3 years post op: 4/19/05, Regain +40 HELP w/meal planning!!!

Hey OH Grads!
I knew the weight was creeping back up but for some reason I just didn't want to do anything about it.  Size 10, Size 12, Size 14... OH NO.. Size 14W pants????!!!! Call it lifestyle changes (and not all the good ones), falling in love again (ok thats a good one), not exercising, getting lazy, not taking my vitamins, eating sugary stuff, smoking.....!!! (insane - stopped after years and started again) drinking and eating at same time.  I broke all the rules.  I was chicken to go back even at my 2yr visit and skipped it all together.

Man oh man.  Well I guess I should find it a blessing that my body is giving me a medical wake up call. All of the sudden it seems I've developed slightly high BP, episodes of reactive hypoglycemia, and of course the +40 weight gain.My lowest post op weight was 170. I thought for sure I was going to go all the way and get to 140 but somewhere gave up... at least temporarily.  Today I am back up to 210.  OVER 200!!! OY VEY!

This past weekend I had an episode that scared the crapola out of me this week after eating a couple bagels and then some other simple sugars during dinner.  About 3 hours later I felt like I was going to pass out.  This has happened several times over the last few months. It is not a dumping reaction but a true hypoglycemic reaction. My boyfriend's father is diabetic so I decided to test my blood sugar. Something I have never done and it was at a scary 56.  My BP was 160/98 during the episode.  I drank some sweetened ice tea (all that was available at the time) and started to feel a little better.  I hear its better to do milk and crackers next time that happens.


The Game Plan
Yesterday, on my 37th birthday, and just a few weeks away from my 3 yr anniversary I made a few doctors appointments.  I had one already for a uterine biopsy with my OB/GYN.  I really think part of my issues are major fluctuations with my hormones too. I end up craving carbs like crazy. Both could be serious medical challenges right now. I also have to fight a family hx of uterine and cervical cancer plus high BP and diabeties. 


If I am ok my ob/gyn is considering starting me on clomid to regulate my cycle and get me ovulating.  I wouldn't mind getting pregnant. That would be a nice bonus but I think need to take care of the other issues first.  Any thoughts on this? I'm afraid of the weight gain with clomid but I'm also afraid of not addresing these hormonal imbalances and not ovulating.   Seeing my PCP at 3pm today for a referral back to my gastric bypass surgeon, to ask for a glucose fasting, and to get my standard nutritional labs to see if I need to take iron or have any other defeciencies too.  Appt with gastric bypass surgeon on April 16th.  


I know diet and exercise will be the key to getting things back in balance. I've made the resolution to go cold turkey with the smoking by the 30th.  I usually only smoke 3-4 cigs a day. I started back to tracking on fitday, I'm going to exercise when I get home from work today and on most days,  I am eliminating most if not all the refined sugars/simple carbs, back to higher protein, back to consistenly taking my vitamins.  I know what I need to do for the most part. Going to go for the Big Bang Lifestyle change approach and try doing it all at once - no more smoking, eating healthy, taking all my vitamins, getting medical supervision, tracking food.


I'm here because I'm wondering about the best action for meal planning in this situation.
Should I go back to a very low calorie post op phase one diet? Do I stick with 3 meals and 2 snacks?  Is there any other structured plans that have worked for people getting on track? Should I add back in protein shakes? Has anyone used weight loss medications after a regain to jump start you back on track?  I will talk to my surgeon but would also like to hear suggestions from others that regained at the 3yr or greater post op mark and what worked or didn't work to take off the weight again.  If you do have a meal plan and willing to share it please send to me or post!!


Thanks!
xoxoxox,
Stacy

hi stacy, i hear ya sista - a big oy vey for me too!   i'm 4+ years out and have put on 48lbs!  it all happened last year - after breast lift and then 6 months later a tummy tuck!  i am f**king up big time and have felt sorry for myself long enough.  i have a friend out in cali whose doctor does a stomacphyx procedure or even install a lap-band - but my husband says enough is enough - i have 8 years on you and he's tired of me not doing this on my own.  not to make him sound mean or anything - but i do tend to feel sorry for myself and then the same cyclical crap happens - i eat, feel sorry for myself, i eat, feel sorry for myself, and so on and so on until nearly 50lbs "crept" back on - all allowed by me.  yesterday i joined jenny craig.  i am just mortified over the weight gain - and i'm mortified that when i was convalescing from the 2 PSs that i wasn't excited to look better - that i lost my gratitude big time - and fell right back into the same old horrible habits that got me over 330lbs!  i too have huge family history of coronary and diabetes disease - that was my main motivation to have WLS 4 years ago - but i lost that damned gratitude - the hoots and hollars quieted down - the accolades quieted down and i left all my self-esteem, self-respect and confidence in the hands of family and friends - once again - all control out of my hands and into others!   i'm sick of it.  so i'm going to give jenny craig a chance - and see how it goes.  please write me directly at suebu****@aol.com to continue this conversation if you'd like.  as far as smoking goes, i am sending out BIG prayers that on the 30th it's all over with.  In june i will be 10 years no smoking and i'm sorry but even WLS doesn't come close to the non-smoking accomplishment.   so get that monkey off your back - you sound like a strong girl - and take it from there!  write back soon -  susan

Thanks so much for the response Jersey Girl!!   I grew up in Monmouth County!  Lincroft, Eatontown/Tinton Falls, and then Wayside/Ocean Twsp.  My cousins are your neighbors. Left to go to undergrad and grad school in Boston.  Most of my family has moved to Chicago now, Back to the subject though!  Sorry to hear you are in the same boat.  I'm scared as hell right now.  I'm hoping that will help keep me motivated.  I want to live a long healthy  life.  I'm in the process of saving up for a new home.  I'll probably get remarried again in the next couple years.  I have so much to look forward to and so do you!    I guess I just need to remind myself of all those things and find other ways to deal with the stress in my life - like exercise, writing again, reaching out to others.  LOTS of stress the last year!  Just need to take it one day at a time and not get too overwhelmed right now. My email too.. [email protected] Good Luck on Jenny. I've done that program a few times too. I considered weigh****chers also. I just need some structure and accountability.  I'm thinking more along the lines of something that has some decent medical supervision with my primary.  Maybe he will be willing to see me once a month for a few months until I get back on track. That along with whatever my gastric bypass surgeon suggests. xoxox, Stacy

I just had my three year anniversary.  I had a 10 pound gain last year and that got me on track.  I have since lost it and have had little trouble maintaining at this point with South Beach.  With my knowledge of South Beach and the trouble you are having with your BP and Blood Sugar it may be a good direction for you to explore.  I am glad you are turning to medical supervision though.  You can do this and I am sure you will be back on track soon I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and glad you are here for support...you have mine...Blessings as the journey continues.

Thanks Matilda.  I had thought about south beach. I use there bars occasionally as supplements for breakfast in the am once in a while and I have read the book.  I was on it for a bit prior to my gastric bypass.   I'm really looking for like a sample couple weeks and how to break out the meals with calorie levels.  Something that helped kick start a person back on track.  So great that you figured it out after a 10 lbs gain.  I wish so much I would have done this sooner.  Well better late than never.  Thanks for the blessings. Happy 3 year =)

Good Morning Susan, I did the same thing with getting off track.  I had a 30 pound regain and on January 11th I decided to take control and go back to the basics.  I try and check in on most days on the Accountability thread and the Move to Lose thread here on the grads board.  Come join us. Dana

Good morning Stacy,   I did the same thing with getting off track.  I had a 30 pound regain and on January 11th I decided to take control and go back to the basics.  I try and check in on most days on the Accountability thread and the Move to Lose thread here on the grads board.  Come join us. Dana

Stacy ~ I have also gained weight.  I'm about 8.5 years out from an open RnY.  I had gained about 25-30 pounds, then got pregant and I don't know how much I gained because I asked my group to never tell me my weight unless there was an issue. Guess there wasn't because it was never brought up. I am now about 10 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.  That means I'm roughly 40 pounds higher than my lowest post op weight. To get things jump started I did the 5 Day Pouch Test.  Have you heard about this or tried it?  www.5daypouchtest.com.  Check it out, even if you don't do it, there are some great recipes on the site that may help with your meal planning.  Stick around here and you should do well.  There's a lot of encouragment on this board. 

That is exactly what I was looking for to get started. Sent an email to the nutritionist that works with my WLS surgeon.  I'm going to start on this tomorrow and see how it goes.  Can't do fish as I am allergic but eggs will work for day 3.

Stacey, We have the same surgeon.  I am dying to hear what he thinks of the 5 Day Pouch Test!  Let me know, please!  I am due back for my 2 year in May.  I have gained 10 lbs, but I actually feel a bit better where I am as opposed to that  lower weight.  I am hoping that I stay here.  I have considered the 5-Day diet when the carb monster strikes though! My very best to you!!!