Need more involvement

Hi everyone! I am a February post-op and joined this board some time ago, but have not been very active. I have been struggling a lot and think I need to get more involved. I have lost 102 lbs. to date , which I am thrilled about!! However, I find myself back in many of my old habits and not using this wonderful tool I have been given. I have been eating whenever I want, eating too many carbs, eating too much and not exercising as much as I was. This really scares me, because not only do I have another 60 lbs. to lose, but I do not want to go back to the horrible place from which I have come, and I know it is possible. I am feeling so good physically and want to stay there and get even better. Are there any among you who have struggled with this and gotten back on track? Are you still struggling? How can we help each other? Any replies and support will be much appreciated.

Hi Darlene, I too struggle with old habits every day. I wake up and think oh god what I am going to eat! I still have at least 40lbs to go and I refuse to go back to where I started. Its not even like I enjoy eating the carbs and the junk its just more that I cant eat most meats b/c they make me sick and everything to me is just too much of an effort! Eating has become such a chore now and I kinda miss how it was before but I know that I made the best choice. I am not sure how we can help each other...maybe we can hold each other accountable for what we eat each day? I know I dont get enough protein in so thats my main problem at the moment. I try to exercise @ least 4 days a week for an hour. What do you think?? sarah

Darlene, I think we all have our old habits creep in at times. I have noticed that Ihave eaten more carbs the last couple of weeks since we have been finalizing our move. This board/group is a great way to get support, discuss our strugglies etc. I am working hard to get 100% back on track too. I'm still losing, but know it could be faster/easier if I stayed away from the carbs. This week in a hotel (our house sold and rental not ready yet) is going to be hard. I did pack some protein bars, water, etc so that will help. So post away, let's get some discussion going. I will try to post as often as possible, but have to depend on the hotel internet not sure how dependable it will be. I know you can do this. Believe in yourself and your capabilities. Mary

I am there with all of you too. I have a plan for at work, in the morning, I pack my lunch box with high protein, low-carb foods and have it planned out when I eat and what I will eat. In the beginning, I packed the lunch box for the whole day (including after work) and knew that I had to manage to eat it before the end of the day (to get enough protein). Now, I kind of eat whatever when I get home. I know where to target my attention, now it is actually up to making a plan so that I don't succumb to temptations. I am a Quality Assurance Supervisor for an automotive manufacturer. A lot of my job is problem solving and problem prevention. I am going to take the same approach with my eating that I do at work. I am going to make it easier for me to make the right choices and harder to make the wrong choices. Some ways to do that is to have good food choices prepared and available in open view. The bad choices, I will put in hard to reach areas and out of sight (so the rest of my family can still eat it). So if I go through the extremes of getting into the bad food, then I am doing it with full intentions rather than mindless munching. Just to let you know you are not alone, we are all faced with temptations, I think we have to focus on how to make life-long changes in our choices and come to terms with how we are going to deal with that, I don't have the answers, but I am willing to share anything that has helped, Thanks for bringing this topic up, I think there are a lot of us facing the same issues, Dorothy

Hi Sarah, Mary, Dorothy, Ya'll have some good ideas, thanks for sharing! Just admitting I have a problem and asking for help has started me toward the right path again. Amayzing, isn't it? I belong to another support group as well, and have posted there as well. The last 2 days I have been making better choices; more protein, less carbs, more water. I have exercised as well. When I find myself thinking I want something not good for me, I ask myself, do I want that or to lose more weight? So far, losing has won out. Posting several times a day is helping as well. I am putting one of my before pics on my fridge...that will be a good deterrant! I think the honeymoon is over and the hard work is just beginning. It will take effort, something I don't always choose to expend. It is so much easier to just do the same old thing, but if we do what we always did, we will get what we always got. I don't think any of us want that anymore; the pain, shortness of breath, the embarrassment, the depression and so on. We had this surgery because we want a new, better, healthy life, and by gawd, we will have it, with hard work and each others support!! Onward and upward!!

Hi Darlene, First, great news on losing 102 pounds. Wonderful. You are not alone in worrying about slipping back into old habits. I struggle daily, more so like in the evening. It is difficult to know how to deal with the emotions of a simple day when food was so much a part of my life. But the good news is that you are aware of what's happening so you can keep on top of it. It's so great to be able to come here where I know others have the same issues to deal with. Sometimes just getting immersed in the board for a while is a stress releaser. Today is a new day. Know others care about you. Only 60 more pounds to go. That's great. Paula

Thanks Paula!