Question:
HELP! How to get back on the

I am about 18months postop... down from 286 to 169. I am having a TERRIBLE time getting back on the wagon, so to speak. I know everything I need to do... up the protein, down the carbs, drink the water, and exercise. (I want to get to 135-140). anyway, I have been stuck here for about 3 months! MY FAULT! I haven't been eating properly. My question is for those of you who have gone through this... how do you get your mind set, and get back on track??? I don't gain any weight, but I still want to loose and unfortunately, I am falling in the same "routines" I did before surgery... you know, "I'll start fresh Monday,... or after this certain activity..." How can I get started and STICK WITH IT through all occasions until I get the weight off! PLEASE HELP!    — Kay W. (posted on September 5, 2003)

September 5, 2003
Kay, I'm a little like yourself, I'm 16 months post op and have been at the same weight for about 3 months now give or take about 5-9 pounds that I give myself lee-way for, I'll gain it and then turn around and loose it, I too have about 20 pounds till my goal of 160, I'm 5'10 so I figure that'll be a good weight, I know how you feel about knowing but having a terrible time getting back on track, Rather then taking it one day at a time, take it one hour at a time, If you eat something (that you know is fattening high in calories, just keep in your mind that you day is not shot ~!, and that you'll try harder at your next meal to get back on the path, and eat healthy. Never look at it as though you've killed your day, because you really haven't . As long as you take it one hour at a time, I also rather then saying I'm going to start my diet on Monday, I don't, I wake up with the scale, yep I'm a slave to the scale how many people aren't it rules the life. If I feel I've gained a pound or 2 I'll begin to eat healthy, I don't set any limits, in regards to how much protein, fats, carbs, I should or shouldn't eat, I eat normal with no limitations, I also dont dump and can eat doughnuts, and cookies, they are my down fall, but if I have a day where I splurge and eat them I know I'll have to work them off in the end, I try to keep my calories down, when I know I've eaten something Ireally shouldn't have, an extra slice of this, or that. I hit the elipitcal machine, It kicks my but, 25 minutes on that machine and I've burned 300 calories, it covered my cookies that I ate that way I don't live in regret of the things that I've consumed, Hope this helps some, Best of luck, Many Huggs
   — tannedtigress

September 5, 2003
Five little words always work for me: One Day at a Time. I know that I can get throug one day for sure. The prospect of a week or a month or a year or a lifetime just blows my mind so I just try to keep it as simple as possible and make sure to pat myself on the back for each successful DAY! AND the longer you are away from the carbs he better you feel so it definitely has its big perks. My favorite thing about WLS is that I actually can get back on the wagon if I fall off and so can you. Do you have any sympathetic friends or posties that you could use as a support for a while? I find that sometimes reporting in (in my case with a nutritionist) has helped to keep me on the straight and narrow and to teach me so much about feeding my body in a healthy way. If you can find a great nutritionist maybe it would be worth it for a while to see one. It has really helped change my head when it comes to food and I was and still am a total addict when it comes to food!
   — Carol S.

September 5, 2003
Look at some of your "before" pictures. It's incentive for some I have heard in my support group meetings.
   — Just M.

September 5, 2003
Kay~ If they give awards for falling off the wagon, I'd be QUEEN. One of my biggest problems is that I dont cook much. I'm single and dont have kids and I hate leftovers so I usually end up eating peanut butter crackers and fruit for dinner. When I get way,way off track I look at my before pics (which make me cry) and that snaps me back. I also TRY not to buy crappy food. If I dont buy it, I wont eat it, Like the other posters have said, take one day at a time and be kind to yourself. It is a battle for me everyday but I KNOW we can do it. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 115
   — Siddy I.

September 5, 2003
I'm 25 months post. I have had a horrible time with food for the last 6 months or so. As a poster said below, one day at a time. I, like you, have been in that I'll start fresh Monday routine, only to fail again. I had (have) to take a long hard look at the facts and act on them. For one, I am a carb monster. One piece of candy will NOT be Ok...not for me. I have to treat myself as a child. I can not buy things in packages...not if the total caloric value is more than I should eat for a sitting (yes, I can now eat whole bags of things), I have to plan my entire day out to a T...not that I don't have to white out parts here and there and shift...but for the most part it's a planned out ordeal. Obesity is a disease...one that affects each of us differently....I am a die hard fatgirl, and have always had a hard time following the "rules", but I'll tell you, I'll be d*mned if I let all that weight come back....so each day, I take small steps and try to figure out what works for me. Believe me, it takes more effort and thought than I really want, but without it, I simply overeat...and I know certain foods trigger binge episodes in me (bagels and peanut butter are two of my worst). I'm fighting this physiological disease with all my might. You are not alone, but with great perserverance, we can prevail. Best wishes. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 282/138ish/125
   — KimBo36

September 5, 2003
I could have written Dawn's post below, especially the part about being a slave to the scale-thats me! Daily weigh-ins keep me honest. I'm 18 mo post, and holding within a 2 pound gain/loss. First, congrats on holding firm for the past 3 months, it may not be all you want to lose but pat yourself on the back for NOT gaining. Many are gaining again by 18 mo post-op. One poster below said they use the motto, "one Day at a Time", while that is a good one, I have a better one, borrowed from Nike. JUST DO IT. Tape that sucker to your refrigerator, your bathroom mirror so that you see it in the am and to the treadmill. I am the queen of excuses, "too tired to exercise, theres only 1 more cookie in the package, its too hard to drink that much water", etc, etc. So, when the excuses come out, so does the Nike slogan. Too bad if your tired, get on the damn treadmill and JUST DO IT, Or in your case, when you reach for an improper food and you know you need to put it aside and not eat it, JUST DO IT. Starting routines are hard, but once you get into the groove, it does get better. Keeping junk food out of the house is a good one, setting a daily schedule for meals and protein shakes, tracking calories (if you want to lose, you have to take in less than your taking in now, which is apparently keeping you at maintenance) and EXERCISE. Gotta do it. So, remember when trying to find the will to get started and stick with it, just pull out the slogan and JUST DO IT. Good luck.
   — Cindy R.

September 6, 2003
I think that one of the things that may help is to read peoples profiles. To bring back some of those feelings you had with struggling to have surgery and the desperation of being fat and trying not to die before having a chance to lose the weight. I am not post op yet, but I know that refreshing my feelings helps in other areas. You could also join an online support group through Yahoo, who has many and through spotlight. I know that I have learned so much and gotten such support through the support groups. I will keep you in my prayers and I'll be joining you on the losing side soon. Lisa (surgery scheduled 10-10-03, 340/328/140?
   — Lisa H.