Weight Gain - Cypress, TX

I'll second the recommendation for Weight Watcher's online. I've lost 47 lbs since January and have found it fairly easy to stick with. I have my ups and downs but each day is a fresh start and overall my weight is going in the right direction.

Good luck,
K.

I know exactly what you mean. I had my hysterectomy 3 years ago. I have always been a small person and since my surgery, I have gain approximately 25 pounds and I cannot lose it. I walk, ride my bike and walk on my treadmill. I have gained it around my midsection and I have never had a tummy before unless I was pregnant. While most say they are not connected, I believe they are. I have heard that it is because of the hormones you have to take. I guess my hormones were so out of whack before, they don't know how to react...It's been hard to lose the weight.

I had a full hysterectomy in 1999, I was 31 yrs old, I never had a weight problem before the surgery but have steadily gained weight since. I also suffered a sever bout of depression right after the surgery. I have tried all kinds of weight loss plans from fad diets to a more healthy eating plan but I only gain back more than the 10-15 lbs I am able to lose. I wish you luck in your journey, I have just undergone the lab-band surgery and have finally started to lose the weight. This was a last option for me and I recommend you try everything else first. Get your hormone levels checked as well as your thyroid. Find a good doctor who believes that you are trying your best. I changed doctors several times because the doctors would treat me as if I was lying about my diet. Good luck and know that you are not crazy, it's not all in your head, and there is an answer for you, you just have to keep looking.
S.

A.:

I recently had a hysterectomy and prior to letting my doctor do it (I suffered for a couple of years b/c I was intimidated at the thought), this was one of my primary concerns. I had so many people tell me that when they had a hysterectomy they gained weight -- something I wanted no part of. BUT, according to my doctor, there is really no connection - and, I haven't gained weight (it's been 3 months now). What happens is when a woman ages, and usually beginning in her 30s, her metablolism slows more and more. So, it's not the hysterectomy, but rather your body's natural aging process. So, the best thing to do is to make sure you get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day. Whether it is a walk around your neighborhood, or riding your bicycle, or using a treadmill.

Also, I wanted to make sure I was in the best shape possible BEFORE I had my surgery so that recovery would be better/easier and I could reduce my chances of gaining weight. So, I purchased a workout series called 10-Minute Trainer (www.beachbody.com). You may be able to find it on ebay cheaper. In the video it shows to use bands and/or weights. I can tell you that in one month I went from a size 12 to wearing size 8 and even some of my size 6 clothes -- and I DIDN'T use the weights or bands....so, don't feel like it won't do anything for you if you don't. After that month I purchased Turbo Jam (also available at the same website) and I absolutely LOVE it. I alternate them in and out now.

You can achieve anything you set your mind to do. Also, find you a good calorie counting website (I can't think of one right now, but I used to be faithful about it) that can help you determine your daily caloric intake. Keep a food log every day. Write down everything you eat and look up the calories -- this will help you be accountable to yourself, also will help you see where you need to cut back, and also make sure you get enough calories (b/c sometimes when we are "watching what we eat" we end up not eating enough).

Good luck!

I'm not sure if it's the same with people as it is with animals. I know that when you spay a dog she will gain quite a bit of weight. I assume that since you said you had a "full" hysterectomy that your ovaries were removed. That can cause many hormonal fluxuations. Many of the same for women who go through menopause later in life. For you this would just be an early onset. Best of luck to you. I would talk to for physician or gynocologist about pharmacutical or herbal hormone replacement therapy.

This could be more about how you digest foods, how your body absorbs nutrients. I think that you should see a good gastroenterolgist to see how things are flowing.

I've said before that "healthy" eating is not the same for everybody. Oatmeal and whole wheat bread are two of the absolute worst things that I could eat because my body does not process them well. It really reaks havoc on my intestine.

Yes - there absolutely is truth behind a hysterectomy and weight gain.

Have you spoke to your obgyn about your concerns. Are you sure you are taking the right medicines to replace things taken from your body after the hysterectomy?

You didn't indicate your body build - but are you sure 150lbs is a safe and realistic weight for you? Remember - you're 42 not 16. Make sure the weight loss and desired weight is within a healthy range for you.

My family has had great success with the Body By God diet. At the very base, it is of the theory that you only eat foods as they were created by God. Grass fed beef, free range chicken, whole foods, veggies, fruit, no processed foods! And NO SODA. It is amazing what happens to the body when the junk is eliminated. My whole family, kids included LOVE this lifestyle. Good Luck!
Dr. Ben Lerner of Maximized Living is the author of numerous books on the diet. (www.maximizedliving.com)

Sure your age could be playing a role, but if this is a realtively new problem, the hysterectomy is certainly at least partially responsible. The removal of your ovaries throws your estrogen/testosterone balance out of whack--it can take a while for HRT to equalize and find a balance. Talk to your doctor about bio-identical hormones. Your best best is a low-carb/fat diet with plenty of lean protein and exercise.

I had a hysterectomy at 28 and it does not effect your weight. At 42 what you are experiencing is middle age spread. I am older than you so i will just tell you that your metabolism is slowing down and you will have to watch your calorie intake, alchohol intake and make sure you exercise at least 4 days a week along with some weight training for toning. Eat six small meals per day before 4pm and you should be able to get into better shape. If your stomach muscles were cut during surgery, it may never tighten as much as you like. Please learn to love you just the way you are as your body kind of fights a loosing battle the older you get. Keep up the tips I gave you above just to be healthy not just thin.

My mom had a hysterectomy and experienced the same thing, but she was able to lose weight. I think your body needs to adjust to the hormonal changes. Plus having a hysterectomy usually causes menopause which many women experience weight gain.

The Atkins diet worked for my mom. She also eats organic and whole grain foods due to her own food allergy issues.

I think you probably just need to find what works best for you. You may not be eating enough for your metabolism. What worked great for me was Weight Watchers online. I didn't go to meetings just used the online tools, I made myself accountable for weighing in once a week and tracked my foods each day. It really worked and I lost 37 pounds in about 10 months and I have kept it off for almost a year. I myself would like to lose 15 or so more pounds, but i've gotten so used to maintaining that I'm having a hard time getting back into the losing!

When I started weight watchers I found I wasn't eating enough so my body was just hanging on to the fat.

Just keep trying I'm sure you will find something that works for you!