Let's discuss our BOTT progress

Hi all, I joined this group in late June but really haven't posted here yet. Thought it was time to get a discussion going about our back on track progress. 

First, where I was:

HW: 280 (May 2010); RNY SW: 260 (Nov. 2010); post-op LW: 182 (Sept. 2011)

I was on my own almost all that time. Didn't take advantage of support groups or this website; didn't think about or work hard on following the plan - ate small portions but didn't keep track of protein, water, or exercise. Maintained for about a year. Stopped paying attention; started drinking wine, eating crackers and other simple carbs; didn't exercise or weigh myself. Clothes started feeling tighter; felt uncomfortable climbing stairs, etc. but I ignored the signs until June 25, 2014. Weighed myself: 220. Acknowledged what I'd feared but denied for so long. Woke up. Came to OH and MFP and read. RESTARTED back on track 6/26/14. 

BOTT 6/26/2014-  SW: 220; CW: 206; GW: 170 or maybe even less! Hope to get to Onederland soon;  by 4-year anniversary (Nov. 2, 2014) hope to be less than 196; by end of 2014 less than 190; by 5-yr. surgiversary 170 or less! Yes, losing weight is harder now, but I think these goals are reasonable now that I've rediscovered the power of being BACK ON TRACK! BOTT!! 

For me the keys have been: overcoming the cravings for carbs (5 Day pouch test helped); eliminating wine, slider foods, simple carbs from my diet, focusing on high protein, low carb-fat-sugar diet; exercising 6-7 days/week -- mostly walking 60-75 minutes early in the a.m. (LOVE listening to music as I walk); recording all food and exercise at MFP; reading posts here and at MFP every day; occasionally posting myself; developing a sense of community with others in the wls community; wanting to stay BACK ON TRACK TOGETHER with others who know and understand the struggle and what it takes to achieve success. We can do it together! Let's share results, successes and setbacks, and strategies for staying on track! 

Great first post, MindyMac51.  You are doing very well on your path to Onederland.  I agree with all of your keys to attaining those goals, and it fits my keys almost to a "T" (except for the wine...I don't imbibe).  I also started with the 5DPT, and reached my first goal in 9 months (lost my 71 lb regain).  I'm at my second goal now (160) and working on my third before Christmas (150 or below). 

I don't post here a lot, but I'm here everyday as well as on MFP.  Welcome to BOTT, and keep up the great job that you're doing.  You WILL get there!

Great post Mindy!

Surgery 05/08/08 HW 255, SW 238, GW 145,  lowest weight post op 140 (too low for me)

Revised goal weight 155lbs gained to that and added a few friends.. Typical over the years - 160-168..

Regain 176 - 178 .. 

Current 159...162..

What helps me is to avoid carbs and wine... I have food allergies (soy, dairy) plus IBS-C (i have issue with gut sensitivity - constipation and pain). If I follow my proper diet (very restrictive - eliminating FODMAP foods, grains and carbs) and using enough Miralax - my gut works OK. I also have adrenal insufficiency (my body does not make enough cortisol)  and I have severe RH - so following good diet is a must.  But I am still a human - so once in a while I eat foods that i know i should not and deal with consequences. 

Problem with severe RH is that once I upset my system and get reaction- I may have next few hours or even couple of days that it feels like my BS crashes all the time and it feels like I am chasing it all the time....low BS - it is not fun, can't be ignored and I need to feed my body carbs to recover... A couple of days like that - and I can see up to 5- 6 lbs of weight gain (mostly water and bloating). That plus gas and more gut pain. (IBS) 

Overall - I hate pain and the horrible gas - so most of the time following strict diet is not that difficult.  I just look at some foods and almost can feel my BS dropping or the gut pain....and that stops me.  (most of the time) 

Could you post an example of what your breakfast, lunch, dinners are? And do you include snacks? I have about a 15lb regain that I need to tackle. Sometimes I feel so lost in all of this stuff! I know what works for one may not work for another- and I am trying to learn what works for me and that seems to be somewhere in the middle. These extra pounds don't want to budge at all. Any help would be appreciated!

I keep track of all my meals and exercise at MyFitnessPal. Same username. You can friend me there and see my food diary. General rule is I'm trying to eat  1200-1400 cal/day, aiming for 35-40% protein, 30-35% carbs, 25-30% fat. I tend to have a lot of Greek yogurt and still often do a protein shake. 

Yesterday's menu, for example: 

B: Dannon light n fit Greek yogurt, banana cream (80 cal); Isopure Dutch chocolate protein shake made with 1 cup almond milk

Morning snack: no morning snack yesterday, but I'll often have a Greek yogurt or some fresh fruit with 1/2 cup cottage Cheese. 

L: chef's salad  (romaine, grape tomatoes, deli turkey slices and American cheese) With 2 tablespn. lite honey mustard dressing.

Afternoon snack:  Dannon light n fit Greek yogurt Vanilla 

D: Grilled chicken breast and wing, 1 ear corn on the cob, 2 tbl. Hummus, tomato slices with basil and a touch of olive oil, Chobani 100 Greek yogurt cherry.

8 glasses water

note: no bread, crackers, rice, or pasta; no wine, diet soda, or fruit juice. 

Acc. to MFP this menu was 1357 cal., 140 gr Protein, 110 gr. Carbs (incl. 47 gr sugars), and 48 gr Fat: that's 39% Protein, 31 % Carbs, 30% fat. YEsterday's menu was heavier on the yogurt than usual. I'll often have scrambled eggs or an omelette ( with cheese and/ or veggies) for breakfast. Usually 1-2 Greek yogurts a day. 

Exercise yesterday: walked 67 min. At moderate pace (3 mph), burning 377 cal. SO my net calories were 1013. I've found that I need to keep net cals under 1200 to lose 1.5-2 lb/wk. yeah, it's slow, but it's working and it's a routine I can live with Longterm. 

I hope this is helpful. I strongly recommend using MFP to track your food and exercise. Good luck! 

Thank You! 

I have slowly, slowly returned to the bad habits that resulted in my obesity in the first place. I had RNY May 10, 2010, with a 100 lb wt loss. I got down to 149 and that wasn't my pre-op goal (which was 135). At my age, 135 is probably too low. Anyway, I was faithful to good eating, recording my proteins, water, taking supplements, 3 meals and 2-3 snacks.....all with good results. Now, it seems like a graze all day. I crave carbs and not even good carbs. I want crackers, cookies, desserts and bread and pasta. I feel bad most of the time and hate what I am doing. I now am up to 165 and have clothes that are tight, tight, tight. It is reminiscent of the old days when I had to search the closet to find something to wear. My closet is full of size 10s and 12s and the 12s are uncomfortable. I am going to commit to use this BOTT connection and hold myself accountable. I can do this. I want to feel good again and break this destructive cycle. Let's support each other!

Good to see you getting back on track. For me getting over the craving for bad carbs absolutely was the key to getting back on track. I have not desired or eaten bread, crackers, rice, pasta at all since late June -- and these used to be central to my diet before surgery and during the months of my regain. I don't even miss 'em now. 

Great post MindyMac.... Thanks for sharing.

HW 266, SW 244, LW 152, CW 170, GW 155

i do well at meals...protein forward, take all vitamins and get fluids ins.  My problem is snacking/grazing.  Like h.a.l.a.b, I have rh issues and if I have a really low bs, it takes a bit to get out of that high/low/crash cycle.

i keep recommitting to losing the regain and going back to the amount of exercise I was doing the first year after surgery.  I will not give up.

Linda