3 1/2 years post OP

OMG it has been so long since I have been on here, I have just read through many of the post from the past few days and see that I am not alone in my struggle to maintain my loss.  I did great I started at 262 and got down to 155 which for me is a great weight (I did loose about another 20 when I got septic after plastics, but I put it back on when I got well)  My life has taken a milion different directions since WLS I have done some things I am not proud of and lots of things I am proud of.  In December of 07 I moved from my home in Texas, I had lived  there all my life and had been at my job for 22yrs, my husband had accepted a job in MO a year before and after a lot of prayer and contemplation I decided to leave my two grown children, my job, and home and move to MO to be with him.  I know this is where I am supposed to be, within a few weeks of moving here I found a job I love..  Anyhow moving has had its ups and downs, I had to get my son settled as well as myself, in the process I have gained 9lbs, I am up to 164lb and boy can I feel it in my clothes.  I have never been much of an exerciser but I since surgery I 'did more' like stay up later, walk more at the mall, clean house better...etc.  My  job is a bit sedentary and it is about a 45min drive ea way so I spend a good deal of time sitting, I do use the stairs and walk a good distance to lunch each day.  My eating habits suck..I seem to be hungry all the time my portion size is still pretty small but I only stay full for about an hour and then I am hungry again.  I can eat  just about anything that is junk food, seems like solid protiens still cause discomfort, when I do eat protien it is tuna salad or chicken salad or diced chicken in cottage cheese but it has to be moist......I have a terrible sweet tooth and love coffee and diet dr pepper, ...it was so easy for so long to have bad habits and not see the consequences.  Sometimes I feel like I only eat junk, or snacks all day like cheese crackers a granola bar, etc..and never really eat a healthy meal.  I know that I need to exercise, I have asked my husband (who has always been skinny ) to please help me each night by not letting me off the hook of going out to walk.  But what about the hunger and the bad food...I have read that some of you are doing the 5dpt..can someone tell what exactly it is, from what I could tell you do liquids only at first...were  you hungry???? I need to get loose these 9lbs and get back to eating mainly protien  I will continue to come here it was very soothing to sit here and read all the posts and be inspired by seeing some old familiar faces and see that you are still doing good and still dedicated to being healthy. Blessings,  Melissa

Hi Melissa,  You sound just like me.  I haven't been on OH for ages.  I had my surgery 2 years ago and am now starting to feel hungry and the weight is creeping on.  Oh my goodness.  I thought I could get away with all those snacks...Like you junk food is easy...protein food a bit harder to get down.  I have decided today I have to get back on track and focus. My plan: 1.  Drink water 2.  Don't drink within half an hour of food 3.  Concentrate on eating my protein first 4.  Get rid of junk food from house 5.  Look at my portion size of food...go back to small plate 6.  Have snacks that are protein rich 7.  Go for a walk (don't want to try to burn myself out with exercise that I can't maintain) 8.  Gain support from OH grads good luck Melissa. Princess kath from Australia

Hi there Kath, I am starting over again I am going to do the 5dpt and see how that works for me. Thanks for sharing with me. Good luck to you! Blessings

Im 2 and a half years out also, and had a lot of the same problems with food that  you are experiencing. I gained 11 pounds and panicked! So I did the 5DPT, and it really helped me get back on track. I am losing again, and my cravings are all gone. Ive started drinking more water and upped my protein, and I post daily in the accountability post here on the grads forum. It feels good to be back in control. If you want to know more about the pouch test,,heres the link, www.5daypouchtest.com Good luck! Betsy

Betsy, thanks for the works of encouragement....I am going to do the 5dpt. Blessings, Melissa

Melissa, I remember you, it has been a long time.  Here is the link to the 5 day pouch test www.5daypouchtest.com.  I've done it several times (this is x3) and feel much more in control when I decide to regroup and gain control. We all know the struggles of longer-term post ops, I wi**** was as easy as the first year.  9 lbs isn't significant and can easily be controlled.  I had an 8 lb regain and the first time I did the pouch test, lost 5 lbs and with the new restriction I felt was able to pull off the rest. Come to the boards often for inspiration and support, we definitely need each other to continue this journey of WLS. Good luck!

Hi Dana, it has been a long time, your picture is so pretty.  I see you no longer live in Texas either.  When did you move?  thanks for the website I am going to start it.  I have been much better yesterday and today, sticking to protien and I can already tell the difference.  I am glad you said hello, and I will keep on coming back!! Blessings,  Melissa

I comend you for having the strength to move and relocate for your life.  Kids are important but a point comes where you have to live your life especially when they are GROWN. now the weight, I am in the same boat as you.  I have gained at least 15 lbs in 2 years and that is why I decided to come back to this board daily and be around people who are in the same place and trying to improve. We just can't gain our weight back, we have come TOO FAR. I'm try to learn from all your my WLS Sisters on here and Please stay encouraged.

Hello,  Thanks for the relpy, moving was huge for me, but youngest son is so happy to be living both his parents and that is what counts my older two are on their own....I am going to do my best to stay focused and on track...I think the good thing is to catch it before it gets too out of control. Blessings,  Melissa