New Start

 Here we go again!  Its been 6 years since my gastric bypass and I am getting out of control.  My addiction is getting the best of me.  I weighed 308 when I started this journey and lost 175 pounds.  I swore to myself I would never reach 200 again and it has happened!  I would rather die than to live life like this again.  I am getting the courage to get back on track but I need support.  In the beginning this website was my salvation so I am counting on it to help me again.  So, here I go.  I am jumping off and hopefully I will fly again. 

See if you can find a local version of Food Addicts group. It really is an addiction. It's just every bit as hard to break as alcoholism or drugs..You can do the 5 day pouch reset, which is a short version of a detox..that helps some people. But please don't say you'd die rather than have to deal with this. It is hard but it's totally something you can do..Really.

You're totally welcome to come and post on the accountability thread. We all post our water, food and exercise..you can just lurk for inspiration and how to plan your day around what food you need..Protein firs****er and vitamins..that's all we're about!

My first recommendation is to journal your intake for a couple of days not changing much..and then review those lists and numbers. You'll see something that needs a change and possibly spot some trouble areas..Change a couple things, get up and move more..just do a bit to start..and you'll be started..

Good luck to you..we're here if you need us!

I started a WLS Regain Support group on Facebook, come join us there. There are quite a few people and we are all trying to get back on track!
If you'd like to come join us just type "WLS Regain Support" up in the search bar and send a request to join the group. Hope to see you there!

 Well -   you aren't the only person to struggle with regain... or to have to battle the constant barrage of food triggers we face in the American culture.    So - the people on the board will  be fighting along side of you.   

Sometimes I get great tips that provide new motivation, tools or techniques.   Some times I have a tip or suggest to share with someone else.    I hope you find our courage and your strength to make some positive changes... and don't spend too much time beating yourself up for where you are right now. 

So - what's your first step going to be?    Set some calorie goals?  Commit to a food plan?       Make a list of why you want to lose weight to keep you motivatied?    Identify a trigger and find a strategy to either eliminate it (such as throw all of the junk food in your cupboards away),  or handle it?    Try a new exercise class?    

The road to success starts with one step followed by another. 

Good luck - and shout out  when you need some encouragement! 

Jody 

You say your "addiction" is out of control. Do you have compulsion issues that could be taken care of with medication? I've found most post ops I hang out with have a compulsion with food or intake or something related to weight gain - which got them to the surgeon's office in the first place. Taking care of the compulsion will help with maintenance later. If you cannot stop physically eating because of OCD you won't be successful no matter how hard on yourself you are. A trip to your doc or therapist if you have one is in order. Find out if you do indeed have the compulsions that make you overeat, and regain. If medication can help you then your doctor can prescribe something. That along with talk therapy can be the difference in staying at goal weight or creeping up year after year until your weight and health problems are back where you started from. I have many friends on Luvox or other medications to help with the compulsions. If you don't get to the root of the problem it will always be there and always a struggle. They swear by the meds they take to help them. It's not such an uphill battle when you can get a little help.
Good luck to you-
Jen 10 yrs post op

 Hi There:

Please come by and see us at Back on Track Together.  Just type in the search bar and click on message board.  We are all about dealing with regain and getting back on track to lose it again.  Don't feel that you can't do it.  I had a regain of 70 lbs. and have now lost 50 lbs. in 5 1/2 months.  Hope to see you there.

I am at 5.5 years and saw a weight gain in my fourth year of 10lbs.  It's now at 22 lbs., however, I cardio and weight lift 3-4 times a week and look and feel heathy, strong, and younger than after initially losing the weight and getting down to my lowest at 152.  I'm 5'10".  

I highly recommend this book which helped me as I was finding poor choices and eating too much once again creep back into my life at times.  It helped me understand what food addiction is as it relates to me.  It's a daily struggle for me.  

http://www.amazon.com/Women-Food-God-Unexpected-Everything/dp/1416543074

I go back to basics as in the first year after surgery.  Sugar is a drug for me.  If I have some (it always makes me feel poorly and I will still have it) it ALWAYS makes me crave more.  If I overeat and get a very full feeling, this triggers all of my poor self esteem and failure feelings.  One meal at a time.  One bite at a time.

Hugs.
Tracy

Heaviest:  284
Lost:  132
Current:  174
Goal:  165