Need to get my act together

I am coming up on my 6 year mark.  Last year was not good to me, or should I say I was not good to last year.  We had two deaths in the family 5 weeks apart from the other and the life celebrations that followed were so dragged out and caused stress and I am, and have always been a stress eater.

In the past 15 months I have gained approximately 30 lbs.  Not good, not happy.  I am asking for some moral support from someone who may have walked this path before me and how you took hold and won the fight. 

I appreciate any help.

I am still in the honeymoon phase, but you are an inspiration - you are stepping up, after gaining some weight (which I know will happen to most all of us) and getting back on the track.  My answer is somewhat theoretical and based on prior dieting so use only what makes sense.  30 pounds in 15 months seems like creeping bad habits rather than all-out binging.   Small shopping and eating corrections are in order, but also it may really be the time to get some help and tackle the stress-eating cycle which may continue to plague you long-term. There is some new stuff coming out about Mindfull Eating which may help identify and develop alternate strategies for stress eating.   I found it very helpful when I hit my goal weight and thought I had permission to introduce some (not soooo bad) old eating behaviors.  I am about 1.5 years out, but I still go to 10 out of 12 support group meetings a year at my surgeon's office - or other location when I cannot make it -it helps me stay on track.  I dieted for over 50 years - how is that even possible - but my family took me to my first bariatric doctor when I was 6 and I finally had RNY-GP surgery when I was 57.  I enjoyed the feeling of not having to really diet for those first 6 months, of just following the doctor's instructions about protein and fluids, but I back to real labeling reading and portion control. 

I send you best wishes to nip this problem while it is manageable.  

Congratulations on your 1.5 years out.  I know it is creeping bad habits that are plaguing me.  I am working on it.  You mentioned the support group meetings....that's one I have to confess I have failed to attend.  Great idea to help me get this under control.  There is always a wealth of good ideas in those meetings.  I do want to nip this in the bud and I know this is manageable and doable.  I am not going back to my life before surgery...that was not a good place to be.  Thanks for your ideas and continued good losing to you. 

Creeping bad habits can be easier to shake that all out uncontrolled binge eating, so that may be a good thing.

This article was written by my NUIT - who is really wonderful, based on my work with her over the past 18 months.   I committed to going to 10 of 12 support groups meetings a year - because the long term people who go are still at their goal weight.  Don;t know if this is causation or merely correlation, but it was a good thing for me. So, you will put your big girl panties on, get over this hurdle and get back to your desired weight.

http://www.njbariatriccenter.com/news-events/news-center/art icles/new-year-new-commitment-to-guidelines-for-gastric-bypa ss-gastric-sleeve-and-lap-band-nj-bariatric-center-patients/

Best of luck

Thanks for the article.  I appreciate all the help from everyone.  I know the support group meeting are a factor in success and am looking forward to the next one.

I will get it together 

Excuse me! Did you just write my last 15 months?  Sadly I relate.  This old gal lost over 200 pounds and kept it off for over 10 years.  My husband health issues and losing him lead to me reaching for carbs and feeling so sad the thought of working out was not on the agenda.  I am still struggling with good days and bad but I can tell you this is the key to us getting those extra pounds off. GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS.  I use this list and it helps me.  Hang in there, take it one day at a time, one change at a time and before you know it we will be eating right and moving daily 

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!

Yes I did say 15 months.  In the old days the weight gain was an "oh well" sort of thought....now....I DON'T LIKE IT!!!  I am getting my food plan in order.  I am going to rid the house of carbs that have creped their way in and I am finding a support group asap and for sure...WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER!!  When I think back to the work I put in prior to surgery and how focused I was, I know I can do this.  My youngest son is expecting his third child this October and that will make 5 grandkids and I want to be here a long time to enjoy these little nuggets.  Thank you for the ideas and support.  I will keep you posted.  Have a great day!

You are very blessed, 5?!  I have 2 and want to live forever to see them grow....  What better incentive than grand angels 

Nice reference.....grand angels...I love it!  I will use that one.  I too want to watch them grow and grow.  Gotta stay healthy to be here as long as God lets me. 

I am almost 4 years out. I have gained 40 pounds back since last year. I had some major life issues that I fell back to my old coping tool of eating. Yes I ate my feelings and drank endless calories with soda and chocolate. I am back in the swing ordering my vitamins, meeting protein daily requirements, getting water in, and joined a gym. I am so upset with myself I totally relate. If you need support you have mine! You can do this! Its great you put it in perspective now. I just updated my stats and so sad when I saw my BMI.