8 years post-op...feeling ashamed and like a failure

Join Back on Track Together group.. 

monitoring and journaling - really helps with  

I am 5 years out and slowly gained 5 lbs here and there.. I am still "normal" size - bit too heavy for my back and joints. It is much harder. But I know I can do it. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/backontracktogether/discuss ion/

Make an appointment to see your surgeon. LIFE HAPPENED... they get it. Just tell him/her you are committed to getting healthy and you need help. Never be ashamed or embarrassed, falling down happens... get up, regroup, ask for help, make a plan, move forward... Failing would be falling down and staying there. 

While you wait for your appointment chart your food/drink and exercise on my fitness pal or fitday or one of those free sites/apps. Print that data out and bring it with you to your appointment so the Dr can see if adjustments need to be made in that area. 

You want to rule out underlying health issues that could be causing gains and/or mechanical failure of your WLS and then discuss your next steps. Going it alone is not the answer. Get a team together (You, Dr's, Nutritionists, Therapists, support groups, family, anyone that can help you)

Wishing you all the best!! ~Michelle "Shelly"

P.S. Support groups help you keep your head in the game. If anything... find an online group, maybe a few people in your Nashville group and start an online component. Meet online weekly or something.

You have no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed of having regained some weight!  It is common and is not a sign of weakness or failure. 

Personally, I don't think that seeing your surgeon is absolutely necessary unless you want a referral to a dietician or counselor/psychologist.  It isn't likely that your pouch or stoma are unusually enlarged (my surgeon said that under 20% of the people she sees have a physical issue), and there isn't really much that can be done about it even if they are, so other than give you a referral, there isn't too much the surgeon can do, anyway.

Your best bet for getting the weight back off is to go back to basics: a protein forward diet with limited carbs, limited portions (measure for a while if necessary), and lots of water (just not with, or right after, meals).  I will be 7 years out in August and I know how easy it is to let the portion sizes creep up and to let too many "white" carbs (or even too many fruit carbs!) back into your diet.  (I had a knee replaced a few months ago and am working on getting off a few pounds that I gained while I was so immobile.)

Basically, go back to eating the way you were when you were a year post-op.  Be mindful of snacking habits you might have let creep back in.  Tracking your food intake for a few weeks might help give you an a clear look at what you need to change.  (I stopped tracking my food by the time I was 6 months post-op, but am considering going back to it myself for a week to see what else I need to modify.)

You can do it!

Lora

I am not bypassed but we can all struggle with this. We all know what to do but if we had a good relationship with food and lots of will-power we wouldn't have had surgery in the first place.

I have no idea if a surgeon could help but I think a dietician might. As might keeping a daily record and going back to a protein high, carbs low diet. If you can't get to a wls support group, have you thought of something like Weigh****chers? The diet sheet wouldn't work for you, or the idea of bulky, filling foods. But the regular weighing and the tips to avoid hunger might help. 

Here's links to a couple of excellent articles that should help you see you're not a failure!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/choice-of-bariatric-procedure-a-philosophy-obtained-in-20-years-of-bariatric-practice-2/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4416773/quotDoes-the-Patient-Fail-the-Procedure-or-Does-the/