My weight has been stable but my size isn't. I guess due to exercise / weight training. My size 4 pants are loose. I hesitate to say I'm a size 2. I read folks in maintenance will level off and regain 10-15 pounds. How true that is?? I don't know but if it is, when will it??

I'm investing heavily in a new wardrobe and really would hate to end up with a closet full of "One day I'll get back to that size" clothes again

Statistically that seems to be true but doesn't mean it will be true for you! Seems like years 2-3 is when it most often happens.

You poor darling...lol Just to have your problems eh....

Your body will level off and maybe you will go back to a size 4 or not. it is your metabolism, and genes that set the pace. I think I could fluctuate nicely between those 2 sizes...I will never be that small but some have to work at leveling off their so used to the program that they have trouble reprogramming themselves to maintenance.

Everyone is different. Seems to me you are one of the blessed among us who is having trouble maintaining a size 4......Hope things get better for you....

Same here, I did gain some weight back, up to another size but with the edema, we're not sure if it is true weight gain or edema that's making the problem. My legs and feet swell and my belly is starting to go like the kids you see on TV.

My problems surely could be worse. Thanks guys.

I will be 4 years out in July - I never reached my surgeon's goal; albeit it just a few pounds short (although it was a high goal in the first instance that kept me in an over weight BMI) and I am about 20lbs away from a personal 'OMG' goal... but I have never had a regain of more than a few pounds that I can account for eg holiday or christmas.

Not sure if this helps... I personally think that because I have never gotten to my sweet spot on the scale I have remained super viligilant and therefore not regained. I dunno?

Sounds to me that you are doing great though.... size US 2/4 would be just fine in my world...lol!

My weight has been stable but my size isn't. I guess due to exercise / weight training. My size 4 pants are loose. I hesitate to say I'm a size 2. I read folks in maintenance will level off and regain 10-15 pounds. How true that is?? I don't know but if it is, when will it?? I'm investing heavily in a new wardrobe and really would hate to end up with a closet full of "One day I'll get back to that size" clothes again

Not sure how far out you are but I think vigilance is key. As long as you keep doing what you are doing now for food and exercise, then ideally you wouldn't have regain. I'm only 15 months out so I hope that's true. I too have a whole new wardrobe that I would like to stay in.

I gained 22 pounds in my second year, I was mortified to have to go to the thrift store to buy jeans two sizes up. . I did manage to get it off over the next year and am now back into my smallest sizes. Vigilance is key. If you are injured and can't work out, you get sick or depressed, or just lose track for a while, you certainly can gain weight. Losing that 20-120 pounds "forever" is dependent on causes and conditions. Its not a guarantee.

It is a bit unfortunate when the thought of needing "to be vigilant for the rest of our lives" sinks in.

Being almost two years post op, these thoughts are starting to permeate my thoughts. Sure I can say no to certain food now and make every attempt to exercise daily, but, man, it is going to be a lot of work, a futile rat race that can never be won. If you want to metaphorically talk about this, it feels like doing laundry or cleaning dishes every day. It is not something that is particularly enjoyable forever (unless you get a kick out of doing these chores; I do not), when repeated over and over again.

Does it really need to be this way?

I know we are stuck with our individual genes, have certain metabolisms and have a set number of fat and muscle cells. Just as one cannot turn Water into gold (well, earthquakes can but you get my drift),we can not turn fats cells into muscle cells. Or can we? My google research indicates we cannot, but I would love to be told otherwise. I guess we struggled with being overweight before because we have more fat cells than muscle cells and those fat cells are just waiting " on call " to be refilled. I think CGJ mentioned that we can remove fat cells through plastics, but not all of us can afford plastics nor want to go through with the surgery.

Carb blockers, fat blockers, magic pills? I jest a little, but deep down I wish there was a way to finish the proverbial load of Laundry and be done with it. Forever. I am in a good place today in terms of bmi weight, low bf %, etc, but I kid you not: it is a lot of mental and physical work. Daily. Some times I just want to have that bar cookie or brownie, dammit, but I do not want the few days it takes to steer my body back in the right direction. The few minutes of sweet endorphin pleasure is not worth the days of course correction. Also, I want to be able to eat a nice dessert without thinking that the body is going to puff up or rage after being deprived for a while. My body is just not nice to me in terms of giving me free passes on pleasure food (read: sugar). I have to be vigilant. Sigh, no easy answers.

Let me know your thoughts if you have been through this mental stage as a vet or maintainer. I know it is just a phase, but it bothers me nonetheless.

Edited May 17, 201412 yr by Fiddleman

Fiddleman that was very eloquent and every word I think is true. Excellent job.

I have typed two thoughtful and inspiring posts in reply to fiddle man .hahah...and they both went POOF ...Some things are just not meant to be.

Good post fiddle.

I have to keep a constant watch. It's so easy to gain 5 lbs. Then it's very hard to take it back off. I don't want to battle another 15 lb regain, but it's not easy.

I still have good restriction at meals, but in between meals, I seem to run across goodies and temptations everywhere. Vigilence is a good word.

I have typed two thoughtful and inspiring posts in reply to fiddle man .hahah...and they both went POOF ...Some things are just not meant to be. Good post fiddle.

Hi CGJ- I am interested in your thoughts on this weighty subject. Feel free to repost if you have the time and inclination.

Perhaps thinking of the constant vigilance required to maintain one's weight loss as a chore that one must do daily isn't such a bad thing. If you never washed your dishes or scrubbed the toilet you would live in filth. Some people do but I couldn't live that way, not that I'm suzy super housekeeper, mind you. It does suck, like lots of not particularly enjoyable but necessary aspects of life.

I've recently been testing my sleeve with lots of low-quality fat food=garbage. Essentially a reaction to stress. The result was a 3 lb gain, mostly Water retention caused by the excess sodium. My body stubbornly refused to let go of that excess Fluid for two days. "Take that!" It told me! "Eat crap and you won't be able to crap!" And it mocked me as I looked at my swollen ankles. So I'm back on the wagon after my little binge. Sugar is one enemy but salt can be just as bad for me. I love them both, God help me!

Recently downloaded an app called "eat slower". It's free and simple and so far is helping me to stop inhaling my food, which has always been a problem for me. I've noticed when I use it that I pay more attention to my food and thus enjoy it more and that I feel the restriction better and thus stop eating before becoming overfull (another issue of mine). Good God, after reading this it's freaking miracle that I managed to lose any weight even with the sleeve!

@@Fiddleman For me, there are no two ways about it, the only path to success is constant diligence. I have to watch every calorie, every day. I am always on guard, and nope, it's not easy. I want to take a break sometimes, and while I do allow some deviation, I know that it's planned and short-lived. I worry about regain, and since I'm still trying to get to that elusive goal of a normal BMI, I have no wiggle room. I know that the minute I let my guard down, my weight will climb. If I don't stay hyper-aware of what I'm doing, there is no doubt I'd be right back where I started. It's a horrific thought to me! It's work all day, every day, forever, to be able to enjoy my new, much improved life. Still a good trade-off, in my opinion.

I was having trouble with my kindle... not sure why.

Fiddleman's post was well written and much of it resonanted with me. I am 2.5 years out - so similar situation timewise anyway.

I was not the one who said that plastics reduced chance of regain due to fat cell removal. I don't know if that is true or not, but I am not inclined to believe it because #1 I think most of the really harmful fat cells are in our torso between the organs and #2 I know several people who have regained after plastics.

I had two reactions to the thoughts... first is that "normal" people put on weight especially as they age. If you look around you will notice that many many people could stand to lose 20-30 pounds. I think as the formerly obese we are so afraid of regaining everything that we tend to get caught up in the idea that we must do whatever it takes to remain at a certain target. Heck I WANT to stay where I am too, so I get it, but my point is that normal people eat a bit more and gain a bit of weight and that isn't the end of the world either. I do think that the possibility of a "normal" weight gain is something that many of us should wrap our heads around as a possible long term outcome and not let it turn into a massive regain.

My second thought was along the lines of what you were saying. I am sometimes shocked at how little I eat compared to others. There is this little part of me that wonders why I don't weigh even less...haha... I sometimes wonder if it is sustainable, but for now it is not a problem. I realize that it can change in a heartbeat though.

There is something about eating low carb/clean - in my opinion bigger influence then working out - that makes you lose your appetite for the junky stuff.

I feel like I was more worried about regain at 2 years out then I am now 6 months later. I know it could still happen though.