fell off

the wagon last night. Got into carbs..... potatoes and bread..... felt like a junkie.... feel horrible this morning... gonna try to get back to protein plan but feel really thick headed and thick middled. And of course not to happy with myself. Afraid to get on the scale.

You're not alone!!  I fed my Men's Bible Study last night and could not stay away from the cornbread my wife made.  Afterwards, I beat myself up for not having the will power to back away from the carbs.  But God bless my wife, she will not allow me to stay down long.  She always reminds me where I was and how far I've come and just motivates me to keep trying again.

Stay in it!!  Don't let one night ruin your day!  Get back on track and keep a positive attitude that you will do better and go longer before slipping again. 

Have a blessed day!

Big Ed

Thanks Big Ed! It just touches me to know there are people that really understand this problem I have. I know from past experience that if I can just pick myself up and dust myself off so to speak it will get easier especially early on when just getting "started" again. It is definitely about attitude but so hard to adjust it sometimes... that's where this board helps so much and not remaining so isolated. Thanks again!

Don't beat yourself up.  All of us fall off at one time or another.  The road to back on track has little detours along the way and isn't a straight shot of perfection in our choices.  To me, the most important day is the day after - today.  If you get right back on track and on the wagon then it is merely a slip and not the beginning of a slide.  

We've got your seat saved on the wagon with your name on it!

Cathy

happylapbander gave me some great advice regarding my hunger and constant eating.  She said take 5 minutes at a time.  If I really want something to eat and ready to gnaw my own arm off, take 5 minutes and if I was able to make it 5 minutes, give myself a pat on the back.  Then try for another 5 minutes.  That is when the need to eat is intense.  If you can distract yourself from your trigger foods, you don't even need to take it 5 minutes at a time!  Do you have any hobbies?  I know that my sister does a lot of scrapbooking and she refuses to eat/drink around her photos and expensive supplies.  I know someone else that does crochet (sp?) in the evening instead of grazing before bed.  Reading is a great escape for others.  Try to distract yourself from the carbs.  If you are weak around them, try to avoid being within reach of them!

I don't know if this helps, but I just wanted to offer some support and say YOU CAN DO THIS!  Confessing is cathartic and lets you start fresh.  Like Cathy said... you had a slip, so lets work on keeping you from sliding!

Are you happy that you changed from the band to rny?  I am losing so slowly...just wondering if I should have chosen the bypass.  I am for sure giving this band 2 years though...
thanks.

Oh boy... you are asking the wrong person if they are happy with their RNY!  Let see... first off, the band had to come out.  I had a hiatal hernia (which they did fix) as well as a slip (which they did fix), but the problems came back.  I couldn't even tolerate an empty band.  Sadly, my hunger was under control with my band (at least when it was working or when I had it adjusted).  My hunger is horrific and what weight I did lose with my RNY, I am gaining back.  I am fighting like hell to keep it down.  I have some other health issues that make weight gain too easy, so I am not playing a "fair game".  In terms of complications... I spent most of the first 5 months in the hospital (I was in and out of the hospital for 4 months).  I had small bowel obstructions, strictures, and malnutrition.  I am still struggling to bring up my iron, protein, and B12 still.  I am nauseated constantly and I am so sick in the morning that I can't eat breakfast (a cup of milk is the best I can do).  I am sicker now than I have ever been in my life.  I developed adrenal insufficiency (they think it was due to the trauma from being so sick for so long).  I have the malnutrition and anemia.  My energy levels are bottomed out due to the hormonal problems, but add malnutrition, I am even more exhausted... but I also developed insomnia to make matters worse.  I had a pre-existing bladder disease (Interstitial Cystitis) and my surgeon said he'd be able to work with my bladder diet, "no worries" he said.  Well, vitamin supplementation is AGONY.  I can't avoid supplements... but I am in agony when I do.  Eating with RNY is much harder than with the band.  The band, I'd wake up and based on how water went down (or my morning protein shake), I'd know how tight I was for that day.  With the RNY, food may sit ok at lunch and then all of a sudden, water turns against me and I vomit that up all afternoon and evening.  Oh, and I can't do water... I have to do Crystal Light type drinks because water is like drinking lead.  On top of all the things I mentioned, my reactive hypoglycemia is worse now than it ever was.  My blood sugars have been as low as 36 in the last couple of days.  It is terrifying.  I almost passed out, more than once, and it is a terrifying feeling.  Oh, I also get orthostatic hypotension.  My BP was as low as 90/50 and for a large person like me (5'8" and large boned), that isn't quite enough.  My pulse was 130 when my BP was that low.  It's not horribly low, but as soon as I stood up, my BP would drop substancially and that is when I come close to fainting there.  I am on meds for they hypotension and the difference was night and day.  Thank God for Fludrocortisone!!!

Well, you wrote to me on a night that I hate my RNY (Well, I hate it daily, but I am really pissed that I got it done right now).  I don't know any other band to bypass revision having this much trouble.  Most of them just complain about their slow weight loss... none have had big problems or even mild ones!  I'm just special I guess. (Oh, and I get migraines since my revision too... 1-2/month).  So, I have a ton of crap going on and I am doing my best to cope with it all.  The RNY directly caused some problems... and they suspect it causes some other problems... and the post-op diet and supplements makes my previous disease torture.  So, I'm not your typical revision case.  I'd really do more research... but the one thing that is true of all revisions... your weight loss will be slower and you may not lose as much weight % wise as someone that got RNY at first.  My surgeon warned me of that (as well as the hunger problem coming back once the band was removed... he was right).  I know others that have been warned of the slow weight loss.  Marcia M and NeedhamGal are 2 very close bandster-to-bypasser friends.  They are both doing great and love their RNY!  Their experiences post-op have been more normal, so maybe they can offer you better advice?  I hope I didn't scare you though.  I guess I needed to vent tonight...

Bless your heart.  I'm not near ready to change..I"m only 10 months out from my band..I just am at a total stand still weight loss wise since October.  Even up a few pounds..but, I am going to try the 5dpt this next week and see if it will get my weight loss going.  I surely feel for you.  That is one reason I chose the band of bypass..I already have issues with aneima and low potassium..that's from an illness I had afew years back.  I hope things get better for you...I am certain having to pay such close attention to every detail of your body and emotions is completely exhausting...You didn't scare me at all..I am surely hoping for a speedy healing for you.
Thanks very much for sharing your story..
Kelley

I'm glad I didn't scare you!  Sometimes I wonder if I should even come to support groups (online or in person) because I don't want to scare away newbies (most people sail through the surgery/recovery and are happy and healthy).  I just feel like an "outsider" the "party pooper" or whatever you want to call me.  I usually say I am the "Debbie downer" because I come to the boards for help/support... and it's been ages since I had a post that we could celebrate.   I do try to post and support others... but when they hear about my story, they run screaming, or say that I am being overly dramatic, or blaming RNY when there is no reason (most of my problems started within 3 months of my RNY).  I just hate that I have never been this sick before in my life... and the RNY was supposed to help me prevent illness and give me energy (as a byproduct of losing weight).  So, I'm disapointed in how my RNY journey has gone... but I am trying to keep my fingers crossed... that things will improve for me!

Stalls happen regardless of your surgery type... but one that has gone on for months, something's got to change in order to resume weight loss (a short 2-3 week stall, when doing everything right (ok, most of the time, we're not talking perfection) is normal... but months, time to mix things up!).  I found that when I stalled, changing my exercise routine was the easiest.  I'd do interval training on the treadmill (sprints, jog, walking, etc).  I'd up the weights a bit when weight lifting, between machines I'd do variety spotting (using a medicine ball during squats, lunges while doing a bicep curl using the curling bar, etc).  I'd also mix up which ab exercises I'd do that day (I did abs and back every day, but more toning instead of weight lifting).  I would track my food/fluid intake for a couple of weeks (I'd even measure again).  Usually my diet was not the culprit (meaning protein was good, fluid intake was good, my portion sizes were not growing, and calories were within target range).  I did find, however, that as I lost more and more weight, I had to lower my caloric intake and up my exercise (up my caloric expenditure).  It was a lot of analysis, but I could always find ways to break the stall.  With my RNY, things are not that simple and I am gaining weight even though my caloric intake is not too far off target.  It's the lack of exercise and metabolism that bottomed out (due to insomnia, anemia, lack of sleep, etc).  I am going to try an appetite suppressant soon.  This hunger is killing me!  I hope your hunger is well controlled with the band.  There were days I'd forget to get with the band... yes it was that good!  My band was never very tight... tight enough, but I could eat anything at night including meat, bread, pasta, etc.  Gosh I miss my band!  Enjoy yours!  That adjustable part of it is a Godsend!

I appreciate all your suggestions.  I really believe that you should always keep coming back to the support.  I'm sure you are not alone in the struggle with the RNY.  I admire that you are just honest about what's going on.  No need to pretend otherwise.  I do need to up my exercise then stay off of the scale..because always when I exercise..my weight goes up.  I must have massive muscle under all this fat :)  Thanks again really.  You made me feel much better about my band.
Probably about time for an adjustment for me....I just wanted to try the 5dpt first.  I'm on day 2 and doing well although I am really hungry!  I just always wanted to avoid hunger..and I was a true success at that...lol..