Need support

Hi.

I am back after a long absence.  140 pounds lost and 80 pounds back.  Always said I'd NEVER be one of those failures who gained weight back after all that work, but I did.
Chicken wings and beer, alot of both, got me through a difficult divorce that happened AFTER I had surgery (also very common).  I am the stereotype of a failed WLS patient.
But now I am back and want to find a sliver of my former self.  I know she is in there and I want to coax her out of that negative space and bring her back out into the light of success...

Any support would be greatly appreciated as I need to be reminded of the positives, that I kept 60 pounds off and that I was formerly successful when I used the tools that were at my disposal.  Thanks in advance for keeping me in your thoughts.

Welcome Back;

I'm sure you will have no problem finding your former lighter self.   Just get back to the basics, protein firs****er, water, water and exercise, you will do it in no time.

Joyce

Hi
trust me I know your pain and heart ache ,I also put on around 40 x lbs and when my son grad from high school & I saw a pic of me I was upset, so I set my mind I got to do something ,so that day I did not drink another soda and I do not miss them at all ,started drinking alot more water and eating smaller meals I even would make my food on a smaller plate so I would think it was alot ,mind games I know but it helped so far ,I went back to bacis and I have dropped 23 lbs so far and still got arounf 15 more to go ,so I know if you set your mind to it you can do it...look how far we all have come so far and I know I am not a failure .so as my hubby would say you can do it take your time and you can do anything you set your mind to ...good luck and keep in touch

I think it helps to remind yourself of the things you are doing right... and move forward from there.
I had my two year check up last month.  I've bounced back about 10 pounds, and the surgeon would like me to lose about 20-30 from where I am right now.    The surgeon's office has added a psychologist specific to WLS to staff, so I've had one appt with her and will follow up with more.
There are a lot of good books that gave give you insights to habits, choices, and cognitive approachs to changing your behavior (good examples are  "The Beck Diet Solution"   ;  The emotional eating toolkit" ;  "It Ain't over 'til the thin lady sings".    My current read is "The Thin Commandments".   Each of these books have offered an "aha" moment, and a strategy for effecting change - perhaps if I put enough of those changes in place - I'll cross over the tipping point to where good choices come naturally.

Journaling can help.   I'm not a big fan of tracking what I eat daily, but when I do - I get a clearer picture of what is really going on....

Planning meals can help - it limits the opportunity to be tempted.

Exercise will help -   I still have to make myself - but I always feel better afterward -so I've made a committment to keep those appointments.

So - give it some thought - let us know problem area you want to work on - and hopefully the wonderful people here can help you find some new strategies to try.     Just don't spend a lot of time feeling guilty or defeated.

Best wishes.

Jody

I like The Rules of 'Normal' Eating as well...

What kind of surgery did you have?  When did you have it? 

 Great to have you here!  This is an amazing group!
Keep checking in and try to post regularly as well.  Remember, "what gets monitored gets done."  So, if you want to focus on food, exercising, emotional health, find a way to monitor and make that your non-negotiable.  Have a buddy, buy a journal, or log in here.  You will feel better and see changes in no time!  My best, N