Question:
It's been 2.5 years and I am still 190, want to be 150, please help!

Hi everyone. I had my surgery 2 years ago and weighed 300lbs. I got down to 188 and had my plastic surgeries and took me down to 169. I am back up to 190. Please help. I can't seem to get my eating choices back under control. I am majorly stressed all the time with work and home. I have to sit all day since I am a recruiter. I hate it!! Been here almost 1 year and have gained a good 10-13 pounds just being here!! My boss also keeps junk and good things in the fridge. I do great at the gym tho!!! Any suggestions?? someone please help!!! PS, my stomach is stretched out too.    — Tizzle13 (posted on October 26, 2007)

October 26, 2007
I feel your pain!!! I am 4 years post op. I got down to 137 went up to 165 when I started my desk job. Had a tummy tuck, lipo and new boobies 2 months ago and I am now 155. I also sit at a desk job and have junk food available all day long. It is so frustrating. I wish they would have given us some willpower when they did the surgery. LOL! I know my tummy has stretched but I also know that I cannot eat the way I used to. I have just learned to accept the way that I am now. I also know that maybe I am not going to weigh 137 again but I look much better than I did at 247. Accept the way that you are now and if you get back to 169 GREAT if not you look a million times better than you did at 300.
   — Carlyn M.

October 26, 2007
I can really really relate to what you asking and having problems with. I am 4 years out. I initially lost 165 lbs. I have since regained 32 lbs. I know where I went wrong was the snacking and the grazing. I also feel that I should have stayed really involved with my support group. We obviously have a food addiion, or we would not be here. My big advice to you is to stop the weight gain now before you are 32lbs heavier like myself. I did the pouch test. It really helped me get back to basics again. It seema that a lot of people are doing it. I also thought I had stretched my pouch out. I feel that we have at this point. But, it is also not too late to get this fixed before we are back up to where we were. I think the first thing you need to do is get invovled in a support group. Then go back to your doc who did your surgery. Then start just like you did in the very beginning of your journey. I know it is easier said than done. But, we did not suffer all this financially, emotionalli, and physically to give it up in the end... Chin up and get started on it today..
   — Kathy B.

October 26, 2007
Thank you ladies for the encouragement. I am doing my best. I will admit, it is hard because I am so obsessed of how my body should look. It is driving me nuts!!! When I was down to 169 let me tell you!! I thought I was the sexiest thing that hit this planet. It's hard to believe that a gain of 20 lbs has distorted that view. I plan to do my best, take care of this new body and use my tool to the best of my ability. You both are right. I didn't go through all that for nothing. It was a long haul. Hard to believe I have forget about some of it. Thanks Ladies!
   — Tizzle13

October 26, 2007
Don't get discouraged! Keep up the good work at the gym, and like they have told you support groups are important so stay active in one, take it one day at a time. Go back to your basics and you will see those 10 lbs go away in no time. Maybe have an old picture of you around to remind you that no snack tastes better than being thin and healthy. Try to keep healthy snacks around so you are not tempted by other peoples junk food. Even a little sign on the fridge saying something like "nothing tastes as good as being thin" should help. If you have to sit all day remember you can still do isometric exercises without people even knowing! You can google some ideas, here is one http://www.texastops.org/exercise/sitting.htm Best wishes, Luvcamil
   — luvcamil

October 26, 2007
ask your dr. to give you the stomaphyx . its a procedure done for people who already had gastric bye pass and need to loose more weight . its no incission at all. same day procedure , dr go threw your mouth to reduce your stomach with a device. so ask your dr. about this . and you can also research stamaphyx on this web site
   — yvettetas

October 26, 2007
try to watch your carb intake. i didn't know, until my step mother told me, but when you exercise the first thing your body loses is the carbs you have eaten. So try to keep the carbs under 17g at a sitting and also to jump start your losing again is to go back to basics. you still have your tool, its just our brains that we have to work on.. I think about the first few days after surgery and that usually gets me through the three days of liquids.. just make sure you keep up the protien.. that will also jump start your weightloss and keep your carvings at bay.. :) I sure hope this helps. God bless you and take care. paula
   — japaad

October 27, 2007
Chantel, I do understand what you are going through, weight loss is a beast and a daily battle. But the truth of the matter is you have choices to make, and you have to live with the choices you make. Having said that, my suggestion to you is to stay away from where the junk is, don't let yourself see the junk (do the best you can). Chew gum and drink warm or hot tea. Go for a walk during lunch, get away from the food areas and choose to walk or do active stuff after work instead of going home zonked. Exercise can energize you and take that stress down a notch. Step up your workout at the gym, change your routine. You might consider going to a weight watchers type group. You know most of this is food issues that is holding you back, so recruit yourself into better eating, you have a good goal, you can get it, stretched pouch or not, and you are worth it! Step up to the plate and make some good choices for yourself today. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

October 27, 2007
I saw someone mentioned the pouch test site. I found this very motivational to help me stay on track and see what mistakes I was making. It talks about "slider" foods. It really is a wonder site. I agree with previous posts about support. I think that is key! Here's the pouch test site in case you do not have it. www.5daypouchtest.com Good luck! YOU CAN DO IT!!! This was a choice to have WLS, now you have to CHOSE to make the choices that will give you results! Best of luck to you! Robin
   — robinmarra