Getting back to basics HOW????

Long story short. I am 18 months post op and eating terrible. I am returning to carbs and sugars. I still have more weight to lose. So everyday i wake up and say this is the day i get back on track and then i lose control, just like the preop days. So my question is HOW do i go back to basics? Do i fast and then do clear liquids to full liquids to soft foods or what? My plan is to do just i outlined above to completely carb detox. I just hope i can. Is this too drastic? Looking for your experiences on what has gotten you back on track Thanks, Melinda 326/149/130

Melinda, You can do this. Cut carbs out all together. Go back to when you first had surgery and starting introducing new foods. Do you drink protien shakes? I am 3 years out and I always have to remind myslef that I can not eat certain foods. We have to always remember that WLS gives you a new tool to work with. It's up to you to learn how to use it. If you really feel out of control talk to your surgeon. Weigh yourself and if your gaining weight then get back on track. Keep yourself busy and walk. I really feel that we all know what we can and can not do! I personally have come to far to go backwards. I lost 165 pounds and am proud of it! No one can take that away from me except myself. Look at a picture of yourself from 18 months ago, do you want to look like that again. Keep that picture of yourself close by, keep that memory green. Good luck to you and go forward!!! Cathy

I think getting backs to basics is what you make of it or what you feel comfortable with. You can choose to go back to liquids, full liquids, and soft foods. Just make sure you get adequate protein, fluids and your vitamins in. Often I see folks that go back to basics who go back to the protein first rule. If they still have room they have some non-starchy vegies. If they have a bit more room then a bit of lower sugar fruit. That sort of thing. That would probably be "easier" on ya then going back to the liquids. Goodness knows eating broth only makes you really hungry and ornery. LOL! Eating dense proteins will keep you full and feeling better. Good luck! Kathy

I'm 17 months out and have faced this same problem. I talked to my doctor and she put me on Meridia, a diet pill. It didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean it won't for you. What did work for me was to drasticly increase my protien amount and water....80 plus ounces. Oh yeah, I also started tracking everything I put in my mouth on Fitday.com. The weight has started to move down again, slowly, but down. Hope this helps and don't give up. We can do this together. Wendy

Thank you for the repies. ots of good ideas. Thanks I will do this. I have to! Melinda

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and vow that your next MEAL will be a good one Don't try to overcome a whole day at once. Make sure that your next meal is a healthy balanced meal (lean protein, whole grains, veggies and fruits), get in lots of fluids for the day, make sure you're getting in your vitamins, and move at least a little bit. Recipe for success!! Michelle

Hey Melinda, Stop!!!! STOP and BREATHE!!!! Deeeeeep breath!!!! HOLD ON, GIRL!!! Okay now... You've done so amazingly well, I'm PROUD OF YOU! You're a success!!!! If you were truly out of control you've had plenty of time in 18 months to have GAINED ALL THE WEIGHT BACK!!! you've NOT done that! Good for you!!! You know the issue is not really "the food". Right? Your success, so far is AWESOME!!! The tool is working! It sounds like your HEAD needs to get back in the game! After over 25+ years of dieting and failing, my MIND just KNEW I was a failure. I told myself so many times - and I believed me!! Why try anymore? Melinda, that stinking thinking RULED ME for far too long. Getting my guts cut opened and rearranged did NOT change my thinking. Thinking changes have been a day by day by day by MOMENT by MOMENT shift. Re-programming the mental weirdness takes time. (at 5 years post op & looking back I'd say this past 2 years I've been pretty consistant (not ALL the time, but mostly) about liking myself. I make better choices when I like myself. I take better care of myself. "Quick fixes" are merely a "band-aid over a cancer", you know? The problem will still be there. You may get a jump start on the loss, but the ISSUE that caused it all will STILL BE THERE. Okay, you say you start your day then you FAIL. So maybe you've merely made some bad choices - doesn't mean the whole day or week you've failed. I want to challenge this whole issue! I say you're an AMAZING SUCCESS! You're HUMAN! You've seen the WARNING signs and you're going to make effort to change your thinking about yourself - because you're worth it! You've lost so much - wow! Trust yourself. Celebrate yourself. Try to stop and see this for what it really is. ONLY then, when you stop and assess what's really going on, will YOU know what to do to make any necessary changes! It may be snacking, or too many carbs or drinking w /meals or, or, or... but YOU'll figure it out when you "stop- assess and know!" (Hey WLS'er version of "stop, drop & roll!" hee hee) Trust yourself! You're amazing!

wwo awesome answer!!!!!!