I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients recently and we all have one thing in common: About the third year after gastric bypass we get hungry. And we eat more. And weight starts to creep back on. In the worst case a patient regains so much weight a revision surgery is required to again reduce the stomach size and facilitate weight loss. In the best case, the patient catches the problem early and reverses the trend.

In my third year out when this happened to me and I saw the scale jump ten pounds I called my counselor at my bariatric center. She told me "Get Back-to-Basics immediately." She recommended that for ten days I eat like a post-op newbie. Jell-o, chicken broth, soft-cooked eggs. No solids. Lots of liquids. No snacking. Take my vitamins. Drink lots of water.

I was so terrified of regaining the weight that I followed her directions exactly. She told me, "You have already done this once when you had surgery. You certainly can do it again, and this time you are much healthier." She was right!

The first day was hell. I was hungry and crabby. The second day was not as painful. By the third day Back-to-Basics was routine. By the tenth day my weight was down 7 pounds, my body felt lighter and happier. I felt unpolluted. Best of all, my tiny pouch seemed to be tighter and less tolerant of over-filling and that's a very good thing! I was eating like a newbie again, recommitted to following the four rules and succeeding after weight loss surgery.

Now, to be honest, I've had to employ this technique more than once to get myself back on track and avoid weight regain. Sometimes I'll go Back-to-Basics for a long weekend, just to refresh and rejuvenate my body. I like the power the mindfulness of Back-to-Basics gives me, the complete awareness of my body and it's needs. I like being able to remind my mind and body of this powerful bariatric tool. I like that when I do see a weight gain I can quickly get it under control by employing past practice that I know works.

Are you in your third year and hungry? Give the Back-to-Basics a try.

Copyright ? 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.