Newbies -Learn From My Mistake

Thank you for sharing with us. You can do it, you are worth it.

Thank you for coming here and reaching out. Your story is very powerful!

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.

Amazing journey Kathy S!!! Bravo for taking off that regain AND for showing others the way.

I am so sorry for what you are going through.

Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross says, "It is important to realize that your relationship with food has developed to serve some need. Even if you feel ready to lose weight and are very motivated to do so, you should make sure that the need food has served is being met in some other way."

As for me, a high dose of the prescription antidepressant Wellbutrin was extremely helpful in overcoming years of disorder eating. I also attended Overeaters Anonymous meetings to address my emotional relationship with food. Fifteen years after RNY, I go through periods where it is easy and I go through periods where I struggle with resisting the "bad stuff."

I've also been doing a lot of research recently into the gut microbiome. And there is lots of research that shows bad bacteria in the gut will cause you to crave the foods that feed them -- sugars, starch, refined carbs -- and that an unhealthy microbiome is a cause of obesity (although there are people who go underweight too).

I ordered the book, The Craving Cure" by Dr. Julia Ross. If you go to her website she has several free tests that you can take to identify your cravings type. I have researched her background and she is a thought leader in her field. In her clinic she treats addiction with nutrients specifically amino acids (both alcohol and food addictions) and is having startling success. It is quite compelling.

So there are some possible answers for why you overeat... it may not be an emotional reason, it may be physical. You can have an imbalance in your brain chemistry and/or in your gut microbiome and/or in nutrients. I hope this is helpful to you and wish you the best of luck in recovery!

I have not been able to find any scientific evidence backing Dr. Ross' claims. Do you know of any?

LindaD, Thanks for having the courage to say this for those who do..."think surgery will fix everything". The courage you have shown is one of your first steps to get on your entire life back under your control.

This challenge to get and stay on track with our loss and program is individual to each of us and the causes for bad eating habits are as varied as we all are. Each time I come here to read and see other peoples experiences, I learn something that helps me in my continuing journey. I am 24 years post op-a procedure for weight loss that is not being done now. I am in re-loss as well and the last few pounds to get to the goal seems to be always the hardest.

I have read all the comments and you have gotten some very sound advise. I would like to add my own.

Briefly do include some kind of intestinal health probiotics, either in food or capsules. The information coming out about the connections of intestinal health to immunity, enzyme and hormonal changes in our bodies is still under evaluation. Implications of "gut health" can afffect every area of our lives. I just had to triple my enzymes because of repeated gastritis.

Also consider cutting out every sweetner...all the artificallly ones have been determined to cause carb cravings and are not our friend.. I use only small amounts of sugar(for a special recipe- ) and Pyure brand stevia...I also rarely eat any fruit. That is why they make vitamin C, D3, mag.citrate, and K2, to help our bodies balance out any lack in our diets..

Go back to your orig. prescription for your diet.. ( mine is 90 gm protein and less than 50 grams carbs) When jump-starting my diet, I reduce my Carbs ...to close to 20-30 for a few days.. and increase B complex sublingual per nutritionist suggestion for 5 days. I also bounce my carb count around a bit... one day keeping really low end of my normal and the next raising by 1/3, then the next to my high of my limit... so carb counts may be 20, 35 and 50 on 3 consecutive days. It seems to keep my weight loss from stalling.

It has been my biggest challenge to get and keep moving..one of the things i routinely do is park further out in a parking lot. It is a first step. I also mow the yard 2-4 days of the week, push mower, and rolling weed eater, garden and take care of our chickens. What ever activity you can add will build your strength and stamina... soreness 4 days out of 7 is a good place for me to be, giving recovery time to sore muscles

When you begin tracking your every bite, swallow..of everything you will be able to assess.. your beginning point...and make changes, daily that will give you the start of your new loss. This will help you determine your specific triggers.. This is a lifestyle change..and requires commitment. It is to yourself, because your ARE worth the effort. Congratulations on having the courage to assess where you are and where you want to be.

Hang in there. Get on track. There are a lot of people here who are facing the same challenges, with courage, intuition, knowledge, gravity and levity.

One thing I wanted to add...

Bariatric RD Elizabeth Anderson shares, "When I was first grappling with my eating disorder, I found author and God's gift to women, Geneen Roth. Geneen has recovered from compulsive overeating and helped thousands recover themselves through her seminars and books."

I personally don't resonate with Geneen Roth but different strokes for different folks. Maybe you'll like her like RD Elizabeth does.

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm 6 years post op and over the last two years I've gained 20 lbs back. I'm lost right now, but know what I have to do to get back on the band wagon. Everything you've said is true - don't start snacking and stay away from sugar!!!! I wish everyone well.

This is my greatest fear. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am 40 days out from surgery and trying to stick to the plan and form lifelong habits. Lord help us all!