Advice from anyone who’s had bariatric surgery: husband has regained almost entire initial weight loss at 4 weeks

(Juliana Hagler) #1

Can’t figure what is wrong. My husband started at 279 pounds and lost 12 in the first two weeks. Nothing has changed but he has steadily regained that loss over the last 2 weeks at a rate of a pound a day. He had weight loss surgery in 2002. He’s eating about 2400 calories, less than 20g fat, and has been hitting protein (20%) and fat macros(70%). He rides his bike 60-80 miles per week. Is there something about his previous stomach surgery that could be causing this? His urine shows moderate to high ketones every day.

(less is more, more or less) #2

What’s wrong with the identical other thread you’ve started? Why the duplicate?

(Juliana Hagler) #3

Concerned that the problem is related to his weight loss surgery and need to hear from people in the same boat. New topic heading will hopefully get a targeted response.

(Lori) #4

Hello! 14 year gastric post op here!!! Hopefully I can help with some of my information. I have been KETO since May 29th and have lost 25 lbs. I eat under 25 gms net carbs per day and don’t pay too much attention to fat or protein anymore…I did track everyday for the first 2 months and I was struggling to get to 1200 calories. How is he eating 2400? I also only eat between noon and 8 pm. I eat lunch, then around 4 if I am feeling empty I will have some cheese or port rinds and Dinner at 7. I can’t imagine how he’s getting that kind of calories into his pouch? I can eat 2 hot dogs and a small salad. or say 6 oz of hamburger and some veggies. Has he stretched his pouch? Maybe you can give me some examples of what he eats and the times. If he’s “grazing” that’s a problem. That’s what caused me to regain the 50 lbs after my roux en y.

Happy to offer advice!!

Lori

(Chris) #5

70/20 fat protein sounds massively disproportionate in favor of fat.

Maybe try to get those numbers a little closer together, 55/35 maybe, 50/40. He has fat on his body he can burn for energy, could possibly even dip fat even lower. Protein needs to go up, regardless.

Also, you can’t just take the scale number at face value, weight is comprised of more than just fat, and the other things in the body weigh more than fat by volume, so if he’s gaining muscle and bone density (good things), then weight gain is good.

(Juliana Hagler) #6

Hi! Nice to hear from you. Glad to hear you’re doing well! He’s eating a lot of fats to reach his recommended calories but isn’t hungry between meals so portion wise he’s eating less. He hasn’t really hit the 2400 recently either but that’s what our app calculated. Just can’t figure why 10# weight gain with no other change over the last month. He dropped 12 immediately, got keto flu, started showing high ketones on test strips. As soon as he felt better and started exercising he started going up! Can’t be muscle in that short time. And dimensions haven’t changed. Thought it might have something to do with adaptation after surgery. He sees his barbaric dietician in a couple weeks but she wasn’t very supportive of keto

(Lori) #7

Well maybe cut back to some leaner meats and sort of go back to the basics of after WLS, no drinking with meals and no liquids for 30 minutes after. That helped shrink my pouch noticeably. I eat dense meat like steak and pork so that it sits in my pouch longer and I stay satisfied. I wouldn’t go with any guidelines for KETO because of our malabsorption and reduced metabolism. I sort of have just done my own thing and it’s working really well. I didn’t get the KETO flu at all. I lost 7 lbs the first week and consistently either stayed the same or averaging 2 lbs a week. I take Magnesium and potassium. I walk 40 minutes a day on my treadmill 4-5 times a week. There is little to no information out there for us WLS post ops doing KETO. My Dr. is completely on board since my bloodwork is remarkable! She’s going KETO too!!! Why is he seeing a bariatric dietician this far after surgery? Just for guidance? Lori

(Chris) #8

This is fantastic advice for non-surgery folks too.

(Lori) #9

It was IMPERATIVE for surgery because they remove our pyloric valve meaning if we eat something solid and then add some liquids it slides right on through and we can eat again! I really complied for a couple of years and like everything else just stopped playing by the rules. It’s been great doing it again, I don’t get any drink with meals at a restaurant and I stay full so much longer! :wink: Lori

(Juliana Hagler) #10

He missed several years of follow up post surgery and his doctor recommends a yearly follow up. He gained a lot of weight back after all these years and I believe his pouch had stretched because he could eat whatever he wanted so they’re trying to get him back on track. The dietician wasn’t enthusiastic about keto at all so I’m expecting resistance after the lack of results. Couldn’t find any research about WLS and keto and I’m stumped about what’s happening so I want to blame it

(Lori) #11

IMHO and it’s just an opinion it sounds like he has stretched his pouch. I have always said that if we don’t fix what is wrong in our brain this weight will never stay off! I would love to hear how the dietician goes. KETO isn’t the problem, he just needs to go back to all the basics. keep in touch!! Lori

(Nicole Silvia) #12

Did he have the same surgery though? There are different kinds. He needs to be the one on here asking questions though. It’s his body.

1lb a day? That’s a lot… I’d hope he’s seeing a Dr. Maybe it’s water?

(Lori) #13

She mentioned in her other post it was Roux-en-y that was really the only surgery they were performing at the time. Besides the band. Now there are several different surgeries I agree. It would be helpful for him to be answering I agree, he also may be not telling her all he is eating…please don’t take offense we are “foodies” that’s what got most of us to Gastric Bypass Surgery. He may just not be the kind of guy that posts on forums. Lots of variables. When she said he eats whatever he wants it is a huge red flag that he’s stretched his pouch as it’s been 14 years for me and all I can eat of a solid meat at one time is tops 6 ounces…anymore and I throw up. There is a simple test he can have to check. It is very hard for us post ops as there is little to no information online once we are this far out…people only want to hear the good stuff!

(Jessica Law) #14

are you monitoring his blood sugars? The exercise may be causing stress which can cause cortisol to go up, blood sugar to go up, insulin to go up, weight to go up. Also have you had his thyroid checked recently?