3yrs 5mos since VSG and old habits have taken over.

I knew I used food to comfort myself, but I didn't realize it would be so easy to fall back into old habits.

I never reached my goal weight, I started to really struggle with my body image once I'd lost 130lbs and I didn't like the loose skin and saggy stomach. I knew it was going to get worse with more weightloss so I justifed stopping and eating more to maintain.  The only problem was that I started to get comfortable, too comfortable. Then before I knew it I wasn't exercising and the slippery slope was getting steeper.  This year I went back to university and exercise stopped altogether and I fell right back into old habits of munching my way through the day while sitting on my ever expanding rear.  I'm up 30lbs now from my lowest and my clothes are to tight and I'm depressed and miserable.  

I'm looking at going back to the beginning, starting with the pre-op diet Dr Alvarez had me do, then work my way through the stages.  Is this a good idea? Any suggestions?  All I know is that I can't lose the life I gained when I lost the weight, but if I don't get a grip I'll be right back in miserable hole I was in before my VSG and this isn't the example I want to set for my boys. 

It may not be the best idea. You sleeve and mature, and you need to eat "real"food not to get trumpeted to eat more.  

I know that I always need to clean carbs from my diet. And make sure I have good food and good drinks around me.

I may supplement one or even 2 meals with protein shake (to get used to being a bit hungry) but overall - if I start skipping meals - I may start cheating - like before I had WLS.

Sensible meals - (low carbs works for me) - de-carbing - like supper low carbs - like Atkins induction phase - may help cut on cravings.

Not sure what your pre-op diet looked like, but I'd focus on high protein, very low carbs.  See what strategies you can come up with to stop the munchies.  I sometimes resort to setting a timer after meals to make myself wait 45 minutes, then get started pushing liquids.  I've found a couple of sugar free gum flavors I really like - the apple pie works well in a pinch .

You know you use food to comfort yourself, and being back in school may be stressful, so I'd work on coming up with ideas to combat stress - do you like to walk?  How about a warm bath or hot shower?  Or a brief neck massage?  See if you can make a list of things to do when you need to take a stress break, even if it's only for a few minutes, so you're not reaching for a snack.  Replacing a habit is always easier than simply dropping a bad one.  Take a good look at where your points of weakness are, and substitute, substitute, substitute!

Also, if stress is a big problem, you might consider supplements to help calm you.  5-HTP and GABA are both naturally occuring amino acids that can help smooth out the emotional roller coaster, and I find L-Glutamine helps enormously to cut the cravings while I'm getting the carbs back out of my system.

Good luck - you can do this!  I've had a few incidents with binge eating that remind me that I could easily regain most if not all of my weight if I don't learn to handle the reasons behind my obesity.  WLS helped me get the weight off, but it's up to me to do the work to keep it off.  This is the hard part, but so worth it, and I believe I can do it.  I believe in you too!  

Similar story for me. I'd like to lose about 30 lbs back again. I agree with the other poster about not eating the same way Dr A suggests for immediate post op.You can't get full nutrition that way.

I am going back to saying no to all bad/trigger foods. I'm going back to logging everything I eat on Livestrong.com and I won't allow myself more calories than what is needed to lose 2 lbs a week.

Lean protein, nuts,veggies, reduced fat cheeses and berries,apples, etc. Small amounts of complex carbs.

We can do this

Meg