looking for success stories from those who slipped

I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary. I started out at 340, lost down to 195, got pregnant a year and a half out, and things just went kind of badly from there. I gained all the way up to 235, and have finally "woke up" and said it's time to start losing again. I know many of us grads have gained weight, but I'm looking for some success stories for anyone long term who gained after surgery, and managed to lose it "again". I started a plan at work that our company is sponsoring, kind of a biggest loser type thing, and have already lost 12 pounds since May 1st, leaving me @ 223. It seems like an amazing weight loss to me considering it's been almost 5 years since my surgery. Any help/comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Congrats! It's nice to see that someone 5 years out can still lose if they need to. I am over 2 years out and just recently lost 10 of the 20 I gained. I believe with getting back to basics and not falling into old habits you can always lose. Good luck!!!

This is great news! Thanks for sharing! I do feel like I am never going to get to goal. One day if I keep doing the right thing right! Its so nice to read this kind of stuff. Debbie

Hi Julia, I am nearly 4 years out (next month) and I started at 320, got to 172 then got preggo 2 1/2 years out and went up to 198. I have lost down to 174 and then started creeping back up to about 178, where I have been pretty stable since. While I would like to be back at 172, it looks like I am stabling out after losing the 20 extra. Good luck to you. Heather B

Wow, Julia! You're living proof that the "tool works"!!! I'm so proud of you! My profile is filled w/ my loss/gain/ re-adjust & loss. 289/ 137 (too low - tried to regain - did VERY WELL!!!) ALL THE WAY BACK UP TO 175/ then worked back down to 159 (ideal!) & holding over 2.5 years! The most significant things I realized I was doing that created "gain": 1. sipping with my meals - quantities were waaaay too large! (SOUP-ed my food!) 2. snacking mindlessly on WHEAT THINS & CASHEWS... the operative word there is "mindlessly"... when I became "mindful" of the snacking I realized I was grazing ALL DAY LONG , probably eating a gajillion calories. 3. not getting in enough WATER (except WITH my meals - I was a ding-dong, for sure!) I made the changes - back to the basics - NEVER DID go all the way back to just post-op diet (full liquids, pureed, etc.) Lost the excess & happy to be "normal" for a long time! (or at least MY version of "normal" hee hee) Again, I'm proud of you for making this amazing tool work for you - AGAIN!!!

howdy Well I'm 23 yrs post op haven't been here for a long time just thought I'd peek in...I'm doing good and holding on... my profile hasn't been kept up.. but you can read about me...Blessings Wendy