need information - Post Op weight re-gain
Hi JB -
I am currently 20 months post op and have lost 160 lbs. I have not lost
any weight since August, but I haven’t gained any weight either. I
would like to lose another 19 lbs. to have a normal BMI under 25. by my
2 year anniversary in May. I know at this point I will really have to
engage in true “dieting” actions to drop these last pounds - track what
I eat, increase exercise, etc. Longer term post-ops can be prone to
re-gain if they don’t deal with their emotional eating problems during
their first year post op where it is physically much more difficult to
over eat or make the wrong choices. The farther out you are post op the
easier it may become to tolerate greasy, fatty, sugary foods. In
addition, many can eat 8-10 ounces at a time with a fully healed pouch.
This is a great difference from the 1-2 ounces the newly post op pouch
can hold. So, if you are eating the wrong foods or grazing (eating
every hour or so as soon as your pouch empties) it becomes all too easy
to re-gain lost pounds. The most common thing I have heard is that
people begin old habits such as night eating (constant grazing from
dinner to bed), carb loading, or grazing at work.
Many pre-ops may read this and become anxious by what I have said. This
shouldn’t be the case. Instead, think of yourself as fully informed and
know that you will really need to focus on cementing healthy habits for
the long haul ahead.
Susan in VT 333/173/154 Open RNY - May 2003