PLEASE READ - thoughts

I haven't posted in a whlie. Basic info 6 1/2 years post op. Initial weight: 300, got down to 180, back up to 230. Question on thoughts:

I have considered the 5 day pouch test and another regime to "get back on track". Both plans recommend the initial stages of eating right after GBS. So basically it's fluids, then soft foods, etc, etc. Then I read about another back on track program that is basically very low carb to kick your body back into ketosis and then keep your protein 70% and carbs 30%.

SO my question is for you all: Do you think it's necessary to do a 5 day pouch test or a similar "get back on track" program OR do you think I should just do a program that is very low in carbs to kick my body back into ketosis.

FACT: I have re-addicted myself to SUGAR and bad carbs. FACT: I know that I need to abstain and/or cut waaay back to get myself out of the cycle. My concern is HOW TO get back into the groove and which method would best help my situation. (Side note: I still drink with meals and I need to stop, which help with weight loss)

Thoughts, anyone???? muuah thank you

I'm going to point out the elephant in the living room because I see a lot of people coming here after a bit of weight gain.  Posting for help here IS the right thing to do but almost everyone asks the same question: "what should I eat?"

Unfortunately, "what" is a less important than "how much."  It almost seems folks want to tackle the problem of what they are eating (probably because it's easier) to solve their problems rather than address the problem of how much they are eating.  And, isn't that really the elephant in the living room?  When you look at the whole diet industry it is built on the premise that changing what you eat (low carb, good carb, South Beach, Mediterranean) will be the magic solution to weight loss.   Bzzzzt, wrong answer.

Here is my advice for weight loss:
1)  Restrict calorie intake to 800 to 1000 calories per day.  Log your food to ensure compliance
2)  Excercise 5 times per week at least 30 minutes per day.   This should be real excercise.  A stroll at your normal walking pace doesn't quite cut it.
3)  Try and get 50% of your calories from protein.
4)  Recognize your inner food addition (#1 and #3 will be hard) and recognize that humans are basically lazy (#2 will be hard).  In the end, however, there is no fate but that which you make.

Hi Mariposa,

I'm about 5 yrs post-op and maintaining @ less than my docs goal but about 10lbs (+/-3) over my personal goal...I too want those 10 pesky lbs and get back to eating & living "clean"...I think you can do it by going back to a plan that will kick you back into a "sort of" ketosis...Real sugar and "white" carbs are also TOO much a part of my current meal plan...I have used the 5 day pouch test twice in the last 2 years to get refocused...Don't get me wrong it did help to refocus but as I got further away I just started slipping back into those old habits...Thats why I think working out a modified food plan starting with super low carbs and slowing adding better carb choices is a better way to go, to me it is more like what I can do for the rest of my life, where I know I cannot do super low carb (nor do I want to) for the rest of my life...

I agree with alot of what Martin replied to you, in the end it really is about cals in cals out...I cannot speak for you, but I know my metabolish is still screwy and it is really hard to lose at this point, but I also know that if I make a reasonable plan and just STICK to it evenually I will see results...

I'm not saying what I will eat to get there, what I can say is how I plan to modify my eating habits to get it going again...

800 - 900 cals a day
35 grams of carbs a day
80+ grams of protein a day
some lowfat options ( like lowfat mayo & skim cheeses, but will also have some full fat options )
1 hour aerobic exercise 3 days a week, & 15-20 minutes of power walking the remain days

The year post op I had my whole day's foods mapped out before I left for work each morning and rarely deviated from that plan - I going to start doing that again too, less room in my mind to negotiate eating things I really don't want or need...

Good Luck, you can do it, I can too...Keep up posted...

My philosophy is alittle different and because I notice that you also say that you are re-addicted to sugar. Consider it an addiction (like any other addiction, drug, substance...anythin) and cut it out completely! Completely! The longer you stay away from sugar (or anything you are addicted to) the easier it gets and the more refined it gets.

I can have some cookies sitting on the counter and are not tempted but one particular kind of cookie sends me into the shakes...So you see, it's much easier once you define what you absolutely can NOT say no to and stay completely away from that.

If one bite has you reaching for the whole package, not because you are hungry but because "it calls to you" or "you can't say no" or "I LOVE them..." it's something you need to get RID of.

We have a lady in our support group who has defined anything that tastes awesome as something she can't eat. If it's "meh" she's good with that. I'm not to that point but I certainly understand it. Anything that you can NOT say no to after one single bite, has to go.

Just my thoughts, as you asked for.

I just send ppl here. It's easier, then you're hearing a chorus of 1000 voices all singing the same song.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

I'm in the same boat!  Lost the bulk of my weight the first 4 mos/lost job and my world fell apart.  Weight was the least of my worries.  I haven't gained anything but am flirting with disaster!  I love my sugar again and bad carbs.  I'm an addict.  I also have issues w/nightime eating.  I don't sleep well so I get up and eat 3-4 times per night.  In the middle of the night I have no will power at all.

I'm happy I found this board - hopefully I get the answers I need and the WILL power to do it!

I agree with Vitalady.  I'm on that list.  It took awhile but I got back into the swing of things myself.

FYI-I was on an antidepressant that was not helping my weight issues at all.  It helped with the depression but there were other options when I started talking to my Pdoc about my concerns.

(I am not saying that this was the case with anyone else but it is something to think about.)