I have gained a few pounds myself and am scared I'll gain all the weight back. This discussion has inspired me and I thank all of you for your posts.  Think I'll try the 5 day pouch test but I really like the advice from the nutritionist. Protein first the size of your palm.  Thank you!

Hi Kimberly!  Welcome back!!  Unfortunately its a bit quiet around here now adays....but I am here and I can definitely relate to what you are going thru....the ups and down of this journey are rough!  But, we can do it.  It is so easy to slip back into our old habits and before you know it, weight gain....but I am here if you need to talk and need encouragement.  Feel free to email me or shoot me a message.  I will send you an email with my personal email address as well.  Know that you are not alone in this and I glad that you are here for me as well.

And there are a few others who pop in and out of the board who will be good encouragers too....take care!

Steph

Well even if no one is hardly ever here.....Its my 4 year anniversary!!

Four years ago today I experienced a life changing event....I had my gastric bypass surgery....and today, I am more than half my body weight....from 327 to 161.4 as of about 8 pm tonight.  This journey has been just that a journey...full of ups and downs and some tough lessons....but through it all..I wouldnt trade it for nothing.  I thank God for the blessing and for bringing this far with out complications and for keeping me.  And I am going to do better and honor Him by doing what I said I would do if He allowed me to have this surgery and stick to the rules and do what I know I need to do each day instead of what I want to do just because "everyone else or normal ppl do it".  I know I am not a normal person as far as my eating habits and behaviors or else I would not have ended up at 327 pounds and needed RNY.....oh well....Its all good.  I miss you all!!

I 

  Well here I am 4 years later !!! I am still glad I did the surgery. However .... I 
        am finding that I can eat anything and not get sick ! I have regained 16 pounds and am really upset with myself. I am falling into old habits of snacking. I try each day to not do it...but at the end of the day.. I have blown it again. But I will not give up and will try to exercise more. I was 4 years out yesterday and remember how afraid I was to do this. But I did do this and now need to work with this. I don't want to be a failure again !! I loved buying new clothes and now most are to tight and I have to buy a size up. So please pray for me to get back into the swing of things !! I hope your all doing good and I really miss our weekly posts. They were really a motivation !! Take Care my WL friends.

 I have avoided OH lately because I have gained weight.  And no, I never got to my goal weight either.  Your post has given me the courage to post.  I went back to my doctor and met with his nutritionist and psychologist.  I expected recriminations but got encouragement.  Of course that only goes so far.  I have to make the right choices.  My doctor has told me that year 3 is the hardest and he sees a typical 15 percent weight gain in most patients.

The psychologist said that it is hard to stay motivated when you don't get to your goal weight.  I hadn't thought about that but it does make sense.  

I have gained weight in the last 7 months.  My doctor says it isn't as bad as I see it but it feels awful.  I have battled with vertigo since a concussion in February.  After many specialists, it is improving and I am just now able to safely get on my treadmill.  Now I am working on breaking the bad habits of comfort foods which really aren't comforting at all.  I am working to find the little victories and eat just what I am supposed to eat.  I started drinking wine and have quit because of the empty calories and the escapist way it made me feel.  

The nutritionist has told me to eat 3 meals a day.  Start with protein.  Eat a portion size the size of my palm.  She says that interestingly enough, that seems to be the necessary amount for whatever size your palm is.  Tiny people need less protein and have tinier hands.  Larger hands go with taller people and the palm size corresponds to their protein needs.  Then after eating the protein, eat veggies.  And if I am still hungry, eat fruit.

I don't want to spiral downward in what I eat and how I emotionally react.  It is a moment by moment challenge.  But I am glad you posted.  It has given me courage.

Thank you!  We can do this!

Katy