Over a year out...NEED HELP!

Hi...I am very sorry that you are having problems sticking with the plan. My suggestions are the same as the many above. Start with getting your liquid in and make sure that it is calorie free. Next step is to get rid of the junk food in your house. Stock the kitchen with the proper high protein foods. Start logging everything you eat for awareness. Start moving daily even if for 5 minutes and work up. Frequent OH daily for support. I also attend a group support where I live. Next you MUST go see your surgeon and let him do his job that the Insurance Comp paid him for. If you are suffering with depression then go see your PCP for help. Most all of us have been there. My next statement is tough love so don't be offended. It is time to get off of the pity pot and pull up the big girl panties and get back on the wagon. So what if you made a mistake, we all have. What matters now is that you take action to get back with the plan. Take it one day at a time to not get overwhelmed. Just know that most of us have been where you are at. You are less than 4 months out so you are probably thinking OH S_ _ T did I make a mistake and that is very normal. Thank you for listening and please don't be offended. I look forward to hearing from you that you are getting back on track

Hello Brandi,

I just wanted to say first and foremost that you are not alone! I also had surgery march of 2010. I started out at 306 pounds and am only down to 239. I say only because I feel I should be a lot farther than I am. I haven't had a fill since March of this year and I honestly don't think I need one because I am tight enough I just choose to "eat around my band". When  you said your story I honestly felt like you were telling mine to a tee. I tend to lack motivation, eat whenever and whatever, I am an emotional eater and absolutely HATE to exercise!

With that being said I am in the same rut you are. I have not been behaving lately and gained back about 8 pounds! YIKES!!! So recently I decided I am going to get back on track whether I want to or not. So this is what I did....

1st step...I figured out 3 things I wanted to work on this week. It could be just 1 if you wanted. I get too overwhelmed if I try to do everything at once so I get back on track slow.

2nd step....I put a sticky note on my desk that says "one step at a time....this week...take all vitamins, track EVERYTHING I put in my mouth and NO DRINKING WITH MEALS! But most importantly NO EXCUSES! I look at that note every morning and throughout the day and when I feel like I am going to give in to a temptation I reread the note..it works for me =)

3rd step....I came back to OH to get ideas again on what I should be doing and looking for meal ideas

4th step....i downloaded the my fitness pal app for my iphone and am using that to track my food and water and everything else

last but not least the 5th step was to take a deep breath and remember why I had this surgery in the first place and tell myself that I didn't gain it all in a day I wont lose it all in a day. I tell myself that I am stronger than food and I will beat this addiction I have. I tell myself I am a strong woman and will not let a brownie or cookie or chips control my life. I have been through worse and have conquered more than someone my age should so I know I can resist and will not let the food win....

I hope this helps a little bit....just remember hun you are not alone. This is a great website with lovely people on it who are so kind to offer advice. If you want to we can be accountability partners since we had surgery around the same time and are kind of in the same boat. I think it would be fun! PM me if you are interested I would love to keep each other in check =)

Brandi,
 
Try to find something that will distract you from wanting to eat. Try taking walks or go and get a pedicure. I like to use the Dexatrim Max at walmart whenever I need extra help in getting back on track. It's not something I use everyday. It's something I use to get me started again.

Can you see if there's an Over Eaters Anonymous in your area that you can attend ? That might also be something that will help to get you back on track. It doesn't need to be a WLS support group to help you get back on track. You just need support at this time.

Starting is always one of the hardest things to do. It helps me to get on the scale everyday so I don't gain anymore weight. I don't care if I don't see the scale moving down. It makes me happy to not see it moving up.

Here is a link to OA.

www.oa.org/

 To everybody *****plied - i cannot explain how indepth i have read each and every body's comments. I will most definitely take up the offer of  the few who offered to be motivation buddys!!!!!!! I will be contacting you girls SOON!!! As for every one else.... the support from my post is overwhelmingly appreciated!!!! Thank you so much. I have compiled a list of motivational tips from all of you guys combined. I feel i have received SO MUCH amazing advice i jotted all of your words of wisdom down and printed it out!!!!! This is what i have gathered from the feedback...please feel free to add to at any time. All advice is taken very heavily!!!!!! :

- Plan and Log - Quick to grab snacks - Fat free cream cheese spread  on thin deli ham/pickle inside and rolled up - Join weigh****chers  - Join a gym - Get personal trainer - 64 oz of water a day - High protein/lowcarb/lowfat. - Make a list of the healthy foods you enjoy that are high protein and or low carb - Make a food plan that calls for 1200 to 1500 calories and below 60 grams of carbs - Walk every day - Find a therapist - Group support meetings - Set weekly goals - Check out dexatrim at Walmart - Check out over eaters anonymous
 

Just my 2 cents; you can't do a low carb and low fat diet. You're going to ruin your hormone levels and your energy is going to plummet. Low fat diets aren't highly recommended, low carb is much safer, but you can't restrict both, your body needs energy from somewhere.