Struggling - PLEASE HELP!!

Hi, all my fellow 10/03 post-ops!! Hope everyone is doing well. I've not posted here in a while. Work here at OH has been keeping me busy (which is good! ). Now I'm grovelling for some ! Over the holidays (and a little since then) I gained nearly 20 lbs . My weight had basically stabilized at 257 lbs (down from preop weight of 402 lbs). Now I'm up to 272 lbs again!! I can only blame myself, poor food choices, and lack of exercise. I DO worry, however, that I've stretched my pouch and/or stoma too much. I feel like I can eat a ton of food - and when you've been making poor food choices, that's even worse. I'm so discouraged. I DO NOT want to fail this surgery!! I've worked too hard and put my body through a lot having my open rny. But I'm having a hard time getting back on the right track again. Right now, my cravings are esp. bad because I'm due to start my period soon - and I don't know about everyone else, but I feel the urge to eat bad stuff and eat it like a pig when I'm premenstrual! I guess I'm needing some motivation, reassurance or something. Has anyone else had problems with weight regain? If so, how did you get back on track and get that weight off? I'd like to get to 250 lbs before going for PS and hernia repair (I'm presently in a size 22 - which is still a heck of a lot better than the 34/36 I was in before surgery - because of the size of my hernia and my pendulous gut/excess skin, but SHOULD probably be, according to my WLSurgeon and Plastic Surgeon, in at least about a 16). I need some serious help/suggestions/good butt kickings *lol* in getting this excess off! ANY advice would be greatly appreciated! Bless you all!!!! Amy

Hi Amy, OK .. you asked for it!! (with love) GO BACK TO THE BASICS 1) lets start measuring food 2) are you getting atleast 64 oz of water a day in 3) get off your rump!! exercise! 4) drop those carbs!! 5) up that protein!! You have to get strict with yourself. If this is what you really want you can do it. The power of positive thinking is a mighty thing. REMEBER ... we are always her for you. God Bless Your Journey, Sheila

Amy, I had my surgery in 10/02, and I can totally understand what you are going through, While I have not had a weight gain per say, ( I go up and down about 3lbs) I do know very well how we self destruct and go back to bad eating. Every day is a struggle for me, some days I win and some days I lose( today, is a loss by the way) I am not going to tell you what you should and should not do, you already know what is right. You have already taken the first step in getting things together by coming here and coming clean. Please know that you are so not alone in this, I wish I had some magic words of wisdom to stop you from eating, because I could use some advice on that myself, maybe what you need, what I need is each other and everyone else here for support. If you ever want to talk, just send me an email. Good luck on your upcoming surgery, I had a hernia repair x3 in July of 03, and It wasn't much fun. Cathy Martin

Sounds like you've named what the problems are, you are not exercising. You are not eating right. This is going to take you to change them. I also can't stress that staying around support does help. It keeps you in check and accountable. It keeps to see other people's success and makes you want to achieve better too. I recently joined the Y and love to go swimming. It's been great exercise. Also yes like posted above Water is key to this surgery. The weight loss is not over, you missed one key part of this surgery and that's relearned how to eat again. I hope that you can find your way back and get motivated. Amy

Hi Amy, I started at about the same weight as you. Almost 4 years ago. I know you can lose the weight! You need to tell yourselft everyday, "I can do this! I will succeed! I can do this!" All of the other ladies have given you the right advice. You just have to take the bull by the horns and do it! I know when you fall off the wagon it is so hard to get back on. The first day is the hardest however, each day gets a little easier. You have to exercise this is key. If I don't work out I gain weight. I feel like I am just like everyone else now. All the "Normal" people. I must work off what I eat. One day if I eat a little more than usual I do an extra mile on the treadmill. Did you know if you walked in a pool for 30 minutes it equals 1 hour on the street? I don't know if this is an option for you but if it is try it a few times a week. Find something that you like to do so you will do it. I love to dance so I do jazzercise. It is so much fun for me. I like everyone else have a very busy life. Work, Kids, husband, home, so I schedule my week to include exercise. Sometimes I get up at 4:30 a.m. to go on the treadmill because I know my nights are so full. Also it really helps to go to a support group. The ASBS (American Society for Bariatric Surgery) have done many studies and found patients who go to support groups regularly, lose the most weight and keep it off the longest. Check around in your area and go to a couple of support groups until you find one you like. Amy, you can do this but it takes work to do it. Take care, Virginia

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all *****sponded to my plea! It reminded me that I am SOOOOO not alone in this struggle. Your words of encouragement and support have meant so much. You're all angels!! Brief progress report since my last post: I've managed to get down from 272 lbs to 268 lbs, so I'm going in the right direction!! I've upped my water intake and increased the protein again, and I'm TRYING like the dickens to avoid the naughty carb monster. I think things will get a little easier once my nasty monthly visitor arrives - it ALWAYS seems to make a carb-craving pig out of me!!! Grrrr.... *lol* Now I just need to work on getting back on my walking program. Presently I live in an EXTREMELY "hilly" area, so two blocks to and from my apartment REALLY gets my heart pumping! It's just hard to get motivated to go walking without someone to walk with. Soooooo boring. Makes me feel depressed. But I know that if I want to get those scales moving faster, I need to do something. So hopefully one of these days I'll get off my behind and just DO IT!! Anyway, thanks again so much for all your love and support. Here's some fairy dust in my hope that you all stay well and continue the GREAT WORK at keeping the weight off!!! HUGS TO ALL!!!!! Amy