Help!! Desperately seeking input from successful long-termers!

Hello All !! am a "newbie" to this site and have been Blessed with motivation from you guys !! Thank you !!!!! My dilemma is this: I am a 3+ year alumni of Open RNY (3/3/03) having successfully gone from 253 to my low of 115 -- I have, however, managed to "find" 30# on my body again. ---WAH !!!! Ok - the whining is over!! I have been re-motivated to jump-stat my losses again. I have been through some major life-issues including a transference of my addiction from food-->alcohol (of which proved VERY costly to my life)-->back to the beginnings of food addiction again. I have allowed myself to get VERY used to carbs and sugars -- grazing, etc.... I know these are VERY bad and am trying earnestly to stop it. My pouch is still very intact because if I try to eat "real" meal-- I still can only eat a very small amount. My questions? Will anyone share their "time-frame" for weight loss when they resume healthy eating and perhaps exercising. I am walking and doing "some" exercises at home - can't afford a gym membership at all !!! And -- is No-carbs recommended versus low carb? And -- I LOVE coffee with Sweet and Low and just a dash of 2% milk -- is that ok? And really -- is it really possible to LOSE again?? I MUST get back in my little jeans -- mostly for money sake-- I can't afford more clothes !!!!! Thanks to you all !!!!! Oh-- I know you will ask lab work-- I don't know-- won't have labs drawn till next week I think.

Kera, welcome back into control. I think no carbs is inpossible and unhealthy. We need carbs, they are what fuel us, i think vegies and fruits should be encouraged. I walk 2 miles a day and only burn 200 calories, so yes it burns, but slower than other exercise. What else, yes i think the coffee is fine, but try decaf, increase the fluids and decrease any processed foods. That is my advice. Good luck.

Morning Kera.... Well I totally hear where you are coming from, I am about 3.5 years out and had a very SCARY weight gain last January. WOW that is a reality check for us.. huh?? I like you went from addiction, to addition - from food to exercise, acohol, smoking, shopping and back in a vicous circle. Beleive it or not I am a crazy excersise lady and really know that I should not be drinking or smoking. I am and have an obsessive compulsive personaitly. Anyway enough about me. I think you have already got a handle on your problem. You know what you are doing wrong as I did when I gained back about 30pds last January, go back to basics , kick up the excersise and start writing down what you eat. Oh yea, get back into some kind of support group if you haven't done it already. I was freaking out when I gained and everything got tight..... not goin back there- NEVER EVER. I love coffee too, with lots of REAL cream and two real sugars. Yea thats probably why I am a comfortable size 10-12 and very happy with myself. Honestly I have found that once I got back on track and stayed away from sugar, and BAD carbs I lost the weight within about a month. That is the good thing I did notice about the post surgery it comes off easily if I go back to basics. But you have to do a reality check, weigh yourself at least every two weeks and look at the bad habits and try to eliminate them again. Yes I am CONSTANTLY battling to food addiction(other additions), I know I will do this the rest of my life but I know if I am honest with myself I can control this stuff. Its a matter of falling down and gettin back up again, don't be too hard on yourself. Its a constant learning process for us... I decided I will not bake cookies, not even splenda cookies or SF stuff this holiday (I have no children) why put myself thru the turmoil of trying not to eat them ya know. Make "little" sutle changes so you don't feel deprived and keep execising no matter what. Choose your treats wisely and you will be fine Oh yea, exercise bands are really great- dont take up a lot of room either. don't forget to strength train , more muscle speeds up the metabolism and burns more fat.. Had my tummy done in July and next year doin the legs so I have in incentive to keep the wieght down!! Good luck to you and lets keep it touch to support one another!! Kim in Chicago

Coffee is my drug of choice. LOL You can definately regain control over your habits and improve your lifestyle to restart your weight loss. It won't be as fast as the early days post-op, but it is still achievable. I am 23+ months post-op and still losing. Just follow a healthy lifestyle, incorporating good eating habits and daily exercise. I try to follow the "rules for post-op eating". You know, protein first, min 64 oz of decaf fluids, add more fluids to offset any caffienated beverages, eat good carbs (fruits and veggies), no white foods (potatoes, rice, bread) (I will eat brown rice or flaxseed bread in very limited quantities). I also track my intakes and journal my exercise routines. It takes time and effort, but you are worth the effort. Remind yourself everyday how important this is to you and it will help you to keep motivated. If you have a buddy who can join you on your walks, it will make it enjoyable. Good luck, Karen G

Of course, it's possible to lose again and you can do it, sweetie! I agree that "no carbs" is bad. How about no "white" carbs like the poster above me said (forgot to look at her name, sorry!!). Also, consider something like Weigh****chers. Their "Core Plan" is excellent and emphasizes lots of veggies and fruit and lean meats, fish, fat free dairy and complex carbs. I've been doing it since August and I'm down a good 8 to 10 pounds. A "good carb" "low fat" diet has worked better for me than a "low carb" "high fat" diet.

Hitting the protein shakes and bars, always seems to bring a few pounds off me. I like Adkins Advantage Carmel Bars. They are very low in sugar.