Keep getting fatter

You followed the program to get the weight off Dee, now follow it to lose the gained pounds and maintain. Sounds a bit harsh but maybe I typed that for my benefit as much as yours. I decided on a maintenance plan before I reached my goal at 18 months. The plan was when the scales showed a 5 lb gain I'd be on all protein until it was gone. I can't tell you how many times I've lost that same 5 lbs in the last few months, so now I'm rethinking my maintenance plan. At 27 months out from surgery I'm back at my lowest weight but this time I'm determined not to ever see that 5 lb gain on the scale again. I know the only way I can do that is to live with my program every day. If I give in occasionally and have a treat then I will just have to be careful the rest of the day to eat protein only. You didn't say what your eating problem was but for a lot of people it's snacking. I'll allow myself to snack but it will have to be on fruit, 10 almonds, or sugar free popcicles. Can't do a lot of damage with those. An apple fills me up to the point I can't eat for some time and it's only 50-75 calories. Best of luck on finding the right solution for you. I agree with you I don't want to go back where I started. We just have to reach deep and figure out what we're doing wrong and fix it. If we were able to lose the weight we can keep it off. No doubt about it as we get further out we can eat more, so we have to adjust some habits we've allowed ourselves to get into when we couldn't eat enough to do any damage. I know for me when I'm exhausted it's because I haven't been exercising enough. Exercise gives us more energy so just put one foot in front of the other until you feel the power surge again. If nothing else put on a CD and dance in your living room for 30 minutes each morning or night. Any kind of movement is better than none. Best of luck on finding the right solution for you.

No, you don't sound harsh. I am a compulsive over eater. I do it out of stress, boredom, lonliness etc. I think I know I will want to eat between meals, so what I need to do is prepare safe snacks like raw veggies. -=db=-

Dee. I dug out my binder, I received the day I had surgery. It's filled with the menu ideas to follow after surgery, this would be after one year post op. I'm not sure if you received a menu after your surgery. When I feel I'm eating too much I pull it out and stick to the menu. It's so hard not to snack. My Dr says only eat three meals a day and not snack. I try and make good choices. It's funny how we know what to do but it's so much easier to do the wrong thing. Munch, munch. Here are a few sample menu items my nutritionist suggested. They also suggested "don't eat more than 1 - 1 1/2 cups total food at each meal. If you continue to experience hunger between meals, double check to make sure you are drinking 64 oz of non-caloric fluid every day. Monitor your weight weekly and do not let it waiver by more than five pounds. If you should start to gain weight, review the information. Are you getting in your water? Eating protein first? Snacking? Exercising? Watching carb consumption?" Day 1: Brk: 2 egg omlet with ham, cheese & mushrooms S: Non carb beverage L: 1/2 egg salad sandwich & 1/2 small apple S: Non carb beverage D: 3oz hamburger no bun, 1/4 cup baked beans, 2 Tbsp potato salad Day 2: B: Mix 1/4 cup plain yogurt w/ 1/8 cup frozen mixed berries add 1/8 cup oatmeal S: Non cab beverage L: 6 oz chicken breast on salad 1 Tbst fat free dressing S: Non carb beverage D: 6-8 oz chili with meat and spahetti, 4 saltine crackers Day 3: B: 5 oz Turkey sausage with cheese, 1/4 cup berries, 1/4 piece of toast with margarine S: Non carb beverage L: 4 Jumbo Shrimp, 1/2 cup mixed vegetables S: Non carb beverage D: 4 oz steak, 1/4 c salad w/ 1Tbst fat free dressing, small dinner roll w/1-2 tsp margarine I do eat some fruit but I eat my protein and veggies first and if I'm still hungry then I add some fruit.

That actually sounds good. It sounds like more than I eat now, but I am eating things like potato chips! I KNOW that's what's doing it. Thanks, I am going to print this out. -=db=-

I started to gain til I added back my protein shakes significantly. I was at one point doing 1 or 2 twenty gram shakes. I am now doing 2 or 3 thirty gram shakes. We all tend to forget that we will malabsorb FOREVER. Our bodies do NOT grow back to pre-op form. We get very little real nutrition from the solid forms of protein because we no longer digest them as in the past. The whey protein is broken down into a digestable for for us and even though we malabsorb, we still absorb more of those grams than we do from "real" food. Stepping up water is excellent. Step up them protein shakes as well. I have learned to really enjoy mine.

Hello DeeBee ~ I just sent a reply to this thread, that might be of help to you? http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/postdetail/17738.html?vc=0 NOT that Im an expert, or can even shed any words of WISDOM. What works for me, may not work for you, yada yada yada.... BUT, I did include links to two other sites that address the challenges of long term maintenance, getting off track, weight gain, and getting back on track. Thought you might be interested in those sites. Good luck to you - it's a lifetime struggle we ALL live with.