I am almost one year post op (November 1st) and I'm down 102lbs.. However since June I've had no control over my head hunger and feel I may have stretched my pouch. Maybe it's normal, maybe it's not.. But I can eat 2 scrambles eggs and a whole grilled cheese for a meal and still feel fine.. That never used to be. I've lost the sensation of knowing when I'm full. I'm truly at wits end and will see my surgeon next Monday.. I've come so far, but am I just destined to give up and start all over again?? I can even imagine gaining that weight back. I've gained 4lbs and I'm a bit stressed. With malabsorption wearing off.. I wonder if I did the right thing with my weaken will power..

Malabsorption never wears off. That's why you have to take vitamins for your whole life. It's normal to lose the most weight in the first year. It's harder after that but a lot of people continue to lose if they haven't met their goal.

Go back to the basics. Review the guidelines you used earlier on. Eat 6 small meals a day. Never eat more than 4 oz at a time.

Malabsorption never wears off. That's why you have to take Vitamins for your whole life. It's normal to lose the most weight in the first year. It's harder after that but a lot of people continue to lose if they haven't met their goal. Go back to the basics. Review the guidelines you used earlier on. Eat 6 small meals a day. Never eat more than 4 oz at a time.

Caloric malabsorption does wear off after a year to 18 months. The intestines regrow the vilii (spelling) that can absorb calories however they cannot grow the vilii that absorb vitamins- those were bypassed by the surgery.

I also recommend you go back to basics- Protein first. Since you are a year out my surgeon has said up to 1 cup of food 3 times a day. That's all- your pouch is supposed to stretch to accommodate that much. If you need to spread that amount out over 6 small meals to stay feeling fuller then you should do that. Make the pouch work for you. Even if you have stretched it some it will never be the size your stomach was previously since the pouch was made out of the least stretchy part of your stomach. Talk to your surgeon and I'm sure they will be able to help you get back on track.

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First of all, you are having a challenge right now and you've reached out to the community for a helping hand. That's a great first step and if you haven't already, congratulate yourself on taking that first step. It says to me that you're still as committed as ever and just need an idea or two on how best to get back in the zone.

Secondly, perhaps it's important to remind yourself that you are not the first to hit this particular bump in the road and you certainly won't be the last. The fact that you're struggling a little at the moment does not in any way diminish the amazing progress you've already accomplished (congratulations!) nor does it mean even better things are not well within your reach. Many have experienced the same challenge and gone on to realize all of their goals and more.

It is not uncommon to hear folks say "I can eat this and this and this and have no problem." Back to The Prime Directive - lifestyle changes. Are lifestyle changes about what you "can" or "can't" do? Or are they about what you "choose" to do or "choose" not to do? If you accept the premise that they are about choice, then I would submit to you that the single most powerful tool (in the universe - lol) for helping us make better eating choices is - a food log.

Food logs allow you to set a daily calorie goal. Every minute of every day you have instant access to exactly where you are at calorie wise relative to your goal. Why is that so important? Because it allows you to make informed eating "choices". Every meal. Every snack. Every drink. Every calorie. Every day. Or to put it another way, food logs make you accountable - to you.

Food logs do amazing things for your confidence. I like thinking of my log as a compass - always pointing me in the direction that I want to go. Sometimes I get a little off course. That's just fine. I don't panic, I don't stress and I don't worry. Why? Because I always know that a minor course correction will get me right back on track. I gain a pound or two, make the correction, and my weight goes right back to where I want it to be. You don't have to do that very many times before your confidence goes right through the roof. You "know" you're in control. You "know" you can manage your weight instead of your weight managing you. And you prove it to yourself - again, and again, and again.

The secret to food logs is what I like to call the "Law of Averages". Although you have a daily calorie goal, it is ridiculous to expect to hit that goal every single day for the rest of your life. And who would want to? Unrealistic, not sustainable, and absolutely not necessary. But change that daily calorie goal into a weekly calorie AVERAGE and it almost magically changes everything. Life is supposed to be fun! Life is full of special occasions and many of those occasions involve food. So you enjoy and savor one of those special occasions and you see that your calories go up for that day. No problem! You simply make a minor, 100 to 200 calorie adjustment for a day or two and you're right back on course, right back on track, with your AVERAGE. It's simple. It's painless. And it is so, so effective.

Commit to logging your food for 90 days and you'll never go back. My Fitness Pal highly recommended but there are any number of options that do pretty much the same thing. Regardless of the one you choose, you're gonna love the new you!

One thing that I always remember is my doctor talking about that we gravitate towards foods we can eat more. For example I can eat a lot of crackers. They sit easy in my pouch and digest easy, but I can only eat about 3 oz of steak and I feel stuffed. I tend to gravitate to the crackers because I can eat more. So i would test yourself and try something that used to make your pouch full quickly.

I also second the food log suggestion. It really helps keep you accountable. I have not logged in about 3 weeks and need to start back up again. Sometimes it is hard to see your food choices in black and white.

First of all' date=' you are having a challenge right now and you've reached out to the community for a helping hand. That's a great first step and if you haven't already, congratulate yourself on taking that first step. It says to me that you're still as committed as ever and just need an idea or two on how best to get back in the zone. Secondly, perhaps it's important to remind yourself that you are not the first to hit this particular bump in the road and you certainly won't be the last. The fact that you're struggling a little at the moment does not in any way diminish the amazing progress you've already accomplished (congratulations!) nor does it mean even better things are not well within your reach. Many have experienced the same challenge and gone on to realize all of their goals and more. It is not uncommon to hear folks say "I can eat this and this and this and have no problem." Back to The Prime Directive - lifestyle changes. Are lifestyle changes about what you "can" or "can't" do? Or are they about what you "choose" to do or "choose" not to do? If you accept the premise that they are about choice, then I would submit to you that the single most powerful tool (in the universe - lol) for helping us make better eating choices is - a food log. Food logs allow you to set a daily calorie goal. Every minute of every day you have instant access to exactly where you are at calorie wise relative to your goal. Why is that so important? Because it allows you to make informed eating "choices". Every meal. Every snack. Every drink. Every calorie. Every day. Or to put it another way, food logs make you accountable - to you. Food logs do amazing things for your confidence. I like thinking of my log as a compass - always pointing me in the direction that I want to go. Sometimes I get a little off course. That's just fine. I don't panic, I don't stress and I don't worry. Why? Because I always know that a minor course correction will get me right back on track. I gain a pound or two, make the correction, and my weight goes right back to where I want it to be. You don't have to do that very many times before your confidence goes right through the roof. You "know" you're in control. You "know" you can manage your weight instead of your weight managing you. And you prove it to yourself - again, and again, and again. The secret to food logs is what I like to call the "Law of Averages". Although you have a daily calorie goal, it is ridiculous to expect to hit that goal every single day for the rest of your life. And who would want to? Unrealistic, not sustainable, and absolutely not necessary. But change that daily calorie goal into a weekly calorie AVERAGE and it almost magically changes everything. Life is supposed to be fun! Life is full of special occasions and many of those occasions involve food. So you enjoy and savor one of those special occasions and you see that your calories go up for that day. No problem! You simply make a minor, 100 to 200 calorie adjustment for a day or two and you're right back on course, right back on track, with your AVERAGE. It's simple. It's painless. And it is so, so effective. Commit to logging your food for 90 days and you'll never go back. My Fitness Pal highly recommended but there are any number of options that do pretty much the same thing. Regardless of the one you choose, you're gonna love the new you![/quote']

I find such encouragement in your posts. I read them and reset my thoughts in this difficult journey. Thank you once again my friend. You are an inspiration.

And thank you all to have words of encouragement!

DL it is always a joy to read your responses, your thoughts, your advice along with the encouragement you give. I hated to keep a food log, but MyFitnessPal is so easy that I don't have an excuse anymore. And it does help, just like the scales. Between the two, I can almost figure out why the stall and what needs to be done. Thanks for helping us through difficult times, or what we think are difficult.

Duplicate

First of all' date=' you are having a challenge right now and you've reached out to the community for a helping hand. That's a great first step and if you haven't already, congratulate yourself on taking that first step. It says to me that you're still as committed as ever and just need an idea or two on how best to get back in the zone.

Secondly, perhaps it's important to remind yourself that you are not the first to hit this particular bump in the road and you certainly won't be the last. The fact that you're struggling a little at the moment does not in any way diminish the amazing progress you've already accomplished (congratulations!) nor does it mean even better things are not well within your reach. Many have experienced the same challenge and gone on to realize all of their goals and more.

It is not uncommon to hear folks say "I can eat this and this and this and have no problem." Back to The Prime Directive - lifestyle changes. Are lifestyle changes about what you "can" or "can't" do? Or are they about what you "choose" to do or "choose" not to do? If you accept the premise that they are about choice, then I would submit to you that the single most powerful tool (in the universe - lol) for helping us make better eating choices is - a food log.

Food logs allow you to set a daily calorie goal. Every minute of every day you have instant access to exactly where you are at calorie wise relative to your goal. Why is that so important? Because it allows you to make informed eating "choices". Every meal. Every snack. Every drink. Every calorie. Every day. Or to put it another way, food logs make you accountable - to you.

Food logs do amazing things for your confidence. I like thinking of my log as a compass - always pointing me in the direction that I want to go. Sometimes I get a little off course. That's just fine. I don't panic, I don't stress and I don't worry. Why? Because I always know that a minor course correction will get me right back on track. I gain a pound or two, make the correction, and my weight goes right back to where I want it to be. You don't have to do that very many times before your confidence goes right through the roof. You "know" you're in control. You "know" you can manage your weight instead of your weight managing you. And you prove it to yourself - again, and again, and again.

The secret to food logs is what I like to call the "Law of Averages". Although you have a daily calorie goal, it is ridiculous to expect to hit that goal every single day for the rest of your life. And who would want to? Unrealistic, not sustainable, and absolutely not necessary. But change that daily calorie goal into a weekly calorie AVERAGE and it almost magically changes everything. Life is supposed to be fun! Life is full of special occasions and many of those occasions involve food. So you enjoy and savor one of those special occasions and you see that your calories go up for that day. No problem! You simply make a minor, 100 to 200 calorie adjustment for a day or two and you're right back on course, right back on track, with your AVERAGE. It's simple. It's painless. And it is so, so effective.

Commit to logging your food for 90 days and you'll never go back. My Fitness Pal highly recommended but there are any number of options that do pretty much the same thing. Regardless of the one you choose, you're gonna love the new you![/quote']

Very well said!

DL it is always a joy to read your responses, your thoughts, your advice along with the encouragement you give. I hated to keep a food log, but MyFitnessPal is so easy that I don't have an excuse anymore. And it does help, just like the scales. Between the two, I can almost figure out why the stall and what needs to be done. Thanks for helping us through difficult times, or what we think are difficult.

And thank you all for the kind words! You guys have a great weekend!!