How to address weight regain after Bariatric Surgery

Weight regain can be a very emotional topic.  No one who chooses to undergo weight loss surgery ever sees themselves regaining a significant amount of weight after surgery.  However, weight regain is a far more common event than anyone wants to admit to.  This course outlines a strategy for identifying the cause of weight gain, addressing it and then coming up with a plan for losing the weight.

In truth, this course is very similar to the course: Weight Loss is hormonal course which outlines the different causes of set point elevation (weight gain) and the four different methods to lower your setpoint (lose weight).  This course takes this approach and applies it to weight regain after surgery.

The first steps in managing weight regain after bariatric surgery – figure out what caused it.

The first step in managing weight gain is to figure out what is causing it. This course will review common causes, and there are many other causes listed in the Weight Loss Hormones course. The first step to get back on track after weight loss surgery is to identify the factors that are behind your struggles.

Medications

We have a pill-problem approach to healthcare in the United States. Is this what you expect when you visit the doctors? You present the problem you’re having with your health, and then your doctor listens carefully, reviews your medical history and then writes you a prescription for a new pill that will help you solve the problem. This is usually not the best thing for your overal health!

Next thing you know, you’ve got a four different prescriptions, and then you start having side effects from these medications, so, you go back to your doctors, and guess what! You’ve got another prescription to treat the side effect from the first medication. Lots of medications cause weight gain, and once you’re up to 5-6 different pills, there’s a really good chance that one of them causes post bariatric surgery weight gain. You should not expect your doctor to prescribe a pill for every problem – in the long run, this can be far more dangerous than you know.

Sugar Containing Beverages

There is no habit that can cause weight gain after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass faster that the regular consumption of sugar sweeteend beverages. Many people think that the 100-200 calories that these beverages contain represent a relatively small portion of their diet, or they rationalize it as an “addiction” or “guilty pleasure.” Most people do not realize how dangerous these drinks are and how they will sabotage all of your hard work. Soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweeteend coffee drinks and all other beverages that contain sugar will prevent you from losing weight after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption after Bariatric Surgery is a topic that we’re not talking enough about. First, Gastric Bypass patients have an increased rate of alcoholism after surgery (I usually quote 4% as the risk) – it’s less likely for Sleeve Gastrectomy patients. Second, regular consumption of alcohol leads to weight gain. So much so, that it is often the first question that I ask a postop patient who comes to see me for bariatric surgery weight gain.

There are many other causes that are covered in this course as well as the Weight Loss Hormones course that you should review – my book “How Weight Loss Surgery Really Works” also contains a detailed list of the causes of weight gain, or post-bariatric surgery weight gain.

How to keep losing weight after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass

Nutrition

This is very different than dieting. The secret to keep losing weight after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass is to change the type of food that you eat, not just how much you eat. Folloing the Metabolic Reset Diet is a great start, and also make sure that you don’t fall into the portion control trap.

Exercise

Exercise can be one of the best weapons against post bariatric surgery weight gain, but it works much better as a preventative measure. If you want to get back on track after weight loss surgery, building muscle and using it regularly is your best option. Exercising to build muscle is very different from exercising to burn calories.

Medications

There are some new weight loss medictions available that are proving to be revolutionary tools in your battle against post bariatric surgery weight gain. These new medications known as GLP-1 Agonists can help extend your honeymoon period after weight loss surgery and may be the secret of how to keep losing weight after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

Bariatric Surgery Revision

Bariatric Surgery Revisions for weight loss is your last option for battling post bariatric surgery weight gain. Bariatric Surgery Revisions carry twice the risk and half the benefit of primary weight loss surgery. Be very careful when chosing this option. It should be done by an experienced surgeon and you should be given very realistic expectations. Most Bariatric Surgery Revisions offer 20-50 lbs of weight loss, on average. Of course, there are people who lose more, but your expectation should be to achieve the average weight loss, and not what a small handful of very successful patients lost.