New here, searching for help

 Good morning, Im new here and trying to get back on track 
i had my surgery 4 years ago, lost 100 and needed to lose another 100 but I didnt 
Im worried my pouch doesnt work anymore as I can eat pretty normal.. any suggestions? where should I start? How do I get back on track........
Thanks
Maureen

Hi Maureen

well you've come to the right place.  They are a great bunch of supportive, positive people here.  And well doen on all your weight loss so far - you have done fantastic!!

Ideas - go back to basics, all that you were told in the beginning.  Easier said than done I know from experience.  Read through the guidelines at the top of the posts for reminders.  It always helps when I post on the daily cardio and cafe - I don't post often, but when I do it keeps me accountable and reminds me to think ahead and not leave food planning to the last minute and grab the easiest thing to hand which is usually calorie laden carbs!

Look forward to getting to know you better and I'm sure others will come and give great advice too

 Thank you~ I will read the documents.  I dont know if this is the best time of the year to start, but I just need to start....... I appreciate the support.

hey MoFi

it's always not a good time to start in my head, but actually today is the day we should start, if you get what I mean.  i haev always said I'll start on Monday, tomorrow, in the New Year, etc etc etc, when I should have said I'll start today.

Yes there is so many more goodies and not ideal food right now, but as I heard someone say, Christmas is one day - so I'm going to take the days leading up to it to get on track, rather than eat my way through the whole season!

Anytime is a good time to improve our habits - one step at a time.  You can do it, I can do it,   hang in there...

Hello and Welcome Maureen

Ditto to what Ruth said..  Take your time, go over all the docs we have and then make a list of all the things you have gotten off track with.  Then come up with a plan...  like if sugar is an issue for you, take week one and try and lower the amount of sugar intake, then the second week cut it our altogether.  Then if you are not writing down  your food intake do that the 3rd week.  I know, I know you want to go faster, but if you do everything all at once you will be right back to where you are now.  Take it one step at a time and we are here for you all the way  

Take care,
Kathy

 oh ! Thank you, my issue is carbs......... not eating protein first and drinking water while I eat.  I will start journaling my food.  Thank you for the support
Maureen

Maureen - I'm so glad you've chosen to join us.  I hope you find this site as helpful as I have.  I know that I could not have gotten back/stayed on track without their caring, support, understanding and acceptance.  They are my family in the truest sense of the word. 

I, too had my surgery (lap-band) 4 years ago - in fact, four years ago Wednesday.  About two years out I got off track and gained 30-35 pounds.  I'm so happy to say that 35 pounds + 5 more is off now and I am maintaining beautifully.  WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER, YES WE CAN

I have found maintenance takes the same effort (maybe even more than losing).  For me that means planning my food at least one day ahead (3 or 5 days is better) and WRITING IT DOWN.  I go by calories (being sure I get my protein and water in first) and when I have eaten my day's allotment of calories I won't let myself eat anything else that day.  After all, our problem is about .01% physical and 99.99% mental - we know little or nothing about "tummy hunger" by a whole lot about "head hunger" so thinking/feeling like I need to eat is the poorest indicator of whether I REALLY need to eat.  I've never known anyone to fall over dead because they didn't give into a craving, but people sure do fall over dead from being obese.  Having said this, please don't - even for a heartbeat - think I do this perfectly every day.  I don't.  I'm human.  Humans make mistakes.  Humans can correct their mistakes.  Humans can learn from their mistakes.  So, as unhandy as it is, please accept the truth that you are human, you made a mistake, you are well on your way to correcting your mistake.  Celebrate you are doing what you need to do to take care of you.

If you are comfortable, pleas post often and allow us to share your journey to goal.  It's not a race  it's a life-time life-style change   WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER, YES WE CAN   We've all been where you are and have done what you've done.  Don't be shy  let us know how we can best be helpful.

Again, WELCOME