Hi ALL

OK no longer MIA....I'm back!!! Between jobs right now so have time to get on here ( I think I have the cleanest house in Ida Co. lol). Anyway...see alot of new faces on here, I think thats great, there is always the comfort of this GREAT group of ppl for support!!! Been reading where a few of us....hmmmmmmmm oldies who are having a hard time with some weight gain, well Iam one of them, but do feel some comfort in knowing that Iam not the only one. I have had alot of issues the last yr or so that Iam not so proud of, have always been a stress eater, somethings just never change, so in other words what Iam saying is that I too have gained about 15lbs. since my lowest weight...URGH! These issues I have had, I am finally learning how to deal with them, and moving on with my life! Honestly I could sit here and type how losing the weight started the whole process, basically by not knowing how to handle the new me....because others couldnt deal with the new me, well no need to push the blame its time to get over it and move on! Those of you who have support groups, stick with them and go to every meeting available to you, this surgery is a life saving, life changing experience that will bite you in the butt if you let it! Do I regret having this surgery...HECK NO...I would do it again in a heartbeat...BUT...I would have chosen a better program/surgeon! Now don't get me wrong, Iam a grown women and have made my own decisions right or wrong, and trust me I took the weight loss for a ride and ended up fallen off the horse....so Im back to where I started, right here where my support started. I miss you guys! I don't want flamed and I don't want to scare anyone by no means, its what you as an individual makes of it! Jesi, Dixie, Andrea, Lyn, Carolyn, Lynda, etc. I know Im forgetting some of you, Im sorry....Im back and oh boy do I need you! Janet

I think it is human to have regrets...you cant change yesterday it is already a done deal...deal with today and hope for a sunny tomorrow!!! Come see me sometime..... Lori

Janet, I can so understand where you are coming from. Since having my son almost 16 mos. I have been struggling with my post baby weight loss. I have gotten to the point that I need to do something about it, so I am doing weigh****chers, flex point system. I really like it and it is really easy to do. In the 3 weeks that I have been doing it, I have lost 7 pounds. As,long as I don't gain any more I am ok with losing. It is hard this time cause the pounds just aren't melting off like they did before. I am not going to any meetings just doing it on my own. Ordered the kit on ebay and read the message boards on the WW site. I weigh in every week. I know that I need to exercise more, I am sloooowwwllly getting to that point again. It is so much easier said than done. I am glad that you posted as I need support as well. Let me know what you are going to do to lose the weight you are wanting to. My goal is by next summer to get my panni removed. YEAH!!!! So I need to keep that in mind as well. I am right there with you. If you need anything please feel free to email me any time and we can support each other. My email is [email protected] Hang in there we can do it!!!!! Stephanie

Steph thank you sooooooooooo much for your reply and support! Its always good to know that we are not alone. I know we can do this, together we can! Be watching for an email.... Hugs, Janet

Hey Janet! Welcome back! Some of us oldies are still around and post now and then. I lurk a lot. Haven't seen Jesi on for a while. I need to email her and see what's going on. I think we are all struggling with the regain and getting it off. I have never made goal but continue to try. I had gained 6 pounds since May (vacation) and have finally gotten it off. Now to get rid of the next 5 to get to my goal and then maybe 5 more to be at my doc's goal. Seems like at 2 years we really start to struggle with the head issues. The tool still works but we second guess ourselves and let our guard down. I slipped back into some old bad habits. Fortunately for me or maybe unfortunately, I was diagnosed with insulin reisistance and started on glucophage. It's playing havoc on my digestive system right now. Diarrhea which is finally letting up, sick to my stomach, no appetite, meat is disgusting. I'm calling my WLS doc tomorrow to discuss with him. I'm pretty much eating only because I have to. And no meat to speak of. Mainly cottage cheese, eggs, protein bars and shakes. I see the dietician Friday. I need some help sorting this all out. Good to have you back! Lyn

Hiya Lyn...thank you soooooooooo much for your support! GF you have done so well, Im sry to hear about your recent health problems, hang in there ok! I remember a while back when you wrote a post about the scale, this keeps coming back to me as I use to be ADDICTED to mine lol....and now Im afraid to even step on it. BUT am gonna get back to weighing myself on a regular basis cus I too do beleive in it! Keep in touch....hugs Janet

Dear Janet: Hi!! I have been a regular lurker and sometimes poster for the last 2 1/2 years. I remember all the "old crowd" !!! I am also a member of the "gained a few" crowd I am up around 10-15 lbs from my lowest weight. I'm 2 1/2 years out. that seems to be when everyone starts having to really work at it!! I am very physically active, weight training, bikeriding (22 miles 3-4 x aweek) and walking. I do think a few of my found lbs are muscle, but not all!!!! I can eat pretty much anything. I have also fallen back into bad habits!! I am struggling to improve my diet and try to get off a few more lbs! I never got to my goal, I'm 20 lbs above right now. I would be happy to lose 10 lbs! I am a regular weigher, good or bad. I feel like I have to be on top it everyday. I'm afraid if I didn't keep up my daily weighing, it would be too easy to get out of control. I am maintaining where I'm at pretty well, but would like to lose a little. Not to scare preop folks, but yes, at some point your body will compensate for the WLS and you will have to WORK to maintain!! I try not to obsess on the numbers on the scale, but we all know that is easier said than done!!! I am going to trey to post here more, as I need some support too!! Also the WLS grad board is good!! Just wanted to say "hi" and I know what you're going through!! I am trying to get approval right now for a panni (that would rid me of a few unwanted lbs!! LOL) Have you had any plastics yet?? Good luck and hopefully talk to you again soon!! DeeAnnR

Hiya DeeAnn...thank you for the reply and support! Yes GF you are one of the many Im sure that I forgot to mention, but I sooooooooo remember you, and all you support! OK so here we are, we will make it past this hump, and it sounds like you are doing so much better than I...GOOD JOB! Im sure most of your weight gain is from muscle, so don't sweat it gf, cus you have alot more energy than I! Either way I know we can do it, there is alot of support here, we all need to stick together!!!! Stay in touch as I will too OK! HUGS, Janet

Hi Janet: Thanks for your reply!! I will hang in there, and you do the same!! I have missed communicating on this site, and need to get back with it!! We all need each other to keep us on the right path!! Our real work has begun now that we're done with the honeymoon!!! Best of luck and let's do keep in touch!!! Take care girlie!!! DeeAnn

HI Janet, I've missed you! I mostly lurk here now. There are lots of new people struggling with getting approval & recent surgery patients. I do read their posts & sympathize with them but rarely post as what they are experiencing is so far removed from my epxerience that I no longer remember it & can't help them out. Know what I mean? But the weight gain & falling back into old habits, now that I know. I never made it to goal & have been diligent about trying so maybe that is whyI haven't gained much. I usually stay within 4-5 lbs of my lowest. However this year has been extremely stressful & like you, I'm a stress eater. The worse was this summer when my sister was hospitalized in Iowa City. I'd go down there on weekends to stay with her & each time I left her room would head straight to food, mostly for consolation, rarely because I was hungry. I'd eat all the way home too, as I wondered if this would be the last time I'd be going there. I was always afraid we'd lose her. I no longer have to make that weekly long trip but she is still with us. She is now hospitalized for rehab in Waterloo & if all goes well may be released before September. With that stressor gone, my weight is getting back in control & as of yesterday was down 5 of the 10 lbs. In addition I am under lots of stress from work. Almost a year ago we were informed that our jobs were going & should start planning for the future, looking for other positions. I made my decision, decided to return to school to prepare for a new profession, but the job hasn't come to an end yet. I can't quit & lose 12 weeks of severance pay & the opportunity to go on unemployment for part of the time I'm in school so I have to cool m y heels & wait to finally get my blue slip. Believe me, all I want to do is eat! I'm hoping that once school starts, I'll start losing again & maybe by the end of the year be to my goal weight. I have an idea that I won't have time to eat, with all the studying & classes & I'm determined not to let that stress work against me. I do have good things going on though. My beautiful 8 month old grandaughter is such a joy & she lives across the road so I see her frequently. My two single sons have girlfriends & I like them! I suspect that before the year is out one of the boys will be engaged. Al & I are getting along fine and after 35 years of marriage we may not have a hot & heavy relationship (blush) but we are comfortable with each other. My sister's experience has taught me to enjoy the small things in life. It is too fragile to ignore. Oh, and I'm finally fulfilling my 50 year long dream to be a nurse. I understand your frustration with your surgeon's program. Unfortunately, most of us go to a program strickly due to where it's at. I know that I only looked into the closest one to me. Fortunately they do a very good job after surgery too but if I had been in your part of the state, I'd probably have been in the same waiting room with you. There's a gal here in town whose family members had their surgeries before the local progarm started so they went across the state to one of the busiest bariatric programs. Unfortunately she has had so many problems & with no support is just as large as ever. In addition she has had to have several surgeries for related complications. She keeps going back to them as the very small local hospital that her doctor is affiliated with won't touch her. They treat her like crap! I suspect they don't want her around, sitting in their waiting room, possibly talking to pre-ops & showing them that the surgery (their program) can fail. These programs need to be responsible for their patients, not just up to & including surgery but 1, 2, & more years later. We, as "oldies" know what happens down the line. The surgery is not a miracle cure for obesity. It helps but we have very long lives (hopefully) to live & battle everyday that urge to go back to our old way of eating. Once again, I have gone on & on & I apoligize. I didn't mean to make this about me. I am here for you, Janet. I do lurk almost daily. Keep posting. It may help just being here to remind yourself that there are people *****ally care. We do! We want to make sure that we all are successful & happy, not only in our weightloss efforts but in our person lives. Dixie