I've gained 40lbs. back since my surgery. Please Help Reset.

Hey Everyone.  I had my surgery in Feb of 2014.  I lost 110lbs.  Since Sept. of 2014, I've had two job changes, graduated twins from High School, moved into a new house and gained 40lbs back.  I need help.  

I really don't have much leg to stand on when it comes to advice as I just had my VSG on August 12th. But I think you just have to not thrash yourself to much and get back to basics. Be conscious of your eating, activity and make time for yourself. Try to figure out why the weight gained happened and work on making it better. Try not to be to hard on yourself. I think this situation is very common and I appreciate you talking about it. Be well. Laura

Thank you so much for taking time to respond.  That was encouraging Laura.  I'm walking now, but it's the evening that kills me.  I need to keep aware.

You were successful before. Do the same things you were doing then. If you kept a food and exercise log, go back to what you were doing two months after surgery, and do it again.

That is amazing!  Wow, that's how much I weighed.  I stalled at 270.  Ugh!  

Go to the search feature  (magnifying glass in the blue bar at the top of your screen) and type in regain.  You will get lots of posts that you can read through to get advice.

Wow, that's great!  270-145!  WOW!  Thank you for the advise.

Hi Christopher135,

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 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.

Thank you Kathy for taking time to respond to me.  I actually joined your group right before I posted...haha.  I do need to purge my house of CRAP and replace it with good choices.  Especially during the evening time when it get hard and I want to graze.  :(  Look forward being apart of the group.  

cjt.

Contact me anytime.  Just went through what you are and I am there for you. YOU CAN DO IT!  We all need help