Slow weight loss and weight regain after gastric bypass surgery

by Slow weight loss after gastric bypass
(Michigan)

I had weight loss surgery in 2004 and it took me 5 years to lose 100 lbs. When I had the surgery I weighed 342 lbs.

I had gastric bypass surgery and followed the diet very closely. In addition, as soon as I was able I begin exercising, walking and going to the gym. I did this 3-4 times a week.

However, I noticed that the weight loss was minimal. I never experienced dumping even when I tried foods that were supposed to cause the "dumping syndrome.

My friends had the surgery a few months before me and they both lost over 100lbs in less than a year. I began to gain weight towards the end of last year because I began to get discouraged. The weight has never been easy for me to lose and now its coming back, quickly...partly because my appetite has increased and is out of control and because I have stopped working out.

I am tired of working out 5-6 days a week for 2-3 hours just to keep the weight from coming back. There has got to be a reason why it takes so much for me to lose a single pound and keep it off.

I have thought of trying the revision surgery, but if the other one didn't help, I wonder if the gastric bypass revision is worth trying.

Evelyn

Comments for
Slow weight loss and weight regain after gastric bypass surgery

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For Evelyn
by: Yvonne McCarthy (Bariatric Girl)

First of all let me congratulate you for still losing weight at 5 years. Many start fighting serious regain at 3 years post-surgery.

Have you talked with your surgeon?

I'm going to ask you some serious questions...

- You said you follow the diet very closely but you also mention that you don't dump on the foods you shouldn't be eating. How much of the bad food are you eating? Perhaps you really need to log your food to get a real reflection of what you are eating.

- Anyone following the plan and doing that much exercise should definitely be losing weight. That's another reason you should check with your surgeon to make sure there hasn't been some problems with your pouch?

All bariatric surgery patients must exercise and I think you already know that if you quit it that you will start to gain. I think you see exercise as a horrible job (and so many do) so I encourage you to find something you might enjoy more. Maybe some class like Zumba or modified yoga. If you like to dance you could find a class for that.

It's pretty much always going to boil down to calories in and calories burned. I can feel your frustration and I can definitely understand. Just make sure you are really tracking your food because sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking we haven't eaten as much.

- Have you attended any weight loss surgery support meetings? It's important to have some place that gives you support and accountability.

One of the things that's so difficult to do is to be proud of the 100 pounds you've lost instead of dwelling on what you've not lost. When we always think of what we "don't want" it is what we bring into our lives. Try to concentrate on the blessing of the surgery and don't stress about the past because it's gone. The future is not yet here so forget about that too. Do what you can right now. You literally have to do this one day at a time. Tomorrow start fresh and commit to just that day to do what you need to do. Do the same thing the next day.

I'm ten years out and I can eat a lot if I want to, but I chose to do anything I can to fight for what I've gotten from the surgery. You ARE worth fighting for. I hope you think you deserve to succeed because you do. I hope some of this helps.

Hugs, Y

Slow weight loss response
by: Evelyn

Thank you for responding to my post. I really needed to hear what you had to say.

I did not return to my surgeon because I blamed myself for my slow weight loss even though I really did watch my eating closely for the first couple of years. Nonetheless, I lost weight as if I never had the surgery.

I think what made me stay so determined to lose is because my friends knew I had the surgery and were expecting me to lose a lot of weight like my friends that had the surgery before me. I was embarrassed and ashamed.

I have to say that lately the weight has begun to come back because I gave up. However, I realize that I must stop my pity party and begin to watch my diet and include exercise if I am going to stop the weight gain and begin to lose weight again.

I really just wonder why it is so difficult for me to lose weight verses other who have had the surgery. Thank you again for your post and your encouraging words.

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