Interloper Alert...Sorry!

Okay, technically, I'm not a grad, but I'm close, and I need your advice/wisdom. Many of you stay clear of the main boards these days and I really want some 'old azz' perspective. I'll be a year out next month and have done really well, I'm down 130 pounds with only about 7 or so more pounds to hit my personal goal. The last few months, of course, it's been pretty slow. 2-3 pounds a month, if I'm lucky. That's fine, I was ready for that... The one thing I've been REALLY bad about is exercise. I did great the first few months and then it got cold out, I got busy and I started smoking again... I know, I know. Dumb. My eating habits are pretty good - I have my days, of course, but overall, I'm sticking pretty close to my doc/nut recommendations. For those of you who started off great and then started to slide a little, were you able to get back in the groove and get going again? Did it last? I know pre-WLS I was great at starting a diet or exercise program for a period of time and then would lose interest or slack off for whatever reason... I don't want to keep doing that, I want to make it stick this time. Any advice on what I can do 'reset' myself to good habits and sticking with them this time? For those of you who did fall off a little, did it get worse and worse until you were living/eating like you did pre-WLS? I know that I'm now hitting the point where the hard work kicks in and I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can... Thanks! Becky

Hi, Becky! Welcome to the grads board. You could have been describing me when you mentioned your on-again, off-again exercise pattern. I'm exactly the same way, and I did not exercise during my weight loss phase. I have to now, I have discovered! I regained from my low weight of 160 back to 180, and it's a struggle for me just to stay there now. So I have recently (several weeks ago) added in an exercise routine, cut back on junk/sweets, increased protein, all in the hopes of maybe losing a pound or two. ISN'T HAPPENING! So now I'm trying to figure out WHAT ELSE I can do to get 7-10 pounds off! Believe me it's a struggle. I would say try really hard to get back on track with the exercise, and try your best to keep to mainly healthy food choices. I don't think it ever gets any easier, especially for those of us who don't enjoy exercise all that much. My primary motivation is not wanting to go back to how I felt when I was fat, so I must remember that always and take the necessary steps to avoid it in the future. Unfortunately, I haven't found a magic cure!! Best wishes, Carlita

Hi Becky, did you read my mind when you posted this? I to started out early exercising faithfully every day and then at about 7 months, (after Hurricane Rita hit La) my family was staying with me and I got side-tracked and busy....it has been a struggle getting back in a routine. I went 2 weeks ago and bought an elipitcal based on comments from people from this board and the MB. I like it but boy it kicks my arse. Still working on getting to 30 minutes without stopping. So far I've done pretty good, in 2 weeks I missed 3 days. As for smoking, I can hear you here, not proud to admit it but I have started again and it's been a struggle to stop. Pre-op I had to lose 10 lbs and quit smoking (per surgeon) and I'll say losing weight was much easier than not smoking.....thank goodness I was able to stop before surgery. One day at a time is all I can offer, find something/anything you enjoy and start....good luck. Dana PS, yes the hard work is upon us.

Hi Becky, Add my name to this list of starting out well and then slipping back. I can't believe I got myself out right after surgery to walk and then let it go. I hate exercise, but felt really good about my being able to walk without feeling tired, winded, etc. WHAT HAPPENED, I don't know. All I know is that because I haven't exercise or learned to, I've gained back 20 pounds which is going nowhere with eating correctly. So I guess exercise is the other half of the equasion(sp). I need a "brain fix". Marilyn

Becky--Congrats on your success. I think we always have the ability to get back on track. Unfortunately, it takes lots of strength and determination to do so. The surgery gives us a 'window of opportunity' when it is relatively easy to lose weight--that window varies but it seems to be biggest up til a year and still open til around 18 months. I believe we still have an opportunity to lose weight after that but--it happens more like regular people--using self disipline and focus. When you ask about those who fall off a little and what happens--I am certainly not living like I did pre wls--but once I fell off the wagon it has been a daily struggle to stay focussed on not fall back into old habits. Re--resetting ourselves--the only way I know to do that is to go back to square one--protein first and limit carbs. We always have our tool--but it takes focus and self discipline to use it. Re--the exercise--I honestly believe that for the vast majority of us, exercise is a key to long term success. There are some who are able to succeed without exercise but for most of us we need it. A little 'old azz' experience here--when I went to my one year follow-up appointment I had been losing slowly for quite a while. My doctor warned me that right around one year to expect an extended plateau. Of course--I didn't believe him--sure enough--it came and lasted almost 2 months--boy was I happy he warned me. Then I started losing again. The time I feel you have to be most cautious around is the 2 year mark. I don't know why--probably a combination of things-but I have watched many people stat to slide back and have that 'bounce back', or worse, around 2 years. Get back on the exercise train and work on those habits now--cause it really is a forever sturggle for many of us. Good luck to you.

Thanks for your input, Lynda! I really appreciate your insight. I did hit a plateau for about 6 weeks in January/February, but I'll be ready for "the big one"... As far as the food basics go, I do okay... I'm back to faithfully logging on Fitday and really work at keeping things balanced. I think really, my biggest thing is the fat - I try to keep my fat to 30% of my daily intake but it always seems to creep up on me. As for exercise, this truly is the hardest part for me. I've made it 3 days, though, and even though my muscles are screaming, I feel terrific!

Hi Becky Well, let me give you credit where credit is due my friend It's hard to admit it when we backslide, but you have and that is the first step to stopping it I remember the old days and once I started I just was in denial until 10lbs, became 20 and then 30 and then all hope was lost Some advice if I may I am 18 months out and I am struggling to keep the weight on Yea, you heard me The secret and it's really no secret is get back to basics and exercise. If you wrote a journal when you first had the surgery go read it again See what worked for you Eat protein first, don't drink an half an hour before or after, 6 small meals and snack work best, drink all your water. Cut out junk food if you are eating it, don't go to fast food places Let's talk exercise my friend To lose it's good to do two things, cardio to burn fat and put muscle weight on to make your body burn fat very efficently. I know we heard this our entire lives, but Becky IT REALLY WORKS Exercise is hard because you have not found something you love to do If you can go to a gym, try different classes, swim, I love kickboxing, weight training core classes and such. If you can swing it working with a PT is so worth the money They show you how to do it right the first time There is something empowering about being so strong when we couldn't even walk before If a gym is not your thing, train for a 5k run/walk. Bike, walk, start a walking club with people from work. Get a pedometer and just wear it!!! Trust me you will want those 10,000 steps for sure Lastly, GO TO MY POST NIGHTLY AND LET ME KNOW YOU ARE MOVING TO LOSE Email me any time you need some hugs, and or kicks in the butt I am good at both You can do it girl Take care, Kathy

Every time I think about slacking off on the exercise I think about where I started this journey. That is incentive enough to get me back on track. Maybe you could find a new form of exercise that would be more interesting. I've done several different routines during the past 27 months but recently joined Curves and love it. The program has you changing machines so often that I find I don't get bored. I have come to be friends with other people there. We start talking and before I know it my 3 rotations are over. I'm not saying you would find it to be the right program for you. But there has to be a program out there that would hold your interest. I also enjoyed weight lifting at the "Y". They have trainers there who will work with you and show you how to use the machines. You are right in saying you are hitting the point where it gets hard, but believe me it will get harder at around 2 years. I don't doubt that it will always be a battle, but at least with our tool we can now win the battle if we give it our best. I hear people on the boards say 40 lbs gone forever and I shudder because if they beleive that they are going to be in trouble somewhere down the line. The only way the weight is going to stay gone for some of us is through hard work. Others are fortunate to keep losing while eating sugar/carbs, etc. We each have our own unique wls journey though and have to find what works for us. Best of luck!

My exercise habits have been on and off again due to necessity, 4 major surgeries since my wls tha prevented me from exercising for long periods of time. Each time it is hard to get started again, I guess I am naturally lazy. I do find once I get started, It is FUN!!! I also find that it helps me manage my depression. If I don't exercise I feel depressed. So I consider exercise to be as important a component of my depression treatment as medication. start out with one thing at a time. pick an activity you like, whether it be walking, bike riding, dancing, swimming, what ever you like. the weather is getting nice - it feels great to get out and walk. ( Just so it is not like me and walk to the ice cream place about a mile away! LOL - that is how I get my grandkids to walk with me) If you are not sure where to start, try getting the book "fitness for everybody" by Mayo clinic. It is really good and written for people at all levels. Lots of great info for beginners. Your library may have it, that is where I first saw it, then went to Border and bought it after I had it out for amonth from the library! I was doing my cardio and strenth training, but found that my flexibility was not good and maybe even decreasing, so I started taking Yoga classes. It looks like it should be just so easy but it really kicks my butt some days. I found that my body started showing changes very rapidly when I started. It works every part of your body. Those core exercises - yoga for sure. It also really builds strength. My flexibility is getting better every day - really important for preventing injury. another big bonus I did not expect - since my weight loss I had noticed my sense of balance was off. My center of gravity changed and It was troublesome that I would lose balance and even fell several times on stairs etc. Yoga has totally improved that at least 90% better and improving every week. A lot of people underestimate it. I find that if I try to do or change too much at one time it gets over whelming and I end up quitting if I set my bar too high. that is why I say pick one activity you love that can get your heart pumping. then after you are doing good with that add another etc. HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!