I've gained 53 lbs since my goal weight - Long

I thought I would share my story and help out some people feeling a little badly. I had thought over and over about posting and trying to connect with someone and see if anyone else felt like me. But I realize that I cannot sit on my laurels and wait for someone to tell me they feel like me because they might be doing the same thing. I had gastric bypass almost 3 years ago. A tummy tuck last year and was doing pretty well. I had put back on 10 lbs but I was really comfortable with it. I loved my body and was pretty happy with it. Then it happened I hit the comfort zone. The zone where I realized that dumping might not be so bad and I could handle it once in a while. (by the way I really wouldn't recommend it) Then my world all changed in a few short months. In October of last year my husband lost his job and my stress eating upped a little bit. I started snacking a bit more, exercising a bit less and putting on a lb or two here and there. Jan of last year we heard the unthinkable, my husbands ex was arrested for child abuse and his children were in state custody. Yikes. So two trips from Maryland to Tennesse and back and two weeks of fast food later I'd made my weight up from 197 to 211. I pretended that I was ok with and tried to deal with living in my mother in laws house with three new kiddos in my life full time. No one warned me that mother's have to feed kids. And who knew that their food was soo good looking and so easy to eat. By September of last year I was pushing the scales at 225. I found out the start of September that I was pregnant with my first child. I gained the expected 1 lb a wee****il the first week of October when my world was shaken with the news that I had a miscarriage. I was at 230 at that point. That is when I really stopped caring. I stopped taking my vitamins, stopped exercising, stopped eating well and stopped worrying about how I looked. I started eating on my mind that I was hurting myself but not until the end of the year. Last week I was at 255. But I know the problem. I asked for help and I'm getting it. I'm working out every other day now and walking every day. I just wanted to share in case there are other people that feel like they have failed so much like me. But there is hope out there and it can be reversed! I'll keep you guys updated.

Thanks for sharing!  Keep going ...all the way back to goal!  you can do it (but you already know that from your post)  sending you BIG hugs, Britt

Faith - I am so sorry to hear about your story.  No one should every have to endure what you've endured.  Maintaining weightloss after gastric bypass is difficult enough without having major life issues to deal with at the same time.  Please do keep us updated on your progress, and don't hesitate to reach out for help.  That's what we're all here for. Good luck to you  --  {{{Hugs}}} Betsy

Faith, Hang in there.  You have been through a lot.  I have gained 41 pounds after I reached my goal. I found out I can eat anything and don't get the dumping syndrome.  I am almost three years out from a lap ryn.    After my surgery I lost 105 pounds really fast and then a year ago I started to gain weight.  At first I could eat anything and kept losing. I still eat everything but now I gain instead. Before surgery I weighed 230 then down to 120 now I'm up to 183.  I get depressed because I went through so much to have surgery and recovery and now I feel fat again. (I'm 5"7inches) Sorry again and thanks -

I started with the 5 day pouch test and just got myself back on track. Its important to feel that there is a place to start. I hope that you can get back on track and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

hi faith -  i feel like someone posted my story up on the boards without my permission.  the cir****tances aren't the same - but all the weight gain, feelings and sadness are exactly the same.  i had surgery 5 months before you - i was doing great - i lost 150lbs swore i'd never let anyone or anything get in my way every again - never let anyone or anything have that power over me ever again!  but one thing led to another - the worst actually was post plastic surgery.  i had my breasts lifted in 12/05 and i was still doing okay - but after my tummy tuck in april 2007 - since then i have done my most damage.  i wasn't allowed to work out as you know (for me 3 months) and of course i felt sorry for myself and ate a little extra here - or added an extra meal there - i hadn't had a piece of unrefined sugar in the first 3.5 years because i was so afraid I WOULDN'T dump.  i tested the waters with a dunkin munchkin - i didn't dump as i was fearful of - and it went downhill from there.  i'm afraid to know how much weight i gained - after the 3 months of tummy tuck recovery i didn't do anything for myself.  i live 1/8th of a mile from the gym and i have 27 training sessions left (with a biggest loser trainer jillian-esque) who helped me so much in the past and i didn't take my ass to the gym at all!  in late december i went out to dinner with 12 people for chinese food and when the fortune cookies came at the end of the night - a big plate of them - the one i grabbed said, "you have duties, but what about the duty to yourself?"  wow right?!?  so i decided to hit the gym again - my trainer tried to be supportive by saying i still look good and i told her - don't even go there - i need tough love.  so since the beginning of the year i've gone everyday to walk - just 2.5 miles per day - but then last tuesday my mom called in the middle of the night to say that my dad just had another congestive heart failure compounded by pneumonia.  they just moved to florida and this was the first time not being able to meet them at the hospital.  additionally impacted by my mother who is totally about the drama and not the facts.  so for 2 days i sat and ate and ate and ate and ate - nothing good - just chocolate - until i finally decided to say "f" it - i'm flying down to see him for myself - and now i'm stuck in the house w/ my psycho mom and visiting my dad (he's doing much better now thank goodness).  and i'm right back to my psycho ways of hiding food from her - driving to pick up the crap of all crap and eating it in the car - i'm so out of control.  nothing fits me - i feel like the biggest loser for going through all that i have - changing my innards - having 2 plastic surgeries and ******g it all away - still not sure what motivates it - but i'm my own worst enemy - i too stopped w/the daily vitamins, b12 and iron - i just want to get my crap together and get back to where i was.  so i just wanted to let you know that there are others out there who feel your pain.  when i get back from florida i too am going to try that 5 day pouch test- i'm just so petrified that i have irreparably stretched my pouch out - i feel like the biggest loser ever, just like i did for the first 40 years of my life before surgery!  you can write me anytime - good luck to you - take care.  susan :)

Susan,

I'm so glad I opened this site today and found out that I'm not alone. I know exactly how you feel. I have gained 23 pounds in the past 6 or so months. I'm under stress right now and eating make me feel better - for a moment.

My mom has been in the hospital on and off for the past year.  I do a lot of fast food and like you I eat a lot while I'm driving!!!

I'm going to stop carbs (satan to me). Thank goodness I never have starting eating sweets, it's hard telling how much I would of gained.

Anyway, thanks for your honest post. You've given me hope and let me know that I am not alone.

 

Faith and Susan, I'm sorry for what you've both been through and totally understand falling back into using food as a coping mechanism.  You both know what you need to do and you've taken the first step by coming back here for help. If you're not already, talk to your Doc about an antidepressant.  They really help!  I personally am not big on therapy, but I know a lot of people have learned to cope better by seeing a therapist. I think the 5DPT really helps to get started.  But no matter how you do it, you can get back on track!  Keep us posted on your progress! Michele

Wow....I can't believe the timing....I haven't been to this site in forever, and the first time I'm back I find your post.   I had my surgery in Jan. 2003.  I lost 160 pounds in 18 months.  However, I was still a long way from my goal weight.  I needed to lose at least another 60 pounds.   The new life that I found as a result of having a "new body" and being able to get out and do things completely overwhelmed me.  I went from being basically home bound to never having a moment for myself because I was on the go all the time.  I just didn't know how to cope with it.   I was traveling a lot and eating became a problem because I never seemed to have the "time" to eat....I would end up eating too fast and getting something stuck and throwing up.  I learned how to "eat around" my surgery.....eating softer foods.....carbs......and drinking with my meals.   For a while it was okay....but then the weight loss stopped......and then the pounds started creeping back on....and of course by this time I'm caught up in the whole "carb addiction" again.  I basically just gave up.   Now I find myself nearly 300 pounds again.  I had gone from 414 down to 250.  I came here today....well, I really don't know why I came here today.....I just found myself back here and I'm glad that I did.   I'm so sorry for all that you have gone through, but reading your story was really helpful for me.  At least I know I'm not alone, plus by reading your post, and the replies you received, I have learned about the 5 day pouch test.....I searched it out, found the website and am going to impliment it starting tomorrow.    I truly thought I was doomed and that I had "broken" the tool the surgery had given me.  I have hope now that I can turn things around and start losing again and this time actually reach my goal.   I wish you all the best.  Thank you so very much for sharing your story.   ~Vickie

Hi, Faith and thanks for posting your story.  I'm glad you have grabbed this bull by the proverbial horns and are working on getting yourself healthy again.  It's very easy to go off track, and it can be a real challenge to get back on it, but I'm sure you can do it.   I've got lingering concerns about how I'll handle it when my life falls apart.  Because stressful things happen; that's part of living.  And in the past, I've always turned to food for comfort.  I've actually talked to several of my closest friends about my fears, and have asked them to intervene if they see me heading down an unhealthy path again.  These are people that know me well, and that I trust completely.  And I hope that when the time comes, I will respond to their intervention and be able to learn new ways to cope with serious stress.   Good luck on your continuing journey, and on finding your way again -  Kellie