You did it! You had gastric sleeve surgery and lost a significant amount of weight in the beginning. But now as time has passed, the number on the scale is creeping back up.
Many patients experience weight gain after gastric sleeve. Why does this happen? And more importantly, what can you do about weight gain after gastric sleeve to take control and maintain your results? I struggled with the same issue and learned to manage my weight after surgery with patience, persistence, and understanding of my body’s changes. Here’s what I’ve discovered…
4 Main Causes of Weight Gain After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are several reasons why you may be regaining weight after your sleeve surgery. Understanding these causes can help you target the root of the problem. Some common reasons for weight gain post-op include:
✔ Stretching of Your New Stomach Pouch
As time goes by, the small stomach pouch created by your sleeve surgery can begin to stretch back out. This allows you to eat more at one time, making it easier to overload your system with calories. Sticking closely to the recommended post-op diet and being mindful during meals can help prevent over-stretching.
✔ Increased Hunger Hormones
Surgery can throw your hunger hormones out of balance. After rapid weight loss, ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”) rises while leptin (the “fullness hormone”) declines. This can make your body want to regain weight by increasing appetite and reducing satisfaction after eating. Staying active helps regulate these hormones.
✔ Slipping Into Old Habits
It’s easy to gradually slip back into old habits around food and exercise. By not being diligent and intentional every day, you may find yourself overeating calorie-dense foods or becoming more sedentary over time – two surefire ways to start regaining weight. Creating lifestyle habits and routines can help you stay on track.
✔ Lack of Protein Intake
Getting at least 60-80g of protein daily is crucial after bariatric surgery for maintaining muscle mass, keeping you full between meals, and supporting weight loss. Dropping protein levels after hitting your goal weight is a common reason for weight regain. Prioritize protein at every meal, even after you’ve reached your goals.
Consistently making healthy choices and establishing helpful habits are the best defenses against how can you prevent regaining weight after gastric sleeve. Here are some top tips for maintaining long-term results and preventing weight regain after gastric sleeve surgery.
How to Lose Weight After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
If the number on the scale is trending upward, use these proven strategies to get back on track and lose weight gain after gastric sleeve:
✔ Closely Follow Your Post-Op Diet
Stick to the recommended post-bariatric diet guidelines for life: high protein, low carb, low sugar, low fat, low calorie. This ensures your new sleeve pouch empties and digests food slowly to optimize weight regulation.
✔ Get Moving with Exercise
While diet is critical, exercise also helps regulate your metabolism, hunger hormones, and body composition after surgery. Aim for at least 30 minutes per day of heart-pumping activity to maximize results. Strength training is particularly important.
✔ Be Mindful During Meals
It’s easy to mindlessly overeat after surgery, especially with the distraction of TV or devices during meals. Practicing mindful eating helps you tune in to hunger cues, prevent overeating, and identify emotional triggers.
✔ Track Everything You Eat and Drink
Maintaining a detailed food journal is key to getting back on track after regaining weight post-op. Measure and log calories, carbs, protein, fats, and fluids daily to stay accountable and identify problem areas derailing your progress.
✔ Get Support From Other Post-Ops
Having a support network who understands the unique challenges of gastric sleeve surgery is invaluable. Seek out post-op support groups (online or locally) to help motivate you, troubleshoot issues, and celebrate successes with others on the journey.
How to Prevent Regaining Weight After Gastric Sleeve?
Consistently making healthy choices and establishing helpful habits are the best defenses against weight gain after gastric sleeve. Here are some top tips for maintaining long-term results:
✔ Protein is Priority #1
A common downfall is not getting enough protein, leading to loss of muscle mass and slower metabolism. Get 60-80g of protein daily from lean sources to preserve your results. Supplement if needed.
✔ Develop an Exercise Habit
Working activity into your regular routine makes it easier to stay consistent. Even if you start small, build up to 150 minutes per week of moderate cardio and at least 2 strength sessions.
✔ Meal Prep Healthy Foods
Planning takes the guesswork out of eating well after surgery. Dedicate time each week to prepare balanced meals and snacks to have ready when hunger strikes. Lean protein and vegetables should take center stage.
✔ Set a Weight Loss Goal Rate
Aiming to lose more than 1-2 pounds per week typically backfires. Slow, steady weight loss of just a few pounds monthly is more realistic and easier to maintain long-term without deprivation. Be patient!
✔ Weigh In Weekly
Monitoring your weight is important after surgery, but the number on the scale isn’t the only measure of success. Take measurements and notice how your body and energy levels change too. Weigh in once weekly at the same time under the same circumstances.
Bottom Line
Life after weight loss surgery can be an adjustment. While the rapid results upfront are exciting, keeping weight off long-term presents its challenges. It’s extremely common and understandable to experience some weight regain or plateaus after gastric sleeve surgery. But by understanding what causes weight gain after gastric sleeve, you now know how to correct and get back on track when the scale trends upward.
With a few key strategies – like sticking closely to the recommended post-op diet, moving your body, practicing mindful eating habits, tracking your intake, getting enough protein, connecting with other bariatric patients, and maintaining lifestyle changes – you can get back in control and continue losing if you’ve regained weight. While the journey requires commitment and work, just remember how far you’ve already come.
Stay focused on the lifelong healthy habits you’re developing, be patient with your changing body, get support when you need motivation, and know that small daily improvements lead to big results over time. You’ve got this! After all, tomorrow is a fresh start and an opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice. Consistency is key.
References
- Bradley LE, Forman EM, Kerrigan SG, Butryn ML, Herbert JD, Sarwer DB. A pilot study of an acceptance-based behavioral intervention for weight regain after bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2016;26(10):2433–2441. doi: 10.1007/s11695-016-2125-0. [PubMed]
- Himes SM, Grothe KB, Clark MM, Swain JM, Collazo-Clavell ML, Sarr MG. Stop regain: a pilot psychological intervention for bariatric patients experiencing weight regain. Obes Surg. 2015;25(5):922–927. doi: 10.1007/s11695-015-1611-0. [PubMed]
