Help from long timers please!
Hey everyone, it's been a long time since I have visited OH. I am seeking some good advice from my friends, all of you! I am 2 years post op and all of a sudden something is going bonkers. I am late night eating, making wrong choices...daily! I reached goal and was in control for a good spell there. I did add a few things here and there within reason to my menu. A treat on a sunday, a piece of chocolate here and there, and honestly that was fine. I was always within 1 pound or two of goal, doing a protein day and being fine.
Last 6 months, BAD! I have gained 10 pounds and am frantic! So scared the food monster has returned and won't let go of me. I know for most 10 pounds may seem like nothing, but it's a reversal and a place I have been to many times before surgery. I think that's why I am so scared. I was free and now feel like I am trapped again.
Please help with some encouragement to get back to basics. Maybe some helpful hints from anyone this has happened to and been successful in reversing the thought process. I actually read a post today that was helpful from a newbie. I haven't heard the term head hunger in forever ( probably because I am not on OH like I should be). I think this is a major issue for me right now. Sometimes my tummy is actually rumbling, but most times it's just me feeding it to fill the emotional void. UghHHHH.
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Thank you family!!
I am still 13 lbs from going into maintainence but maybe go back to basics for a little while until you get the weight off. Follow the eating of protein first, drinking all of your water, cut out the carbs. Go back to weight loss mode until you are comfortable with your weight. Maybe you also need to go back on an antacid at least temporarily. Remember the acid will mimic being hungry when you really aren't. You can do it, get back on track. You haven't let it get completely out of hand yet, so just get back on program and it will come off.
Thank you so much! You are right, I need to go back to basics. I love to cook, unfortunately I am good at it! I was going to make the most amazing chicken and dumplings tonight. I have changed my mind, it's going to be roasted chicken and roasted green beans. Although the dumplings are sooooo freaking good. That's the difference, I have let lose and allowed myself to eat those type foods. Early on I would make food but had the strength to not even take a bite.
Just not going to make that stuff! Protein first and count carbs!
Thank you!! :-)
Great job changing your mind. Now just do this all the time! 
Obviously I'm a newbie, but thanks so much for this post. While it would be great if everyone easily maintained with no problems I find these posts important. I need it pounded into my brain that these changes in lifestyle are for a lifetime. For the good of my health that's just the way it is.
Have you done any kind of therapy for food issues or is there a local WLS support group. Maybe you need something like that. I know I do.
Good luck! You clearly did it once, so you know you can do it again.
I getit, I find freedom which is usually very short lived, and then I fall off the wagon and have been stuck under it for a long time now! I woke up with a new attitude today, sadly no surgery will make me thin until I get help with my addiction to food. Food serves all the wrong reasons in my life, and has so much control over me. I'm going to be here more often for help and support, you and I have come back to the right place, where we all understand, (((((HUGS))))))))
I just responded to your question to me on frisco's post. I hope some of it can help.
In regards to the emotional void ... I'm there with ya!!! It's harder for some of us to find a distraction to emotional eating. Sometimes I really feel like it's just plain ol' determination for some of us to get back in the game for good. I've just had to get my head back in to "wanting it bad enough" for me to make it happen. We do have to get more strict like we were in weight loss. Elina will tell you that when she is up a few pounds, she goes right back into weight loss mode and goes back to basics. Basically the diet she was on to lose the weight. It's not fun and I kick and scream along the way but it's what we need to do. All we can do is our best while practicing some extra self control since maintenance kinda gave us a little more freedom to expand our diet so to speak. We just need to watch the daily calories & the carbs. I know it's easier said than done for some of us BUT it can be done. 
Jenn
WWBD?
