15 months out and back to bad habits!

I reached my goal weight (155) back in October and eventually hit 151-152, which felt like the perfect place for my body. In the past few weeks alone, I'm back up to 157 and I'm terrified because I find myself eating much more, choosing carbs, craving sweets like mad (which I never actually did before WLS.) Also, I've got to watch my alcohol intake. I'm single and I run my own business and many nights I'm invited for after-work wine, etc. I'm already working on that. It's more of a food problem at this point. I know the answer is to just stop, get back to basics, etc, but I'm feeling that old defeatist voice in the back of my mind, especially late at night when I was always prone to do the most damage snacking. (Last night, I actually got out of bed at 11:30 to make a snack.) Also, I can eat a lot more portion-wise than I thought I would be able to and I'm wondering whether I've stretched my pouch and whether it will snap back. I'm a little frightened. Has anyone else gone through a similar period? Just need a little encouragement. Also, I do have a therapist and she's helping me work through some other things that have added stress -- and therefore stress-eating. Just hoping for a bit more of an ear/ass-kickin' here. Thanks. Carol

Hi Carol: I can so relate.  I am 14 months out and about 4 pounds from my goal of 155.  This past month has been the worst for me.  I have jump from 162 to 159 constantly.  I know I have increase my carbs and more snacks than I should.  I wonder if I am scare of reaching my goal and not being able to hold it?  It is almost better for me if I have a goal to obtain instead of trying to maintain.  I start everyday over as a new start.  It is easy to said I am going back to basics but sometimes life just gets in the way.  Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.  I hope you and I both have diamond days coming. Darlene

I think the carbs have been a real eye-opener for me too. The weird thing is.. I remember the first three months post-op and how much I craved carbs. Then, poof, it just went away. I'm going to seriously pull back on the bad ones (hello? Muffin mix, I'm talking to you!)  Best of luck, sister. Carol

Hi, Carol.  It really IS scary when we can start eating more.  But it does happen to almost everyone.  We can't eat nearly what we could prior to surgery, but it still seems like a lot.  As for the carbs and sweets, we know that "carbs and sweets beget more carbs and sweets" and it's a vicious cycle.  I'm just as guilty of it as anyone else.  You either have to learn to control it or go cold turkey.  I've tried cold turkey a few times, but that doesn't work for me.  I'm doing better now trying to maintain control.  Also, I just began exercising regularly back in January, and that, I believe has stopped my regain.  I did not exercise after my WLS, even though I know I should have.  If I had started sooner, I may not have regained so much.   I had lost to a low of 160 and am now around 185.  I will not take fault for 10 pounds of that weight, because everything I ever read about WLS, and especially RNY, told me to expect a bounce-back of about 10%, which for me is 10 pounds.  The other 15 I will accept the blame for. What seems to be working for me now is MODERATION.  I don't deny myself anything but I am truly working on the CONTROL aspect of this journey.  And I'm also trying to focus on all the great things I can do at 185 pounds.  Even though it's not as low as I'd like to be, it's still a heck of a lot better than 235-260.  Case in point, I danced my butt off at a wedding the other night and felt great the next day - no soreness or stiffness.  And I did this while wearing 3-inch heels!  Something I could never have done at that higher weight.  I would have killed my feet, and probably could not have kept my balance!!  LOL As for night-time snacking, for me that's a boredom issue most of the time.  I do find that if I eat dinner a little later, and make sure it's pretty protein-intense, I don't get as hungry the rest of the night.  And I try to keep myself busy during the evening so I'm not as tempted to snack.

Good luck, Carol, and hang in there.  Keep posting and getting support.  We're in this for life, and every one of us has to find "OUR" way to make it work for us.  But we can get lots of ideas here to help us along the way.

Carlita

 

Thanks, Carlita. You hang in there too and keep up the exercise. I'm back on the horse... but already scared of my late night monster again! Carol

WOW!!  Can I just tell you thank you for all your posts on this?  Because I was embarassed and have been feeling like I failed surgery.  I will be three years out in October.  I started at 309 and today weigh 186.  The lowest I got to was 174.  I am 5'4.  I got down to a size 12 and was looking at pictures from last summer and felt like I looked healthy.  My surgeon never wanted me below 150 and my PCP who is WLS friendly says 160.  So, I had split the difference and ended up with a personal goal of 155.   I feel completely out of control... I am a food addict.  It is only Tuesday and again this moring and I stopped at sonic and got breakfast(grilled cheese with bacon and tomato) and a large diet dr pepper.  I ate the WHOLE sandwich and finished the soda.  IT IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS. and  what is sad is as I am eating this crap I am telling myself you know you can make better choices....the choice is yours to make. I snack.... all day  every day.... I cannot seem to do anything without snacking.  and there are plenty that surround me.. I have always been told if you can acknowedle the problem OUT LOUD you can overcome it. So, I wish you nothing but strength and luck and perserverance!! tina

Tina, I know EXACTLY how you feel!!! I'm terrified -- hopefully enough to stay serious about this. I've done well today and I'm on my way out to exercise now. I think the exercise has been key for me and I've noticed that I've slacked off a bit on that too recently (from 3-4 days a week to 1-2.) Hang in there, girl, and avoid the Sonic!!!  Carol

Being able to consume more food is scary, but very normal. The biggest thing is making good choices most of the time, no matter what the quantity is. Its hard b/c most of us here are emotional eaters or food addicts or both (like me) so some days its so damn hard to be good! I know I never want to go back to 328lbs if possible~it scares the heck out of me! I allow myself to float around in the 150's, but when I notice that I'm starting to get up to 156, 157, 158 I pull in the reigns and get serious again. This works for me, but I know for some it wouldn't be a workable maintenance plan~I guess what I"m saying is you have to figure out what will work for you and then run with it! We all have the same goal of maintaining successful, but how we succed at our goal is different for all of us. Good Luck and keep us posted on how things are going for you!

Thanks, Tracy. That's exactly what I've been telling myself too. This is the first time I've climbed back above goal, and while it's only a couple of pounds, it's scary how quickly they've come back -- and all gone straight to my stomach! grrrr. I appreciate all of your kind words. This site is so good for conversations like this since my friends are pretty sick of hearing "thin Carol" talk about weight issues! c-

Hi Carol,  I am in the exact same boat as you.  I also had surgery with Dr. Bauman and got to 155 and holding--down to 151-2 for abut 15 minutes.  Now I waver between 155 and 157, but I know that I am slipping into some bad habits.  I am not sure where you are located but maybe we can meet to walk or otherwise provide support for one another.  Please email me if you are interested. Roberta