Where to start-suggestions gratefully accepted! (long)

I am happy to see this forum...I think it may be very beneficial!

I am three year DS post op.  I started at 379.  At my consult, I told my surgeon my goal was 180.  He suggested 150 would be more appropriate.  I stopped losing around month 14, and seemed to be settled in at around 204.  I managed to work my tail off and make 195...for about 24 hours!   Then I went back to around 204, and pretty much stayed there.  Then came last fall and I hit 229 and have been here for several months now. 

That being said, the regain is ALL my fault!  I used to be a Curves religiously three times a week, and ate fairly well...not perfectly by any means, but not horrible.  Now, however, is another story.  In November I managed to suffer a bad case of bursitis in my shoulder (it isn't completely healed but is better) which sidelined me from Curves for quite a while, followed by a kidney stone, that I am still battling.  (I have passed one stone but we believe there is another one trying to get out...I wi**** would hurry up already!)  So, these issues caused my detour from the gym.  Then, since I am being honest, it just became easier not to go.

The biggest issue I have is chocolate!  I have the most absolute WORST addiction to it!  I can (and often do!) eat it all day long!  And I am not talking about the sugar free variety either...I mean cupcakes, M&M's, peanut butter cups, ice cream, etc.  It is TOTALLY out of hand, and I don't understand why, but it is SO much worse than when I was a pre-op!  I have little doubt in my mind that if I was to give up the chocolate, or at least cut way back, I would drop a good amount of weight right away.  However, that is MUCH easier said than done I'm afraid.  Each day starts with good intentions and ends with a fistful of some form of chocolate!  It's unbelievable.  And I don't mean a regular single serving candy bar either.  I am talking big bags of the stuff.  I know it is very bad for me and not nutritious in the slightest, but at this point I don't seem to be able to control myself.

SO....in an effort to get back on track, I decided to log back in to OH.  I honestly quit coming on because I felt like such a failure...it seemed like the majority of the people on here met their goal with ease and I knew I would never reach mine.  Then I discovered the high BMI forum, the failed WLS forum, and then this forum, and thought I might be able to gain some useful support and information.  At this point, being realistic, I just want to lose the 25 pounds I have put on.  I realize it is not likely I will ever hit 180, and most certainly not 150.  (I so badly wanted to leave the 2's behind, but it just doesn't seem meant to be.  I am still trying to accept that.)

I would like any and all suggestions as to how to gain back control of my eating and ditch the chocolate monkey on my back!  I have set next Monday as the day I am heading back to the gym, come hell or high water.  But I have to get back on track with the chocolate and my eating.

So, let me have it!  Right between the eyes!  Don't hold back!

Thank you!

Dawn

Dawn -  I had this horrible habit of eating chocolate all day long.  I wouldn't but a chocolate bar, I would buy the bags of miniatures - all different kinds.  I would just eat it all day. I kept it in my desk at school, in my car, hidden at home....I was out of control.  I tried to limit myself, but after the first bite I was hooked.  About 3 weeks ago, I was feeling very tired in the afternoon and realized I was crashing from the candy high.  I decided to stop all candy eating cold turkey -none.  It was the only way I could do it.  I am happy to say that I haven't had any candy for those three weeks and actually feel better.  I still crave it once in awhile.  When this happens I remind myself how awful I felt while I was eating it......one day at a time.  Good luck!

Step Away From The Chocolate Go through your house, car, desk anywhere you stash chocolate and throw it in an outside garbage. Do not buy any more. You need to remove ALL temptation, then it's one day at a time. Write down everything you eat. I use fitday.com. We all have our own trigger foods that we need to control (easier said than done). Just being here shows you want to change but only can make the change. I will be praying for you and look forward to reading about your success.

Dawn - I'm so glad you have chosen to come to BOTT - You won't get anything for caring, support, and acceptance between the eyes here

Those are the very things that have been so meaningful to me and have helped me pursue my goal of getting back to my goal weight (3 + years out of lap band surgery)  I call these folks here "angels in disguise as humans

I have to keep reminding myself this is not a race it's a lifetime thing.  It just isn't reasonable to expect ourselves to never get off track for70, 30 or even 10 years.  So, the truth is what Cathy teaches us - it's not the getting off track that's important, it's what we do the next day that is the important thing (in fact, I'm living that today -got off track yesterday but am back on track today.)

WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.   I believe in you, so now it's your turn to believe in you

Again, welcome, Welcome, WELCOME    

HI Dawn,

I am 5 yrs out from my VBG with sleeve gastrectomy.  I got to see a low of 229 for about 5 minutes hehe.  I started out from 350 lbs (324 the day of surgery).

I hear you about the choc addiction.  I was single-handedly trying to rid the planet of every peanut M&M during the worst of my emotional eating!  Due to emotional eating, I gained 30 lbs in 2 months time (eep!).  So far, I've been BOTTing for about 3 weeks.  I had one day that my fitday calories went to 2500 cals.  I felt like I was starving that day.  Figured out that I was *tired* very very tired.  I'm doing my best to listen to these wise people and not fret about weight fluctuations and keep to my plan of protein first, then complex carbs.

I'm going to try to get bed soon.  Being tired gives the same result as my emo eating... I get off plan very easily!!! 

Good nite and welcome to the group!
Ratkitten

Dear Dawn......GET RID OF THE CHOCOLATE..... There I let you have it!!! LOL
But seriously, I have a suggestion....I have a Pure Protein (Chocolate Deluxe) Bar for breakfast every morning....20g protein, and 180 cal. I also like s/f white chocolate pudding, or s/f milk chocolate pudding.....There are several ways to have chocolate that is better for us than those evil little candy bars....

I recommend taking baby steps first.....clean out all your hiding spots( yes,we all had them). Throw out anything that temps you, its not worth it.....Remember you might have with drawls for a day or two...headaches, nervousness, irritability, ect...Its OK you and your family will get through it...

Stock up on your staples, yogurt, jerky, string cheese, chicken breasts, ect....you remember how this works....its not only a mind set, its a set-up of having everything you need there for you.

Try to get in as much  WATER, WATER, WATER as you can...if you have not been drinking, this too will take time to get back into the habit....

I read your post, about your shoulder....can you just walk instead.... or ride an exercise bike?

And last but not least....keep coming to this site...these are wonderful folks....although I don't write often I visit at least once a day...it gives me a boost just knowing I am not alone in this.

We are with you Dawn...."been there done that"  We have all be down your road, you can get back on track...just think positive and take baby steps......YOU CAN DO IT, DON'T GIVE UP!

TTYL *.* June

I find this forum and other help groups one of my best tools.  Anytime I feel like I am going to slip I can just log on to instant immediate love and support.  These rooms are a savior to me and know that you can find what you need here too!

Good Morning Dawn   Attempted to send you a big long message earlier, but apparently I mucked it up somehow so will try again

This is a new day.  Love yourself , forgive yourself for being human (being human = not being perfect), don't run and hide from us or yourself  - we accepot you so please accept yourself , be kind and gentle with yourself (giving it to yourself between the eyes hasn't worked in the past, so I invite you to try something different ), do compliance 5 minutes at a time and celebrate your success at the end of each 5 minutes - don't wait until the end of the day , come often to this site, we have lots of caring support to offer you .  I believe it is impossible to give support without also receiving it at the same time. Do you believe "it's more blessed to give than receive"?  Well if you do, please don't be greedy for the blessings.  Remember, one cannot give unless the other receives, so please receive so we can get some blessings too

Have a fine day - WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER

It's now 2:30 in the afternoon where I live and I'm wondering how your day's going. 

Hope all is well with you

I know the feeling like a failure bit.  I have felt that way myself.  I think the best thing to do would to be get the chocolate out of the house or any other trigger foods.   I think like most of us here, you are a food addict.  I had girl scout cookies in my house and thought I could ration them out and just eat two at a time.  That sure didn't work.  One box  I ate in one night.  Another box I ate the following night.  Then I finished off the lemon ones last monday.  My doctor tells me I don't have enough control yet to just eat two cookies.   My sister's birthday is coming up friday.  I am dying for a piece of chocolate cake but I don't want to lose the process I made.  I  mentioned this to my doctor, and he said cut peice of cake in half.  Throw  1 half away,  then cut the remaining half in two pieces.  Eat one piece, savor it and ask myself if I really want that second piece.  I'm going to try that.  That might be something you can do, allow yourself an occasional treat but don't bring it home.  Eat one-half and destroy the other.  It is worth a shot.   I hope this helps somewhat.