Help I have fallen off the wagon!

I have been really bad for the last month. I have been lurking on the site but haven't posted because quite honestly I am ashamed that I have allowed myself to fall back into my old habits. Snacking on crap (darn I am one of those who do not dump), choosing the wrong foods and basically letting stress rule my life again. (I am a stress eater) I stopped excising every day (sometimes two times a day) to about 3 days a week. I know what to do... but have been sabotaging myself. Any words of wisdom, or even better how about a long distance boot in the butt to get me back where I need to be!

Hi Sharon, I you need a long distance boot in the butt,,,,so do I. I also have been having problems this last month with snacking on wrong things. It seems I'm constantly grazing. And I've noticed that I can eat alot more also. I'm so worried that I'm falling back into my old bad habits that got me to 330 lbs to begin with. And like you, I dump very little if at all---oh how I wish I did dump. My plan is to "go back to basics". I'm going to focus on getting my protein first, drinking more water, cutting down on the snacking and upping my walking. You might give it a try. Good luck to both of us !! Loretta

The longer it takes you to get back on the wagon, the farther you will have strayed from your path! I have been struggling myself lately, so maybe it's just the timing. Here is what I recently typed to help myself. Maybe it will help you as well. I don't really dump either. If I eat too much sugar, I don't feel great, but not enough to make me stop eating, and I LOVE my deserts! Here is from my post. Hope it helps. We've come to far to go back!! Best luck to Loretta too! As I was thinking about how much my life has changed in 9 months, let me highlight just a few: I no longer have constant lower back pain My plantar faciatis is gone (spelling?) There is more room in my car, so I actually moved my seat up. I can walk up a flight of stairs without a problem I can paint my toenails I can easily fit in a bathroom stall, even with a backpack on! I can sit in a booth at a restaurant without my belly/chest hitting the table I can squat to pick something off the ground and get right back up I don't think I snore any more! I rode a plane without worrying if the belt would fit or the tray would go down I can stand all day cleaning, running errands without a problem Life is good. I need to not fall into bad habits. I ate sourdough bread at a restaurant this weekend and it was like HEAVEN. Ok, it was good, but I wouldn't give up all the above named benefits for a slice. Anyway! Here is the secret to permanent weight removal. Make healthy food choices - Protein FIRST - SUGAR LAST Eat less - and I mean -- TEENY Portions Move more! Food has to be viewed now as the fuel that my body needs to be active. If I choose bad fuel my body functions poorly. When I choose good fuel, I feel great and my body runs SMOOTH! Eat to live, don't live to eat!! The WLS is not a cure. Without changing these habits forever, the weight can and will come back on! The surgery has given me the physical accountability (portion control) to get my healthy habits back!. The rest is up to ME! Ok, That pep talk was as much for me as it was for anyone else that may have needed it. Have a great day and plan ahead to MAKE IT EASY to make good choices for yourself! Take Care, Kelly

Sharon, Good for you reaching out NOW!!!! *here grab my hand - i'll pull you up* check out this book - http://www.amazon.com/Beck-Diet-Solution-Judith-S/dp/0848731735/sr=8-1/qid=1161633598/ref= sr_1_1/102-7224127-6544905?ie=UTF8&s=books It's called The Beck Diet solution. by JUDITH BECK It was recommended to me and I am reading it now. It's all about cognitive thinking. It doesn't matter what eating plan or diet you are on ... it talks about HOW TO LOSE THE WEIGHT - and HOW TO KEEP IT OFF - How to deal with food, situations, parties, emotional eating - it covers it all! It talks a lot about self sabotage and and how to COMBAT those thoughts!!! Maybe this book would help you. Its worth a try! YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!! Take it one day at a time ... 1 hour at a time if needed. Think of how far you've come ... Do you want to go back to the old *you*? Why Not? Are you attending any support groups? (I find them very helpful) I am here if you need me here is my personal email address [email protected] sending supportive hugs your way, Britt

Admitting it and talking about it are very important steps. Don't let your self isolate--make yourself post something every day even if you don't feel like it. You are more likely to succeed if you are ACTIVE in a support group. Try increasing your exercise. Not only to burn more calories but it keeps you in tune with your body. Being with other people who are exercising is very motivating. Exercise will help with your stress levels too. Leave the house if you need to to stop focusing on food. This morning I purged the pantry of chips and junk food. It was trash day so I bagged everything up and got rid of it before I changed my mind. My company left this morning and my husband will be traveling for the rest of the month so I had no good excuse to have it around! Keep your eye on the prize. WE WON'T FAIL. WE HAVE COME TO FAR! Together we can do this!

Sharon, I think we all have to regroup and get back to basics every once in a while! It is too easy to eat the crackers and the chips. I was in Sam's Club the other day and there were those little fish cracker samples. Oh, they were heavenly but I knew there was no way I could have them at home without grazing on them! The more junky carbs i eat, the more I want! So, load up on protein a few days to get rid of any cravings you might have and it will be easier to stay on track! Good luck! CeCe

Sharon I could have written your post. My problem is what I eat. Even if I eat a balanced meal, I feel like I am eating too much of it AND 2 hours later I am hungry again. Sometimes I give in and sometimes I don't . I can't say that taking the protein bullets make me less hungry, but they have seemed to help some with the weight loss. I am trying again to up my water intake too, especially if I am feeling hungry shortly after I have eaten. Good luck Barb

Please realize you are not the only one feeling this way. Coming on here and posting is one of the best things you can do. I admit I tend to lurk more than anything but I do post my weekly update here. I too have been feeling as if I am falling of the wagon. It seems to me I can't get the whole package together. If I am doing well on eating and not letting junk slip back in then I am slacking on my exercise. If I am stepping up my exercise than my diet plan isn't as good as it should be. One of these days I am going to get the whole package and then keep to it!!!! So I guess sorry no real words of advise other than what I have to tell myself I just have to do my best right now in this moment. And to learn from my slips and try not to dwell on them. Thanks for the post!! Hugs, Kim

I know exactly how you feel I have not been exercising and now at almost 10 months I can eat more. Don't feel ashamed and please talk to us on the boards. I agree with Brit that support groups are so very helpful. I go to several different groups. I'm just starting the graduate group, people that are 9 months or more I'll let you know how that one is. I went to my Aqua jogging class yesterday morning and I'm going again tomorrow morning. I feel that if you air your problems they become more real and you can deal with them also I think everyone on this board has really great ideas of how they cope with different things. Keep your chin up Deb