Question:
5 years post op weight gain. How to kick start weight loss and get back into shape?

...since I had my gastric bypass surgery. I started out strong, like I know we all did, losing 100lbs in only 6 months time. I went from 331 down to 196 and was feeling fantastic. Back came my happiness, my self confidence and I was just myself again, not that sad, lonely fat girl. I had issues sure. Herniated intestine surgery in Oct 2006, intessuception in March 2007 (never fixed surgically, it went away on its own), severe B12 and anemia, but all in all everything was okay and under control. Now I find myself at 266lbs. Eating everything I could eat before the bypass, no dumping no issues with food at all. My problem is I'm so unhappy and disgusted with myself. I have no idea where to go or what to do from here. I didn't go through the surgery just to gain the weight back. Im asking for advice, tips, tricks....ANYTHING that can help me kick start the weight loss and get back down to where I was and even less. Thank you all in advance for your help and support!    — dreamy6501 (posted on April 2, 2011)

April 2, 2011
I'm almost 2 years out and started gaining weight all because I was grazing and eating the wrong foods and lots of it. Fell into my old habits and with it came the self worthlessness, depression etc. Vicious cycle, my moods made me eat more ... you know the routine. I'm happy to say that the scale has started to move in the right direction again. Everyone at work is on the south beach diet and I kind of was bullied into it. No one was bringing BAD food to work anymore and it kind of evolved from being forced to eat healthy. The south beach diet is essentially the way we are suppose to eat, high protein, no sugar, low fats, no carbs. It's kind of fun to try new recipes and figure out what you can eat and the scale will move DOWN. Hope this helps a little. I do understand
   — heavenlyhash

April 2, 2011
hi! Congrats on your success and i hope you can take control again. In my opinion...lol youneed to deal with whatever issues you had that made you eat mindlessly. Finidng that trigger may help you control yourself. For example..i am about 3 yrs. i was a skinny kid...got fat after marriage and never thought about why. at 43 i had the surgery..went from 240 to 115 was walking 10 miles daily and loving life. Then one day i was stalked ..and felt scared after ..vulnerable..then the reasons i over ate came to the surface again. i was raped at 16 by a boy and his friend taped it. I feel nervous now and not in control liek ti did just a few months ago. i started eating uncontrollably. Gained 8 lbs..yes only 8..but i caught it early..recognized my issues and now have gained control again. Do i need more help? definately! but its a start, I am back to 117 ish and feel i can gain full control again. i am also seeking help with 'my issues'. I hope this helps you in some way. I also wanted to suggest that you go back to basics. Start waiting between bites, chew chew chew, protein first. Make sure yougaet enough protein in for the day, no drinking n eating, meals last 20-30 minutes...no longer no less...with waiting 5 minutes between bites, you should be eating very little. take ur vitamins, exercise. Best of luck to you!! hugs, kim
   — gpcmist

April 3, 2011
It is all about the protein and vitamins. I am three years out - down from 237 to 110. Protein first....I have had times where I mindlessly graze - and I go back to protein shakes for a day or two and get back on track, usually this occurs during my monthly curse. I agree with what everyone else says - take your time eating and eat the meat first!
   — marksgirl

April 3, 2011
When I find the scales creeping up, I get back to basics. I eat mostly protein a few days and broth, sugar free popcycles, sugarfree jello, just like in the beginning. If you do that a while and use your tool, you'll start losing again. My pouch seems to shrink back down when I do this and i get full faster. And don't forget to drink drink drink!!! Get the junk food out of the house. If it's not there you can't eat it. I got all starch like pasta, rice, and bread out of the house. If you have Kroger Grocery stores in your area, they have a yogurt called Carbmaster. It has 9 proteins in it 60 calories, and 3 sugars. Great for the sweet tooth. Good luck!!
   — lesleigh07

April 3, 2011
Hi Dreamy: I am so what of a "newbie" (not quite 2-yrs postop) so perhaps not the best person to answer your question, per se, but since you asked for ANYTHING, I do have a story and feel it's worth sharing. I have lost 128-130 total lbs. since GBS and feel like a new person (obviously). However, I know my "issues" are deep-seated and although the WLS was only a tool, I am convinced that I am NEVER going back to the way it was before. Yeah, easier said than done, I know. However, an additional tool I have found as a result of what I felt might have been the "transfer addiction" they all say is only too real (I started drinking; only wine, but daily nonetheless) and I quickly started to recollect this was likely my substitute for the food I was no longer consuming. I then was referred (as a referral resource from my surgeon's support group) to a psychologist who runs a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group largely centered on mediation, relaxation and Buddhist/Tibetian cultures and habits that were life "habits" over 2000 years old. Yes, I too had my doubts and initially thought "This is silly -- and insane! Not for me" -- but after reading the first few chapters of the book the group is working through (an easy read I might add) I really started to see the "ME" in all of what was being talked about and well then I was on board. The Mindfulness is another word for "CBT" or cognitive behavioral therapy" and trust me when I tell you that this "tool" in WLS is all about change in behavior and breaking the cycle of our own unhappiness. But, as you know only we have the power to change that. So, if you're interested, I suggest you get a copy of the book (available at Amazon, B&N and all other major book chains for less than $15). It's called, "The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness" and includes a CD for peaceful mediation purposes. Additionally, if you have an iPhone, iPad or iTouch you can get a FREE app called Relax (with Andrew Johnson) -- see this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/relax-andrew-johnson-lite/id307750844?mt=8 (quite helpful if you are a mover and shaker like me!) and in this every world on the go status everyone seems to have it's helpful to have apps in your pocket (or all in one place) versus multiple places or multiple things you need to carry. Lastly, I suggest (along with the tools of mindfulness and CBT) that perhaps you consider all the other recommendations that are useful to you as well -- such as returning to the basics and attempting protein shakes with fruit and the soups, simple foods all over again. This will certainly nudge the scale in the right direction -- as will your increase in exercise if you haven't attempted that too. Final tip? Walking while listening to the RELAX app or attempting "mindfulness mediation" will combine 2 tips with 1 (exercise and stress reduction). Good luck on your journey and don't forget to update for all of us how you are doing. We are here to offer suggestions, but we are all in this together! ~Trish
   — momeego