...Getting Back On Track

So, I feel like I want to eat everything in sight... I am in my maintenance phase and about to go in to see my surgeon for my 2 year check up and labs; why is it that NOW, I want to be like Godzilla and destroy everything in my path? I am on my first day of liquids, trying to get my mind back to where it needs to be. I am also going on a cruise Friday, hoping that my liquid phase will stop my thinking that I can have anything I want. Additionally, I am praying that the cruise has healthy options available (I have never been on a cruise), and not just fried foods and pizza. 

 Haha, Godzilla, this cracked me up. Yep I heard maintenance can be pretty challenging. All the head stuff, especially cravings are still there & it can be so easy to want to eat all the foods you avoided during the weight loss phase.

Hmm, liquids?, omg you couldn't pay me to go back to that mess again, but I can understand if you need like a mental reset, just be careful, you don't want to keep resetting yourself to get back on track. I think it can be so easy to get back into yo yo dieting that so many of us are used to.

Have fun on your cruise! 

I only do the pouch reset when I feel that I can eat too much or All I can think about is eating! I only do the reset for 5 days... 2 days of liquid, 2 says of soft protein, then last day is protein. No yoyo's... this is approved by my surgeon =)

Cruises are full of meat and veggies... which is a good thing!

They are also full of breads and desserts...

It's hard, but if you get yourself full on the meats, maybe you won't have room for the rest of it!

I swear, almost anything you can think of is on a cruise when it comes to food! Ack!

I am happy to hear that I can find bariatric friendly foods... I generally stay away from the desserts and will have a bite of bread every so often. I just have to remember that I need to eat my proteins first!! Fingers crossed for a successful trip!

Instead of thinking about all the food on the cruise, think about all the things that you might be able to do now that you're at a healthy weight, that you couldn't do when you were at your heaviest. I'm talking exercise, day excursions, trying new activities, etc. :)

It is so easy to forget looking at life with this aspect... Thank you for reminding me to see the "What I can do" vs "What I can't do"

There are tons of variety of foods on cruises. You just have to keep away from the bad. Some ships have ice cream 24/7 available.

There is usually a nice gym also and usually a walking track outdoors also.

we are going to get there right when boarding opens, to be able to search various aspects of the ship so I know where to stay away from!!! lol 

Thankfully, I stay away from ice cream if it has sugar added. I ain't got time to dumping lol That is something that I am petrified for. I think I will have to really track my progress with my Fit Bit and set some goals to reach! Might have to make it a competition for my Husband!

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 and post on your surgery type forum. 

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