Need help 5 1/2 years out and 40 pounds up!

I went for my follow up today.  I am 5 1/2 years out and 40 pounds up.  I am so so upset with myself.  I am freaking out.  I had Dr. Valin in CT.  If anyone had him do you remember what the diet was that we had to follow before surgery that was just protein and chicken broth?
Has anyone gained weight and was able to take it off again?  I need and desperately need to start something to follow that will help shrink my stomach down again and get off carbs.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you so very much for listeninng. 

A return to a liquid diet may give you fast loss, but as soon as you get back on solid foods, it'll stop-- you'll basically mostly lose water weight. Instead, try eating "on plan", consistently and for life. The on-again off-again nature of dieting really won't help you. Do you log your intake? Do you know what you actually get in a day?

"Get off carbs" means what? Your body needs carbs for proper function. No one macronutient is "the enemy."  Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are all carbs and are great as part of a balanced diet-- as much as 40% of your post op nutrition...and a source for the fiber you need to keep your system running.

Instead of going from feast to famine, slide back into smart moderation. It'll serve you better long term, I think.

Jupiter....you give great advice.thanks .Brenda in TX ...

Thank you you are right.  Quick fixes don't get me anywhere fast.  I have to stop making food the enemy and stop the emotional eating.  Food should be for survival and that is it.

Ok, I copied and pasted some of this from a response I made to a post down below,but the advice is pretty  much the same:

I find if I follow the good old rules I can still lose~meaning push protein first, allow for good carbs from whole grains, multi grains, fruits/veggies, etc. Dont drink w/meals, allow the 30/30 before/after meals, but yet get in at least 64oz (hopefully  more) liquids during the day and exercie most days of the week. Its not always easy, but it needs to be a lifestyle change~not a diet. I'm not always successful, but I strive to do my best on most days! If you're doing bad carbs from cookies, crackers, breads, etc then I would try to detox from them and stick to the good ones~that will help with the hunger throughout the day. Try to fill up on good dense protein like chicken breast to carry you longer. I also do 5-6 mini meals daily to keep my blood sugars level so that I don't get as hungry. And remember, you're talking 40lbs, not 100's so its doable~you CAN do this!!!! Seek out support groups, come here to OH, log your food if that helps~Good Luck to You!

Hi Jojo,
Yes, his diet he put us on was just protein.  And only 4 oz. at a meal.  Remember?  We had to get our bodies into ketosis and his nurse checked to make sure we were.
You could e-mail Debbie and she'll email you back with help.  She is very nice.  I email her and she always answers right away.
good luck.
Koukla

Hi there, saw your post today and boy can I relate.  I've been 'working' on getting back on track for 6 months.  It's been worse lately.  I don't get it at all.  Do I want to be fat??? Well no - but why do I continue to eat the things I do?  I am also 5 1/2 years out and up 20 lbs.  I hadn't gained anything until about a year ago.
We all know we should push protein first.  Some of the people on this board are over the top supportive, knowledgeable and nice.  Others are condescending, self righteous and annoying.  It's obvious they don't think a regain will ever happen to them.  Well just wait honey, it's coming when you least expect it. 

I think I started to stray initially because I was bored with what I was eating.  I don't like to cook so that doesn't help.   I'm sick of chicken.  I don't care how it's fixed I just can't hardly look at chicken.  I swear I cluck in my sleep!

Yes, this is a lifestyle change, but - along with that lifestyle change is the need to get the additional weight off.  That spells diet.  Dieting is eating specific foods at certain times and certain amounts.  It's watching carefully what goes in your mouth.  It requires us to making a conscious effort every day all day and to just keep going and starting over when necessary.

I sure don't have any answers but I'm willing to be a 'buddy' and communicate with you.  Sometimes it just helps to say it out loud.

Thank you all for your great posts.  Just saw them today.......I appreciate the support and all the great advice.  I need to get back to the basics and start fresh again.  I spent too much time and effort to lose the weight to have it all come back.  No I don't want to be fat again and feel those same emotional pains....

thank you again......you all have made great suggestions and your encouragement and support mean the world to me.......please keep in touch......

1ST I would like to say congratulations on 5.5 years!!!  Second, and please dont think I am being snitty i am just lloking for the facts.  Did you not know you were up 40 pounds? The main reason I ask is because I am still amazed at how many people dont weight themselves on any type of a regular schedule. I think that makes it much easier for the pounds to creep on.  I decided when I had my RNY that I would always know what I weighed every single day that way i could deal with a 1-2 pound gain before it became 5, 10 or +. 

I must commend you to getting help!!!  being aware is the most important thing in my opinion.  Our Tools do work if we just chose to use them.  Fighting carbs and Sugars (for me) is the hardets part of the journey. Take it hour by hour then 1/2 day by 1/2 day until  its daily then on.   I am happy if I go one hour without sugar!!!  for me thats a victory.  Dont feel like you failed if you cose to eat poorly for one time and done let that be an excuse to binge all day.

Keep getting support-  I couldnt live without this site!!

Good luck
Diana
RNY 9/17/03
360/189/forever aiming at 180

Hi Jojo,

I am 6 years out on Nov. 11th. 2 years ago I watched myself gain 32 pounds. I freaked in my head, then became complacent and told myself I didn't care. I didn't diet, but I did weigh myself every week to make sure that I hadn't gained more weight.

My first instinct was that I needed a revision. I was broken, my surgery was broken. Went and had all the tests done, but in the end, insurance wouldn't cover the surgery. Blessing in disguise I suspect, since I almost died having my wls 6 years ago and 3 years later, my body took 2 years and 4 more surgeries to heal from a tummy tuck. My body just doesn't like being messed with surgically.

From February of this year 2008, and my highest post-op weight, I have lost 26 pounds. How? Cutting down and choosing heathlier food options. If I messed up and ate something like candy, I made my next meal healthy. I didn't exercise and I still ate bad things, but I was super aware of where my weight was any given week. If I put on a few pounds, I cut back a bit the following week.

3 weeks ago, I started exercising. Walking, it's free and it's available no matter where you are. I figure if I don't use the free exercise options to my benefit, paying for a gym membership would just lighten my pocketbook.  I hate exercise and walk is a 4 letter word in my dictionary. Hike, swim, dance, whatever, as long as it's free and fun - there is no magic button to make the pounds slide off like wls was at the very begining, wish there was and it doesn't keep me from looking.

I've been learning, and it only took me 6 years to discover that my body is now allergic to sugar. That the horrendous, painful gas I was having was only when I ate sugar. I am still learning that lesson and test it every few days. But I'm learning that I feel so much better when I'm off all the refined sugars and the gas I do have is miniscule and more 'normal'.

Basically, unless your staple line has broken or your stoma is the size of a lemon or larger, you still can do something to help yourself. It's hard, extremely hard to take responsibility for yourself and your choices, but the pay-off is heath, in mind and body. 

BTW, I once weighed 639 pre-wls. My highest post weight was 412 - subtract 32 pounds for my current weight.

My surgeon thinks I'm doing fabulous and that I'm a success. I am starting to realize that he's right.

G'luck with your continuing journey through life Jojo and be well and happy.

-Edessa