I need a seriuos kick in the butt!!!

I am almost 2 years post RNY. I did hit my goal of 150 lbs a year ago (91 lbs weight loss). Although I was very comfortable at 150 lbs I really wanted to get a little lower and get to 140 lbs. Well, instead of doing that I went the opposite direction and have gained 10 pounds in the last year (this morning I was 160 lbs). I know they say that a little weight gain is normal after weight loss surgery but I'm just not really happy with it. I have picked up some bad habits like snacking right before going to bed. I hardly exercise and pretty much eat whatever I want. I know what I need to do...it worked for me before right? And I know I can lose the 20 lbs I want to lose in 2-3 months, I just need to work hard and start doing something. Is setting a goal of 140 lbs too ambitious or should I listen to my body and stay between 150-160 lbs, even though I'm not comfortable there? I am a little afraid that 140 lbs might be too difficult to maintain.

I need serious motivation!!!!!!

Find a "Labor Day 5K" in your area and begin training to run it the race.

Stop obsessing about numbers, and time frames.

First of all, there are no guarantees that you could lose 20 lbs in 2-3 months.  That is extremely aggressive if not unrealistic as far out as you are AND at your current weight. 

This is about health.  Not a number on a scale or in the label of your pants.  Your body has an ideal weight, and if you push to go below it, it will take extreme fitness and DIETING to stay there.  That is no way to live. 

Get more active.  We need to workout everyday (cardio and weight training) to build muscle which will improve our metabolisms.  Journal your food and eat well, but also don't live in deprivation mode.  Deprivation=cheating=weight gain=failure. 

This is lifestyle change.  You fell back into some bad habits (which, by the way, eating before bed IS NOT always a bad thing).  Get into the good habits again, put that dang scale away for a while and it will happen naturally.  When your body stops losing, you are likely at your goal.  Then concentrate on forming your body into the best physical shape possible with good exercise.  You could be very healthy and physically fit at 160 but unhealthy with no energy at 140.  Which would you choose? 

I'll bet you'll start losing again just by moving more and being conscious of what you are putting in your mouth.

Best wishes--YOU CAN DO THIS.

Kim

Thank You Kim! You made some very valid points. I try not to obsess about numbers but at times I find myself doing it. I want to get to a place where I can finally just be happy with my body and stop obsessing about it. I weigh myself once a week but I seem to base everything on that number and what size my pants are. I know I shouldn't do that and I'm trying not to be so hard on myself because the size 8 denim shorts I have from last year are tight. I know its all about how I feel, not about how much I weigh.

I know I need to make simple changes. I just need to exercise more, and more consistently, and make better food choices. I did fall back into some bad habits, which I'm not proud of, and I know I have to break them. I love the point you made that when you stop losing you're likely at your goal. I stopped losing at 150 lbs. It was like I hit a brick wall with my weight loss...so I guess that is where my body is most comfortable. I felt good at 150 lbs. It sounds ridiculous to say this but I feel 'fat' at 160 lbs so I know I'm not where I 'should' be as far as feeling healthy goes.

Thanks for the reality check. I'm going to try to simply start living healthy! :)

You could be very healthy and physically fit at 160 but unhealthy with no energy at 140. 

Any number can be  goal, HOWEVER, I think it is important to not change the number just because of a gain.  Otherwise 150 becomes 160 becomes 180 then 200 and so on.

I think having a goal range with an absolute maximum (after which you'd like stop eating or something until in range again) is important.

You are absolutely right--a goal range.  That is what my Dr. recommended--a 10 lb range where your goal is to be somewhere in the middle...when you are trending toward the high end, make a few changes and you'll go back to the center..........

Excellent point.

I don't think we are ever reallyhappy where we are.
But - the bad habbits may really kick your butt this year... afte ryear 2 is when I gained the most weight still doing most of the good things.  Scarry.  So if you gained in year 2... that is not a good sign.  Just try to make sure that you do not gain much more. 

I have finally gotten control of my 60 lb gain, and have lost over half of it. I can actually visualize getting back to goal,which I achieved 2 years out, but have gained about 10 lbs a year since. Size 6&8, here I come!

Betsy