Weight gain after 5 years

I can't believe it has been 5 years since my surgery.  However, I have started to have a few problems. I have gained about 20 pounds in the last 3 years.  I don't want to gain anymore and would like to lose at least 15 lbs. I have gotten hooked on diet soda again, however, I do stop drinking it by mid afternoon and switching to water.  I also crave sweets. My husband has been going thru 13 years of cancer treatments and I know that has added additional stress.  Should not use that as an excuse. I am so happy that I have had the surgery (RNY) but I just don't want to gain the weight back.  I am now 73 years old and going strong. God bless everyone and hope your journey is great

Congrats on your 5 years, I'm sorry about your husband and hope everything goes well for him. Stress is a huge factor in our weight gain - I believe. Try to take care of your cravings with something we can have- sweet fruit or sugar free candy. Whatever works for you. Try changing one thing per day - one less diet coke and one more water bottle, one more short walk in the evening or one less spoonful of food. Our bodies get more efficient the farther out we go, old habits creep back in and keeping the weight off is work. We have to be diligent or it won't work. (Been there, done that). You've only gained a little bit of your overall loss - so try to take it off slowly - we know what to do it's just so hard to do it. Go back to support group or find help online. Find a walking buddy or track your daily intake to see what you need to work on. It's a big job, we did it before and we can do it again. Hang in there and keep us posted on your progress.

Jen 11+ yrs post op RNY

Thanks for the help in trying to get myself back on track.  First thing I know I need to do is get off the soda and drink more water. I am going to try and get some sugar free pudding or candy.  Thanks again

BG-I absolutely agree with everything JEN said. KUDOS on catching your wt gain at ONLY 20 lbs-that is truly something to feel good about. During my 11+ post op yrs I have jacked around more times than I care to admit to.., and what gets me in trouble the fastest is DENIAL and REFUSAL to weigh. Now, granted, it's been several yrs since I was guilty of those sins, but I know I am a food addict, and never can forget it.

I've always read/heard that diet drinks "make you hungry" and "make you crave sweets"...I've never been convinced of that, for MYSELF, but sweets are not MY downfall...I'm more attracted to the crunchy/salty carbs (who's names I will not mention)...

How about trying to START the day with water...then have some Diet Coke, then alternate? I still have an occasional Diet Coke, but the carbonation gets to me, so I always have to dilute them nearly halfway with water, anyway. I hardly ever have "plain old water", preferring some sort of diluted Crystal Light instead. Plain water seems to not sit well with Oscar (my grouch pouch-he is a tempermental soul)...

As much I hate "logging" food, etc it really IS essential when you are trying to see what you are REALLY putting in your mouth. Those "extras" add up so darn quickly. On me they added up to 70 lbs of regain two different times. I'm not proud of that-but I AM proud that regain has been reLOST, and I'm a better post op/friend for having had the experiences I have had...

You can SO do this 15-20 pounds!!!

Thanks so much with the help of you guys maybe I can get back on track.  I had lost down to 120 lbs when my husband was in Texas having a stem cell transplant.  I think the stress, running back and forth to the hospital caused me to loose so much.  I really didn't look good.  Now that we are back in Florida and so far I am doing o.k. I am eating more than I should and the wrong kind of stuff. I do feel like I look better at this weight but I don't want to go any further.

Again, guys thanks a million.  Help me thru this.