Help!

On January 3rd 2012 I had the gastric bypass. Everything was going good until the last year or so. I have stabilized and can't seem to get back on trac****il the beginning of 2013 I was attending support groups and it was keeping me going. Since then they have moved them to a location that is too far for me to travel since I don't have a car. I am starting to feel useless again. I had lost 160 pounds but have since gained 30 pounds back. No matter what I do I can't seem to lose any more or stay motivated. My mom is having the surgery in a month and I know that will help but my family is not only supportive but they are also my enablers. I have started smoking again and drinking soda. I found that I am able to eat just about anything except ice cream and a only a small amount of sweets. I don't know how to get back on track and get my mind back on track. I feel so stressed with work and school and I just don't know what to do anymore. Can someone give me advice? I am looking for a support group, I was hoping to find one that I can attend in person near where I live, but I will gladly join an online support group too. I feel lost again.

Thank you

Tami

Does your clinic provide aftercare? Time with your NUT might be a good place to start... 

You mention needing to get your head back on track... seeking out a counselor *****ally KNOWS about your procedure could also be of great help. 

Focus more energy, time and attention on what you want as opposed to what you don't want.... 
Look for every little thing in your life that you have to be grateful for... leave the stress and anxiety behind. 

Best of luck to you

They do provide aftercare and have classes but they moved the classes so far away that I can't get down there. They used to have them at select clinics but they decided to consolidate all the classes into one and since then I have been struggling. I've been trying to focus more on me again but I'm having trouble. I have an appointment next week to talk to a therapist who knows about the surgery. I am hoping this will help.

Many of us express the desire for getting "back on track." Fortunately you have reached the threshold of regain that has you at the point of saying, "ENOUGH." 

For me, that point has been the 20 lb. mark. And it's far easier to approach losing 20-30 lbs. instead of the huge amount already lost. The key is to take action and get hold of the issue before it becomes a much bigger problem.

I'm right there with you. I had to decide what was the best starting point for me. It was to log my food again (I'm not good at that at all, so I decided to use an app that many people had discovered ages ago - Lose It). Once I started logging my intake, it was a shocking wake up call to waht I was actually eating. The app recommended daily calorie intake of about 1200 for my goal of losing 20 lbs. Some days I find it easy....other days, not one bit easy. But it was a start.

So ask yourself, what single thing would get you started. 

Drinking all your water?

Logging the food?

Giving up the diet soda? (That's one of my vices for sure)

Walking?

Whatever it is, I would encourage you to take ONE first step and stick with it. Make that notion of "back on track" something concrete and specific and do-able. We have a powerful tool and it still works. We just have to do the work to let it do its job. Hang in there!

Hi Tami,

I see you're in Colorado. I don't know who your surgeon is, but I had surgery in Denver myself. My bariatric clinic offers this class monthly:

http://www.denverbariatrics.com/default/tools-for-success/support-groups#4

You can call Terri at 303-320-2118 for information on their post-op classes. Many are free, and new patients are welcome. Most are at Rose Medical Center, which isn't too far away from Aurora.

University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora has a WLS center too whi*****ludes nutritionists and support groups, and their number is (720) 848-2070. I recently had a non-WLS related surgery at UCH and loved the care I got there.

And here is one more, which I cannot vouch for because I haven't attended:
 

Obesity Awareness Bariatric Support Group
Aurora public library (in the theatre)
14949 East Alameda Drive
Aurora, CO 80013
Phone: 720-848-2658
Meeting times: Every third Monday of the month 6 pm to 8 pm
Contact Person: Chantelle Gibson-Support Group Leader

You're only two years out. Barring the less than 1% chance of a mechanical failure, you still have your tool, I promise you. If you can't focus on an overhaul right now, just avoid drinking with meals, eat protein FIRST and do some walking. You don't need a 30 minute power walk. If you can do 2-3 or 10 minute walks that's fine. Just start somewhere.

PM me if you want to talk.
 

This is just what I need.  I too, am 2.5 years post op.  I was a quick loser and reached 2/3 of my goal.  Then I hit a major, major stall.  My surgeon at the time kept telling me that I was not eating enough and upped my calorie intake.  I (myself only) let it backfire on me and just pretty much let go.

I went from 10 pounds up, to 20 , to 30 and that is about where I am now.  I have started exercising again (walking and weights) and have tried to get back to basics.  My problem, is I just seem stuck on what to eat at times. 

I lost faith in my surgeon and NUT when this problem started as I felt more scolded than offered help and encouragement.  I need to add that at that time I was experiencing major problems with depression and anxiety attacks and seeing a therapist.  I know I used food for a crutch again.

Anyway, for me it is now or never.  I refuse to buy fat clothes again.  What I really need is some good, quick solutions for my meals (job is very demanding).  I do not get a great deal of support at home so I need to get my support from within.

I could not make it most of my surgeon's support groups as they were too far away for me to make them after I got off work.  That is what dr. kept pushing but I just could not do it.  

Please help me with food ideas and how many calories you think I should consume to gain the 30 I lost and the 30 more I need to lose.

Thanks you so much.