How to get back on track 6 years after post op

Had the bypass surgery. Lost the weight. Now I've gained most of it back! I am trying to get back on track but am not having any success. The bariatric clinic here is a 3 yr waiting period. The dietician through my doctor doesn't know about bariatric surgery. I need to get back to it. How many calories a day should I am for if I want to lose weight now?

Would it be plausible to do like 2 protein shakes and then a dinner for a while to get things moving?

If I've stretched my pouch it that it? Can it shrink back or would that require a revision?

Lots of questions with no one to answer.

Any ideas would be great

Steph

I am 6 years out this month. I have joined a WLS support group. I also am doing the 5 day pouch. I have gained 27 lbs since my surgery. Thats enough to open my eyes. I have had some medical issues since the weight gain. I go see the dr today to see what is happening. Maybe check out this page. Good Luck

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html

For weight loss, you need to look at 600 - 800 calories per day, 60 - 80+g protein, less than 40g carbs. Dense protein (meat, cheese, etc.) first and foremost. 64+ oz of water. Weigh, measure, and log everything.

Shakes are good if you need to push protein, but even after surgery they aren't very filling. You can get the same number of calories and just as much protein eating grilled chicken, string cheese, jerky, fish...

Stomachs do not shrink. However, very few people actually stretch them as they think they have. The only way to tell would be to have medical testing done.

Is there any chance it would be less than 3 years for a checkup appointment, as opposed to starting the surgery procedure? A one-time visit with a bariatric doctor to answer questions and have blood work drawn may take less time.

I'm 4.5 years out and had a substantial regain. I had a lot of trouble getting rid of it until I discovered Overeaters Anonymous. It sounds like a wonky program but the program offers a full approach to recovery. I've had amazing success losing the regain so far. If you'd like to know more please PM me and I'll be happy to chat with you about it. 

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

This is great information you are sharing with us.  Thank you.  I too am in the stage where I have gained most of my weight back.  I had the Lap Band in 2007.  And I had recently had a hip replaced.  Now I still need the other one replaced but I am able to move much better.  I know if I lost even 40 pounds I would feel so much better.  My biggest downfall is eating at night.  and I don't drink much water, mostly coffee with sweet and low and now SOBE or vita rain water. zero calories but still no****er.  Will try to work on more water today. 

I also feel that planning is one of the best things you can do. but not just planning but sticking with it.  

I once read an article in the Wall Street Journal, how highly successful people become successful.  Basically they don't put failures in front of them. Such as if you are trying to stay away from sweets do not put a chocolate cake on your counter. I often think of that article and wonder why I can think of it but not do it. 

Anyways, Thank you for your post.

It's normal for your pouch to relax and get a little larger over time, and it doesn't really seem to matter as long as your stoma hasn't stretched. It's really the stoma that gives you good restriction. Unfortunately, there's not really any reliable way to reduce the size of the stoma available. The Apollo Overstitch, the latest stoma-reducing procedure, does seem to show more promise than the earlier ones.

Do you journal your food? If not, it would be a good idea to start. For many of us, the total number of calories isn't as important as our ratio of protein, fat, and carbs. Journaling your food will help you pin-point where your diet can be adjusted. And there's no virtue in drinking your food rather than eating it. Dense proteins and good fats will make you feel satisfied longer, making it easier to not overeat.

Many people dealing with regain are tempted to do "all shakes" or as you mention, a couple of shakes then a dinner. The problem is, this takes us back to our days of "crash dieting" which didn't work before surgery and it won't work now. 

I see that one reply mentions the 5 day pouch test. In my years of being active on forums and WLS support groups, I've heard of it many times. Truth? I don't know a single person who has made it through all 5 days....or who magically discovered that this was the fix they needed. (And I personally keep in touch with over 100 post ops.)

Maybe more surgery is the answer? Well, if your doc says so, as you've heard already, most often the answer is no. 

What's the answer?

You know the answer. 

Follow the rules. Clean out the pantry - dump the cereals, crackers, junk food, sweets...whatever you find. Do that today. This afternoon. Now. 

Protein and veggies are your friends. Start there. Add a little fruit if there's room.

Water. All of it, every day.

Move, even if it's just a bit as you get started.

And persist! Too often we give up too easily on ourselves, and find ourselves cycling through those same old habits that landed us in a surgeon's office initially. 

Good to hear all this. I have forgotten  a lot of it. Time to get to it 

Thank you to everyone.