I feel like a total failure!
 

I had my gastric bypass in Feb, 2006. I lost 75 pounds within the first 6 months and then I was done. I couldn't seem to lose any more. I have to admit that I was one of those that really thought this would be the "magic bullet", but I'm here to tell you that it is NOT magic anything!

I really wish I had paid more attention to what I was told to do and not tried to keep pushing it. I am over 5 years past the surgery and have regained 35 of the 75 pounds I lost. And now I am trying to figure out what to do next to stop this gain. I am so ashamed and really don't want to be one of the people that have regained all the lost weight, but here I am.

If I could give anyone advice it would be to have the surgery, but follow the rules to the T. Do what they tell you and don't do what they tell you not to do. It is NOT magic. You still have to be dieting and exercising for the rest of your life!

I wish I could do it over again. I know now what happens when you try to do it your own way.

:bunny2:

Wls
 

Mika, I do not know if you have seen or heard of it, but there is a website that talks about the 5 day pouch test. I have not tried it, but I have seen it mentioned in my dr's site. Evidently it helps get you back in the groove. It is something to look at anyway.

Good Luck
Tammy

Wow, this thread spans years!

I had RNY 6-7-07 and the first three months were sheer misery. My body didn't like the anesthesia nor the painkillers post op. So I cried alot! I had to have help in the bathroom and bathing for nearly a month afterwards. In that same month, I went to the ER with terrible cramps in my back and shoulders and dehydration. I was given potassium for the cramps and an IV with saline and vitamins for dehydration. Boy that felt great! I felt the difference within 20 minutes. I was also on oxygen 24/7 for the first month. I couldn't breathe without it. I've never felt worse.

After that 3 months, the clouds began to clear. I suddenly had some energy. I had been off oxygen and painkillers for 2 months. I lost 50lbs the first month and then it slowed and was a steady 15-20lbs each month for 5 months. Then it slowed some more. But I was doing well. I had no other side effects or complications. It wasn't falling off anymore and so I started working at losing more and did it. And it felt so good because I COULD! I COULD move! I COULD hike! I was able to do so much more. I was a really athletic kid, and I wanted to be an athletic adult too! And I was really getting there! It was like a miracle. But I followed the rules about 90% (no such thing as perfection) and I had dumping when I ate sugar, milk, too much fat or too many simple carbs. And I still do. I dump almost as easily now as I did back then. Which is good, because it keeps me off sugar! Mostly. I have learned to manipulate the pouch. I guess everyone figures it out eventually. But, I'm happy to say I didn't gain any weight from it. When I'm out to a nice restaurant, and I want to really enjoy my meal, I'll manipulate a little bit. I don't go to nice restaurants more than once every 3-6 months, if that. Manipulating it to be able to eat sugar was hit and miss. Sometimes if I ate a cookie on a full stomach, I would not dump at all. Sometimes there would just be a delay, but it would hit! So I gave that up. It was not worth the misery. I learned how to tolerate minor dumping, so I'd eat 6 M&M's, feel a little bit bad, and then 2 hours later, do it again. And I'd go all day at this game until I finished the bag. That was this Spring when my stress levels were off the charts. Of course, the more you eat of that stuff the more you crave it so I was doing it more frequently. Magically, I didn't gain weight. I can only assume it's because aside from that, I eat very healthy. Lean, organic protein and fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and high fiber whole grains and good fats only. "Bad" eating just means I have too many whole grains and not enough vegetables and usually I am not eating regular meals. Which for me, means I'm eating LESS. But I do NOT go back to eating junk! I haven't eaten low quality or fast food since surgery. And I do not want it. I crave real, healthy food. So I suppose that was the "magic" that prevented weight gain from that. I have had fat shift, however. Everytime I start exercising and losing weight, it shifts. When I suddenly stop exercising, it shifts. It did it alot the first 6 months after surgery. My body likes to redesign itself I guess! lol

Today, more than 4 years later, it was the best decision I could have made. I've got an injury that is holding me back this year, but up until the injury I'd hike for miles, do 5 miles in 20 minutes on the bike, skii all day long 3 days a week, snowshoe... it was a dream come true. I'm learning to work around my chronic injury now, but once I get surgery on it to correct it and rehabilitate from that, I'll be back to conquering mountains.

Hello!
I'm just 2 weeks postop from a LapBand and it was the best decision I ever made. My surgeon and his support team did a fantastic job in helping me understand that my LapBand was a TOOL not a solution. I have to journal, make good decisions, exercise and use my band just as someone uses a hammer. The decision to get this tool was a difficult one but with the support of my husband and my surgeon I am determined to be successful.

I had a gastric bypass six years ago. Best thing I've ever done. It wasn't easy, but I started feeling better and began leaving the house and socializing again. Four years ago I met the man of my dreams, and we were married 18 months ago. He loves to ride motorcycles, so he outfitted me with this awesome white leather jacket and black chaps, and away we went.

Over the last 2 years I gained 25 pounds back, simply by eating too much, exercising too little and I'm sure that the margaritas every weekend didn't help. While I can't eat much at one sitting, I found that if I ate small amounts all the time (grazing), I could eat all I wanted. Obviously it's an emotional eating problem. Then the weight started coming back, and early this Spring I found I couldn't fit into my white leather jacket anymore. YIKES!

My husband is also overweight, so he and I have gone on the Ideal Protein diet (under his doctor's supervision). So far I've lost 33 pounds and am back to wearing the jacket! Cutting out the margaritas, carbs and sugar are worth it!

Weight on day of WLS - 4/15/2006 - 309
Lowest after surgery - 188
Before IP diet - 213
Current Weight - 180
Goal - was 170, but I've moved it back to 160. Trying to get to a BMI between 25-20.

I put best thing ever although my lapband has malfunctioned and I regained the weight lost I still cant wait for my bypass to be done so I get that life of being a\ble to move run sit in any chair reach my feet easily back again

Hi I'm new here. I had WLS in 2003, lost about 100lbs, but after time starting gaining some back. Now, trying to loose about 23lbs I've gained. Trying the Wonderslim diet program, hard for me to stick to a diet, that's why I ended up having surgery. One regret I have is not listening to the Dr. regarding the food choices, I ate whatever I wanted and for years didn't gain, but it's catching up to me now.

after surgery
 

I'm new and just had the sleeve done, and I am very happy so far. between my 2 week pre op diet and now. I have lost 31 pounds. I drink Premier Protein shakes twice a day with a creamy soup for lunch, and drinkable yogurt for snacks. I am not tire, or hungry, and best of all no cravings. I do admit when my hubby fixes dinner for him and my daughter it smells good, but I don't hunger for it. I have no had any bad side effect, Thank God! Next week I start on soft foods, and wonder, is it when you start back to eating regular food when you start having problems? Or did some of you have it right away?

I voted "Managing eating and exercise is still a challenge, but I'm learning" -- but I also am SO GLAD I DID IT, and would do it again a thousand times over! It's not "better than I ever thought possible", because, damn, I still have to make good choices. But it is still REALLY great.

Thank you for posting this. Never thought about the surgery as a serious thing and I doubt that I would ever do it. But thanks to you, at least, I would read a bit about it.

After fighting my weight for 45 years, having weighed over 200 lbs. in high school, I finally had the sleeve done in Mexico on 3/11/16. I'm so happy I had it done. It's not been easy and has been a learning process, but I believe this is going to make the rest of my life much easier and healthier. The surgery has been the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Surgery date: 3/11/16
Surgery weight: 334 lbs.
Current weight: 256 lbs.
Goal weight: 210 lbs.

wtg on the loss...hope you are still maintaining it :carrot:

After surgery, I saw so many people got more complications, which I think is regrettable.

uhm

To increase weight, it is easy and to decrease weight, it is the most toughest job on earth.

Post Opp- 10 years RNY
 

SO I guess I am about 10 years out now, and overall, certainly the best decision ever! Do I love my flabby skin and rolls left over? Nope, its not cool at all. Would I rather have flabs and rolls than be 300lbs again, absolutely! I can hide flab for the most part.


One thing I struggle with is mentally watching my eating. After about 4 years or so I had to start watching my diet more so I didn't gain the weight back since I was eating more. I can now eat almost a normal size portion (by normal I don't mean USA standards), but I also find myself grazing throughout the day at my desk and drinking while I eat so I just keep grazing. So I do switch over to kewto/low carb usually 2 times a year for a month or 2 to keep my weight in check. I started at 300 and lowest was at 168, but my goal weight is probably around 175. I seem to keep gaining up to 210 and then I diet again and then loose down to 180ish. so I battle with the same 30lbs.

The after-effects of the surgery are always the toughest. The important part is to follow a diet. But what diet to follow? I am currently on a ketogenic diet. I feel more healthier now.Good luck with the way forward.

After surgery ..
 

Hello,

I would say that it is a decision that I do not regret at all. On the contrary, but food and sport remain daily challenges.

Nabel

After surgery...
 

And you, do you have regret ?

I feel normal, but that doesn't mean that weight control is easy

I know someone who had surgery before, and now she's really trying her best to maintain her weight. There were ups and downs on this journey, but she did it, and I'm so proud of her.