I need help please

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

I have not been an active member of this group for quite sometime now. I thought I could do this all on my own and I was for awhile; however, I no longer lose weight...in fact I have gained 17 pounds over the last 9 months. I need a HUGE kick in the pants!! I am recommiting myself to being healthy. I had my surgery in Nov 2006 I weighed 325 pounds I now weigh 172 pounds. My all time lowest  weight was 155 pounds in October 2007. A lot has changed in almost a year. I am madly in love with my boyfriend, I no longer work in my high stress executive job and I finally completed my colleg degree. Granted life did step in and there were many ups and downs and I let my determination and drive slip away. Along with the friends who supported me and kept me in check with my weight loss goals. I fell off the band wagon in Jan/Feb when my work and school were priority number 1. As a result my immune system plummeted and I continued to get sick every other month finally resulting in a case of mono and becoming anemic. I am now in a position where I can focus on myself and revamp my life. I am currently unemployed ( I was laid off) and living in a brand new area. Now that I have TIME lots and lots of TIME to find a job and recommit myself to being healthy. Here is the problem. I have completely fallen off the band wagon I eat pretty much whatever I want. I don't count calories, how much protein I eat, regularly excercise or take my vitamins regularly. Today is different. Today I will go back to the healthy behaviors I clung to while losing weight. Today i will drink lots of water. Today I will eat high protein and yummy veggies. Today i will take my multivitamins and minerals. Today I am going to the gym and working out. Today I will restart my quest of being under 150 pounds.

I need help though. Can someone please re-educate me on what I should be taking (vitamins/supplements etc.) Also, my skin has changed A LOT any suggestions? I mean besides weight training and exercise? Anything work for anyone? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

jen

Jen,

Trust me you're not alone!  Although this group goes through it's actively posting stages (we're not super active at the moment) all of us have been struggling with the fact that we now have to actively monitor what we eat and force ourselves to exercise.  The free ride of the 12 months after WLS is long gone and now we have to work to keep what we've gained  or lost as the case may be :-)
 
For me a helpful thing has been using sites like www.fitday.com to track what I eat everyday.  It really helps keep things in perspective about what I'm putting in my mouth since I'm going to have to record it later.  The other thing that has helped me is to plan my meal everyday, what and when I'm going to eat.  Grazing is my biggest problem.  I still get full very quickly at an actual "meal" and still have fairly low sugar tolerance but if I snack I can eat all day and that adds up QUICK!!!

For supplements I take a multivitamin, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, Calcium, iron and try to get two protien shakes in (60 grams of protien total which usually puts my day at around 100 grams with the food I eat).  Other than the vitamin D, which was just added to by my doctor because it was low on my blood tests, I would think most WLS patients should be taking the rest of them.  Have you had blood work done recently?  That would tell you if you are getting low on anything and what you should concentrate on.

I assume by your skin changing you mean that it is saggy?  Unfortunately for us massive weight loss folks there really isn't much that even heavy weight lifting and serious exercise can do about that.  Our only option for getting rid of all that loose skin is plastic surgery.  I personally just had a lower body lift that took off almost 10 pounds of loose skin from around my torso.

Well, that's my spiel :-)  Like I said, you're not alone.  All of us November '06 gals are going through the exact same thing!!!

Corinna Q

Hey Jen, congratulations on getting your focus back!  The first step is the hardest!  Isn't it amazing how life happens while we are busy doing other stuff? 

Here is my vitamin regime:

Morning:  Bariatric Advantage Multi  (1)
                  Bariatric Advantage Calcium (1)
                  Vitamin D (1)
                  Probiotic
                  Coramega (2000mcg Fish Oil)

Midmorning:  Baritaric Advantage Calcium
                     
Lunch:       Bariatric Advantage Multi        (1)
                    Bariatric Advantage Calcium (1)

5pm:          Coramega 
                    Tender Iron (3)

Bed Time
                    Tender Iron (3)
                    Copper
                    Vitamin C (1000 mg)

I'm on extra calcium and iron because of my deficiencies.  Take good care of yourself.  I've taken my vitamins and protein supplements without fail and I still have deficiencies!  Two different physicians told me to take vitamins, do weight bearing exercises, and use a treadmill.  I just laughed because you would be hard pressed to find anyone who did those things more than me!   

As far as the skin issues, exercise will help.  There is only so much that exercise will do for skin though.  Cosmetic surgery is the only way to remove the excess.  I had a tummy tuck, breast lift, and augmentation.  I love the end results.  I had some issues during the process, but everything worked out fine.  I'm looking forward to a face lift, then I will call it quits.  In the meantime I am using Obagi products on my face with very good results.

Good luck and keep fighting the good fight!  You can and will succeed!

Wanda