weight gain :-(

Hello, I had surgery back in 2004 and have allowed myself to gain 30 lbs since then. Can any of you relate to my situation, and If so what have you done to get back on track? I'm having a hard time getting back on track. I feel like I have lost my self control.

hi rosie! yes- i gained 30 # back when my hubby got very sick--and i found that until i removed many of the stressors of my life i continued to carry it--i am just now starting to lose again and taht was 2 years ago--i ams till trying to get to goal! also i am older than many of the marchers. many ppl have had success with going back to basics- liquid shakes and no carbs- make sure that your labs are ok and you are not at any health risk-also-change out your exercise routine maybe? you probly have temporarily lost your self control- and portion control may be an issue- it def was for me!-go back to basics- write down what you are consuming- make sure you are getting in water!!!!! and get back on track--we're here! let us know how we can help! hugs from ohio!

I agree with all that Margo said. I've gained about 15 pounds back. I'm holding steady now at 169 and had lost about 4 to 5 pounds. Its not easy tolose it cause I to am older...gonna be 55 in december! Even before surgery once I was over 30 it was harder to lose. Excersize is a big key. I have problesm with grazing. My job is such that I'm in the car all day driving to customer.s Its so easy tojust eat while driving something easy. I take a lunch cooler with me and have stocked it with what I will eat for the day. That is helping me. If I find I"m hungry and need to eat earlier I will. But I still know whats in the bag is my portions until I get home at night. \another help for me is logging into fitday.com and trackign all I eat. I did not realize how much I was eating through out the day until I started doing that. It has helped me get back on track. good luck

I can sure relate--I think most of us can. The difference between our situation now and before surgery is that we have the tools to control our eating and weight. We just have to discipline ourselves to return to basics (protein first. small portions. no drink with meals. no grazing) The first few days of return to discipline are terribly tough, but it gets easier, and we even feel better. I still don't understand why I lapse into eating wrong, when it makes me feel so bad, but I do. But it is not hopeless, like before. Stick around here... it is easier if we do this together! Joy

Hi Rosie, its very good to hear from you - this is the place to go to when you need some help; and when you're doing well we need to hear from you because you will inspire us to do likewise! We're all here for each other, through the good and the bad of this journey. I struggle with the food, especially when I'm feeling down. But it's different for me now than it was when I was super-morbidly obese. My love and passion for physical activity far outweighs (no pun intended) any desire I have for crap food - I do indulge in the stuff more often than I care to admit but any damage from bad eating seems to be offset by my level of daily exercise and otherwise living my life fully. My weight has stabilized in the low 140s where it has stayed for more than two years. All I can recommend to you is what is working for me: first and foremost, you must move your body, hard and often - break a sweat. You just have to commit to it. I look at exercise as an absolute JOY because I could not do it 3.5 years ago. I might as well have been bound to a wheelchair. Now, I'm still like a kid in absolute wonder for the things my body can do! It's just a joy, joy, joy to be able to move. Secondly, and for me equally important, is to get outside of my head - in other words, get out of my own way. When I start feeling sorry for myself and isolating, I know that the downward spiral of self-abuse through food is about to take off. That's when I stop thinking about my poor miserable self and put all my energy and effort into thinking about--and doing for--other people. It can be so simple! You don't have to build a house with Habitat for Humanity (although wouldn't that be a wonderful thing) - you just need to connect to people...make eye contact, smile, say hello, talk to children, talk to the elderly. I recently encountered a very old woman in a wheelchair, she was obviously waiting for someone to pick her up from the hospital lobby. She looked so completely sad and alone. I just made sure to stop just long enough to make eye contact (this is very important), smile at her and say hello. She looked surprised that anyone would pay any attention to her. Then she lit up like the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center - and she said hello back. I patted her hand and went on my way. That's all I mean - connect to people. When I'm connecting to people, I don't have the time or energy to stay stuck in my own head feeling sorry for myself. This is what is working for me - and I'm living life joyously from a normal sized body. I hope this helps and I wish you nothing but the best - please stay close to us and let us know how you are doing. Hugs, Reenie

Hi Rosie, I haven't been a member very long but it is nice to read about others having problems because until I join OH I felt I was going on a down hill run all by myself. I had my surgery 3-22-04 and I have gain 12 all together. It really depressing some days for me because I can't exercies very well. I am in a wheelchair, but I have to remember to live one day at a time and give it your best shot. But one good thing I have been trying to make myself drink alot more water and I have lost 3 of those lbs.If you have any advice for me I would love to here. Keep looking up!!!!!!!! dianalee1956

I can relate to the weight gain. In the past 6 months i have gained 50 lbs. The doctor says it is mostly water weight, because my kidneys are not working again. I have went back to no carbs, and it isn't helping. My doctor says as soon as they figure out whats wrong with my kidneys and get them working again, the weight should come off.