Feeling down/ Scale is going up!

Well, it's been a while since I posted, but I have been lurking for a long time. I have been watching the scale go up and have decided I need some help. I only wish there was still a support group to attend at the hospital where I had my surgery. They no longer do WLS, and have ended the support group meetings as well. I met with a personal trainer yesterday and hope to start soon. I am now gaining steady, and have to stop it. At 8 months my weight loss came to a halt, 7 pounds away from my personal goal. I lost 110 pounds and have now gained 15 in the last year. I am beginning to feel it in my clothes, and energy level, and it isn't a good feeling. Of all things I only dump on salad! I love them, but cannot eat lettuce. Do I have to resort to counting calories and dieting again. Is that the only way to avoid gaining now? I am now turning to what I hope is an online support group. Any suggestions. Please tell me I am not alone. Deb Ski

Sorry you are going through this... I've come to the conclusion that I will be dieting until I'm taking the long dirt nap and pushing up daisies...regain is VERY easy for me with having insulin resistance. Something that I've come to accept...at least it is a diet that we can live with, right? I really do not have any advice; just know that you are not alone... ~~Sherry

Thanks for understanding me. By the way congradulations on the new baby girl. My goal was to be able to get down on the floor and enjoy my daughters children. She was expecting triplets as I went into the surgery and she sat there crying. I too was diagnosed with metobolic syndrome prior to my weight loss surgery. Deb Ski

Thank you, Deb...the weight that I gained with the pregnancy was VERY worth it. PCOS sucks...I wouldn't even wi**** on my worst enemy; and, that's saying a LOT. Are you keeping track of your carbs? Insulin resistance makes our bodies extremely sensative to carbs...I can gain weight eating 'rabbit food' (lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, etc.)...go figure. I try to keep the total carb count at 20 or less for the day...sometimes I make it, other times not. Actually, I think that my insulin resistance has increased since having the baby...1500 mg of Metformin (Glucophage) does not seem to be helping as much as it did pre-pregnancy. I dunno...time to re-evaluate, restructure and get my @ss back into gear again, I guess... Wish that I was more help to you. ~~Sherry

Hi Deb ... you are SO not alone ... I'm thinking the "journaling" thing will most likely have to be a "forever" thing. A lot of people here use FitDay.com ... I've recently started. Maybe that and the support and ideas from everyone here will be able to help. Hang in there. Karyn

You dump because of intake over time. Slow it down to half the speed and see what happens. I can eat a bag of sugar - it will take me a year and a half. I limit to 7 grams over an hour and I am cool any more than that and I am going over in less than 5 minutes. A carb dump does the same thing. It's over time. Go back to eating like you did when you were one month out. It'll kick start the metabolism but write down your food. kp @ goal

Hi Kevin, I see that Doc Schudnik(sp) did your surgery. Dr. Wood from the same Cori Centers did mine. Great group of surgeons, I think. However, now that I'm past 65, they don't take my insurance, so I guess I'm done with them. You look great. I'm from Grosse Pointe, MI.

I definately believe that counting calories and daily exercise are my way of life for the rest of my life if I wish to maintain. It is the reality that the surgery is truely only a tool and the rest is up to you that i****ting. This is no easy way out regardless of public perception. The surgery gave me the start I needed to get the weight down to where I CAN exercise and take control of my situation. the first 9 months were easy, no hunger and had to force myself to eat on a schedule. I think those habits of eating on a sdedule & developing a routine will carry me thru. I don't know where exactly that you live but Barix has many support groups around Il. the 2nd monday of each month in Belvidere and there are others as well. We welcome all, not just Barix patients at the meetings I attend. I drive 45 minutes to attend every month, for the support, understanding, information and time to socialize with others who are walking the same path. You have us here as well! starting training is a great start! a trainer is a great way to get started and learn a good routine you can use for the long term. journaling food intake for a few weeks and bringing it to a dietician is also a great step, something I do on an occasional basis. (lettuce is overrated as a food anyways! it is not filling and carries very little nutrition . I eat the other stuff in the salad and leave most of the lettuce even tho I don't dump on it.)

My surgeon's office stressed from the beginning that the first six months were critical to eventual success. They told us if we learned good eating habits during those months and stuck to them that regain wouldn't happen. In observing his monthly support group I've discovered his advise was 100% correct. The people who changed their eating habits during the early months are the ones who are maintaining their weight loss. Those who continued to eat mostly carbs and sweets have regained. I don't mean to imply that everybody has the same experience. Some in our group are maintaining on 1,800-2,000 calories a day. I find I have to limit my intake to 800-1200 a day to maintain. I work out 5 mornings a week for 45 minutes, plus walk another 45 minutes several nights a week. We have to figure out what works for us. My surgeon told me up front that I could never have gotten as large as I was without a metabolic problem and not to expect that the problem would disappear with wls. He told me I'd never fit the insurance tables but that I'd look and feel better at the end of my journey. He went on to say that being diabetic meant that my body reacted differently to carbs and that I'd have to be very diligent about keeping them low if I wanted to maintain the loss. It's not easy at 2 years out, but having the tool has made it possible for me to reclaim my life and I'm not going to give that up for a Debbie Cake. I've been on maintenance for about six months now. My game plan is to weigh weekly, if the scale goes up 3-4 lbs I immediately cut the carbs out until the scale drops back into my comfort zone. This is a lifetime commitment and unfortunately we will not be able to eat what we want when we want it. Yes I think we will always have to diet/exercise. It sounds like you have made the first step by hiring a personal trainer. Congratulate yourself on still having lost 95 lbs, and set your sites on losing the rest of it now. Best of luck!

I'm one of those who lost and maintained easily w/o giving up carbs, and eating a limited amount (a few bites from my husband's plate) of sweets. But what many of you know is that when I hit 2 years post-op, I started regaining, and nothing I've done since has been able to reverse the tide. That is until this week. I started on a modified South Beach on Monday - basically cutting out the starchy carbs, and eating lots of protein and veggies. I've lost 4 lbs in 4 days. Yippeee!!! Incredibly, it's been very easy. The question is, can I keep this up until I lose the 20 more lbs I need to lose to get back to goal weight. I'm also seeing an eating disorder counselor. So between the two - diet & counseling - I can get back on track. Then I plan to stay there, even if it means eating this way the rest of my life. Betsy