I need your help!!!

I guess what I am really asking for is for all of you to kick me right in the A$$ and get me back on track. I have really had a bad few months first a hystorectomy(sp) after I healed from that,I fell down my stairs and messed up my back and knee. So I was not able to excersise for quite a long time, I did still walk but not like i was doing, and now it is icy and cold here in MN.Then the holidays came around(all of the goodies) and in the last 9 months I have managed to gain 10 lbs and I am really scared that I wont be able to loose them. I have been having alot of trouble getting back on track and would like to hear from any of you that have had the same problem and how did you do it. It will be 3 years since I had my vbg and I went from my highest weight of 365lbs to my lowest weight of 195lbs and I was so happy but now I am just plain scared because I am back up to 205 and that I have screwed things up and all of the weight I lost will come creeping back I am back to water water water watching what i am eating (STAYING AWAY FROM THE SWEETS) and trying to excersise as much as i can but my back and knee are still pretty sore and can only do so much. any other advice would be very helpful Thanks for listening Robin

Hi Robin, I am only about 6 weeks post-op, but I aslo have other medical issues that effect exercise. I broke my back in 1984 and have permanent nerve damage. From mid calf down, both legs, on any given day I either have no feeling or hypersensitivity (and they don't cycle together). Later while working with those issues, the doctor found a degenerative condition in my neck. So, I am not supposed to do any impact exercise or really not even much walking. I had a pool at my last house and swam every day. I don't have that any more and I do need exercise. So, here is what I do. I wear ankle braces to support my feet when I can't feel them and I walk as much as I can stand. Then I get on my tricycle and ride it. Riding isn't as good for me, but it is what I can do short of building a heated pool. I think you are already back inthe right diet/food groove. Good luck and keep it up. Happiness... MKJ

Thanks I have other health problems too so I can understand how you feel I also have degertive arthritus in my back and neck. and rhumatoid arthritus. some time excersising is really painful. I wish I could find something that worked. I have a machine something like the gazzel and I do the walk away the pounds tape but this gets boring I cant wait untill the weather is nice and I can get outside and walk. Robin

Hi Robin. I hope it's not too late to answer your post. I haven't really been looking throught the message boards too much lately. It has been since April 2005 since I had the surgery. Like you, the holidays brought many rich sweets and pastries to my mouth, and I indulged. Now, I am having a hard time getting back on track, as well. Exercising at Curves since December is helping, but I am up and down 3 or4lbs every week or so. Today I am searching for the diet recommended before I left the hospital. After seeing my doctor that did the surgery (well, he saw me 2 weeks after the surgery) he kinda gave me my walking papers, and unless I was having complications he didn't need to see me again, so I have been on my own. Support groups are small in demand in my area, so I have only attended a couple of times. Recently there has been a new group formed in my town by a doctor that does not do the VBG. So, when you tell these people the kind of surgery you've had they are like "ooooooh we don't do that kind!" Oh well, I have really been enjoying Curves--it has been a good support for me! Oh, sorry, back to the topic! I don't believe you should be kicked in the Arse! hahaha Just get back on the wagon, and try again! We know this will be a lifetime committment, and a lifetime struggle. I have lost 88lbs. and can't seem to budge a pound in the last almost 3 months. Exercise is supposed to help, but remember you add muscle weight at first, and possibly lose inches first. My family doctor says that the weight will start falling off again once the muscles are toned. And hey! Whatever exercise you do to keep your body moving and getting your heart rate up is better than being totally sedentary! I'm impressed with how well you have done. The weather here in Tex. is sooooooo unpredictable this time of year. I would have loved to go for a walk today, but when I left Curves I went to the grocery store and as I got out of the car the wind was whipping around so hard it also brought in much cooler weather, so that blew my plans! Well, I am rattling on and on again, so with that I hope this month is bringing better days to you. I hope you will let me know how you are doing. I would love to hear about your journey through these few years. I haven't really talked to many people that have had this surgery. Best wishes. Carol

The best advice I think I can give is to keep it in perspective. You didn't get to 365 overnight... it took a lot of work to get there, just like it did to get to 195. I too have slacked off on the exercise...for more worse reasons... LAZINESS! I don't have any health reason preventing me from working out and that makes it worse in my mind. I think I have popped up a about five pounds since my lowest weight...I only can say that because I was skimming through my profile... Apparently, I was at 151...FOR A DAY! I recall being steady at 155 before PS and since PS, I've been maintaining at 158/159/160... so since I know that 3 lbs is implant... I'm okay.... but there was a time when I was over 160...I went up to like 164 and I began to freak out... I didn't really start exercising again, but I made sure to be consistent with my protein. Do you still take protein? It really makes a difference for me! Water and protein will help you!! I just can't seem to make my mind click that exercise is for overall health.... in my warped mind, if I'm not trying to lose, I can't see the point. I need to get over it!!! From what I can see, you are in a good place because you WANT to exercise and that desire will keep you motivated. You are in control now!! I don't know about you, but I know that if I see the scale has gone up...it's no mystery why... I know what I put in my mouth! I make choices every day and sometimes they aren't the best nutritional choices... I do know that if the time comes to choose between letting myself lose control again and gaining the weight and getting back on the elliptical.... I'll be on the elliptical. I have to get on the scale everyday. I know that some say we shouldn't do that...especially during rapid loss period, but for me now...I HAVE TO! I never even owned a scale when I was a biggie... That's how I keep myself in control. I have to see the number...I have to watch the number... I drink my water...drink my protein and snack.... So far, so good. I hope something I said helps! Teresa in Texas VBG 4/7/03 303/159