Have you lost your regain?

This is a situation most of us deal with at some point. Usually because life sneaks up and takes a bite out of us and we lose our way. If you have lost your regain and keeping it off give me a shout? We would love to have you share your experience in a featured article on our home page for the community. Everyone has a different way they conquered regain and the more we share the better chance we have to help others.

Thank you from bottom of my

Kathy

I'm not interested in a featured article, but I'll share what worked for me here in case anyone is reading. Although it's not very earth shattering.

I worked really hard to fix my head **** and that was the key. Therapy, diagnosis, medication, therapy, lots of work on behavioral change, therapy.

Thank you Gwen for all you do in paying it forward to our members

I have about 15 pounds of regain I have put on over the last year that I am working on losing! That was a wonderful article! Baby steps to get back to basics!

Hey Lauren

Here is what I share with the members. YOU GOT THIS!

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.

An article is not for me, but I lost 61lbs this year to below my goal.

I did low carb, less than 30g most days. Kept it simple AND healthy, with carbs from vegetables, salads and a bit of dairy. I also counted calories, keeping them under 1200 and increased my exercise to 10k steps minimum per day.

I feel awesome!

It's not for everyone but thank you Kim for all you do on a daily basis

Your progress was one of a few motivators to stsrs losing my regain. Steady loss. I am down 10 lbs, 10-15 left to lose. I would like to lose it "overnight",' buy t dm ok with 1-3 lbs a month. I am trying not to lose too muscles' tissue.

I agree, I never did find that magic pill to wake up not looking like the Pillsbury Dough Girl But when we lose it slow it stays off. Congrats on the 10 pounds gone!

YOU GO THIS

Well done on the 10lbs lost!!!

I think finding something that works and being able to plug away every day, rather than expecting to lose it quickly, is the way to go if you want to lose more than a pound or three.

It's important at our age to stay as healthy as possible while still losing - no crash diets anymore