Hi
My name is Lauren and I am going on ten months post op. Today I am starting the 5 day pouch test. I have hit a platuea and can see myself snacking all day instead of following a good diet. So I kind of want to 'start over'. I think my WLS is the best thing I ever did and I would do it all over again, I regret nothing. I was on my way to hitting 300 lbs and now I am 180, and would like to be 145. I have recently returned to the gym and feel so much better. Although, I have experienced some 'difficulties'. I am bruising like crazy, I can't sleep on my side because my bones in my knees touch and it actually hurts. My hair is taking FOREVER to grow, and recently my stomach HATES everything I put into it. So I am going to do protein shakes and sugar free jello for the next two days.. back to the beginning!
Id like to ask a question, if anyone knows.. Is it possible to put weight on after only 9 months post op? You would really have to be eating alot of the wrong things right? I think Im just paranoid because the scale hasn't moved in a month or so.
I got into carbs again, but I have stopped, I ate some pasta the other night and it hurt so bad, and broccoli.. that is awful too!
Ok So I want to get as much as I can out of this site, I need info and people to talk to. My family is just happy I lost weight, they really dont fully understand what I have done. My husband says he loves me no matter what and my 2 year old son doesnt know the difference!!
Another thing that is happening is that even though I have lost like 100 lbs there are still some people who think I will fail.. why are people like that? I get treated so differently now, you really see who cared about you and who just wants you to be miserable and needy.

Hi Lauren and welcome to the neighborhood. I am glad that you realize that you are headed for trouble and want to fix it now. You have worked too hard and come too far to go backwards now. The 5DPT should help you gain control of what you eat and allow you to focus on eating the right food once complete it.

As for the emotional questions, we will support you as much as we can here but sometimes you just need to go to a doctor and get things sorted out. WLS and it's aftermath is a real roller coaster ride and we need all the support we can get. I wish you the best and hope to see you often.

Hi, Lauren. Just stopping in to say, "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

Hi Lauren,

First off let me welcome you! I think you'll be very happy here. There is a lot of information and support.

It is good you are aware that you might be doing the wrong things.

I believe that you absolutely can gain weight back at any time after WLS. Just because you cannot eat a lot, snacking all day, especially on slider foods can add weight. Drinking fattening beverages all day is a very easy way to gain back weight. You don't necessarily feel full and drinks just slide on through. Be careful of that.

I cannot tolerate broccoli either and I loved it pre WLS. And I wouldn't eat pasta if I were you, yet. I didn't eat it for at least a year and half and if it bothers you now, better not to have it.

As for your knee pain, I have to sleep with a pillow between my knees and have almost since right after WLS. Weird! Your hair will come back, then it will fall out a bit again, back and forth. I'm 5 years out and I still experience that from time to time. But the first 2 years it was a lot!

You definitely get treated differently after you lose weight which always annoys me. I'm the same person on the inside but because I look different on the outside, people are "nicer" to me. And I do believe there are people in my life, just waiting for me to fail, yet again, at losing weight. So you are not alone in that. Prove them wrong! That's what I'm doing. And I don't think anyone can truly understand what we go through, before, during and especially after our WLS, except those of us who have been through it also.

If you get your bad habits under control now, you will be fine. Exercising is good. Try eating protein for breakfast, not carbs, that should get you to lunch and then a protein shake for a "snack" in the afternoon, so you won't (hopefully) snack before dinner. If you do snack, be mindful of course of the calories and the nutritional value. Try a few nuts or a piece of fruit, if you can tolerate it at this point. But don't have crackers or something like that, just because it is "easy" and tastes good. That can become out of control quickly. And of course stay away from any of your "trigger" foods.

I think you're doing the right thing by paying attention and admitting you might be going down the wrong path.

I hope the 5dpt will help to calm your tummy so it doesn't still "hate" everything you put into it.

I wish you luck and keep asking questions here and read, read, read!!!!

We're here for you!!!!

And once again....

Hello Welcome!

There many of us that understand where you are.
You're in the right place for support.

Hang in there, it gets easier the further out you get.
People forget (or ease up).

Thank you for sharing your journey with us - keep posting.

Big hugs,

Nancy

Jules,
Great post!
I didn't know about the hair maybe falling out again after it grows back. That is good to know. I figured I wouldn't have to take the Biotin after it started to grow back. Now I know "the rest of the story!" Thanks.

Hi Jean, thanks!

I still get handfuls of hair sometimes! I wonder if it ever stops completely?? I have a LOT of hair though luckily!

Hello and welcome to the neighborhood!
A person can definitely gain weight at ANY point after WLS.
I am glad to hear you are going to do the 5DPT. Please
post about your experience.

Hi Lauren - Welcome to the Neighborhood and congrats on your 100+ pounds weight loss! That certainly is something to celebrate!!! As you have learned from the responses here, WLS requires ongoing attention to what we eat and how we move our bodies. Sadly, there is no finish line. This is for the rest of our life.

As for hair loss..... I'm still taking biotin and silica complex 8+ years post-op. I now accept that I will supplement for life to keep my hair. Sadly, it not only pumps-up head hair! Got to shave those unwanted hairs right-regularly!!

Keep up the good work - and stay on top of things. You will do fine. Looking forward to more from you.

CHEERS!

Jules gave you an awesome response. My motto has always been to live behind the fear. If you fear that you will regain weight from eating carbs...then live behind it and leave the carbs at the grocery store.

Eating now is eating forever...this is how it is going to be...healthy! My scale used to stick for three weeks at a time. As long as you are eating your three meals per day, and are not grazing, then you will surely see those numbers bump down.

Hi & welcome. Glad to have you here. You have come to the right place!