5 yrs out next month!

There are several very basic things you can do...do protein only for three days. Basically shakes. I know many people do not like shakes but shakes can taste great and feel like a treat if you make them the right way! I use unsweetened soy milk with my favorite protein powder, lean dessert. i add a bit of chia meal (Dr. Oz' touting as a super food for weight loss), a piece of frozen banana, powdered peanut butter and 7 ice cubes. makes a very thick decadent shake. should fill you up for a few hours. another thing that may work is to try not to eat for 3 hours...so after you have the shake, wait 3 hours...only drinking is allowed in between. stick to lower salt protein, boars head turkey, low salt cheese, etc. if you do add carbs use only the foods listed on the low glycemic index. stay away from all white flour and refined sugar so you get rid of your cravings for them. you can get support online but going to support groups is the best motivator! saying that gas is high and you are on a fixed income is just an excuse. you obviously have money for the food that caused you to gain weight! you didn't talk about exercise in your post but that is crucial. so if you go back to basics, shakes, protein and exercise, you should see the weight drop off! if that doesn't work, try south beach!

Thanks for the good pep talk!  know I need to exercise but being busy and with Osteo arthritis in legs and hips and the fact I hate exercise other than when I'm working at Food Pantry. I know, I know that is no excuse and you are right. I love Yoga and treadmill and loved going to the gym last year for which my health insurance pays for for me. I also want to go riding a bike with my friend once sprin sets in and snow leaves us here in Maine.
I really appreciate everyone who is answering my call for help and all the suggestions are GREAT! Just the fact that there is someone who has ralied to my aid and support is GREAT! The support group I had attended for WLS people ovr 1 year out was such a waste of time. Everyone there was practically at their heaviest weight again and only talked about how they shoud not do what they are doing, which was eating donuts and soda pop which I have NOT done since having had surgery! I do crave sugar and I do not exercise right now and I do CRAZE alot which is NOT GOOD either. So Thank you so much! Happy 2011.

I am sorry for your gain and know where of I speak. This past year I belonged to TOPS and was actually the president of the club. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) I finally got done as I was too embarrased as I watched others loosing and I was slowly gaining! The club is still going and growing but without me!
I will check out this "A Course in WEight Loss" I am religious and this sounds right up my ally. I agree with you in your thinking about the more people I can talk to about it the more I read, the more focused I can be on changing my thinking and take action and take charge of my life and eating habits again. My goal, to NOT let eating control me or food but that I should take control of my eating habits and exercise once agan. I am to see my Doctor this next week and plan to ask her about the anxiety meds I am on. I think it is the night time one that causes me to crave sweets. I cannot remember.Most of my weight gain has been in the past year since I started taking that medicne. Thankyou for your helpful suggestions and even though they tell us NOT to chew gum after surgery, I think you might be right, I should try that! It is difficult to have the candy under my watchful eye and also be drinking coffee (flavor kind, my FAV) and other sweets as I work with 35 other workers every other week. I used to be a size 26 then after surgery became a size 4 now I am a size 12-14 tight depending on the clothes!! I am getting to hate myself again which I know is wrong, especially since I am a counselor! Thanks and Blessings!

This is a lifestyle change and if you are not going to commit to changing your life, you will gain weight back and then make excuses as to why you cannot lose it. I am struggling every day to maintain my 80# weight loss...it's so hard but I know I have no choice. I know that food will kill and diseases will come back. I am a diabetic so sugar is taboo in my life and I know the more I eat it the more I crave it! If you have arthritis issues you can swim or work with a trainer on exercises that will not hurt you. Exercise should be fun so you have to find something you like. I like dancing and yoga. I run a support group and we always focus on positive changes. If you cannot find a support group that you like, start your own. Mine started with 5 people! Many are still coming!

Another interesting thought.  There is a lot of research being done regarding sugar and the inflammation response it creates in your body.  I gave up sugar just one week ago and my achy, sore joints are barely noticable.  I realized this the other day when I got up without using the arms of my chair.  No proof, but it seems to have happend.  Good motivation to keep on this track for me, anyway.  Going through a sugar withdrawl is difficult....  some even get physical side effects.  But once I got to the other side, I am seeing some amazing changes in how I feel.  When you feel better you have more motivation, too.

You know, I think the gum chewing thing was meant for earlier when you are post surgery.  It helps you swallow air which causes discomfort, and also there is a risk of swallowing it.  Maybe I'm wrong, but at this point, I'm not sure it is a problem.  Maybe someone else has more insight into this but that is what I was taught.  Just be careful you don't swallow it.  You could also try tic tacs or something.  Also (I know this wounds wierd) consider buying raw cinnamon sticks and chewing on these.  I used to be a smoking cessation counselor and this was a suggestion for them but some said it also deterred the from munching sweets.