HELP!!

I have been gone from the blog for a long time. I was sleeved 8/15/11 and started a new job 2 weeks later. I quickly lost 45 pounds and then have lost nothing for the last 6 months, yo-yoing between 5 pounds lost and 5 pounds gained. I know I have not followed the program like I should!! I have gone back to basics (water, protein, and exercise) Time to come out of denial as I weighed after not weighing and found a 13 # gain!?!? SCARY!! So do not want to gain the weight back. I now need ot lose 70 #'s instead of 57 to reach goal. What is working for all of you? Once the initial honeymoon went away, I look back and was not ready/willing to make the permanent changes to be successful. I have a big bat and do sabotage myself at times. Thanks for listening and so..... grateful there is a place to find the support needed to be heard, understood, and cared about!!

 It is difficult just as it was before surgery to get back on track but it can be done - make yourself a promise today to love yourself no matter what and lt go of the stress I know when I stress to much the weight just hangs on. 
Here is what I have done I weigh myself everyday knowing that I have to allow for some fluctuation due to water retenion so I a llow a thre pound gain before freaking out but immediately when I see the three pound up I add in more water the next day and cut out all carbs only meat cheese eggs fish and protein drinks. I recently went on a vacation and had a 6 lb gain I totally freaked but happy to say that after two weeks of being diligent and protein only I got it off. I know some might disagree with me but I have even in the past gone on a three day protein shakes only this has helped to shrink my sleeve back down and rid my body from craving all the nasty carbs that I had been eating. 

It truly are those bad carbs sabotaging you they make you more hungry and capable of eating more and wanting more so stop eating them. I notice I feel so much better when I don't eat them too.

You can do this you are already making the right choices coming back for support and getting back to the basics. Hang in there. 

Thankyou Maureen for taking the time to sent encouragement!! I did not want to weigh every day because I did not want to obssess about the #, however I is a reality check, and I like the 3 # margin as well. Thanks again!!

 You will have to make a decision to make permanent life style changes. Period. You need to figure out what your weaknesses are - are you an emotional eater, too much social eating, night time munchies, just plain poor choices? Once you identify where the problem is then you can start to figure out the solution. Make a plan. Follow the plan.

But ultimately, thinking long term - you do need to set up habits that will last for the rest of your life. This isnt a temporary diet to get to goal. You can't just follow a strict plan, get to goal, and go back to old behaviors. Really really start thinking about incorporating major life style changes at this point. 

The good news is - there really isnt a honey moon period (except in our heads when we are super excited about a tiny stomach) and you still have a great tool to help you. Take advantage of the tool -and get to work and you can reach your goal. It's never too late and starting right now, forgive yourself and move on and keep coming here for support :)

For me - tracking and weighing frequently (even though i hate the scale) really help keep me accountable. 

Your here, you made that step....we are all here for each other...you can do this!

 Do you have support groups that you can attend?  I know my surgery center has a special BAck on Track group.  You might also consider some private counseling.

For me the most powerful tools have not been the diet and exercise, but the mental tools to help me get a handle on the issues I had with compulsive eating and food in general.  Once I started acknowledging those and dealing honestly with myself the commitment to diet and exercise became almost effortless.

We are here to support you, but there is nothing like having that in real life too.  My groups give me a boost like you wouldn't believe.

Laurabelle,

Hugs!  Alison (acbrown) has it spot on.  You can do this, you can get back on track.  But it is really about changing your relationship with food for the long-term.  And like Rhearob said, getting on top of the head issues.  I weigh-measure-record every thing I eat (or drink, with calories), good or not-as-good, period, without exception.  I have a protein and water target, and a calorie target.  I don't eat recreational sugar period, and I am not eating most other carbs right now (a few exceptions, but definitely no bread, pasta, stuff like that). 

If you're anything like me, and you've been in the carbs, the first bit can be rough.  Hungry and cranky.  But it will pass.  You still have that tiny tummy!  You can do it!!

For me it was deciding that the old life is not worth it. I have too many examples of people who didn't make their minds up and didn't stop when the weight gain was 5, 10, 15 or even 20 lbs. We all know how to gain weight, but going back to basics works too.

I think the average WLS person has a time when they slack off, gain some of the lbs back and just feel as if they would like to take a temporary leave of absence. DON'T DO IT! It will not be temporary and old habits DIE HARD!

Take the time now to get back on track. It may be a little hard at first but not as hard as having 30, 50, 75, 100+ lbs staring you back in the face and you're wondering how did I let it get this far out of control. DON'T LET IT! YOU CAN DO IT--YOU HAVE EVERYTHING IT TAKES!

Get back to basics and, like Nike says, just do it! :o)

 I sincerely understand what you are going through.  I am at a stand still and been there for over a month.  I was 235 and now 190, can't get pass the 190 mark.  So discouraging!!!!  I paid all this money to stop losing.  Monday July 2nd I decided to start on the plan just like I was on when I was post op.  I feel like I've failed my sleeve and I know WE can get back at it; just have to be/stay focused.

We can and will do it!! Back to Basics OH Friend. I have just completed day 3 of water, walking, and very low carb eating. Now to stay focused 1 day at a time. Blessings to you!!