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Weight Redistribution: Hormones or Sleeve settlement

windycitymom

By windycitymom, in WLS Veteran's Forum

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windycitymom    60

windycitymom
Posted

Hi All,

I'm almost 4 yrs post op and I swing within about 3-8 pounds above my goal for the last 3.5 years. In the last 6-12 months, I feel like my legs and back side have gained a tremendous amount of weight and are getting "bulky" again with fat and cellulite, however, my weight is consistent. I also simultaneously am (late 40s) having hormone issues while I flirt with menopause so lots of changes going on. New back, shoulder, neck and foot problems are kicking in too, so making exercise more challenging.

Has anyone had this situation where their weight gets redistributed or they become "chunky" while the number on the scale is roughly the same? I'm trying to figure out if this is what happens after one has had the sleeve for a while and the body gets used this new weight or if this is a hormone thing or maybe all of the above. I've always been pear shaped but after sleeve most of my bottom heaviness evened out with the top cuz I was so thin but not so much anymore.

Lisa

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Kindle    8,667

Kindle
Posted

Thanks for posting. I've been thinking about starting a similar thread myself. I'm only 2 years out and I've already noticed this. I have stayed within the same 5 pounds for the last 14 months but over the last couple months it seems my legs and butt have gotten a bit thicker. Still in the same size jeans but they are definitely more snug. I also feel I have a bit more tummy flub....ab muscles not as defined.

It's kind of like the opposite of when I would lose inches during a stall. The only logical answer I can think of is that I'm losing muscle but gaining fat so my weight stays the same, but my body grows. Don't know why this would happen....I'm not any more or less active and I still exceed Protein goals every day. However, I am in my late 40's, too, so maybe the hormone thing has something to do with it.

Interested in what others have to say....

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Miss Mac    6,262

Miss Mac
Posted

Me too.....been shape-shifting for a while.

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Pinkgirl1234    761

Pinkgirl1234
Posted

Age....

I wonder if this happens to men?

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Djmohr    6,965

Djmohr
Posted

I swear this has everything to do with hormones but I don't know this for sure.

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Daisee68    2,493

Daisee68
Posted

I'm only 7 months out, so I don't have input on whether it is WLS related or not, but I can tell you that 2 years ago before I had a hysterectomy (and dr had done hormone test which showed I was almost through menopause) that I had a lot of joint pain. It was only in one joint at a time mostly and moved around from week to week. All to say could very well be hormonal. You might ask your ob/gyn to do a blood test. Believe it is called FSH test?

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CowgirlJane    14,261

CowgirlJane
Posted

I blame it on my fitness level. I am 51, was sleeved 4years ago. I am at goal but bigger than I was 3 years ago. I Think it is muscle mass vs bodyfat. I have a surgery in a week but starting in march I am going to hit the fitness regime much harder. I do work out now, but, I plan to amp it up. Interesting to compare notes later...

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CowgirlJane    14,261

CowgirlJane
Posted

Oh, I was one of the unlucky ones who went through menopause young..so been there for 5 plus years.

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MIMISAN    404

MIMISAN
Posted

I had a hysterectomy at 38 and I am now 62 so if I get a chunky butt after surgery I will have to claim it! :huh:

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bellabloom    2,469

bellabloom
Posted

I wonder if this has more to do with losing muscle as you age? I have read that losing muscle mass is very common as we grow older.

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CowgirlJane    14,261

CowgirlJane
Posted

I learned something recently, there is something different about fat cells in the thigh area...like they grow back or some dang thing.

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windycitymom    60

windycitymom
Posted

Yes, I'm sure it has to do with hormones too. I feel like a 200 lb person on the bottom again but I didn't feel this way in my body or two or three years ago so maybe it is the resettling of the fat past being at goal for 1 year...

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Kindle    8,667

Kindle
Posted

I learned something recently, there is something different about fat cells in the thigh area...like they grow back or some dang thing.

That's the meanest thing you've ever posted on here...... :(

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Go To Topic Listing WLS Veteran's Forum

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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