Advice needed

How is it possible to go on vacation and do most of the cooking in your condo and gain 10 lbs??? I am 2 yrs 3 months post op and fighting to maintain my wt. I went to SC and came back 10 lbs heavier. IS that possible???  I didn't binge or pig out. Yes, I had 2 slices of pizza and 1 other meal out, but i can't believe i am 10 lbs heavier. I spent the week fighting th ewaves at the ocean and did a 4 mile walk one day, so i wasn't completely inactive. How oh How can this be???? i did skim on my fluids and i rehydrated myself, finding i lost 3 lbs right away. But boy am i bummed at the gain. I keep thinking it has to be water retention, or something. Any advice or words of encouragemnet. I feel scared to take another vacation, as all i do is GAIN. Feeling sad, Melinda

I sent you a PM. 

Sounds again like this is a recurrent theme with many of us.  I wonder if anyone is doing research on this phenomena?  Seems like even though our plumbing is rerouted,  our brains compensate at some level to get our weight back up.   I wonder how many people gain and how much they tend to gain?  I have talked with several people and they say they have to watch their eating and many have gained, but just a small percentage of what they lost.  I wish I had answers too, but I don't think not vacationing is the answer!  ; )   You are more than your weight loss or gain Melinda!  I understand the fear, I have it too, but we have to remember that fear is not a way to live our lives.....  Suzie

I am guessing it is the traveling that caused the gain and that as you mentioned it is water retention.  Did you eat more salt than normal?  You mentioned that you didn't get the fluids in and once you started rehydrating you lost 3 lbs.  I know when I travel it really messes me up whether it's flying or driving.  In fact, not to be too graphic, but I always get constipated on trips too.  I don't know if it's just that I don't like going "poopie" in a place other than my home or what.  Once I get back home I am back to normal within a day or so.  I doubt it was true weight gain.  Is it close to your monthly cycle?  It's probably a combination of not drinking enough fluids and the traveling.  Just eat your protein and get your fluids in for the rest of the week.   I would bet your weight drops back down.  I actually had a large regain and it wasn't overnight.  I always fluctuate by about 5 lbs up or down and I noticed that slowly each week the fluctuation was creeping up a pound or so.  There were weeks I didn't gain at all and then weeks where I gained more than a pound, but overall my regain averaged only 2 lbs per month and that was while taking medications that cause weight gain and with eating almost all carbs and drinking with my meals.  So, I seriously doubt your vacation packed on a true 10lbs.  No matter what caused the weight, I wish you the best of luck in getting it back off.   Angela

Thank you everyone, Angela, I am hoping it was the sal****er i swam in, the salt i ate and just messing my system up. I am going to get strict on myself this week and get back down to my normal weight. Thanks for the support.  Meinda

Chin up Melinda!!! We all face this issue, together! I can only speak for myself..... I sounded like you. I really don't "over eat", however, after being very attentive I realized that I graze, much of the time subconciously. The bites here and there really really add up in my case. Grazing is the only way I can put weight on. I still can't eat large volumes of food at one time, thus, it's easy to tell myself I haven't eaten much for the day. See what happens in the next week or so and if it doesn't fall off as quick as it went on, just try and pay closer attention to your habits and food choices. I am still amazed at how easy it is to get in over 100 carbs in one day!!! I know my body just sucks them up and stores them so quick!. The minute I curtailed them, poof! off they came. I am down seven pounds in six days....no worries! You can do it!!

Looks like you already have the answers you need, but I still wanted to tell ya - you are so not alone! I went camping the 7-10th...took my cheese sticks and kashi bars ... ate well (with my one splurge planned out)...I even did a 'STEEP AND STRENUOUS" (that is the description, honest!) 7 mile hike on two days in a row. I KNEW I was 'good' and came home a few pounds heavier. I had some visible water retention, and it was not untl the last couple of days I looked more 'normal' again - and am a few pounds lighter than I had been prior. Keep focused on those fluids and good habits, it still pays off

I notice when I am not at home in my 'routine' I tend to skimp on fluids and will 'gain'...when I get tha****er back up to 90oz or more I tend to level back out. I did that this weekend as a matter of fact.

HI Melinda

I can imagine how you feel however, you need to get over that sad feeling and move forward.  What ever the reason was it happened and now you need to work on getting those extra pounds off and develop some strategies for future vacations.   

I am almost three years out and at my goal weight of 150 working on loosing another 5-10 pounds just because I want too.  

In any case, I vacation several times a year from 12 day cruises, all inclusive vacations  and yes renting condo’s I never stay in a hotel if I am away more than two days.  My motto is “Work is something to do in between vacations”.  Went on a 11 day cruise this past January,  Just came back from a nursing conference 9 days ( not a vacation but I was away from home in a condo),  I have ten days in Aruba booked for this September, 7 days in the Pocono’s last week in October, another 11 day cruise booked in January 2008 and an all inclusive in May in Can**** days (Not booked) and another 9 days in the Dominican Republic September 2008 booked.  Point I am trying to make is that the advice I am about to give you WORKS for me.

 

 

 

1. I allow myself to gain 4-5 pounds on a vacation and if there is a scale available I weigh myself EVERY DAY to keep myself in check.  And when there is no scale I do worry a lot and I am even more careful.  
2. If there is a gym available I work out on the tread mill for at least 30 minutes a day first thing in the morning.  If I am able to do it a second time I will but that is rare.
3. When I am lounging in the pool I try to move as much as possible. Just to keep my metabolism going. 
4. I like to have ****tails especially when I am away.   If I find myself drinking more than I would at home I start to watch what I am eating more than normally.  I will fill up on protein and salads and try to eliminate all carbs at mealtimes. 
5. If I find myself at the 4-5 pound mark and vacation time is not nearly over well I take in less and exercise more.
6. I NEVER GRAZE on poor choices of food.  I always have cut up celery and carrots with me I take them on the plane and YES even on my cruises.  

The key is that I will not deprive myself, yet I have a limit. And I do not beat myself up for the 4-5 pounds I gain. 

I hope that this helps a little.     Lauretta