almost 3 yrs out and need to lose 20 lbs- help me!

I posted this on the main RNY board but thought to post it here with the "grads" to help me out  too!

Ok, so I hit goal at 10 months out and was at 140 and very happy.  Then I got pg with baby #3 at 14 months out and gained 27 lbs during the pregnancy.   I lost all 27 lbs of baby weight in 6 days post partum (yes, that has happened with all 3 babies- this is the first post op baby though), but then had to go on some meds for PPD that made me gain all of it back in like 2 months!!!  I thankfully was only on those horrible meds that made me eat like a friggin HORSE for 2 months and then got on something that actually worked and lost some weight.  

 I had my baby last April and all the crap I had to go through ended in October, but I still have this 20 lbs I need to get rid of!!  I have gotten back  into some bad habits from when I got pg almost 2 yrs ago, like eating cookies, sweets, and the part I know is bad- eating after dinner and just before bed!  

How do I lose these extra 20 lbs??  I go between 168/170 and want to at least get back down to 150, 140 would be nice, but I'll take 150.   I am 5'3" and every 5 lbs shows so much!!  My clothes are getting tighter and it's scaring me, my jeans especially are tight.  I used to wear a size 8 and am in a size 12 right now!  

I'm also on the Lo-Estrin bcp to help with some hormonal stuff (also have the Mirena IUD in) and have gained 10 lbs in the last 2 months since I've been on it!   But I feel moody and depressed when I'm not on it and I think my hormones are still wacky from after I had my baby a year ago- not sure if it's the Mirena IUD or what.   And I don't want to go back on an anti-depressant, those are just weird for me at this point and make me feel weird- I'm not a good "pill" person besides that, hate being on pills!  Besides, if the Lo-Estrin is working, why mess with it I say!!   My dr wants me to be on it for another 3 months, but I know it's also another reason I'm hungry a lot and snack more during the day than I normally do or should do.   But it's either be on the Lo-Estrin or have a depressed mood, I pick the pill!!  lol

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!! 

If you're reading back through some recent posts you'll see that there are a number of us in the very same boat. I'm trying to follow my surgeons advice and go to a low card style of eating. He suggests making this my forever lifestyle. I'm posting a link to a group that you may be interested in here on OH.
I need to add that I'm also going this route because I've realized that I can't handle the carbs. Some people can but I have become a cookie, chip & dessert inhaler. (I don't even slow down to chew on them). Gotta get a handle on my eating and soon.

Good Luck!!


Interested in low-carb nutrition?  Thinking of trying Atkins? Want to try high-fat and/or high-protein eating?  Whether or not you have had (or are thinking about) WLS -- New group starting at:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/atkins/ 

1st of all--don't stress!  You are catching it early enough to nip it.  You've had a lot going on and are probably just now to a point where you can catch your breath and make your health a priority again.

Like the PP, low carb is the way to go--but you already know that.  When you are hungry, snack on things that are good for you and high in protein....Greek yogurt, baked chicken, a few nuts, etc.  Don't try to fight hunger....eat 6 small meals a day, and when you feel real hunger in between, select good things to curb it.....if you try to fight it or ignore it, you'll just overeat at the next meal.

Also, you must incorporate regular exercise (work up to 5x a week) cardio and weight training.  This really is the key to permanent weight control.

I wish you the best--you can do this!!

Kim

O honey... do  not to stress you out ... but 20 lbs reagain from the lowest weigth is king of common. I have not cahnge may eating habits... except for wine drinking. I used to not drink at all and now I drink 1-2 glasses of wine a night (give or take some).  I think that is what casued mywight gain. But my doc taljd me it is "normal". 
So I am taking back my life...
No drinking and going all low carb... hope that would help.
I do believe hormones play a big role in losing -gaining weight.  BC - are responsible for gain and low libido.
I have my doc adjust my progesterone and my tetosterone.... Hope that will help me...
Also - please make sure your thyroids arw OK.  When my T3 is low - (even with TSH and T4 normal - I gain weight just looking at food).

I am right there with you Christie except I don't have pregancy or PPD to blame. I put 31 lbs back in within the past 5 months. I am so mad at myself! I worked SO hard ...working out 5-6 times a week, ate a balanced diet etc, etc,etc. This Winter was SO bad-I never had the Winter blues like this before, not to mention I injured my knee several months ago so running has been out of the question ( I was up to 7 miles). I felt sorry for myself and turned to sugar/carbs for comfort. Unfortunately I'm one of those people that NEVER got sick and could eat candy/chocolate until the cows came home. It been 3+ years since my RNY but already I started to forget how good it felt to get down to 185.  I never DID make it to my goal weight of 165 but 185 was a great weight for me AND I got down to my goal of an 8/10. A year ago November I had a tummy tuck to complete my journey and thought "Great this will knock a little weight off me". Unfortunately, I GAINED weight after that and am still unable to do alot of exercises (especially abdominal)..still have numbness and uncomfortable pressure there. Anyhow, I guess I'm back to the boards because I want to remember I'm not alone and that there ARE people who can empathize with me. I am on day three of Nutri System. Basically I'm just going to do it for a couple months to get back into a regamin and to be more mindful of my portion sizes. We can do this together... we will DO this!

All of this is actually reassuring to read because I am experiencing similar difficulties. No pregnancy or hormone issues, and I haven't really gained much weight back but I see myself going in that direction and it really scares me. I'm only a year and a half post op, had lost 90 pounds and did get down to my goal of 150 pounds but have really gotten lazy in the past 8 months. I've stopped exercising and some of my old eating habits crept back into my lifestyle...the worst are, eating sweets like cookies and ice cream and lots of salty, snacky carbs, and eating late before bed! I've only put on 5 pounds in the last several months so I want to stop this behavior and get things in order and regain control. I'd love to lose about 15 pounds to get down to 140, I think that would be a good weight for me (I'm 5'4"). I know what I need to do I just have to DO IT! Its all laziness with me. I'm just relieved that other people are experienceing this and that I've not gained a ton of weight back.

Try not to beat yourself up about this or be too hard on yourself. We just need to get control and try harder. We all have the knowledge now we just have to put it to use. I need to start taking my own advice! :)

yeah I think the low carb option for a month (or at least for 2 weeks) should get me back on track!! It's these stupid sugary snacks that are killing me and snacking! I think if I'm able to go off this bcp (Lo-Estrin), it might make my hungriness go away for the most part. I remember eating a lot less at meals and not snacking as much before I went on it. Just have to do other things in the mean time to lose weight until I get off it. Thanks everyone, glad to know I'm not alone!!!

My local YMCA ran an "Idle Ironman" promotion in which you had 30 days to do an ironman triathalon (run 26, swim 3, bike 112 miles).

Long story short, find some excercise like Couch to 5K, a local triathalon, etc.