Frustrated in TN
I am sure there are probably posts regarding the following but I have not been on here in a long time and I definately could use some input.
I am 5 yrs out from RNY and I am experiencing regain. I feel like most of mine is mental as far as eating because I have had issues with what I consider to be transfer addictions.
I lost 110 lbs down to 130-135 and now I am back up to 155-160. I need some tips, hints, motivation to kick start me into getting back down to where I was at about 135.
Also, I have looked into the revisions and am finding that very few surgeons even want to persue a candidate that another surgeon "started" so to speak.
I would prefer to do this with the use of my "tool" and not have to have another surgery due to costs, possibilty of complications and going back through hoops with insurance.
I will say here that my surgery and post op weight loss was a breeze. I could not tolerate many foods and did quite well in the beginning even with minimal exercise (I got spoiled in other words).
Now sometimes I feel like I can eat way more than I am supposed to be eating in one sitting and find myself grazing too much as well. I never attended the support groups here in the Memphis area and since my Bariatric group has been dissolved, I don't even know of any support groups.
I would like to find out if my pouch and stoma have been stretched but have no idea who to see because my surgeon and the entire group he was associated with is no longer here. There are a couple of bariatric surgeons in my area but I have checked and they are moving around and not seeing patients and all that or it takes forever to get an appointment with them. (it has been a month or so since I checked on these things so I don't remember what the exact explanation was at that time).
I am looking for anyone in the same situation to give advice and information. Please share what you can and feel free to refer me to other resources that may have already been discussed pertaining to this issue.
THanks for listening!
Desparate to Change in TN
I am 5 yrs out from RNY and I am experiencing regain. I feel like most of mine is mental as far as eating because I have had issues with what I consider to be transfer addictions.
I lost 110 lbs down to 130-135 and now I am back up to 155-160. I need some tips, hints, motivation to kick start me into getting back down to where I was at about 135.
Also, I have looked into the revisions and am finding that very few surgeons even want to persue a candidate that another surgeon "started" so to speak.
I would prefer to do this with the use of my "tool" and not have to have another surgery due to costs, possibilty of complications and going back through hoops with insurance.
I will say here that my surgery and post op weight loss was a breeze. I could not tolerate many foods and did quite well in the beginning even with minimal exercise (I got spoiled in other words).
Now sometimes I feel like I can eat way more than I am supposed to be eating in one sitting and find myself grazing too much as well. I never attended the support groups here in the Memphis area and since my Bariatric group has been dissolved, I don't even know of any support groups.
I would like to find out if my pouch and stoma have been stretched but have no idea who to see because my surgeon and the entire group he was associated with is no longer here. There are a couple of bariatric surgeons in my area but I have checked and they are moving around and not seeing patients and all that or it takes forever to get an appointment with them. (it has been a month or so since I checked on these things so I don't remember what the exact explanation was at that time).
I am looking for anyone in the same situation to give advice and information. Please share what you can and feel free to refer me to other resources that may have already been discussed pertaining to this issue.
THanks for listening!
Desparate to Change in TN
Hello. Many of us are not 5 yrs postop yet, many of us older vets on the board are more at 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 yrs. But, regain is regain, regardless of what stage of the journey we may be at. The rules didn't change... they are the same across the board... and they are still here and work for us, thank goodness for that! Let's see if we can get a few started but I feel you probably know them better than many of us, since you have gone before and helped pave the way.
1. Protein first. Dense proteins such as salmon, tuna, chicken, beef, etc. (Stay clear of pasta, bread, chips, crackers. Try to stay away from heavy sauces and condiments as they contain a lot of sugar and calories).
2. Moderate carbs through vegetables second (these also help provide fiber in the diet).
3. No drinking during or 30 mins after your meal. However, since you are able to eat more, at this stage water loading wouldn't be a bad idea... Drink up to the point of your meal so that you fill up your rouxeny limb and then you wont need/want as much food. (NEW postops need not ever do this since they need all the room for food!)
4. Stick with dense protein so to make you feel full longer and you won't want to snack
5. Cut out grazing.
6. If you don't already do this, perhaps you may consider eating six times a day (6 planned "meals" or feedings, 3 of which are brfkst, lunch, dinner and the other 3 are planned protein snacks.) This will help your metabolism as well as help your body not feel starved. Then you won't eat as much when you do eat your meals. Also helps get your protein in. If you would like a sample schedule of eating, let me know. I use Susan Maria's Basic Bariatric Eating Plan which provides 1200 calories, 100 g of protein if followed and also contains a vitamin schedule.
7. Decarb your kitchen/house/pantry. Get rid of the stuff you shouldn't be eating. Evaluate your cupboards and see what is there that you don't need. Begin to provide alternatives to foods such as: in place of white flour, consider coconut, almond and/or soy flour. These are lower carb versions and also, provide fiber in your diet.
8. In order to jump start your weight loss again and to decarb your body, you may want to try out the 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey or the 3 Day Liquid Protein Train by Susan Maria (Bariatric Eating). These do not necessarily shrink your pouch, but what they do is to allow you to get familiar with how you are feeling when you drink/eat. It helps you recognize the full feeling once again so that when you are through with this program, you will not feel like you want or need as much food.
9. Slow down when you eat. Be aware of your surroundings. don't snack mindlessly and ask yourself "Am I full yet?" or "How do I know when I am full?" Your body will help you know when you are full but you have to listen to it.
10. Sometimes a person mistakes thirst for hunger. Make sure to drink your fluids. If you aren't getting enough, you might think "I'm hungry" and start to snack or eat more food on your meals... so make sure that you drink your liquids all throughout the day.
11. Log your food, write down what you eat and try to figure out where you may be going wrong on your diet. LiveStrong or Fitday are both great programs and free on the internet. They can help you evaluate all the nutritional stats of everything you put into your mouth. It's like you've been given a daily bank account with a budget, and these programs are great tools to help you stay within the limits of your budget.
12. Start moving! Even if its walking a little each day and working your way up... exercise will help you help your metabolism and burn off calories... and tone!
These are some good starter tips. If you have any questions, please feel free to toss them out. And I know that there will be others who will come along and provide some great and valuable information as well. Good luck to you! And, although you have regained some, it still sounds like you are in a good safe place to be, a place where things have not spiraled too far out of control. So I encourage you that YOU CAN DO THIS! You were able to meet your weight loss goals and your tool still works, so I know that once you set your mind to this, you can do it. Hang in there, keep your head up, and I am anxious to hear about your progress!
1. Protein first. Dense proteins such as salmon, tuna, chicken, beef, etc. (Stay clear of pasta, bread, chips, crackers. Try to stay away from heavy sauces and condiments as they contain a lot of sugar and calories).
2. Moderate carbs through vegetables second (these also help provide fiber in the diet).
3. No drinking during or 30 mins after your meal. However, since you are able to eat more, at this stage water loading wouldn't be a bad idea... Drink up to the point of your meal so that you fill up your rouxeny limb and then you wont need/want as much food. (NEW postops need not ever do this since they need all the room for food!)
4. Stick with dense protein so to make you feel full longer and you won't want to snack
5. Cut out grazing.
6. If you don't already do this, perhaps you may consider eating six times a day (6 planned "meals" or feedings, 3 of which are brfkst, lunch, dinner and the other 3 are planned protein snacks.) This will help your metabolism as well as help your body not feel starved. Then you won't eat as much when you do eat your meals. Also helps get your protein in. If you would like a sample schedule of eating, let me know. I use Susan Maria's Basic Bariatric Eating Plan which provides 1200 calories, 100 g of protein if followed and also contains a vitamin schedule.
7. Decarb your kitchen/house/pantry. Get rid of the stuff you shouldn't be eating. Evaluate your cupboards and see what is there that you don't need. Begin to provide alternatives to foods such as: in place of white flour, consider coconut, almond and/or soy flour. These are lower carb versions and also, provide fiber in your diet.
8. In order to jump start your weight loss again and to decarb your body, you may want to try out the 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey or the 3 Day Liquid Protein Train by Susan Maria (Bariatric Eating). These do not necessarily shrink your pouch, but what they do is to allow you to get familiar with how you are feeling when you drink/eat. It helps you recognize the full feeling once again so that when you are through with this program, you will not feel like you want or need as much food.
9. Slow down when you eat. Be aware of your surroundings. don't snack mindlessly and ask yourself "Am I full yet?" or "How do I know when I am full?" Your body will help you know when you are full but you have to listen to it.
10. Sometimes a person mistakes thirst for hunger. Make sure to drink your fluids. If you aren't getting enough, you might think "I'm hungry" and start to snack or eat more food on your meals... so make sure that you drink your liquids all throughout the day.
11. Log your food, write down what you eat and try to figure out where you may be going wrong on your diet. LiveStrong or Fitday are both great programs and free on the internet. They can help you evaluate all the nutritional stats of everything you put into your mouth. It's like you've been given a daily bank account with a budget, and these programs are great tools to help you stay within the limits of your budget.
12. Start moving! Even if its walking a little each day and working your way up... exercise will help you help your metabolism and burn off calories... and tone!
These are some good starter tips. If you have any questions, please feel free to toss them out. And I know that there will be others who will come along and provide some great and valuable information as well. Good luck to you! And, although you have regained some, it still sounds like you are in a good safe place to be, a place where things have not spiraled too far out of control. So I encourage you that YOU CAN DO THIS! You were able to meet your weight loss goals and your tool still works, so I know that once you set your mind to this, you can do it. Hang in there, keep your head up, and I am anxious to hear about your progress!
Goodness---our wonderful Mel has really given you great advice!! (Go Mel!).
At first we get spoiled with not being hungry & "forgetting" to eat...the weight comes off in the first year & (because I am only 4 months out I am preparing for this), we want to take advantage of that window of opportunity to lose our weight. Then, the work begins. As you know, maintaining our weight is so important, but we can do it by returning to the principles that helped us lose weight in the first place.
Of course, now I wish I was Pam Davis...who has a great list of suggestions, whi*****lude, consulting w/a surgeon, support groups (often & always), etc. For me, exercise is a way of life--it is very important & I suggest you find something you love to do. Also, plan, plan, plan.....journal, journal, journal....every night I sit down w/my journal & plan what I am going to eat the next day....I jot it down in my journal as a "plan" for the next day...I wake up & treat myself to a cup of decaf w/a little bit of SFree Vanilla Cream & 1/2 hour later have a Carb Master Yogurt w/all my supplements in it...then about 1/2 hour after that, I have one egg (I can't yet eat two at one sitting) w/a little part-skim mozz cheese on it. After that, I am full, but I do start drinking a while after my egg & then, I make myself have dense protein for lunch (tuna, typically, 4oz)...anyway, I have a plan so that when/if I get hungry (although I'm still not feeling that "feeling" of hunger yet---I know you are farther out, so you may)---I know what the next thing I have to do to get my protein in. My main Daily "me" focus: 60-80gm of Protein, 100+ oz of fluid, all my supplements & exercise!!! That's my prescription....
As far as a support group...well, you have found a great one here. Of course, attending one is very important, but don't go away....come back to this board every day & post, reply & get involved...it is so important....you will learn so much from everyone on here.....it's invaluable!
I know you can do this.....and, thanks for your post, talking about this is a learning experience for those of us semi-newbies to help us when we get 5 years post-op!
Remember, you are such a success....not a failure!!You can get this under control....you can do it! xo, Micheala.
Preop Weight 293/SW 289/CW 202.3/GW 165/LW158
Michaela, you brought up a very good point... about support systems. I saw someone recently who had gained a significant amount of weight, and who had entirely removed themself from their gastric support system. The thing about our system is that we have up to date information all the time, always available at our fingertips. We get new ideas for protein supplements, new recipes that are wonderful AND friendly, sharing our story with others helps us to remember where it was that we came from... hearing others stories inspire us to want to continue on faithfully in our journies... whatever form of support we choose (face to face, counseling, friends who also had wls, online, gastric communications such as OH magazine and WLS Lifestyles magazine, the list goes on), they are very important in our lives. I have been tempted to leave support systems in the past, but it was not beneficial for me. I might not post on the boards to every single post anymore because I'm busy and enjoying my life, but rest assured, I read this and other wls forums at least five times a day (more like ten times)...
Support systems are very important. HOWEVER, the most important support that we often overlook is the support within ourselves. I am linking for information only (NOT promoting myself) to a link of an article I wrote for Labrada's blog because it is quite lengthy. "Be Your Own #1 Supporter". This will give some good tips on how we can find support from within ourselves, even when we are in situations where we feel like we are not surrounded with support on our journies. I also want to add that this article came about when I was asked to speak to a group of preops, and it proves once again that being involved can bring out things from within ourselves that we did not know was there.
Support systems are very important. HOWEVER, the most important support that we often overlook is the support within ourselves. I am linking for information only (NOT promoting myself) to a link of an article I wrote for Labrada's blog because it is quite lengthy. "Be Your Own #1 Supporter". This will give some good tips on how we can find support from within ourselves, even when we are in situations where we feel like we are not surrounded with support on our journies. I also want to add that this article came about when I was asked to speak to a group of preops, and it proves once again that being involved can bring out things from within ourselves that we did not know was there.
Thanks for the responses!
It seems as if my main problemo here is that I have forgotten how to use this tool!!! I am aware of that but the reminders that I am given here help me go back to what it was like during that first year (GLORY!!!) and the next couple after that before I started losing control.
Sugar and carbs still make me extremely sleepy and I still dump sometimes (which I am grateful for) but I have learned my way around the bad stuff i.e. I have found the things my body will tolerate and stick to them.
I have set up an account on daily plate and will look at it for a week without changing my eating habits to see how bad I am really being and what I need to change and fine tune. I know I need to go back to basics and I tried the 5 day pouch test but lasted 1 1/2 days with the liquid diet. lol. I should be able to do the "One day at at time" or the "I can do anything for one day" but it takes will and will power.
Anyhow, we will see how it goes. I am confident with everything I have already overcome, I can get back on track and do this too!!!
THank you for the support and advice and encouragement. I am going to print this and keep it with me for future reference. (I gotta have the visual reminders) and I will keep coming back!!!
Melissa
It seems as if my main problemo here is that I have forgotten how to use this tool!!! I am aware of that but the reminders that I am given here help me go back to what it was like during that first year (GLORY!!!) and the next couple after that before I started losing control.
Sugar and carbs still make me extremely sleepy and I still dump sometimes (which I am grateful for) but I have learned my way around the bad stuff i.e. I have found the things my body will tolerate and stick to them.
I have set up an account on daily plate and will look at it for a week without changing my eating habits to see how bad I am really being and what I need to change and fine tune. I know I need to go back to basics and I tried the 5 day pouch test but lasted 1 1/2 days with the liquid diet. lol. I should be able to do the "One day at at time" or the "I can do anything for one day" but it takes will and will power.
Anyhow, we will see how it goes. I am confident with everything I have already overcome, I can get back on track and do this too!!!
THank you for the support and advice and encouragement. I am going to print this and keep it with me for future reference. (I gotta have the visual reminders) and I will keep coming back!!!
Melissa
Melissa, would you please do us a big favor? We see folks who come on the board, post, then leave but then we always wonder about how they have done. Can you continue to come and check in with us and keep us abreast of your progress? I think that you will find that it does several things: 1. keeps you accountable 2.Gives you motivation 3. Inspires others who also might have fallen off track and are too afraid to post. Thank you for sharing with us, and we look forward to hearing your report!
Melissa 
for what you have accomplished to date! After reading your story and seeing your pic's this is just a hiccup you've identified the problem you know you have the strength to over come this. Keep your pictures handy for a reminder and realize how resilient you are. If you stay in touch as Mel. said we will help you move on in your journey in a positive way. C'ya Bob
for what you have accomplished to date! After reading your story and seeing your pic's this is just a hiccup you've identified the problem you know you have the strength to over come this. Keep your pictures handy for a reminder and realize how resilient you are. If you stay in touch as Mel. said we will help you move on in your journey in a positive way. C'ya Bob 
Ditto what Mel, Bob and the others have already said. Get your butt back to the basics! You know you can do it, so start right now! This is a great bunch of folks and if you'll join in they will support you in any way possible. Now get back on track gal! 
BamaBob54 
ROLL TIDE!!!
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/2661045004_3d63fb2244.jpg[/IMG]
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ROLL TIDE!!! [IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/2661045004_3d63fb2244.jpg[/IMG]
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Yes, I will come back and keep everyone abreast on my progress.
Also, I am 4 yrs out, not 5. I apologize for the miscalculation. oops.
I do know that the success stories do help those on the road to success and even those just beginning this journey.
This site was an inspiration to me as I began to research the possibilities of my own surgery for weight loss. I ran across the names the other day of some of those I followed prior to my surgery. I hope that some of them are still here. I plan to look for them.
Thanks for listening. Melissa
Also, I am 4 yrs out, not 5. I apologize for the miscalculation. oops.
I do know that the success stories do help those on the road to success and even those just beginning this journey.
This site was an inspiration to me as I began to research the possibilities of my own surgery for weight loss. I ran across the names the other day of some of those I followed prior to my surgery. I hope that some of them are still here. I plan to look for them.
Thanks for listening. Melissa
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