So you gained some back - read this and get on with it!

I know you have gained some weight back....5, 10, maybe even 20 lbs back or more.  ITS OKAY!  Well,  not okay to keep living in denial or this horrible "poor me I failed again" sydrome.  But okay in the sense that you can get the control back!  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  The truth is that I know of at a bunch of WLS patients that had surgery in 2008 that are battling this right now.

Okay so what do we do?  Well, first I think we have to lose the "I failed" mentality because that only breeds further failure.  The truth is that you have lost a ton of weight.  Look at the big picture.  A few years ago you would have chopped your right pinky off to weigh what you weight right now.  Thats a fact and you know it!  So accept and recognize the success. 

Now WAKE UP and realize that you have to go back to working your tool.  Find what works for you.  Some of you find success doing the 3 protein meals, others are using weigh****chers, and other counting calories.  Execise is a huge boost to losing weight and maintaining a goal weight.  It can be fun too.  I'm all over that.

I use a program called thedailymile.com  and it s a free site similar to this one that allows you to log your fitness workout, running, cycling, whatever it is that you do.  It tracks your calories burned, etc.  You can add friends to encourge each other.  Look me up on there...amyp.

I know you might not want to jump in and admit your gain - totally understand, not sure I would either, and I'm not asking you to do that.   I just wanted you to know that you are not alone.  I am still about 16 lbs away from goal and battle up and down 3 or 4 lbs sometimes and then have to get myself re-committed so to speak quite often.  I just want you to know that you are not alone and this is normal because our old habits will need to be battled for the rest of our lives.....the good news ---we have a tool that really works when we use it!  So use it!!  Don't give in and give up because then you lose for sure.

Oh and don't think you are going to eat like you did a month out of surgery...hello - our stomachs take more food now so be reasonable in your approach. 

Okay end of lecture!  I just love you guys and understand what you are going through and had it on my heart to share this.  -Amy

awesome post Amy

thanks, just wanted some people to know they are not failures and they are normal.

sometimes we forget we are Normal! lol

That was such a good post and so true!  Like I posted in your reply to my post, sometimes just getting on here and putting it out there can make you see that you are NORMAL and other people go through this.  You aren't alone and you have to work for what you want!  I think I just got so used to my tool helping me so much that I forgot how to do it on my own.  I need the support even if its only to come back for a good Amy Lecture!!!  I need to hear it!
Thanks!
Hugs
Kim

Kim you are such an inspiration to me!  I can't wait to have my excess skin removed too.  We can do this.  It is just disturbing when you realize that your tool alone doesn't do it for you.  BUT, you just have to realize that the tool is still there to help you and that you just have to put some effort in with it and then that combination will get you where you need to be.

It just makes me sad when I see so many beautiful people that look sooooo fantastic are thinking they are failures when they are not!  I am going to need someone to throw this back in my face in a year probably! LOL!!!

I can't wait to tell my husband I'm normal! I'm sure he will disagree but I heard it here!  LOL!
Amy, I also wanted to tell you I love your new Profile Pic!  You look amazing!

Thanks, Amy. As I near goal, my concerns about maintaining are growing. Your post really helped me see it as a routine part of my everyday life. I think I can do it; I think I can.

Lois

I'm getting nervous about maintaining too.  I know how to gain and I know how to lose.  But how do you  maintain?!  I guess we will find out together! :)

Happy Anniversary Amy !!!!!