Need Some Major Help Here...Please

I read the posts all the time, but have been to embarrassed to even post updates to my own profile. I continue to read all about everyone doing so great. I haad my surgery 4 years ago then a revision 2 years ago. I was doing great with the weight loss, then all of a sudden I am gaining. I am still exersizing..maybe not as much as I should. I do eat a few foods I shouldn't. Is it I have lost my motivation. I feel like such a loser right now. I have hired a personal trainer, that I meet with 2 days a week, joined a gym. These are costing a fortune, but something has to get me kicked back into it. Does anyone have any words of advise to help me. Maybe I need to find new foods to fix. Anything....Any help will be great...Even if its words of how I screwed up. I know I can blame no one but my self for this. I spent to much money to fail myself now. I guess I better say I have gained about 30 pounds over 2 years..mostly this year from being on steroids fro an illness..But this is not an excuse or a pawn. Please Help..... Or contact me through mscheri_s (a) msn (dot) com Cheri

I am sorry that you are having a rough time. I am only 5 1/2 months post op but I think that by joining the gym and getting the personal trainer is one heck of a start! What about going back to the basics with the loss? Re evaluate what you are taking in. I wish I could be of more help to you. But there are a whole bunch of people on here that might have better suggestions... I wish you the best of luck hon!

Cheri my advise is to seek emotional help as well...I believe many of us have an addiction and that can't be ignored or dealt with physically. I started seeing a therapist nearly two years ago and I have to say it's the best investment I have ever made..besides my insurance pays for most of it, all I pay is a co-pay..then I would suggest sitting down with a personal coach or dietician, get involved in a support group. I know I could not do this alone..this first off is not about food..it's about emotional eating..find a way to handle emotions without turning to your best friend "food"..I am not saying it's the fix but it just another tool to help you through it..personal trainers and working out is certainly a good way to take care of things physically...just don't forget we have to be healed from the inside out.. take care and good luck!! Brenda

Yes, I do know all about those steroids!! They will put on the pounds and sometimes it takes a year or more to get rid of them, depending on how long you take them. But, ask your doctor -- since they do increase your appetite -- if he can prescribe you, or recommend to you a good appetite suppressant. Then get back to the basics like Sarah said, and check into more support like Brenda said too. We can't do this alone!! And, everyone messes up! But the good thing is -- you have intervened before it goes too far. Thirty pounds isn't that many. You can lose that in three months or less, if you really put your mind to it. (Something that gets me up and moving is MUSIC!! Get yourself an MP3 Player or Walkman/Radio combo and get moving! Use whatever motivates you. It doesn't matter what it is -- us it!!! If it works, do it!! I hate to say this, but be a scale watcher. Get on that thing every couple of days and keep that weight from going up. You can do it!! You did it once, you can do it again!! And, it won't take as long this time around, because you have the tools and the knowledge to do it. Get off your butt and no more excuses!! LOL Yea, I wanna be a drill seargent when I grow up!! LOL Whenever that is -- I'm only 40 right now. LOL Good luck & Hugs to you, Sharee

hi Cheri, I'd like to invite you over to the WLS Grads forum here. You will find all sorts of people going thru the same thing as you are that many new posts ops don't have a lot of info or experience with yet. The Grad board is for those of us that over one year post op. Most have beeen thru what you are going thru right now.

Delores, I gotta say that is the cutest little dog!! I have never been to the Grad board..actually I often times forget other boards exist because I sneak in here when I should be working...lol after my surgery I will have to check things out when I am home recuperating.. see ya there!

Thanks Brenda, my dogs are my children. That is my little three pound stud. We have already had (and sold) a puppy since he got old enough to be DNA's and we have a litter due here in two weeks. Yorkies are just so special and mine are smaller than the usual (3-5lbs) so they are a lot of trouble plus I do my own grooming. They are all overdue for ear and butt trims right now so I have work to do today. I have six so I put it off as long as I can. LOL. I don't think I have said it before so good luck on your surgery and I will be thinking of you that day.

When is your surgery? You gave very soild advise here. In my case food was a cure all & now I've got to find other ways to deal with things & theraphy is good for anyone. I've almost lost 90 # & things are going great!!

My surgery is this Monday...just got off the phone with the surgeons office wanting to know if I have fears or questions..anyone who went to the Lexington event and met Dr. Martin the plastic guy...that's my surgeon, gotta love this guy!! anyway...he told me the other day he would not believe I am going through with this until he sees me on the table Monday AM..lol imagine tha==t he thinks I wil back out after going this far!! lol It gets harder after surgery Ginny, don't think I don't worry about weight gain, I did put on a few lbs but not enough that I changes sizes..I am so hard on myself that I began to stress and that's when I realized the old pattern coming back...eat, feel guilty, beat myself up, then eat to feel better ..then guilt so on and so on...it's breaking that cycle that's important..with me having surgery on Monday I decided to let it rest and not worry about it..As soon as I am healed I am back to work with a personal trainer and complete compliance, until I am where I feel good about myself again...not that the few lbs make me feel bad..that's nothing really since it was only about 7 or 8lbs..but what bothers me the most is the old ways and old habits ...I be danged if I go back there again..so it's time to take control and I will take responsibility for my actions..I keep telling myself this over and over!!! I am gulping down my protein shake right now, ...ooooo yummm lol Brenda

Cheri, Weight gain may to be approached from several pointsl; surgical, mental and nutrition. To evaluate surgical correctable causes of weight gain is easy -- generally an endoscope (EGD) will tell if the pouch looks ok. The others are more tricky. There are many emotional or mental blocks to proper eating and many times these need to be addressed before successful weight loss can continue. Gene Hedden has done many of the bariatric psych evaluations for my patients and he runs a support group (separate from the one at the hospital) just addressing mental health in post-bariatric surgical patients. Nutritional problems can be evaluated by seeing the bariatric program nutritionist -- and many times 'relearning' the proper diet can help and many times keeping a food log can help you be honest with yourself about what you are really eating. These are tools that I frequently use in postop patients, not just pre-op. Having regular support can make a difference too. It has been shown that regular participation in support groups improves the success after weight loss surgery. I think the support obtained here at obesityhelp.com is significant, but i think it is even more powerful to meet others face to face who are experiencing the same issues. Now that our program has merged with the Norton Bariatric Center, we have support groups the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. I hope this is some help to you. The most important point is that obesity is a lifelong disease that surgery helps to tame. David Geller, MD Bariatric Surgeons of Kentuckiana 4001 Dutchmans Lane, 1E Louisville, KY 40207 (502) 893-7151, FAX (502) 893-7020