Needing Help Please... :)

Hi, 

Welcome to the group Karen. I'm going to be straight forward with you because I am someone who has had significant regain, but has also been successful in getting it off. 

The panic in your post is a bit worrisome to me. Your post reminds me of some of the posts I wrote as my eating started to promote weight gain rather than maintenance. Along with getting back on track, I'm going to ask you to do some other things at the same time.

1. I want you to figure out why you are choosing to eat high sugar foods.
2. Be honest with yourself when you answer this question: Did you on a deep level consider your food plan after WLS a "diet", something that would eventually end?
3. What type of eating can you live with long term? 
4. If you can't have just one chocolate candy, why is that? Do you feel an actual physical and mental drive to eat more? I do with some foods, so I know I have to be very careful about eating them. 

This is just a start. When I read about your getting back to basics plan it screams DIET to me. In your case, I'm not so sure that's going to work over the long haul. 

Not tracking your food because you have poor vision is an excuse. If you can see well enough to access this site and read posts, you can see well enough to track your foods. If you want to maintain your weight loss, you will have to KNOW what calorie level works for you. Without that knowledge you will not be able to maintain your weight over the long haul. Sorry, it's the truth. You need to hear it. 

I know that weight gain after WLS is terrifying. I understand what you're going through. You have a lot of work to do and it's a lot easier to start it at 9 pounds over your desired weight than 40 or 50 pounds over. You're on the right path. Stick to it! 

Kairk, 

Thank you for your comments! 

Let me honestly answer your questions and maybe you can help.

1. There is candy and cookies in the house for my husband. I told him to start hiding his treats from me. I feel the reason I got into the sugar is because I was not drinking my water throughout the day which caused me to have "head" hunger... so sugar was a quick fix. I also told myself one tiny piece would not make a difference but it caused me to take another. I know now I can not have sugar. I feel if I had been drinking water in between meals, my head or stomach would not of screamed "sugar". 
2. No, not really.... I knew it was going to be my way of eating for here on out. I don't consider myself on a diet. I know this is the way I eat. I know I can not eat the way I did before.... fried foods, breads, soft drinks, and now I realize a small piece of candy leads to another. I know if I go back to the old way of eating, I will regain my weight. I can see myself testing myself though by trying the small piece of candy and having a handful of ritz crackers. I don't see myself coming off or falling off of a diet. I saw myself testing to see what a small amount would do. I was told I could eat what I wanted but in small amounts. Well,,,, I think I disagree with that thought. I personally can not eat what I want or the pounds will come back on. No, I'm not on a diet,,,,, it is all about the choices I make. Yes, I made some bad choices in the last two weeks. It scared me... so that is why I'm here on this site asking for help.
3. 3. Eating long term>>>> Long term I see myself eating protein first, veggie or fruit to go along with it. I see myself doing away with soft drinks, breads and sweets. I see myself eating maybe a low carb recipe that has lots of protein and veggies. I am always looking for recipes that will fit my way of eating. My thought of eating is..... I eat to live, not live to eat. I am very structured and simple with my meals. I do need to learn to get more creative and make them more interesting without adding the wrong things. 
4. Yes,,,, I do have a mental drive to get another piece of chocolate after I have one piece. I do not have the control to have just one piece and leave it alone yet. So, I will not get the first piece anymore. :(
5. BACK TO BASICS: When I say back to basics, I guess what I'm thinking is eating to detox my body from sugar cravings, cracker cravings. Go back to the protein shakes and dense protein for a few days to detox my body and to get rid of the 4 lbs I gained. I only do this for 3 days then start adding back my veggies,,, then my fruit. So back to basics,,, I am thinking for me is to detox my body to get rid of the sugar / carb cravings and to increase my water and start my exercise back up. It is getting back on track on what I should be doing all along. Does this make sense? It's not a diet to me,,, it's detoxing my body for 3 days. It's not what I will be doing in the long run. After the detox and adding back my water, I plan for the long run to eat dense protein , fruit for breakfast. S-yogurt  L-dense protein, veggie   s-yogurt   D= dense protein  veggie.... In other words, protein and veggie or protein and fruit for meals and just protein for snacks.
6. TRACKING/VISION: You are right I need to track my food. My nut told me to eat 4 oz protein and 1/2 veggie. That is what I was doing. I was saying I could not use Fitness Pal because I can not see the print on the screen. My magnifier does not work on that program. I use a magnifier on this site to read and write. I found it easier to weigh my protein on a talking food scale, measure out my veggies / fruit. I will start back to tracking my food in a notebook. That is no problem. I was not using my vision as to not track, I just can't use FP. I thought just weighing / measuring my food would do it but I see I need to be more accountable by writing it down.  Thank you SO MUCH for your comments and I hope I answered your questions. PLEASE feel free to respond. I am trying to be as honest as I can here. I have questions to ask myself as well. Why did I stop drinking my water? Why did I stop exercising? Good day for soul searching and planning ahead. Thanks again!!! 

Hi Karen, welcome to our group. I am proud of our members for rallying behind you and offering good advice. I can't add much except that you are not the first person with these issues. Go through and read the older threads on this same subject - especially Kairk's posts. He has really explored this issue and done exceptionally well. You are wise to address this now.  I think everyone has a "year of fear" after reaching goal until they develop a workable routine. Do the tracking.  I did it for four years after reaching goal. Probably should resume but i feel ok at 129 lbs. Our stats and age at surgery are strikingly similar. 

Anyway welcome and good luck. Check in here daily.   diane s

Thank you, Diane S! 

Yes, this is a great site and group. I really appreciate people being honest with me on my issues. :) I am so thankful for each response I've received. :) They are "all" so helpful! I will go back and read some older post to get more info and suggestions. I am so glad people are so honest with me! :) I NEEDED that! :) I have started tracking today and drinking my water. Tomorrow I will start up the exercise. (dust off the elliptical) :)

Thank you again!

Hi Karen. Glad to have you here. You've received great advice and the only thing I can add is that I think it's best to only add 'healthy' calories for the first year in maintenance. For me, that meant things like a serving of berries, higher fat versions of protein and dairy, etc.  I really didn't change a lot and just focused on increasing calories instead of adding junk carbs. Hope that helps

Thanks Spencerella!  Yes, I have received great advice here! Everyone has been so helpful!! This is the best group,,,, experts for sure!! :) I will definitely keep that in mind on the  healthy carbs. Thanks!! :) I have so much to learn from you all who have been down this road. :) So glad I came here to learn. :)