SURVEY TO GET BACK ON TRACK

I'm in. I think this could be helpful to many of us. It makes us think about what we are eating and because we are sharing what we eat it makes us more accountable. Plus we can share tips, recipies etc. Charlie

Me too! I have taken the first step, and got out the maintainance papers and I do fairly good in the am, but not nightime, grazing, like I cant get enough to eat, even if I eat extra dense protien for supper. I am trying to snack on Pumpkin seeds, or a fresh apple. I have also started walking again, due to previous back surgery (ruptured spine) walking is all I can do, and not much more than 1 mile a day. I need all the support I can get. My hubby and daughter are both almost 2 years post op, so I have a great support system here at home. I do remember when beginning this journey after the initial weightloss our bodies would regain about 20 pounds. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy last year, so I presumed this was part of the problem. I need to loose this 10 pounds I have gained in the past year. Good luck to us all, and may we all once again "enjoy the ride." Rosemary

WOW EVERYONE!!! OK I see that I am not alone for sure. Unfortunetly I can't check my mail until usually late at night because of my job. I say we post our triumphs and troubles daily if you can. They say it takes 21 continued days to form a habit. I am am going to concentrtae on 2 things a week that I need to improve. I dont want to overwhem myself. So this week I am focsed on getting back to 8-10 glasses of water a day and cut my coffee down to just 1 cup in the morning and no diet soda all day. ( I know I been way bad) #2 EXERCISE I am proud of myself tonight i did 50 min of turbo kick box and an hour of yoga! YEE HAA. i FEEL GOOD!!!! Tonight I went to Wal Mart and bought my carb count down.(have not had that in several months. ) The healthy habits are slowly coming back guys. Also I think I SELF sabatoged myself so I am telling myself a few times throughtout the day. I am special and worth it and deserve being healthy and fit!!! I even wrote it down and taped it to my sterring wheel. (I call on 30-40 businesses a day so I work out of my car about 50 hours a week.) I can't wait to hear how you all are doing and progressing!! Also I faced the scale. I am at 225.8. My lowest post op was about 200. So I have work to do. I am only going to weigh myself once a week. I am a size 18. I want to be in 16 by Valentines, 14 by by B-day (March 25) and size 12 by 4th of July. I KNOW I CAN DO IT!!! COME ON GUYS YOU CAN TOO!!!! LETS STICK TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER OUT!!! THANKS FOR LISTENING LISA

Thank you sooooooooooo much Lisa for starting this thread! I rarely post, and for the most part am a permanent 'lurker'...but I really felt compelled to respond to all of you. I am sitting here crying as I type this to you, as I have been dealing with all these emotions and frustrations of reverting to my 'old habits' that lead me to obesity in the first place. I am so relieved to find out that Im not a 'freak' or 'failure' and that there are many of us in the same situation this far post op. ALL OF YOU have given me a renewed sense of determination and belief in myself that I can get back on track again and drop these stubborn last pounds. God Bless All Of You ~ we can do this! Deb

DEB I too was feeling alone and like the only one to have a set back at this. Glad to see you responded. My prayers are with you! I have cried too. I sure dont want to be back at over 300 plus POUNDS again. It took me over a year just for the insurance approval for WLS. Just respond whenever you can, be it daiy, weekly or when you can. I and I am sure others care and want to hear how you are doing. Just start out with 1 or 2 improvements a week and add to it until you get back to where you should be as far as healthy habits go. Let us know!! GOD BLESS YOU I KNOW WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm fighting the problem of eating because I'm stressed. I'm used to working 9+ hours a day, 6 days a week in a factory. I was laid off in September and all this time on my hands.......plus the stress of the money shortage etc. is leading me into cravings for sweets. I don't dump.....actually wish I did. Then at least that would deter me from eating the stuff at all. I've started college classes but they are only two days a week. Even before I was laid off though I'd already started down the wrong path. I worked second shift and would drink Mt Dew Code Red for the caffiene kick as it was getting late to keep me going until the end of the night. I know that caffiene keeps you from losing weight plus there's all that sugar in Code Red. I've stopped drinking it but now I'm having the withdrawl headaches. I know I've done it to myself but it doesn't make it feel any better. lol I didn't do too bad yesterday. I had school so that took up a lot of my day. I ate a little less than 900 calories total. Drank all the water I needed to but forgot to take all of my vitamins. I've lost two pounds since getting back on track. I'm hoping this is a trend. I know this is hard but I refuse to go back to the size I started out at. I kept one pair of pants from back then to have as a reminder. I pulled them on last night and it strengthened the resolve to do this right. Hope you're all doing well with your plans. Take care.

I am 5 yrs post op and was wearing a size 4-6. Now I wear a 12. I have gained from 132 to 167 in 4 months. I can eat anything and dumping is not consistent. My appetite is huge. I am looking for a dr in fort worth texas. I had my surgery in tyler texas and he is not much help...please Im in. Let's get some mojo group energy going. I need help and support and a doctor to see if something is wrong. I am worried and having to buy new larger clothes. If anyone has some suggestions please feel free to respond. God bless you all. lainee in texas

i am 13 months out. Starting to struggle to remember how to use the tool.

HELP, HELP, HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that the holidays are over, I really need to get back on track, I lost down to 181 the first year and then during the last 1.5 years I have slowly gained back to 195-205. I will be 3 years out come May 2007 and I want to be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At my goal, which is 165. As an added motivational tool, I have a wedding to attend that month, and I want to get my skin removed before the end of the year. I keep telling myself I am going to get strict, but life gets in the way. I keep saying I am going to go strict with protein shakes and bars only for two weeks, and increase my water. I have a very bad habit- my addiction to sugarfree iced lattes. I am lousey at remembering my vitamins, though have been making an effort in that area as my iron levels have plumetted, though the iron tabs are causing severe constipation and abdominal cramping, to the point I have had to start taking colace (stool softners) daily. My exersize dedication sucks. I was doing great until spring of 05 when I fell 14 foot off a ladder a messed up my knee, never have been able to get remotivated. I have a friend who is in the same boat as me but two years further post-op, she refuses to switch to diet drinks, but is frustrated because she can't get off her platuea. HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for posing the questions and the challenges~ of course it is sooo timely for me, too! I had my RnY on 6/03 and lost 200lbs total. Got down to 146...some say too skinny, now! But gained back 50lbs over 2005...same ol story..too much stress and some deaths in teh family, new job, etc. etc. I love my coping skills and resorted to comfort foods. I now have lost back 25lbs and am hanging in the low 180's. I feel better...using my supplements the best I can, drinking more water, cutting back on coffee and carbonated drinks. I feel more in touch with my pouch again. Using fast pace walking, since I have a shoulder and neck injury I let that be my excuse to never develop a good work out routine...SIGH...lol. So I am using a local support group I found through yahoo groups. We meet and support each other. I had to get over my shame and embarrassment and made an appt with my surgeon, Dr. Mark Vierra. Will see him on the 17th for a face to face "let's see how to make this better" meeting. Your stories here make me see I am NOT ALONE! WE do keep struggling..the surgery is not a cure all. I got complacent and thought the weight would not creep back up! OMG..I have learned how much harder it is now to maintain than I thought..but not impossible! Thank you all for being truthful and looking for solutions! This really helps! hugs, glenna/celticarma