Regain: How We Can Deceive Ourselves

"It's ok. My jeans still fit."

"It's ok. I can still wear a size 10."

"It's ok. These run small."

I've said all these things to myself over the past year. But the truth is, as my weight crept up in year 4-5....the jeans I wore at my "best" weight didn't fit at all. The truth is, they didn't even pull up all the way. The 10's fit, but were definitely pulling at the zipper and I had to force them to button right out of the dryer. And I just wanted to believe that a certain brand or type of clothing "runs small."

All of that was to deny my regain. I am tackling it hard right now, and it's very very hard work. The weight (a total of 36 lbs regain, or 1/3 of my total weight lost) is going off slowly, but surely. I'm dealing with a stall, having to build exercise back into my life, and overcoming cravings all over again. I'm logging my food and drinking tons of water and trying not to beat myself up too badly. 

Who else is fighting the good fight? What's working for you? Let's start by telling ourselves the TRUTH and taking POSITIVE steps!!!!

Hey... Hear you... At one time i got 35 lbs regain.. 10-15 was on purpose...but the rest..not so much... But i got on track...and lost 15...the last 5-10 is really hard. Specially when I feel skinny...and my clothes fit good.  But scale shows 8 lbs above where i want to be... 

My way of eating now is low carbs - higher fats...that seems to work...now i just need to lower my calories...but going on a ski trip in 1.5 weeks...i know i need my reserves...and since i really exercise (to prepare for my trip) ..i may need to reset my goal after the trip... 

Also , due to my personal issues with gut and adrenals, i follow IF..(intermittent fasting) i try to ab s tain from food (black coffee, water, tea are ok) for at least 12 to 14 or 16 hrs in every 24 hr period. So i only eat during 8-12 hrs window.  That allows my small intestains to work best (i deal with IBS-C with posibble SIBO). 

Low carb is the only way I can manage. I do allow myself some complex carbs, such as veggies, 1-2 fruits per day, and an occasional half a sweet potato. With my dietitians plan, fats are limited but that is generally ok w/ me. Funny thing is that I have essentially removed dairy from my diet without even trying. 

6 months ago i discovered i had allergy to dairy...plus severe allergy to soy, plus gluten intolerances. .And just recently, blood work showed allergy to some other things. (I.e.vanilla, cayenne, e t c...) removing them from my diet is *****allenging, specially when eating out. 

But i learn to cope.

Fruits have o much sugar for me. I still eat them, just not every day and mostly berries.. If any fruit. 

Been there, done that myself.....TWICE!  You'd think I'd learned the first regain period but nope.  It took a second regain of 31 pounds to get my attention, take a hard look at myself and change some things.

As you are finding out, losing regained weight is a slow and frustrating process.  But, it does come off.

I logged my food for a long time.  That helped me because if I didn't want to see it, then I didn't eat it.  Whenever cravings came up, I used my Distraction List until they passed.  (I created a Distraction List similar to a check list of things I could do when triggers and cravings came up.)  I also found recipes and food items that were different from what I used to eat, I enjoyed and healthy.

I just had a total knee replacement a few weeks ago so my activity is physical therapy.  However, I look forward to being able to take walks and walk on my treadmill.  

Emotional eating has been an issue so I stay very aware and not dive into ice cream or cookies to stuff my emotions away.

Lastly, have confidence in yourself that you've got this....because you do.

It has been almost 4 years since I had WLS. I am ashamed to say I have gained 50 pounds back on. I had originally lost 150 pounds. Since having WLS I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and had a double mastectomy and reconstruction......the medication I am now taking has caused some of the gain but I have completely lost my focus and stopped paying attention to what I am eating. I now eat carbs and sugar. I need to get back to basics but to be honest have forgotten so much of what I really need to do. I guess To start I should stop eating carbs and sugar.Uuuugggg why can't this be easy???!!!

and the crazy thing is that so many people think if you have had  the surgery then it is so simple for you....but they have no idea.  i have gained 40 lbs this last year.  i am embarrassed and ashamed.  i thought it would be easy to just get back on track, but i am having an awful time.  my clothes are tight and i am so disgusted.   i did start walking again, but im still eating them carbs so my scale hasnt moved.   and the more i think about it the hungrier i feel.

I haven't been on these forums in a while. I had surgery almost six years ago and had about a 40 lb regain in 2014.  Started going to WW meetings the week before Christmas for the accountability of weekly weigh-ins and have already lost 10 of the 40 lbs. For me, getting back to writing everything down was all I needed to get back on track. It helps motivate me that I can remember what success feels like.  I wish I'd gotten back on track at 20 lbs regain instead of 40lb but I'm still feeling good about my success in getting it back off.