Weight regain 10 years post RNY
I was very active here 10 years ago, but my former username and posts are gone. So this is who I am today.
I'm back, facing up to the 85 pounds I have regained in 10 years. I had lost 155, which was not my ultimate goal, but close. In 10 years I lost my dad and also had a serious cancer scare. I'm addicted to carbs.
I revisited my surgeon in 2014 and the experience was fairly unpleasant. My surgeon is not known for his bedside manner ... ahem.
Anyway, I've lost 15 of the 85 I regained. I'm feeling good, but antsy to get this blankety-blank weight back off.
All the best to people just beginning their WLS journeys. The first 18 months can be a breeze. It's after that that the hard work begins.
11 years out and every single day/minute is a struggle. I had a rough patch about 5 years ago, lost my job, was unemployed for a year and had a huge pity party and invited all the carbs to it!! Once I got back to work, I tried to get a hold of it. I stopped the bread, chips, rice, pasta entirely. I ate meat/fish/chicken/eggs and some type of grilled veggies to the point where I was really full. I took the 15 I gained off plus. I am now at my lowest, and have hung in there +/- 3 lbs on any given day. This is really the hardest thing in the whole world. I hate when people say, OH you took the easy way out by having surgery! Obviously, they never walked a day in our shoes. I also see a LCSW who also had WLS surgery about 15 yrs ago, so that does help a lot!
Good luck and congratulations on getting back on track before it took over completely. Reach out whenever you need support. Remember you are not alone.
Best,
JA
Good for you for getting back on track. It is a difficult journey, but you can do it. I am 4 1/2 years out and struggle so much with getting off plan in the evening, it is a daily/hourly challenge. There is great information and support on this forum and the whole OH site. Hang in there and best of luck.
Welcome Back! Not that I am happy to hear all you are going through but glad you turned to your OH family to get back on track.
If you want access to your old account, contact me at [email protected] and I may be able to help you locate it. If you want a fresh start with a new account I understand 
I too, kept my weight off for years and then the struggle and stress of caring for a husband that had strokes and heart issues got to me. I turned to carbs and thought WTH? I know better. I went back to the basics and it really got me going again. Here is the list I used to help me. Be sure and let me know if there is anything else I can do, I we are here for you 
You have already taken the hardest step by saying enough is enough and now I want to get back on track. Here are some steps I hope will help you. They helped me... Also, be sure and join the Back On Track Together group.
Planning/Preparing
Remember when we were preparing for surgery? How many meetings, classes and such did we attend? We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success. And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods. Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every bad carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies, grains and fruits.
Journaling
Get back to journaling. This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life. Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating. It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband. It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food. Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL
Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health Tracker. Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.
Goals/Rewards
Make a list of goals for yourself. Make them realistic and small. Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein.
Food
In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat?, calories, and sugar. Important, vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan).
Water
Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea? I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass. So I was either pushing to be diabetic or get cancer. I found once I started carrying a bottle of water around 24/7 (yes had one at my bedside) I lost the cravings for the sugar and I KNOW those artificial sweeteners are not good for me. Look I am old and if you add up all the artificial sweeteners I have consumed I am sure I am at the rat in the lab getting cancer threshold.
MOVE!
I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what, I kept moving. If I could not go to the gym I would walk. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lifting weights. When I stopped, the weight started coming back. So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV. Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.
Support
If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group.
Keep me posted on how you are doing
HW:330 - GW:150 - MW:118-125
RW:190 - CW:130
I hear ya loud and clear. I am almost 9 years out and need to lose 30 pounds. I thought my diabetes could never come back to haunt me, but it has. So, I am back at it again. I also had an account 9 years ago, but now had to re-register. Good luck and best of wishes for your continued weight lose. I am down 7 as well. Darn, it is so hard!
