Veterans *****REGAIN***** If so, what did you do to lose and were you successful?

Good morning,

I am 7 years out from RNY. My surgery weight was 311 lbs. and my lowest weight was 160 lbs.

Today I weigh in at 179.8 lbs. I have been in a constant battle of losing and gaining for months now.

My lowest this past summer 171.8 lbs. almost there!

I do feel I am on a hamster's wheel and I now know I am eating my emotions {only when I get home after work}. I need "crunchy" things to de-stress. So it is usually in the form of potato chips, etc. I know, I know, but all of the knowing is easier said than done!

I know the power is in my hands only, but I was hoping there is somebody out there in OH land who has a similar struggle and can offer me some advice, please and thank you!

I am almost your same exact stats although my regain is a little more than yours. It's a slow creep...and it sucks. Like you, I know WHAT to do, but doing it is harder. It's why I always caution the newbies to take advantage of the honeymoon period and the tiny pouch and to eat high protein and low carb. As time goes by, our pouch is larger, the compliments end, and our new size is just our new normal. And the bad habits creep back in, maybe it's a few chips at the Mexican restaurant whereas we used to hold strong...maybe it's a sandwich instead of a lettuce wrap...maybe it's a glass or two of wine when we used to abstain from alcohol. Ugh.

So my advice will be more of "do as I say, not as I do" since I am struggling with the same thing :)

But if you like crunchy stuff when you get home from work, and you can pinpoint this snack as what is making you go over calories, here are a few ideas:

Microwave pepperoni or turkey pepperoni until they are crispy

Pork rinds

Protein chips (Quest makes some)

Pickles! I love these!

Buy mini cucumbers and slice them up and eat them with some ranch dip made with plain high protein yogurt instead of sour cream

Can you do something else after work rather than go home and destress with food? For example, I now do my workouts after work instead of the morning, and it keeps me busy in the grazing hours.

For the record, being 7 years out and up 20 lbs is still pretty damn admirable. But don't be like me and let it creep up another 10 lbs...nip this in the bud while you can! There are quite a few vets here who have fought regain and won - hopefully Gina in Texas and Kim and Laura and a few others can chime in!

Hi Dcgirl,

Thank you so much for replying and all of the suggestions!

I am going to try the "All Critters and Meats Plan"

Honestly, I was up to 187lbs. before summer and got down to the 170's with a lot of work, but the scale is up and down, trying to inch back to that 180's weight. I cannot allow myself to go there, simply because it puts extra stress on my back and knees.

I really have to get at least 15 lbs off to feel comfortable and safe. Unfortunately, body dysmorphia is a problem as well! Geesh!

Thanks for all your tips and encouragement!

I fondly remember back when losing 10 lbs in a month was a breeze. It's SO much harder now. Some people find it easiest to track their every bite in an app like MyFitnessPal...whatever you're averaging eating now, cut 500 calories a day and that will equal a pound loss a week. But I do think AMAW is a good option because even five years out, I get full when I eat what I am supposed to! I can't chow down on 7 ounces of chicken breast...I would explode. But I can eat 14 cups of popcorn lol. So if I stick to dense protein, I naturally eat less calories. For me, I choose protein options when I have ones that I love. Ground turkey mixed up with taco seasoning and cheese. Shrimp in a little pesto. Crab crab crab. Some people love steak, or brisket. I love chicken sausages from Costco (AmyLu brand). I am recently obsessed with Boar's Head Ever Roast chicken deli meat. As long as I have tasty options, I do much better.

Good luck! I think some vets will chime in what has helped them. I know Kim has been on the straight and narrow all year and is below her previous low weight! After 10+ years!

Lol you are right about eating a lot of popcorn! And yes, dense protein works! At Thanksgiving if I start with the turkey, I wouldn't be able to eat anything else. You are so right! Thanks for bringing all of this back to memory.

Best to you also!

Hi

I would have bet the farm I had this licked. Had surgery in 2004 and stayed at goal for over 10 years. Then I lost my husband and went into my rabbit hole. I found I didn't care and went back to all the old habits and choices. I got away from all the basics. Here is a list I put together to share with others what worked for me. You can do it, don't beat yourself up and take it one day at a time, one change at a time.

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.

Hi Kathy S.

Thank you for replying. Of course, everything you wrote is on point.

I am going to print all of these out as my guidelines! Especially this moving issue. Sometimes it's a bit hard being behind the desk all day. But it must be done!

Water too!

Great advice and reminders, thank you!

I've lost 55 lbs of regain this year by going very low carb (30g or so a day). I was really strict with myself, maybe a little obsessive, and logged EVERYTHING that passed my lips into My Fitness Pal, as well as logging 10k steps per day too.

I feel great and while I would kill for a piece of well done toast (ha!) intend staying on the straight and narrow, now I'm where I wanted to be. No bread, pasta, rice, potatoes in any form + a newly found love of cauliflower is how I've done it. Obviously zero carby snack foods!

I don't recommend anyone get themselves to needing to lose 50lbs +, but I think it was more difficult to ignore than 20lbs!!

Wow! I am in awe! 55 lbs. lost! That's wonderful !

I am inspired.

Thank you.