There is a study saying people tend to gain a lot of weight back by 5 years.

And other studies say that most people gain at least -some- weight back at some point.

Why is this?

You would think that if it was old bad habits returning then the longer you have had the new healthy habits the more sticking power they would have (not less).

Is it the body fighting the weight loss like they mentioned in the biggest loser article?

Do you adjust to the low levels of ghrelin and so a tiny amount starts making you feel hungry again?

This concept is scary to me...

@@Babbs

@@CowgirlJane

it's not snarky at all. im sure i have much more to learn. the good and bad news for me is i don't eat right. i eat too fast and take too big a bite so i usually get sick before im done lol. i know this is bad but i rarely over eat due to this stupidity.

i think it will always be a fight but one i'm hoping we can all manage to win. also i paid $12,000 for this and i don't mean to have that come out to be a waste lol.

So, from what I hear from people years into it: you DO get hungrier as time goes on? Does your body learn to make more ghrelin or are your hungry empty fat cells sending the starvation signal to make you eat more?

I can see a problem of "getting lazy and instead of counting out 17 potatoe chips for a serving you take "a handful" and then it becomes "a large handful" and then it's "a bowl" and then it's a bag... And then you're at costco buying the big box with 30 smaller bags and you're in BIG trouble now because you have 30 bags of chips on your house!!!

I can see that happening. That is where diligence and being mindful and learning new habits is important...

But it is not what I am afraid of.

From what people have said I am afraid that you eat 1 egg, 1 piece of bacon, and a slice of tomato for Breakfast and feel full and energized all morning....

...until suddenly a few years down the road you just DON'T. One day it just doesn't cut it anymore and you're hungry before lunch.... You HAVE to up it to 2 eggs (or whatever is the step up from where you have been) or you'll be hungry before your next meal.

Your eating hasn't changed but now it's not enough any more, and/or (even worse) now you gain on the same food!

Is this what happens?

Or is it more like the less scary (but still a genuine problem!) chip scenario?

Also:

Can you stop "slider foods" from sliding by, say, eating a bite of chicken?

Like (this might sound weird, I know nothing about it) say you want a muffin top but want to stop yourself going overboard and wanna make sure it lasts till your next meal... Could a bite of protoine act as... I dunno. A plug?

@@pr_pitbullgrl

I've always eaten too fast and take too big of bites. It's something I'm always trying to work on

So, from what I hear from people years into it: you DO get hungrier as time goes on? Does your body learn to make more ghrelin or are your hungry empty fat cells sending the starvation signal to make you eat more?

I can see a problem of "getting lazy and instead of counting out 17 potatoe chips for a serving you take "a handful" and then it becomes "a large handful" and then it's "a bowl" and then it's a bag... And then you're at costco buying the big box with 30 smaller bags and you're in BIG trouble now because you have 30 bags of chips on your house!!!

I can see that happening. That is where diligence and being mindful and learning new habits is important...

But it is not what I am afraid of.

From what people have said I am afraid that you eat 1 egg, 1 piece of bacon, and a slice of tomato for Breakfast and feel full and energized all morning....

...until suddenly a few years down the road you just DON'T. One day it just doesn't cut it anymore and you're hungry before lunch.... You HAVE to up it to 2 eggs (or whatever is the step up from where you have been) or you'll be hungry before your next meal.

Your eating hasn't changed but now it's not enough any more, and/or (even worse) now you gain on the same food!

Is this what happens?

Or is it more like the less scary (but still a genuine problem!) chip scenario?

From what I've seen, it's a little of both scenarios.

Honestly, I'm trying not to overthink things too much. If I do, I'll get discouraged and start the "what's the point?" spiral into bad habits again. I think even if we gain a little years down the road, is sure is better than where we began, no?

I actually live with a long time WLS person. My husband had the bypass 10 years ago this year. He initially lost 130 pounds, and has managed to more or less keep off 110 of it. He did have a 30 pound gain after he quit smoking, but with the help of medication, did manage to lose it again. He is fairly mindful of what he eats, but pretty much eats what he wants when he wants. He still has some restriction, but can certainly eat much more than years ago. I think the key to his success is they guy is ALWAYS busy. He spends very little time sitting around. I think he has been able to keep his metabolism ramped up that way.

This is a great thread

And it really is proof that WLS (of any type) is a tool - not the 'easy way out'...

Also:

Can you stop "slider foods" from sliding by, say, eating a bite of chicken?

Like (this might sound weird, I know nothing about it) say you want a muffin top but want to stop yourself going overboard and wanna make sure it lasts till your next meal... Could a bite of protoine act as... I dunno. A plug?

Yes, having protein will always help fill you up some. My nutritionist told me to never eat carb-only snacks for that very reason. Having an apple or toast? Put peanut butter on it. Having crackers? Put cheese or tuna salad on it. Never eat JUST an English muffin or JUST potato chips.

@@Medowsweet Yes! I always eat my protein before I indulge in a piece of something that is a slider food because the protein prevents the slider from sliding. Then I'm full really fast, but I've satiated my taste for whatever I sampled.

Edited May 6, 201610 yr by sleevenv

Like @@KindaFamiliar said, this is a great thread!

WLS is a TOOL which is ONLY useful when it is worked.

It (tool) cannot work by itself.

Dont be discouraged.

i spent a LIFETIME of being obese or overweight and for the first time ever I CAN maintain. It isnt easy, yes your hunger returns but it went from impossible to living the dream!

Dont be discouraged.

i spent a LIFETIME of being obese or overweight and for the first time ever I CAN maintain. It isnt easy, yes your hunger returns but it went from impossible to living the dream!

you_are_fabulous. that's all.

@@CowgirlJane

How MUCH does your hunger return? Are you just hungry at or maybe a little befote meal times like a normal, not dieting person, (who makes smart choices and is naturally thin) or are you "kinda hungry all the time but not as bad as dieting without sleeve"

How is SATIETY? How long are you full between meals?

Do protine shakes keep you feeling satisfied?

Before sleeve were you obese your whole like?

Does one piece of cake on someone's birthday leave you craving cake and junk for a week?

I am working my way back too! I still need to lose 48 pounds (which is a little child). I have spent the last six weeks exceriseing, drinking Water and eating healthy things. I am constantly telling my head to get back on track. It is working but slower than I thought the scale is moving down. I was off due to depression and several post-sleeve operations. Yeah I gained and now I am losing. I will never give up! This is the first time that I admitted gaining. This has not been easy but this tool is very helpful.

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Edited May 6, 201610 yr by LadyK44

I'm four years out and 9 pounds over surgeons goal and 19 over my lowest weight. Yes, I'm hungry and it's a struggle to keep the weight off. I'm very active- I am a long distance runner. This is one of the reasons why I'm hungry. Lol. I can gain if I'm not eating 1200 or below and that's with running 4-5 times a week. I think my metabolic rate has slowed. My husband says all the time that my body is not normal and he is in disbelief when I am lamenting about the numbers on the scale. However with that being said I love sweet and salty food. It's a combo. Even though I run, I can't eat anything I want. The struggle is real. This is part of the reason why I popped back on the boards. The sleeve is amazing! I'd do it again in a second but I still struggle with my weight. I don't think that will ever go away.

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