I'm gaining it back....please help me!

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

Janine, thanks for posting this.  I'm doing ok right now weight wise but definitely have to deal with food and the mental part of WLS now.  It's great to see someone 6  years out still working her tool and making it happen!

You look fantastic!

I love that old OA saying..."It works when you work it!"

Thank you and yes at 6 years + it still works and I plan to keep on working it until I die! It took one huge slip up to make me realize how fortunate I was to have this tool!

You look awesome too!

Here is that 5 day pouch test link:

 

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

Hi,

I am 7 years going on 8 this next April. Wow, had not thought it had been that long. Basically, I have gone through what you are going through.

I started the small regain about 2 years out.  I went from 267 to 147 (for like 3 days!) and started to gain back 1 to 2 pounds at a time. Some of the weight gain was too much food that I could eat again, but honestly it was my mind. There used to be a saying on here we used to tell each other way back when, "The surgeon operates on your body, not your mind". 

Not going to go throughmy whole ordeal but will tell you a quick version of my past 7 years to get to where I am. Marriage+family deaths+move out of country+had a baby+marriage gone bad+move back to States left me weightin in at 197 or this time last year.

My ex kept telling me that I will never reach goal and just accept where I was. I refused and was so depressed and really, had too much going on (now that I look back) to get it together to even do the 5 day pouch test. I kept trying but I had no support (and was not even in the US which made it really hard for me) so I beat myself up telling me that I had this surgery and look at me, still fat with no other solution.

I left him late summer and moved me and my daughter with my sister. I don't think I slept or ate for days. Not something I recommend but it did do something to my pouch.  I lost fast weight and it shrank and reset the dump o meter. I was thrilled.

So here I am a day after Thanksgiving, still struggling with the divorce but now I weigh in at 167! He on the other hand (he also had rny but really learned how to out eat it, I was learning right along with him) has continued to gain and is not happy about my weightloss.

The moral of the story?

You only have yourself, your body and your life. Do whatever you have to do to take it back. We are not weak because he had this surgery nor are we weak because we found a few pounds we thought we had lost. NO we are not, we are strong and took charge of ourselves, and made the hard choice to have our surgeries. 

You can get back on track but it is damn hard. We got fat for a reason. Hug yourself and know that without the surgery, you probably would have gained alot more back. Like someone said, start one hour at a time if that is all you can do.   I have studied my think friends, relatives etc... Guess what, they are always watching what they eat, and drop candy or whatever they need to drop to loose those 5 pounds. I was shocked to learn that they actually had to work for it too. They are not all think just by nature, sure part of it is genes but lifestyle can kill any advantage someone may have in the gene pool. We need to accept this truth. The sugery gave us a great 1 to 2 years of easy weight loss, not it is up to us. On the  positive, one you get on, you will lose it much faster than a normal person. Our tool does bounce back, give it a chance.

I wish you much luck and love. You can do this. I have been there. One positive thing I must tell you is that I look far better now at this weight than the first time I got down to this weight. I think it is because we loose it slowly now, our bodies adjust and we don't get that gaunt look. 

Oh I used to say that I just would be happy at 175 (I am 5'5) but when I got there, I just kept loosing. Now I am targeting 150. I finally believe I can do it.
Claudia

This morning, I got up and fed my dogs and got ready for a walk!  I decided to put the foot to the test and guess what!!!  I walked 1 1/2 miles (which is not far) and made it back home without any problems!  It was cold outside and felt so good and free to be out doing this for myself while the neighborhood was sleeping!  I came back home.....made the black bean soup......put it in the blender.........stored it in the fridge........made me a protein shake.........and now I am set to go for the rest of the day!  Tomorrow will be day 3 of the pouch test!  I am so excited FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME!  Today........it's all about me!  HAHAHAHA!!!  Thanks everybody!  Yall have helped me so much!

Good for you!  I am in your boat.  I will be 8 yrs out in January.  I started at 250 lost "only" to 170.  I had a hysterectomy 4 yrs ago and have gained back to 220.  I am trying to get back on track, my dr has suggested a revision but my ins doesn't cover it and I don't really want to do that again. 

I just found out I have to have my GB out and also a hernia repaired on Dec. 17, I have managed 3 days of the pouch test.  It is so good to hear that I'm not the only one and also that there are people like us that have been successful.

Good luck to you, we will take this walk together!

Jenny

i'm sitting on the couch wiping away tears -  i feel like a river of anger and disappointment is coming out of my eyes.  i will be 5 years in february and this is the first in a long time that i have even gone on the site - i don't feel like a WLS patient - i just feel like a big fat loser.  I was doing so well - and after 2 plastic surgeries - more things i should be ashamed of - that i've probably gained about 50 - maybe more of 150lb weight loss - and there i didn't even reach goal (though i think i looked great).  i have a closet full of size 10 and 12s and now my 16s barely fit me.  the only thing going for me is that my boobs are sitting high and my stomach is flat - but i have a super unbelievable muffin top and my fat butt is back and i just feel like i want to die (i'm not going to do anything so don't worry).  but the level of disappointment is sometime suffocating.  the same old mind set has settled in and it's VERY difficult to remember how healthy and good i was.  it was only 2 years ago - i just can't believe (like many of you) that i would EVER again have to go through these horrific feelings ever again.   BUT after reading and seeing that there are others like me out there who are AMAZING with their kindness, support and suggestions - i think i'm going to give it another go.  Good lord - i can't believe this has happened to me - but I have to try it again - i just can't believe that the pouch can shrink again - that i haven't commited irreparable damage to my stoma and pouch that it can possibly get "fixed."  man oh man this sucks - why couldn't i keep with me all that wonderfulness and never let anything or anyone make me forget and stay in control of my own life.?!?  anyway - thanks again everyone and i wish for you what i wish for myself!

Hi Vicki-I am 2 years out.  I never have dumped or felt fullness.  I lost 110 lbs before surgery.  I tried to have surgery but at 165 was too small.  I just let go for a while and I was back to 195 and had surgery.  I lost 30 lbs again quickly, had foot surgery too.  At 1 year I weighed 186 lbs.  I had the restore procedure and lost back to 160.  I have now given up on the RNY and follow my plan B which is a regular 6 meal a day diet.  I eat around 1600 calories and still tolerate all foods.  I am empty and hungry often but just wait until the next meal which is never too far off.  I am never going to be skinny but at least I am not morbidly obese anymore. If you click on my name it will take you to the "my story" page where I listed my diet (nothing fancy but it works). good luck Daisy

Daisy,
I am feeling so much better today!  I feel like I have regained some of my previous self control and I think I just needed some motivation and found it here on the board!  I feel so fortunate to have found the friends here who sent their comments my way and encouraged me.  I will begin day 4 of my pouch test tomorrow.  I have been drinking 80 ounces of water a day.  I drink 4 of those Sams water bottles.  It's very easy to drink that much if you drink 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon/night.  I remember easily drinking that much Diet Coke and fizzing my stomach!  I think the Diet Coke is the DEVIL that got me back in the gaining lane!  I am walking again.....foot still hurts, but not like I thought it would.  I am sore all over today like an old woman!  That just showed me how out of shape I had become!!  I baked some talapia tonight with lemon juice/Ragu and it was delicious and fulfilling.  I ate a jello cup during Boston Legal and am about to go to bed and don't even want anything to eat!  I had begun hitting the fridge at night before going to bed.........just like I did before I crossed to the other side!  I am human........I really took it all for granted.  I thought it was simple.......it's not.  It will be a struggle for the rest of my life.  I have to accept that and face the fact I will fight food for the rest of my life if I continue to let it win even the smallest battle!  This past Thursday night, I wrote my first comment/plea for help.  People wrote me and shared thoughts/ideas/suggestions/experiences with me and helped me so much.  This forum holds me accountable.  I just have to want it badly enough to make it work.  I have to return and report my progress.  Today is nearly at an end........I only have to face tomorrow. 
I wish you luck with your plan B routine.  I guess we all have to find what works for us.  I am so thankful for the 5 day pouch test!   Keep up the good work and best of luck to you.
Vicki