REgaining control

Hello Friends,
Long time no post, I know. I have been travelling on a personal journey of one-year post op plateauing, and a few minor health issues, which has been distracting and demoralizing, but I am on the upswing again, and wanted to share a personal discovery with my dear OH friends in case any of you are finding yourself in a similar position.
About 6 months post op, my weight loss slowed down to a dull roar. By 10 months, I was done! I looked into malabsorption deficiencies, exercise habits, eating habits (more on that), hormonal imbalance, and many other possibilites as the reason behind the sudden stop in my weight loss. I wasn't done yet! How could my body not want to lose more weight when I was watching what I ate, exercising, drinking water, etc.?
I joined Weigh****chers, and despite journaling, weighing, measuring, and planning, I only lost 3 pounds in 6 weeks. Very demoralizing! I was used to the scale moving down at lightning speed (after WLS), but while I understood that even tho this wouldn't happen now, why wasn't it coming off faster than it was? Such sacrifice too! Sound familiar?
I was in a terrible rut. I'm planning a tummy tuck, and really wanted to get more of the weight off first. Now comes the part where I sound like an advertisement: I really don't mean to, but I had a stunning revelation, and I want to put it out there: I tried the South Beach Diet. High protein, high fiber, good fats in limited quantities, no carbs (bread, fruit, pasta, rice, potatoes, and some veggies). 
This first week, I dropped....drum roll please.....10 pounds! What?
Obviously, my heart is singing for my success, but the big whammo lesson for me is how potently influencial carbs are in the chemistry of weight loss and maintenance. When we sign up for WLS, we make a commitment to changing our lives, but one year post op, I'm still learning how to do that. Eventually, I'll wean a light carb diet into the current one (per the South Beach Diet plan), but I am coming from a new strategy level with the idea that when weight starts to creep up, or I'm having trouble losing: check the carb intake.
Holy Cow!!!!
Long winded, but there you have it. I hope all of you are having a healthy, and fun summer. 
Big hugs to all,Amy

Thank you for the info!!!  And congrats on the additional 10lbs!!!

Hi Amy.  I m happy to hear that you found your loophole in this journey.  I tell people all the time that basically it is an atkins type diet {south beach} that we end up following after thehoneymoon period goes away.  I am at my goal and have been there since about 10mths  out so i am able to incorporate carbs into my diet in moderation and maintain my weight.  However i fluctuate between 128-132 pounds.  A week that i have less carbs im on the lower end and a week im craving more carbs its the higher end.  I am ok with that.   This is such a rollercoaster of a ride.  Its trial and error.  I do have to emphasize thatyou look amazing and you should feel very proud of how far you have come.  I have known you for along time now and watched youtransform.  Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your journey. LisaMarie

Hi LisaMarie,
My GOAL is to get to where you are now. 10 months! You must feel so good about that. What an accomplishment. You are right about this being a roller coaster of a ride. There is so much to keep on learning with all this. I hope I never stop.
Thank you for the supportive comments. Makes me feel so good to hear them. Right back at ya! What a transformation. 
Hugs and kisses,Amy

Great info! Thanks so much and I'm filing the link for future reference.

Wow, Amy. Your post is so helpful. And I'm so glad you're moving forward (downward!)

Question, all the RNYers I've met told me that they can't eat rice, even brown. So tell me, besides fruit, what "good" carbs to you eat? Do you, or will you, incorporate sweet potatos, or is that considered a bad carb?
Thanks,

Good carbs are those that are high in fiber, like fruits, high fiber breads, sweet potatoes, high fiber (whole wheat) pasta. They are converted less quickly into sugar, and the fiber is good for the gut and helps us feel satiated. 

 

Thanks for your reply!

Amy 

amy,         Thank you for your post.  I feel the same way.  I stopped loosing weight also at 10 months i didnt understand at all.  I still have 50 more pounds to go.  I read your email i am going to start the south beach diet tomm i have to .  my bmi is still saying that i am obese.   I do everthing right i am still on protein shakes.  I am not a breakfast eater at all.     I do have one medical promblem they found in may they found a 7cm cyst on my throyid they just put me on medicine they say that has nothing to do with my weight loss my throyid is fine.  I just dont understand at all.    I am not crazy i excersise.  I just wanted to say thank you for your post.   Michele

You're welcome Michele. I think it's very hard on the body to lose weight, even though it's better in the long run. I wish you luck with the SB diet. If I can be of any support, feel free to email me!

Amy 

WOOWOO Amy!  Congrats on that 10 lbs!  I've been stuc****il yesterday at the -50 point...lost 2 more...only need 2 to hit 50% loss!  Thank you for being an inspiration!