Grads - I need you.

Hi Michele please dont fret..you will have a regain back but not a huge amount..ill be out 4 years this july and have regained 15 pounds from my lowest weight.. i am glad that i did also i dint feel healthy at my lowest weight.. you will be fine bella dont worry..normal people who havent had surgery gain weight back after weight loss programs but you will not gain all the weight you lost take care joann

Thank you Joann Michele - who is trying to learn how NOT to fret

Michelle, I can't help but I'm relating to your thoughts and feelings. Stay true to yourself and your program, BELIEVE YOU CAN! Hugs, Dana

Thank you Dana! *hugs* Michele

Dear Michele (and EVERYONE *****ads this reply): My name is Nancy and I just turned 47 in April. I had my surgery over seven (yes- 7) years ago. I lost 120 lbs two years into my recovery. Since that time, (depending on what was going on with my body, my "changes", no exercise, MY MOOD, etc.) I have re-gained PLUS OR MINUS 20 lbs. The bulk of that 20 (10 or so) was gained with in the last year because I had a car accident, got depressed due to pain and didn't do ANY exercise. One month ago, I had a spinal disc replacement in my neck and I am (once again) on my way to recovery! For the first time in a long time - I feel great ! I joined CURVES two weeks ago; to give my body a "boost" and re-start my metabolism a bit. It's a lot of fun! I've already lost 9 lbs. (on their 6 week challenge) and am getting back a tone(ish) figure too! You've got to try it! As a matter of fact..... EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS SURGERY and is at a turning point of some kind - SHOULD TRY CURVES - you won't be sorry! It is quick, easy and fun! Don't worry about a thing Michele! YOU WILL NEVER BE THE WAY YOU WERE EVER AGAIN! Just one word of caution - Somewhere in the past several years - I lost track of "how to eat" post-surgery. Pay attention to HOW MANY times you eat per day - just as much as you pay attention to WHAT you eat! Eventually I was eating as MANY little meals as I wanted and did not think about the caloric in-take. I convinced myself it was ok because "they were little" after all!) NO!!! (It's called - "Grazing"). Before I knew it, I was eating just as much calories as I was before the surgery; and that's why I gained!!! I am now aware of that little tid bit and am back on track. **Try writing down what you eat and look up the calories, etc. on line or in a book. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF and write everything including gum or coffee creamer! It all counts you know. GOOD LUCK TO YOU MY FRIEND and if you ever need to talk, I am there for you! Nancy

Thank you so much for writing to me Nancy, I really do appreciate it. Right now I think I am in an obsessive-compulsive loop. I keep track of everything I eat or drink and try to get 500 less calories than I need to maintain my weight. Crazy ain't it? I also freak every time the scale goes up, which of course it does all the time. Up & down. And every time I see it go up I have to repeat my mantra for the day, "you will not let what the scale says dictate the mood for today" over and over and over. I eat 6 small meals a day to keep my blood sugar levels even, and that is working well for me. If I could figure out how to relax! Michele

hi Michele ... I think one of the reasons that most of us are here is because we need support. I do honestly believe there are MANY MANY MANY more success stories than is evidenced here, because maybe those people have other support, or maybe they don't even need support. If you'll notice, many people that post have challenges or questions, I don't see too many people saying how well they're doing (aside from how much weight they've lost in a certain period of time) just out of the blue. SO ... I wouldn't try to get too discouraged ... that being said, I'm right there with you. I'm STILL experiencing eating issues, and I can't seem to get out of it, and I do believe it is mostly (if not completely) based on fear. I wish there was a way we could turn our brains off for a bit and just relax (without overanalyzing things) and enjoy what we've got and where we're at ... hopefully we'll get there. SOON. Karyn

Michele, Keep hittin' the Xanax, But know that there are many of us out here doing Great! I'm coming up on 3 years in less than 2 months. I started at 385lbs (BMI 50.7) got to 179lbs (BMI 23.6) And I've stayed there for a year and a half so far. (Between 179 and 181 back and forth depending on the day of the week) I've got my PS coming up on July 6th, and the doc Said I should drop another 2 or so pounds from that! Great Lab-work-ups, Better than Perfect Blood Pressure, And Better than Excellent Cholesterol Levels. My Cardiologist is amazed! My start off was very rocky, but so far, this is working out just Great! Relax and ENJOY The Newer You!! Stress (Fear/Anxiety) = Bad Happy (really Happy) = Awesome!! Let it Go & LIVE!!! Best Wishes- Dx

Hey Girl, What prompted all this? I know what triggered my eating... what's causing all this angst? Yeah yeah I know, cause you're eating... but I mean what prompted the desire to eat?

What's causing the angst!!! Out of control eating is what's causing it for me. I have been away from this board for several months because I have been out of control for several months, about to give up trying to work the tool entirely. Every morning I say, this day I'll be better, more in control, yada, yada... But it doesn't happen. I've been in eating disorder therapy for several months now, and about to give that up as well because I have been unable to do the daily journaling that the therapist requires - mainly because I can never seem to identify the "feelings" I'm having when I think I need to eat something. Obviously there's hunger, but those are not the problem times - it's in between the meals when I get into trouble. I get this desperation inside me that is usually related to stress, anxiety, whatever you want to call it - and I NEED something. But the response is always the same - reach for food, for comfort, an old habit that returned after 2 years post-op (I'm now just over 3 years post-op and have regained 25 lbs). My therapist says I can't begin to heal until I can take a step away, stop the behavior, figure out the feeling(s), then figure out what it is I REALLY need (she thinks it's some type of comfort) instead of food. I was a size 8-10, and now 12-14. I'm at my wits end about this. I have a closet full of clothes I can't wear, and have had to repurchase larger sizes. And I can't describe to you the horrible guilt - facing loved ones and others who look at me but don't say a thing out of respect. I better stop right here before I start crying, which I do alot lately. Signed, Miserable in Chapel Hill