I had surgery in 2009 and did really well. I lost about 100 pounds but in the last couple of years I have gained 40 of those pounds back. I need to get serious again and get this weight off. I know beer has been a problem and I need to address that issue. Thanks for any tips or advise.

You're right about the beer.  Too many carbs that go right to your liver and then your fat layer.  

I've had good success with journaling everything I put in my mouth. No guilt tripping allowed, this is just gathering info.  Once you see what you are really eating, it's time to make decisions about what to remove from your intake.  I know that white carbs are all too easy to let sneak back in.  

Make sure you're getting your exercise, too.  It's very easy to let that slip too.

Good luck.

THANK YOU JOURNALING SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. I DO GET MY EXERCISE IN BY WALKING MY FIT BIT HAS ME AT 3.54 MILES TODAY AND THAT IS ABOUT WHAT I AVERAGE. THE BEER ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY I ADMIT THAT.

You need to increase your walking to at least 10000 steps a day which is generally about 5 miles a day. Walking is great for your health (I do it, too) but will do little for weight loss. You have to be honest with yourself about how much you are eating and cut back. Measure your portions and track every bite. And you know you need to stop drinking beer.

My surgery was July '09 and during 2014 I regained 35 lbs, or about 1/3 of my total weight lost. 

Facing the regain took a LOT of discipline and tough love - on myself. I felt guilty, I felt like I was failing. But I met with a dietitian and outlined a very clear eating plan (nothing you don't know already!) - and I have lost 25 of those pounds this year. 

The beer is just empty calories and you're not doing yourself any favors. Do what you know how to do. Get help if you need it. Log everything (My Fitness Pal is a great app) - the good, bad, and ugly. 

It's like chiseling rock with the end of your toothbrush but you CAN lose this weight!

Thank you do much. I have decided that Saturday August 1st will be my start date. My 50th Birthday is in January and that gives me 6 months to be really serious. I want to look my best for my 50th B-Day.

I am not as far out post op as you. But I monitor daily. I log my calories and food. I monitor my steps. I consider my fitbit instrumental in helping me do this.

I also consider myself a Morbidly obese person in remission. Meaning, I still got the MO disease, but it is temporarily "beat back" and just lurking, waiting for the chance to "get me" again.

It helps me control my behavior and limit bad behaviors.

Dump the beer and get back to basics eat your protine first stay away from carbs don't eat sweets.

Oh yeh drink your water

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 link in my signature area.  

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 carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies 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, fiber, 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, lift weights. When I stopped, the weight came on.  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