Been missing in action with weight gain needing to get back on track

It has truly been a roller-coaster ride over here. Needing suggestions for jump starting the weight loss again. A lot has happened in my life which caused severe depression and bad thoughts after losing my mom. With therapy and a great support system, I was able to come thought it and ready to get back on track. I was down 141 pounds but gained back 100 lbs. I truly messed up and accepted it. I am currently trying the 5 day pouch test to try to get back on track and want to see if anyone have had great success or what worked for them. I am back to counting calories putting water and protein first averaging 100 grams of protein. I found that I was messing up by grazing at my desk (customer service job) and drinking with meals. Question is (after my rambling lol) can you lose weight like you did after having surgery?

Welcome back! I know others will chime in, but there are people on here who have been very successful with losing regain. I wish you loads of luck. And I'm very sorry about your mom. That's a pain I understand well.

First, let me offer my condolences on the loss of your mother. It changes you profoundly and forever.

On the regain: I've lost 14 lbs of a 20 lb regain, so it can absolutely be done. There is one woman here, hopefully she'll post, but she's lost a couple of larger regains over the years.

In all honesty, I'd skip the pouch test. You end up eating like you did as a fresh post op cleared for normal food anyway, so I'd just get right to the good stuff. Dense proteins!

What I've found works best for me is focusing on that dense protein with portion and calorie control-no more than 1100 a day for me, no more than 4-5 ounces per meal with some healthy fats added in, drinking plenty of water during the day, and logging every single thing you ingest into an app like MFP. I eat 4-5 small meals a day, and usually-it's just protein. I strive to keep my carb intake as low as possible and I don't eat any pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, sugar, or any fruit. The only calories I drink are in my morning coffee. ( lots of cream, please! )

It will take longer since your honeymoon period is over, but yes...it's conpletely doable.

I wish you all the success in the world.

Instead of the pouch test, may I suggest the Five Day Meat Test??

What Audrey said.

Condolances on the loss of your Mom, that can be very hard.

So sorry for your loss

You have already taken the hardest step by saying enough is enough and now I want to get back on track. I maintained 118-125 for over 10 years after losing 200 pounds. Due to a personal tragedy I gained and hit the 190 mark a year ago. After several starts it finally clicked and I am back to goal losing 70 pounds of regain. Here are some steps that helped me and I hope they will help you too! You may have several starts and stops but don't give up, don't beat yourself up. IT WILL CLICK!!! Our tool works if we work the tool and get back to the basics.

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. If you didn't make a Weight Loss Surgery bucket list when you first had surgery do it now. GREAT reminder of all the things you can enjoy in life after losing weight.

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. I found once I started carrying one of the metal bottles of water to keep it cold I drank water all day.

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. Grab a cart and walk all the isles at your local box store. 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. Come here on OH daily for support and participate in one of the food threads. It helps you be accountable and also great ideas for food prep.

Keep me posted on how you are doing.

This is a great response Kathy, very helpful with clear guides on what helped you. Good on you for showing your support and sharing your success at losing the regain

I've been there, that's why I'm here!

Condolences regarding the loss of your Mom!

I think you came to the right place - might I suggest doing the 5 day meat test rather than the 5 day pouch test? https://fivedaymeattest.com/ ? Many folks on this board utilize the 5 day meat test , we also participate in a daily menu thread, we post menus and recipes, and I feel it helps accountability with peers that understand what we are going through. Our stomach gets operated on, not our heads ( I cant take credit for that quote, but love it when I read it).

You can do this, it will not come off as quickly this time around. Use all of the tools that were used to get you to 141 pds lost and come here to ask the vets questions. You will realize that their is a wealth of folks here that want everyone to succeed and maintain good health.

I'm starting to be portion because this true because I was doing soup and who has so many carbs so I am trying to meet for the reset and I appreciate everybody's input on this and I'm glad I'm back

I'm starting to be portion because this true because I was doing soup and who has so many carbs so I am trying to meet for the reset and I appreciate everybody's input on this and I'm glad I'm back