6 yrs out & need another honeymoon phase!!

THanks! You gotta send me some of your spirit! Youre right- it takes baby steps- and one step at a time. That is what I am trying to re-learn- I was always one to want everything- the sun, moon & stars, all at once, instead of realizing the truth that heaven (and all other life goals) comes one little step at a time.

Trying to update my info- not sure if I am doing this the wrong way since it is a bit strange to post a reply to my own post (anyone out there more site-savvy who can tell me if I am posting the wrong way?)

Again, I am an old post-op (6.5 yrs) who lost only half of the weight I was supposed to lose after RNY in 2003 & who has re-discovered my sleeping pouch and the importance of  the wls community after being AWOL for 6 years.
 
I have now completed my first week of getting back on track mainly by :

1) starting slowly to exercise a few times a week
2)  drinking lots of water (and water-loading) instead of diet soda- except after meals.
3) eating protein first and then a few bites of veggies- 

Since I know my pouch is still ok but my stoma is a little enlarged...(hence my ability to eat an enormous amt of food for the past 4-5 yrs,as well as being able to consume daily bags of peanut M&Ms and other crazy self-destructive behaviors)... I am FINALLY paying attention to the FIRST sensation of tightness- however slight- and STOPPING there. Before last week , I would just continue eating, and when that extra food got into my mouth, whatever was already eaten would just get pushed down into my intestine, and, combined with drinking while eating, I had become oblivious to the years, and opportunites, slipping by.

NOW, with the help of God and my new-found on-line support groups, I pray that I will not miss another day or opportunity to work my way to healthy....

I noticed today that my discusssion topic has been labelled as a "HOT TOPIC", with 75 views. I am encouraged by this because it means that perhaps many others are either in the same boat and are  also looking for answers, support and inspiration, or are successful and are hoping to enlighten others. Or, are newlypost-op and are looking to learn and avoid other people's mistakes (such as mine!).

In any case, I (and perhaps many others) would so appreciate it if those of you who are lurking around and coming across this topic of how to "restart" ...how to have a "second honeymoon":, so to speak,  would PLEASE chime in. All of you have a voice, an insight, an experience, an admonition or a word of encouragement, which can be signficantly helpful to others, and especially to me, on this life-changing journey we are all linked by.  So PLEASE post if you have anything to tell me...and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time....!

PS.I know that we cannot have a honeymoon like when we were first post-op...our bodies have changed and adapted and there are other physiological differences between new and old post-ops...but I use the phrase "second honeymoon", because of the connotation of being wide-eyed, passionate, hopeful, and newly-committed that one feels when on a honeymoon. Even though our bodies may not respond and drop weight like when newly post-op, I am hoping that I can re-light that old flame and get those feelings and motivations back.

Hello Tamistar!

Welcome to BOTT!!  Congrats on getting back on track and trying to get the essence of the 2nd honeymoon back!!  That is the 1st step needed to get back on track. 

I found myself 80 pounds back up March of last year and I never reached my ulimate goal.  Since March of last year I have lost 40 of 80 pounds lost.  It has been a real struggle but I am going to do it no matter what it takes.  I have had ups and downs but I realize success is never giving up like I have done in the past.  Read my profile for more details. 

You can do it for sure.  You are older now so that alone will make it a challenge but if you remain positive, presevere, and be patient, you will re-lose the weight.  My main goal this year is to get under 300 pounds.  Once I do that I will make another goal for myself.

When I read your post a few days ago at work I did not have time to reply to you, but I did not forget about you. 

Like you I really wish lurkers would post more to the board.  I feel many feel ashamed to admit they have gained weight.  Normal people gain weight so I am not sure why the shame at 1st.  I am so glad I got over the shame. 

Keep us posted and please check in often.  We are here for you!

Hi Tamistar,
I'm 10 years out and initially lost 130lbs within months.  I was able to maintain that lost for 5 year, until I was diagnoised with major depression.  Being in the hospital, there were many eating options in the hospitals.  I began to eat what was on my plate and needless to say kept going from there. The massive doses of meds all put on some lbs.  I've gained approx. 35 lbs. and have stay that weight until recently.  A few months ago, my depression was showing it's signs.  The past 6 weeks have been hell.  I've had NO appetite, no energy and basically no reason to live.  I was admitted back into the hospital again last Thursday.  I've had some major medication adjustments and counseling therapies.  Over the past few weeks I've lost 17 lbs, the 1st in years, since I lost.  I truly believe that my substituting protein drinks over meals is what helped me in my loss.  There are so many different variations and recipes, I was actually looking forward to my protein drinks.  They even allow my husband to bring in my protein powders so that I was getting some nutrition.  Now don't get me wrong.  We are suppose to eat real food.  But honestly, my stomach has not felt better in years.  I get in over 100 grams of protein and my carbs and calories are under control.   This is definately not for everyone, but it has really made a difference with me.
Best of Luck with what you decide to do.  Be Positive and keep Believing!
Deb

Hi Deb...you are absolutely right about the protein drinks. I need to drink more of them. I am eating protein and very little carbs- no bread, rice, etc. Just veggies- and not too much. I wish you all the best with getting back on track. I know exactly how depression and anxiety can rip right through a person's plan to get healthy- I suffer from both. People who have depression have an chain around their necks which pulls them down and makes it so difficult to believe in their own worth- and believing in your own worth is the bottom line in any weight loss/get healthy goal. So, hang in there, seek out support (friends, therapy, whatever), and try to let yourself rise above the depression and see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you are worthy of the journey to get to that light. I am battling my depression with meds (I had some therapy), and, for me, what is working is prayer, prayer and more prayer. Trying to get a feeling of serenity and peace, and above all, acknowledging and feeling gratitude for the blessings I have been given.

Hi Tamistar: I am 18 months out from surgery and hit a plateau several months ago and have found myself staying put but unhappy.  I to am getting back to the basics and trying to make my way to my goal not with just weight.  This post has encouraged me because I have felt alone and I'm not glad others are struggling to but since they are I am glad we can possibly support one another.  I don't know if rapid weightloss can be accomplished again but I'm not sure at this point if rapid is as important as doing our best daily and let the results be as they may.  I do not think we can judge our success by the scales but by our actions or at least that is what I am telling myself now.  I look forward to hearing more from you and the others as we finish this journey we began.  Carol

Hi Carol,
Welcome to BOTT!  You are being a bit hard on yourself.  You've lost a lot of weight and just a few more to go.  Let me ask you this...
Are you eating a healthy breakfast
Taking all your vitamins
Drinking water through out the day
Waiting 30 min. before and after meals
Eating protein and veggies
Not eating white foods
Exercising
I found that it is so easy to fall back into old habits.  It sneaks up slowly and before you know, it your scale gets stuck!
Try posting daily what your meal plans are, it's much easier to stick with a plan and watch out for any of those sneaky bad habits
Carol, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
We're here for you!
Deb

Hi! Thank you for reminding me that its important to take each day at a time and not give up when I dont see the results I wish for. My body figured out that I was doing something VERY different than the past few years of binging on peanut M&Ms, drinking tons of diet soda instead of water, eating as much carbs and white stuff as I pleased and drinking while I ate. So, since I decided to get back on track, I started losing about 1-2 lbs a day...TILL MY BODY FIGURED OUT WHAT I WAS UP TO. After the initial shock of the changes, my body decided that it was going to slow down and I actually stopped losing anything. Which discouraged me. Until I realised that I have to just keep trying, keep myself in check with what I am ACTUALLY putting in my mouth, and take it ONE DAY at a time, like you so rightly pointed out....

And I realised that my body is going to slow down its metabolism and keep resisting weight loss until I add more vital ingredient...exercise. That has always been my downfall. I "missed" the opportunity that the honeymoon phase gave me to take advantage of tminimal caloric intake combined with lots of exercise. My intention was to use that 18 mo-2 yr window to transform myself from a sedentary person to a consistently active individual who was an avid exerciser.

SO, that is my new job. To take it one day, one step, at a time- not to obsess about the lbs coming off or not coming off, keep trying to stick to my new (or "rediscovered) eating habits...and to adopt a new attitude about exercise. I wish there was a pill I could take to make me instantly like to exercise, but I know that is not the case. I have to find something I like to do,and just DO IT.  Every day. Wish me luck. And thanks again for reminding me what this journey is all about.