Hello Sleevers,

As a new BP member, I would like to start this forum topic because it is the reason why I have decided to rejoin the WLS Online Community. I was sleeved 09/18/2015 and was very successful. I lost 129 lbs and was feeling great!!! Then 2017 rolled in with it's funky self and brought stress, anxiety and emotional distress prompting a significant weight gain. I am no longer in my size 8 clothing and back up to a size 12. I am determined to get back on track and lose the weight I've regained, plus an additional 4 pounds which would finally bring me to my original weight loss goal of 160 lbs.

So, has anyone else experienced a significant weight gain after being sleeved and managed to lose the weight back off? Any tips? It would be great to share this journey with others as we all know that we do better when we support one another. :-)

Edited December 28, 20178 yr by DLovelySleeve

11 hours ago, BlueCrush said:

Curious from the sleeve veterans, how does regain happen? Does your sleeve eventually get to the point where it's not restrictive after a few years? Grazing on junk throughout the day to get around the restriction? Still restrictive, but eating bad food instead of Protein with what little can fit? Combination? Other?

As someone who has lost and regained almost 100lbs several times in my life, regain is my biggest fear. I would love to learn from others experiences of what common gsv regain pitfalls to avoid.

I'm only about 2.5 weeks post-op. Thanks in advance!

Hey BlueCrush,

So my weight regain was SO my fault. Over time your sleeve will start to tolerate more foods. When I noticed that I could eat certain things without getting sick, I started exploring even more and reintroducing foods into my diet that I had no business eating such as bread, rice and pizza. I also drank a lot of booze in 2017 (struggling with depression). My exercise regiment suffered this year as well due to working 3 jobs. All in all, I stirred up a big pot of uh oh this year. On a bright note, I still have pretty good restriction (I still eat like a toddler) and believe it or not, I still never actually "feel" hungry.

Ultimately, I would recommend trying to avoid reintroducing your trigger foods and bad carbs (refined and processed carbs) into your diet. Your sleeve will stretch over time because it's a tissue and that what tissue does, but we just have to be sure that it doesn't stretch beyond reason.

I hope this helps. :-)

Edited December 29, 20178 yr by DLovelySleeve

4 hours ago, swall22 said:

Thank you so much for bringing this up!! I’m about 2 years out. I sometimes do the 5-7 pound yo-yo and haven’t lost in a while. I started graduate school this year so I haven’t been exercising and not eating well due to stress and time restraints, which ultimately isn’t a legit excuse but still. I am scared I’ve stretched the sleeve and won’t be able to bring it back down. I think it’s because I sometimes snack and I also am not eating the best food so it’s easier to eat more. This year I definitely plan to stick to an actual plan and log food!

Hey Swall,

So, i too was afraid that I stretched my stomach and basically ruined my surgery, but once I realized that it was all in ym mind and that I really still eat like a 3 year old (lol), I was able to calm down. The biggest thing I think will help me this upcoming yhear with losing the weight will be meal planning. I am on the go a lot and that's how I fell back into fast foods. You're right about logging foods also. I need to do that.

Omg! So you are able to eventually tolerate bread?

14 minutes ago, Diahanna said:

Omg! So you are able to eventually tolerate bread?

Hey Diahanna,

Absolutely!!! Thick bread at that; like bagels and texas toast. I can only do a couple of bites, but it goes down without a problem.

Hey Diahanna,
Absolutely!!! Thick bread at that; like bagels and texas toast. I can only do a couple of bites, but it goes down without a problem.

Thank you so much! I thought my days of having bread were over. My friend who was sleeved in March said she still can't tolerate bread so I thought it was something that I wouldn't be able to eat at all.

1 minute ago, Diahanna said:

Thank you so much! I thought my days of having bread were over. My friend who was sleeved in March said she still can't tolerate bread so I thought it was something that I wouldn't be able to eat at all.

Oh no, you will definitely be able to eat bread, pasta, pizza, etc. You probably shouldn't, BUT your belly will eventually tolerate it.

You're welcome! :-)

11 minutes ago, DLovelySleeve said:

Hey Diahanna,

Absolutely!!! Thick bread at that; like bagels and texas toast. I can only do a couple of bites, but it goes down without a problem.

So once you get to your limit on the bread, how do you feel? Are you just full? Does it hurt? Do you feel nauseous? Sorry for all the questions - I'm a band to VSG revision - with my band, when I ate something I shouldn't (or didn't chew enough) food would get stuck and it hurt. Bad. Sometimes had to make my self throw up.

Thanks!

I didn't realize you couldn't eat certain things like bread! I thought it was just limited in how much. I am pre-op and still have so much to learn!

8 minutes ago, timarland said:

So once you get to your limit on the bread, how do you feel? Are you just full? Does it hurt? Do you feel nauseous? Sorry for all the questions - I'm a band to VSG revision - with my band, when I ate something I shouldn't (or didn't chew enough) food would get stuck and it hurt. Bad. Sometimes had to make my self throw up.

Thanks!

Hey Timarland,

I just feel full. If I overdo it, I spit up a lot. Actually, that is for all foods. If I eat too much, I spit up. Not sexy at all! Lol! Pasta on the other hand, will go down, but if I eat too much of that I get hot and start sweating like crazy. I've left pasta alone for the most part because of this. If I have it, it's usually a bite that I am stealing from someone's plate.

Just now, DLovelySleeve said:

Hey Timarland,

I just feel full. If I overdo it, I spit up a lot. Actually, that is for all foods. If I eat too much, I spit up. Not sexy at all! Lol! Pasta on the other hand, will go down, but if I eat too much of that I get hot and start sweating like crazy. I've left pasta alone for the most part because of this. If I have it, it's usually a bite that I am stealing from someone's plate.

Interesting, and thanks again for the detailed info - this is a huge help. One more thing though - when you say spit up - is that like a regular throwing up type thing, or is it just a build up of saliva and stuff. That's what I have (had) with my band - if something got stuck, my body would think that it was actually stuck in my esophagus, and it would start creating a **** ton of saliva trying to break it down or move it. That would just build up in my throat and mouth and I'd have to go somewhere and spit it out. Sorry for the gross details...

I ain't gonna lie, it was Christmas morning and my family had cinnamon raisin toast and I'm only 2 weeks post op, I took a small piece no more than the size of a quarter maybe even a nickel and I was vomiting 5 mins later. I'm sticking with my purée and doctor instructions now after that fiasco. I just want to try it. [emoji52]

2 minutes ago, BrittneyH said:

I didn't realize you couldn't eat certain things like bread! I thought it was just limited in how much. I am pre-op and still have so much to learn!

BrittneyH,

In the beginning bread will not be an option as it is too thick and will hurt really bad. There will be other foods that you won't be able to eat either. Everyone is different, but shrimp was hard for me to eat as well.

28 minutes ago, BrittneyH said:

I didn't realize you couldn't eat certain things like bread! I thought it was just limited in how much. I am pre-op and still have so much to learn!

You will get the information from your surgeons team on what your eating plan will look like.

My plan for weight loss phase: high protein 60 to 100 grams. Low carbs. Carbs will be from vegetables. No potato, rice, breads pasta. When I lost 75% of my weight I could have two tablespoons of healthy carbs...Nothing white or processed. Whole wheat, brown rice and sweet potato. Adding carbs was to slow down and stop weight loss.

31 minutes ago, timarland said:

Interesting, and thanks again for the detailed info - this is a huge help. One more thing though - when you say spit up - is that like a regular throwing up type thing, or is it just a build up of saliva and stuff. That's what I have (had) with my band - if something got stuck, my body would think that it was actually stuck in my esophagus, and it would start creating a **** ton of saliva trying to break it down or move it. That would just build up in my throat and mouth and I'd have to go somewhere and spit it out. Sorry for the gross details...

Lol!!! No need to apologize. This forum is the place for all of the nitty gritty. Lol! So, the spit up tends to be saliva, some food and oil. It's really disgusting. I don't eat a lot of greasy food, but i guess just the natural oils come up. It's definitely a clear indicator that I should have stopped a bite or two ago. I will be getting back to carrying my collapsable measuring cups to ensure Ia m only eating 1 cup of food.

Edited December 29, 20178 yr by DLovelySleeve

2 hours ago, DLovelySleeve said:

Hey BlueCrush,

So my weight regain was SO my fault. Over time your sleeve will start to tolerate more foods. When I noticed that I could eat certain things without getting sick, I started exploring even more and reintroducing foods into my diet that I had no business eating such as bread, rice and pizza. I also drank a lot of booze in 2017 (struggling with depression). My exercise regiment suffered this year as well due to working 3 jobs. All in all, I stirred up a big pot of uh oh this year. On a bright note, I still have pretty good restriction (I still eat like a toddler) and believe it or not, I still never actually "feel" hungry.

Ultimately, I would recommend trying to avoid reintroducing your trigger foods and bad carbs (refined and processed carbs) into your diet. Your sleeve will stretch over time because it's a tissue and that's what tissue does, but we just have to be sure that it doesn't stretch beyond reason.

I hope this helps. :-)