Question:
WANT HELP RECOVERING FROM A RELAPSE OF OVER EATING

I AM 1 YEAR POST-OP FROM A RNY AND 30 POUNDS FROM GOAL WEIGHT.I SPENT THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM HOME AND FELL BACK INTO BAD HABITS. NOW I CRAVE CARBS AGAIN AND HAVEN'T LOST WEIGHT FOR 3 MONTHS.I CAN CONSUME LARGER AMOUNTS OF FOOD AND TOLERATE SWEETS AGAIN. I AM REALLY AFRAID THAT I PERMANENTLY MESSED UP. I NEED ADVICE FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND RECOVERED. I HAVE ALREADY RESTARTED EXERCISE BUT IS THERE HOPE OF FUTURE WEIGHT LOSS CONTINUING. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM IN THE QUICKEST AND HEALTHIEST MANNER.    — tigerlil58 (posted on January 23, 2009)

January 23, 2009
You can do it. As soon as you stop eating so much carbs and sugars your body will adjust. I started eating smaller portions and noticed my tummy has shrunk back down. I am 5 1/2 years post op and regained too. I am back on the losing side again. You can too.
   — Carlyn M.

January 23, 2009
I had lap band surgery and I had a flat spot in my weight loss and even gained 3 lbs back. I have gone on the induction portion of the Atkins diet for 2 weeks only to jump start my weight loss. I can start to add back healthy carbs such as fruit and more veggies after two weeks. It takes that long, or so they tell me to get the craving for carbs out of my system. Go to their weight loss site and look up the induction phase of their diet. It will help you rid your body of sugar and carbs. Getting back into exercise is very good for your weight loss also. Good luck and thanks for reaching out for help. Susan
   — susangielda06

January 23, 2009
The big thing is to get off the carbs again. Lots of protein and veg. Skip anyhting else for at least a week. Then add fruit in slowly. Be sure you are getting all your vitamins and water. after the fist year it is harder. You have to watch your portion sizes and keep away form the carbs. You will be fine.
   — trible

January 23, 2009
The "easy" losing part is over...but that doesn't mean you can no longer lose weight...you just have to do it the way everyone else does...diet and exercise! You have a tool that still works...Eating sugars regularly is a common mistake for many post ops. That is something you will have to control or quit completely if you can't do it in moderation because sugars and simple carbs are high calories and store as fat when you over eat them...and we all know how easy it is to over eat sugar and simple carbs! So the first thing you have to do is get rid of the temptations in your house and replace with fruits and veggies and healthy whole foods...You can try out the 5Day Pouch Test which will rid your body of sugar and carbs and the cravings that come along with them and get you back on track. Read about it here...http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ After that you just need to start measuring/weighing your servings out and keeping track of your calories...Protein first, fruits and veggies next and then grains last. Limit white bread, rice and potatoes and especially sugar (use those in moderation ...For me, that is twice a month maybe)Try to cut calories that are empty..candy, carby snacks, sodas or sweetened drinks...Replace with SF drinks, water and tea...Go get foods that will satisfy your cravings for sweet, crunchy, salty, chewy, creamy...etc...But pick HEALTHY protein, fiber and low sugar foods! Make good choices...Try new recipes...Here's my fav WLS cook and extraodinare! LOVE this lady! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Make some good changes...and remember that your tool still works, but you let your head take over and stopped listening to your pouch...Retrain your brain and let the pouch take over again...Treat it right and it will work for you! I lost a 10 lb regain in a month! Similar to you...Good thing I stayed only a month or we'd be crying together! LOL Losing is not fast and easy like it was newly post op, but it can be done!... I thought for sure I had ruined/broke my pouch! Not even close! In maintaining you just have to KNOW it is constant work thru choices, measuring and keeping on track, moderation, and a realistic approach to long term lifestyle changes. I'm not strong enough to quit entire food groups for the sake of weight loss. I WANT more to be healthy than a size 6 til I die. I have learned that if I want something...I can eat it, but I can enjoy a small portion once in awhile rather than eat a large portion all the time... I deserve to be thin and healthy and I deserve to enjoy foods too...so deprivation is not my personal choice...Sugar is never a good choice...It's just not. So start there and with exercise you'll get there. Remember the plateus and stalls...they will happen as always...It is a natural process...so don't give up...You can do this!
   — .Anita R.

January 23, 2009
Marsha, you haven't messed up permanently, because you made a choice, permanently a year ago. YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TOOL. Call your nutritionist and your doctor. They will help you get back on track. If there is a support group in your area, go to it. Go back to when you first had your surgery and follow that mealplan. YOU CAN DO IT!
   — Shirley D.

January 24, 2009
If you are craving carbs you may also be craving sweets so make sure you have plenty of the "good" bacteria (acidophilus) that your digestive system needs. An imbalance in your digestive system can actually make you crave sweets. I found the digestive supplement acidophilus in health food stores in concentrated amounts. But you can also find it in smaller amounts in yogurt. Also, keep your protein intake high to go along with the muscle building benefit of exercise and to control hunger.
   — Amy C.

January 24, 2009
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED! Follow your basic guidelines, consult with your nutritionist and try to incorporate a little more activity every day like parking farther away than usual, taking steps. As everyone has said - make sure that your protein is adequate and stay away from ANY type of carb if at all possible. No one that has had WLS is perfect and luckily we have the opportunity to get "back on the wagon" when we realize we "fell off" BEST OF LUCK!!!
   — AuntPamcakes4six