I was wondering if there was anyone out there still struggling after 2 years? I had many complications from my surgery so this proberly has not helped I went from 400 to 187 but still feel like i am 400lbs I just reecentley had a tummy tuck but this has not helped. Also seeing a counseler its helped a little but i thought talking to my peers would be better any suggestions would be helpful thank you

Hi Tosha I have been there and done that! Below is a post I posted for the September 2005 board members since they are having the same difficulties as you! ********************************************* Hello Everyone Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Marianne, I am 50 years old, and just now recooperating from my Tummy Tuck surgery back on June 27th. I had my weight loss surgery on September 21, 2004 and understand that some of you here have concerns about your weight loss. I decided to come over here because Donna Mae extended an invitation to all of us on the September 2004 boards, so here I am! First off, keep in your mind that WLS is ONLY a tool! Take it from someone who learned the hard way. I originally lost 115 pounds only to gain back 25 because I discovered that ice cream, chocolate, doritos, chips, all stayed down without making me dump. I went from 150 pounds to 175 in just one year! This really upset me because I again became a junk food junkie, I needed my fix everyday and could not stop cold turkey. There is a happy ending to this story! As a result of my TT surgery this past June which my WL surgeon did, he asked me what kind of a diet I wanted to be on while in the hospital. I told him to put me back on the original post WL diet just as if I had just had the WL surgery for the fiirst time--why?? because I wanted to break the insanity and I figured what better place to have a JUNK FOOD & SUGAR withdrawl than in the hospital where I could not get it. IT WORKED! As of today I have not had any SUGAR or JUNK FOOD since June 27th. I watch myself very closely and weigh myself daily to keep myself in check. I am proud to say that I lost 15 pounds of excess weight and 10 pounds of excess skin. So, I am now back down to 150 pounds and DO NOT PLAN ON LEAVING WHERE I AM NOW! I would like to lose another 5 pounds to get to my original goal weight but if this is where I am to stay then I am perfectly happy! I refuse to try any sweets other than the little bit that is in my fruit, I am back to reading labels, watching my portions and stopping at that first full feeling, drinking all my water, taking my protein requirements as well as all prescribed meds and vitamins, and following all of our RULES. I feel wonderful! My smaller clothes now fit comfortably again without feeling tight and with plenty of room to spare. My point to all this is DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION! Once you discover what your body will allow you to get away with you will continue to try more and more! My motto now is: In every fat person there is a skinny person waiting to come out--and in this thin person is a fat person *****members! Stay on the wagon--we are ALL JUNK FOOD JUNKIES, otherwise we would not be hanging out on these message boards. I know it is only 2 months since I have been "clean" but I never want to go back to gaining the weight back. I worked too hard to get to where I am today! We will continue to have ups and downs and this will be for the rest of our lives so we just need to get over it and deal with it. This is the lifestyle we chose for our own personal reasons and we should never forget from where we came from! I hope this helps and if any of you would like to drop me a line feel free! If I can be of any help I am there for you! Good luck and keep the faith! Hugs Marianne

If lettuce is bothering your gall bladder, you might have your doctor do an ultrasound and see if you have gall stones. That is not at ALL uncommon after WLS. Now, if it's your colon that is irritated by the lettuce,that's another story. Sometimes diverticulitis is aggravated by lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli or anything with seeds. In that case, about all that you can do is "avoid" those foods that irritate you. Chances are you are eating enough calories to "maintain" your current weight. I'm doing the same thing. I've decided just this week that I CANNOT continue to buy Mary Jane's and Tootsie Rolls and Log Rolls and Bit o'Honey's. Yes, they are all "fat free", but they STILL have calories and TONS of sugar!! I also cannot continue to buy "trail mix". Even though it seems like a "healthy" snack, I cannot control the amount of it that I eat!! And, it does have 140 calories per 1/4 cup serving. I may have to cut out the fruit for the most part too!!! Bananas are my favorite, and even though they are healthy, they are FULL of carbs!!! I'm allergic to wheat, so bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, etc. is NOT a problem, but that candy and chocolate is DEFINITELY a "trigger food" for me and I just cannot handle it. I know that if I eat something sweet, it needs to be in a restaurant or at someone elses home. I cannot keep those kinds of things within my grasp!!! It's a bummer, but I am DETERMINED not to gain this weight back. I've been through toooooo much and feel toooooo much better to go back now!!! Hope that we can help each other!!! Hugs, Pam

Hello everyone, my name is Donna and I had surgery exactly a year after you all -- September 2005. Some of us on the September 2005 board are at a slow down with weight, starting to munch, getting nervous!! I was wondering if you all would be so kind as to come over to our board and give us some words of wisdom!! What has this year been like for you. What are you eating? Are you exercising? Did you reach goal? Did you have a 'bounce'? Anything we should do now that will make it easier going into our second year? I would really appreciate it!! Thanks so much, love donna

Start exercizing and try to stop the sugar and snacking! I know that it might be hard to do, but you had the surgery so now you have to live with it forever. The only person that can chage this is you. You have to make better food choices. Good Luck Tiffany