anyone been there/done that??? help

hi all and i am sooooo happy to be here!!!! well,m sort of, lol! wish i did not need to be.. sigh..

I have gained 60 lbs (and kept 60 off) following 2 back to back pregnancies and forgetting to implement all of the rules of my RNY (surgery was 2003). I simply went on with life as if I never had it....

A light went off and I was like "what did i do to myself?" and have since recommitted. Starting yesterday, I am at square 1 post op. I am doing clear liquids for a couple of days and will progress to protein shakes and then to soft solids, etc... I have read about the 5 day pouch test and I hope it true that i can still utilize the awesome tool that wls gave me. i have decided on a prolonged approach to the 5 day pouch test, because mentally i am completely prepared and i loved the tight feeling pouch and the fear of eating carbs and junk. i am hoping i can retrieve some of the early benefits of wls now that i am going back to the basics of weight loss surgery. can i or did i blow my chance?

Has anyone gained a substantial portion of their weight back and recommitted and lost it again? If so, do you feel that you had your tool to use or were you on your own? I really want a second chance without having to look into a revision or stomaphyx.

I would love feedback from anyone.. especially if there is someone who has been there/done that and can inspire me if it really will work again.

Thank you so much : )
Cari

Hi Cari,

Welcome to Back On Track Together....  We are so glad you turned to us for help in getting back on track.

Been there doing that   My tool didn't fail me I failed my tool.  I find it still works if I work it....try to take baby steps.  If you try to make to many changes at once you will feel overwhelmed and give up.  But taking it one step at a time you will slowly feel like you are getting back into control.

Journal, journal, journal....try to identify those trigger foods and emotions, red flags and all.  That way you can come up with a plan to avoid falling off the wagon.  If you are not doing so, exercise.  dance, walk, anything that gets you moving...

We are here to help in any way we can.  Also, take your measurements and if possible get a body fat comp.  As you know the scale is not the best measure of success.

Take care,
Kathy

thanks kathy!
the brain is a very funny thing! i have been sipping water, feel nauseas and sweaty and the thought of eating repulses me. i measured every part of my naked body and logged it onto fitday. it was so not a pretty sight, my friend!!! i have been logging in to fitday weekly for 2 months and have only seen a weight loss of 1 pound. I was doing the Medifast shakes and exercising! Come to find out that the medication I am currently taking causes weight gain.... I guess I managed to keep the gain at bay, which i need to look at as a positive.

so i have ditched my $300 medifast order for a little while. in the future i will use them as meal replacements when i need to, but for now i am 150% committed to getting  control of my gastric bypass tool. I am amazed at how the mental piece of it has eliminated the hunger completely... so important the first few days, i'm sure.

anyway, i am so appreciative of your support. if you don't mind sharing, how long have you been back on track and what kind of results have you seen?

Thanks
Cari

Hi Cari,

Sounds like your body may be going through white food/carb withdrawal.  Hang in there as the first few days are hell....you will get headaches also.

I maintained a weight 114-125 and a body fat of 10% for years.  When my husband starting falling and I had to be with him 24/7, I was unable to go to the gym (I was a gym rat) and out of fear for what were we dealing with I did what I had done for my entire life.  I turned to emotional eating.  I was sleep deprived and so tired....  I gained and I am "now" in the process of losing it.

I will ask Cathy to respond to your email as she put on 30 pounds and has taken it off..

You are already a success just by coming here and taking steps to get your healthy life back

Take care,
Kathy

way to go kathy!!! i hear you about the emotional eating downfall!!! both of my babies are challenged with disabilities and the set me off into a downward spiral of insomnia and power eating- bad combination.. ha, ya think?????? lol!

well, i am here and i am not going anywhere so if you need a shoulder.......

keep it up- i bet you'll be there before you know it!!!!!!

hugs,
cari

Hi Cari,

Welcome to BOTT.  It has provided me so much support and motivation.  I've been a member of many social groups but this one is very special.  I'm glad you've joined us.

Yes, I regained weight a few years ago.  After maintaining my weight loss and staying at goal relatively easily for years, I went through an extremely difficult time and return to what I knew for comfort - food. 

I was emotionally eating and unconscious.  Before I knew it, I'd gained over 30 pounds.  Huh?  How did that happen?  I just kept rationalizing each five pounds knowing I'd get control and that would be my max.  It wasn't.  I'm grateful for the experience now but definitely not then.  I was frustrated and disappointed with myself.

The good news is that I took it off.  That being said, I took it off much, much, much s-l-o-w-e-r than I did the first time after having my surgery.  Though I learned a valuable lesson.  With each pound I lost, I appreciated it and knew that I was learning to stay conscious with my eating and my life, and develop ways to combat emotional eating most of the time. 

I'm not saying I didn't appreciate my initial weight loss because I did.  I think that since I maintained it for years that I was normal and weight regain wouldn't happen to me.  HA!  It made me look at many things in my life so I could lose the weight and maintain it at my goal.

You can do it.  You really can.  Just remember that you did it once and you can and will do it again.  Don't focus on the scale because it isn't going to respond like it did the first time you lost weight.  Focus on the knowledge that you're back on track and know that the weight will come off. 

I'm glad you're BOTTing with us.

Cathy

thanks cathy