Falling Back to Old Habits

Hi there, I haven't been on here in a long time and thought I should give it a shot. I had gastric bypass surgery in Aug.2009and went from 306 down to 200 in no time. I also have to say that I didn't have to really work at losing the weight, it just came off. Anyway, the problem is that I was one of the "lucky" ones or "unlucky" ones who discovered that I can still eat sweets and not be bothered by it. The problem is that over the past few months I've been eating the cookies and sweets and now weight 238 lbs. I don't want to gain the weight back but can't stop. HELP........Should I do a five day test to go back to how it was at the beginning and if so, what do I have to do?  BTW, I was very good after the surgery and have never had a problem and all my blood work is excellent.... I need support!!!!!!!

 Hi Gail!

Yes, you can still get back on track. I like the Five Day Pouch Test and occasionally go back to it. I like getting myself cleansed of carbs.  Eating carbs is a vicious cycle of craving, eating more, craving more, eating more. The 5dpt helps me break the cycle.

But even if you don't want to do that, just do this: don't drink with your meals. When I do, I see my weight go up. Have you been doing that? It's an easy fix.

Second, find some great protein-filled recipes that you'll enjoy, like white bean turkey chili or the lentil barley soup on the 5DPT site, above. I love that stuff. My sons eat both of those recipes with me and love them!

Other fantastic recipes are at Eggface's site; go check those out and find some things you can add to your life that will satisfy your cravings but won't make you get unhealthy again. Michelle is a great WLS food innovator!  

Just decide to stop buying crackers or pretzels or chips or cookies or whatever it is you're snacking on. You're in charge of that! 

Protein first, veggies second, no drinking with meals. 
My very weakest area? Exercise. I work full time and have three sons, so exercise is just about impossible. That's the one thing that I need MOST improvement with. 

My favorite sweet treat is Weigh****chers ice cream bars. The giant latte bar rocks, and the creamsicle ones are awesome, too! 

By the way, I was over 300 pounds, too, when I had surgery in 2006. I lost down to 147, but my doc said I was too thin at that poin. I do best in my 160s, and I'm trying to lose 25 lbs to get there again. 

Because I was eating too many carbs, drinking with meals, and not exercising. That's just the science of it. But we can do it! 

Me now:



Me at almost 300, but not quite my highest weight:




So worth the effort!   Keep in touch! 

Sugar is extremely addictive. JUST LIKE CRACK..See if you can find a food addicts group and get some face to face support..it really helps. I also find that a change of mind is in order for food addictions. Yeah, we all need food and have to have it to live but it's the white evil crack that we don't need..that we need to weed out..

The good news is that it is totally within your power to get sugar out of your life..And it's totally worth doing. It just takes a change of mind and a change in direction..Good luck to you.

Thanks Stephanie and Dawn, BTW I've NEVER eaten with meals nor have I returned to drinking soda, the two things that I did before surgery. That was the one thing that I stayed good at!!! Its the carbs and sugars that have gotten to me. I keep promising myself that I should stop eating that stuff and just stick with the protein but I have to stick to my promise...... I'll keep in touch and thanks for the support.

Correction...... I meant drink with meals... If I've never eaten with meals I'd be VERY SKINNY.. LOL

I was looking for the *like* button on that one!

I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who needs support after doing well for so long- I had gastric bypass surgery in 2006 and went from 274lbs to 158lbs and maintained my weight between 158 and 162 until my mother died in 2010.  When I looked up after eating whatever someone put in front of me my weight was up to 178. I recently brought the 5 day pouch test diet book and am starting on Monday. Coffee and carbs are lethal, I have started to cut down on coffee, after my WLS I had limited my coffee to a cappuccino on Friday mornings before work, now I have a cup in my hands all the time.

It isn't so much coffee cuz I drink a bunch of taht..it's the stuff that goes into it that kills me so I have to stay with splenda and plain soy milk (as opposed to vanilla which is high in sugar)...but I don't think I could give up my coffee..I just switched to a flavoring that doesn't add too much other stuff..

I had my one cup of coffee with only Nectar Vanilla Bean Protein powder, no sweetner or creamer it was pretty good. Made it through my first day of 5 day pouch test and I feel pretty good-I was suprised that I have not been hungry like.

I make what I call a protein coffee and have two in the morning. Stir together to make a slurry:
1 scoop protein powder (I use vanilla or chocolate)
2 T SF syrup (lots of varieties)
1 T 1/2 & 1/2 (it's enough for me since the protein powder makes it creamy)
2 heaping teaspoons of Benefiber powder
Add 12 oz coffee

I also did the 5-day pouch test about a month ago using info on her website and it helped me tremendously.  I don't think it shrinks our pouch but it did get me off the carbs and sugar. Good luck!