5 yrs out next month!

 I should be happy at this point but I am not. I am 25 lbs over weight and so disgusted with myself! I need some expertise words to get me back on track! HELP1 I had Dr. Clough in Bangor ME who was excellent surgeon but is now retired. I just need to get my priorities straight and keep my mouth shut when it comes to the wrong foods and grazing! Several have said go back to the basics right after surgery. How do I do that? back to all soft foods and or liquids? Any suggestions? I am a manager of a food pantry outlet and also am in charge of candy and and alsso take a medicine that seems to help me crave sweets (or is it in my head?) Someone please give me some smart advice, Quick! I live 30 minute drive from a support group and gasoline is $3.20 a gallon and I am on a fixed income. Awaiiting to hear from all of you!

This is my suggestion:

Start with where you are. Journal your food( like on fitday or sparkpeople --it's free) to see what it is that is wrong with what you are eating..too many white carbs, too much sugar..it will all come out in the list..and then change something..not anything monumental, just something. More protein, better carbs, whatever.

then move more..walk more, park further from the store front..walk to the end of the block, walk around the block..

Start small and you won't get burned out..

I was 265 before WLS and then 250 on WLS day and then got down to 110! Then slowly climbed back up and haven't stopped yet! That is what is bothering me. I know it is just me. I have too much confidence and wrong frame of mind that I can eat anything and NOT gain but I do and am! So here we go again. DIETING! I realize WLS people must be DIETING or watching the right things the restof their life. I kind of got off track. But I shall gain control again, Thanks to all of you and my Lord Jesus!! I shall hold my self accountable to you all. Blessings

The only think that helps keep me on track is to keep a daily food log.  I use fitday.com but there are others as indicated.  I

Small changes are best. I agree with the other reply that says that you should start with where you are. Chart your daily food intake and get a handle on what you are doing now. You can't change anything until you know what the real trouble is.

You said your problem is "the wrong foods" and "grazing". So start with something small. What's your water intake like? I find that when I start grazing it's because I'm not drinking enough water. Try drinking more water and having a bottle of it with you all the time and when you feel like popping food in have some water. Many times when we think we're hungry we're actually thirsty.

But remember to be good to yourself. I know how frustrating it is to be 25 pounds over goal. I lost 92 pounds and then I had a baby so I had to lose the baby weight!  (I lost 40 after the baby, but still have roughly 20 to go and he's almost 3!) It's hard. You start to feel like a failure. But I try to remind myself that before I was 70 pounds heavier than I am now and that's an accomplishment!

I hope this helps,
Elizabeth

You are right also! THANKS! I am lucky to drink 1-2 16 oz of water a day. I usually have a coffee in my hands and I know that is BAD! You are also right. I do feel like a failure again. That is just so NOT true. Thanks. I have known for some time I need to get back to drinking water more and less of other stuff. SOOOOOOooooooooo Thanks. I shall start in tomorrow! Blessings and I shall keep everyone posted. Keep at me and I shall have people who care and will keep me honest and working on it and accountable!

First off, I think you are doing great to be five years out with just a 25 lb. regain.  Considering where you've been--morbidly obese (assumption based on the fact that you qualified for wls)--a 25 lb. gain isn't great news but it isn't horrible either.

In addition to returning to healthy eating habits, I'd suggest you look into the book "Beck's Diet Solution."  It is about how to change our thinking in order to change our behavior.  It doesn't address one diet over another, but how to "self-talk" yourself into sticking with whatever eating plan you chose--and for me, how to say no to sweets.

I'm also 5 years out with about a 20 lb. regain, so have started going low-carb, high protein for the last couple of weeks.  It is slow going, not like the big losses with wls, but it is coming off.  And that's what counts.  And I haven't found it to be particularly expensive either.  I figure out what my main meals are going to be based on what meat/poulty/fish is on sale and then build meals and salads around those.  And it's a lot cheaper per serving than junk food!

Good luck.

Thank you for your suggestion of the Becks Diet. I am religious but could sure use some help in learning to talk myself Out of Crazing and craving sugar and eating it. Thanks for the encouragement. I will definately take to heart all that I have gleened here so far. Thanks for all the support and suggestions! I have also gone back to the beginning as is suggested in my booklets from WLS. I appreciate you bringing up a way to afford things and still sick to a diet. It is NOT easy as I cannot afford a whole lot of fruits or even protein powders although I do like using the product UNJURY products and want to order some more next payday. I have some George Forman protein powder that I got free from th food pantry that I help out at and that is pretty good but NOT a filling as the UNJURY products. Thanks a whole lot and God Bless you in your walk as a WLS family member.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (the fancy name for what Beck writes about) has nothing in it that would conflict with anyone's religious beliefs that I know of.  We "self-talk" all the time--"since I already ate---, I might as well eat---;"  "If I don't eat---, I'll think about it all night, so I might as well give in," etc.  She just walks you through the process of thinking about your thinking and challenging your ineffective thoughts by putting your goals always front and foremost.  Whether that is "I want to succeed at this weight loss to look good" or "I want to succeed at this weight loss to bring glory to God" isn't an issue.  Having a goal and helping you stay committed to that goal is. 

I have only used one protein supplement--a bar that I could eat for breakfast--because I never found ones I liked and because I prefer to eat real food:).  But yes, they are expensive.  How are you on taking your supplements--they can be pricey as well.  It may not be something you are interested in or need, but just for your information, Bariatric Advantage does have a program to assist people who have a financial need to get their supplements.  Maybe other bariatric vitamin companies do as well.

I gained back 70 of my 160 lb loss after 5 years.  I feel your pain.  I am presently following a low carb diet (Bellyfat cure) and having some luck.  Once I get rid of the sugar, I lose the ravenous appetite.  That being said, though, I am also trying to work on the mind thing because that is how I keep gaining it back.  I have been reading a book by Marianne Williamson called "A Course in Weight Loss" and I think that is helping me stay away from the binging.  It is based on "A Couse in Miracles" so it may or may not ring true for you depending on your belief system.  I also came back on this board after being away for over 3 years.  I figure the more people I can talk to about it and the more I read, the more focused I can be on changing my psyche.  Just know that you are not alone and there is nothing wrong with you.  Also, I am a nurse and, even if the parmaceutical company's deny certain side effects, I have had patients who will argue that certain medications did, in fact, affect their appetites one way or the other.  I don't know what you are on, but maybe there is another one they can try.  Most meds are from a "family" and there are similar ones that have slight molecular differences.  It doesn't hurt to ask!  Anyway, good luck.  Use this as your support group.  I wish you well, my friend.  P.S.  try chewing gum at work???  That has to be difficult!