75 years old. Gay is in her forties. I hope she one day saves herself from an early death.

Here's a link to a Ricotta Bake recipe from BariatricBits, for when you are able to tolerate soft foods:
https://bariatricbits.com/single-serve-baked-ricotta/
It's quick and easy to make, and is less than 150 calories.

I'm just over 60 and was told several times by both my nutritionist and surgeon that the best way to boost BMR is to build muscle.
AARP currently is hosting a "Get Moving" video series for strengthening the body, something that we older people need to do. Here's a link to the first videos:
https://campaigns.aarp.org/getmovingLP1/?cmp=IM-HEALTH-HL-LPTWO-2020-Previous
It requires a time investment of as little as 10 minutes a day.

A friend of mine gained back 60 lbs. seven years after her weight loss surgery. She was hovering at about 185 when she decided to take radical action to lose the weight. She began weighing and logging everything she ate and drank. She exercised more. And she became very careful about her diet -- giving up processed foods.
She is now back to 125 lbs. So it can be done.

A friend of mine gained back 60 lbs. seven years after her weight loss surgery. She was hovering at about 185 when she decided to take radical action to lose the weight. She began weighing and logging everything she ate and drank. She exercised more. And she became very careful about her diet -- giving up processed foods.
She is now back to 125 lbs. So it can be done.

I should add that the 60 lbs. weight loss took my friend about 2 1/2 years. It required constant vigilance and dedication.

I still watch television and see the actors as "other." In my head, they are thin, normal people and I am still obese. This is how I've perceived people for the past 20 years. Them, a tribe of normal people. Me, a very fat outsider. Every so often, I must remind myself that I look like them now. Normal. They are no longer "other." But the thoughts linger.

I still watch television and see the actors as "other." In my head, they are thin, normal people and I am still obese. This is how I've perceived people for the past 20 years. Them, a tribe of normal people. Me, a very fat outsider. Every so often, I must remind myself that I look like them now. Normal. They are no longer "other." But the thoughts linger.

Bariatric surgery appears to alter the gut microbiota in many of the same ways that a fecal transplant does. Though the pathomechanisms for this are not yet completely understood, what is known is that it increases Escherichia coli (which is correlated with leptin levels) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (which reduces inflammatory markers) due to the starvation-like state in the immediate post-op period. There’s a lot of exciting research in this field right now that looks promising in terms of future treatment possibilities for obesity and morbid obesity.

The fear of regain is what motivates me daily. So many people say that WLS patients start regaining weight around the third year post-surgery. I know four people who had WLS ten years ago, and three of them regained -- one 40 lbs., another 60 lbs., and the third about 100 lbs. Only my former roommate stayed at 125 lbs. and it's a bit of a miracle because she eats pretty mindlessly -- but always stops when she feels full.
I had my one year WLS anniversary five days ago and that is when I changed up my game. Before this, I eyeballed my food and exercised a little and the weight came easily off. But now I am logging and weighing everything, and am exercising daily. I really don't want to regain. That's my motivation.

The fear of regain is what motivates me daily. So many people say that WLS patients start regaining weight around the third year post-surgery. I know four people who had WLS ten years ago, and three of them regained -- one 40 lbs., another 60 lbs., and the third about 100 lbs. Only my former roommate stayed at 125 lbs. and it's a bit of a miracle because she eats pretty mindlessly -- but always stops when she feels full.
I had my one year WLS anniversary five days ago and that is when I changed up my game. Before this, I eyeballed my food and exercised a little and the weight came easily off. But now I am logging and weighing everything, and am exercising daily. I really don't want to regain. That's my motivation.

Regarding hair, I started taking Biotin right after my surgery. Maybe I was lucky, maybe it was the biotin, but I didn't lose any hair. I had another major surgery the year before, and didn't lose any hair that time either. I hope you are lucky, too.

Yes, you'll be able to take them. But I wanted to put in a good word for BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE. (This isn't an ad!) Prior to surgery, I had been taking several Vitamins but post-surgery I switched to BariatricPal Multivitamin One. I was worried that my blood test results would show low levels of necessary vitamins because so many other WLS patients said they had continued to take lots of different vitamins separately. But it's a year later and I just had my one-year blood test results, and everything is perfect. And the price for BPMO is truly reasonable.