I really need help

I had RNY bypass August 2003.  I weighed 330 at my highest and about a year after surgery I reached 160 and felt fabulous!!!  The past two years I have been slowly gaining weight...and I am now up to 220.  I've gone from a size 12 to a size 18.  I am very frustrated, exhausted, and depressed.

I have joined LA Weight Loss and Weigh****chers...but I get overwhelmed and end up dropping out.  I eat healthy foods...but I think I may be eating too often.  I walk 30-45 minutes each day, but it doesn't seem to be enough.  I also think I have been drinking too much alcohol...but wine helps me relax at night.

How do I get out of my rut before I go back to 330??????

HELP!

I know it seems tedious but you should journal your food for a while and see where you are messing up. I bet that wine does add up to too many calories but do your counts and see. It's a real eye opener. Walking is good but what about other stuff. Anything aerobic?

The previous poster had some good ideas.

Also, have you sought out a support group in your area?  Or spoken with your surgeon's nutrit? 

Maybe one of those could help you out.

Hi skylarmom,
Honey you just diagnosed your problem yourself. You are beautiful and a success, let me tell you that right up front. You will lose those extra pounds but it won't be easily. Now is the time for hard work on your part. You are not alone. Many are in the same boat you are. Now is the time to paddle or continue to gain even more weight.

You need to stop drinking that wine today. It will be for only a little while. You can make that sacrifice for yourself because right now it's a must in your daily lifestyle. I want to put a challenge on you, are you willing to take that challenge?

Don't drink the wine for at least 3 months time. Don't weigh yourself on the scale for 3 months also. Increase your exercise to one hour each day. Walking is great and lifting weights will help tone your body.

Are you drinking with your meals? If you are stop right now. That rule should never ever be broken. Are you nibbeling thoughout the day? It sounds like you are eating healthy. Don't lie to yourself now, really what are you eating? Protein first then fresh veggies/fruits? Are you staying away from the chips and crackers?

Keep posting you will get support here. Are you attending a bariatric support group?

I think I may be eating too often....  I also think I have been drinking too much alcohol

From these statements I gather you don't really know what you are eating or how much.  I saw a Dr. say the obese typcially underestimate their calorie consuption by 25% or more.

The first step is to stop guessing about what you eat but KNOW what you eat.  Write it down, every last bite, cookie and morsel.  Once you have done that, you can develop an eating plan with the right number of calories per day and eat only that many calories.  By writing things down you will know if you are over the calorie limit.

I agree with everyone else~start journaling your food on paper or at thedailyplate.com, sparkpeople or fitday~they are all great resources. If you can stop the wine or really try to limit it that will help b/c wine is pretty high in calories due to the high sugar content. I'm not sure what types of food your eating, but try to stick to the dense, high protein foods, good carbs from fruits/veggies, etc and stay away from the bad carbs. Are you still following the no drinking 30/30 before/after and during meals? You CAN do this and get back to where you're most comfortable! Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Skylarmom,

I am in a similar rut.  I got down to 172 and after I had my son went to about 180.  I was good with that.  I am 6'0 tall so 180 was fine.  However, in the past few months I have gone up to 197.  I am freaking out.  I have decided I want to lose about 15 lbs and the first thing I did was cut out my nightly glass of wine.  I have also stopped eating ANYTHING after dinner.  I don't need it, I am not hungry, no reason for it.  So far (it has only been a week and 1/2) I haven't lost, but I am starting to feel my pouch being restricted earlier during my meals.  I know I have a tool and I just need to effectively use it.  I have also started journaling my food. 

Hang in there and you can do it! 

Hugs!

Thanks for posting this and sharing.  I too am struggling with this.  I was 230 before surgery (2004)- dropped down to 123 at my lowest, last November (2007) but gained about 8-10 lbs through the holidays getting into the 128 - 133 range - (went on a cruise).  I looked at pictures of myself at 123 and decided that I liked my appearance better at 128 - 133 range - looking at my face, etc.  (My previous low weight in adulthood was 136 back in high school - so I do think 123 might have been a tad under).

Well, here I am today weighing in more around 138 and my clothes are tight, mostly pants.  I've been wearing a size 6 jeans, but now they are getting tight.  Plus I can feel my thighs touching - this has always been my problem area.  It's time to do something serious about this weight gain.  That's 15 lbs in the past 18 months - not cool - no more fooling myself.  It is scarey though because weight loss is VERY difficult for me - exceptionally slow metabolism.  It is bringing my mood down too, feeling the tight clothes reminds where I spent most of my life - fighting fat.  I saw a picture of myself from last weekend and was surprised to still see "skinny me" - since I've been feeling like my old fat self. 

All this to say - "I'm In"  - beginning today I will journal eveything I eat to make myself more aware of the foods I'm putting in.  I'm good about following the no drinking rule 30/30.  Exercise - I will do an hour at least 4x a week and post my progress.  Goal is to get between 125 and 128 on a regular basis and feel my clothes losen up.  I refuse to buy new bigger clothes.

Thanks for the support!!!

Valerie