Question:
Can anyone give me some suggestions?

Hi Everyone, I had my gastric bypass surgery on 10/25/11 and as of yesterday, I am at a 40 pound lost...after stalling for a month. But today I feel like I could eat everything in site and this has not happened before. I am so scared that I will make my pouch larger-in turn casing weight gain and becoming a failure again. I know that I am not exercising like I should--but I can't stop thinking about me gaining weight-so I don't eat like I should...I am drinking my shakes and taking the vitamins-most of the time..I am getting discouraged and I need a lot of feedback....Help...From someone who feels like she is sinking into a bottomless pit..    — pumpkin462 (posted on January 25, 2012)

January 25, 2012
Your body goes through different phases and will take time to adjust between them. Don't let your head get in the way of your progress. At 3 months out, you are on track and there's no way you are going to do anything but lose weight for the next 8 to 12 months or so... but it may come in spurts. Relax. The time for possible bounce back is after a year and a half and by that time you should have established the good eating habits that your "plan" has laid out for you. Focus on following your plan. Exercise is nothing but 30 minutes of sustained movement... and it can be broken up into 10 or 5 minutes segments if need be. Take a walk, buy the Wii Fit Plus (it's FUN), rake leaves, whatever... Just do SOMETHING that will tell your muscles you are using them. You are not a failure... you are a work in progress and it's a whole new world and the unexpected can freak us out because we don't understand it. Trust your plan and trust your surgery. They will work together to get the weight off but you have to do your part. If you don't eat, your body will think it is starving and won't let go of the fat. So eat what you are supposed to, get in all your liquids, proteins and vitamins and stay off the scale if it's an obsession. Or, look at the AVERAGE amount of pounds lost per month for a more accurate depiction of your progress... (10 lbs is awesome) it comes in waves with time for re-distributing and recuperating between the losing periods. Follow the rules and it's gonna work for ya. No need to be discouraged, you are right where you are supposed to be and where millions of others have gone before you. Just because it doesn't make sense doesn't mean it's not happening the way it's supposed to. You'll be fine!! Happy sipping!!
   — Ruthie D.

January 25, 2012
I feel your pain with discouragement. RNY June 2009.....I gained 10 pounds since July 2011 due to back to back hospitalizations. Could not walk for 4 weeks following due to infected tick bite of my foot (Lyme disease following.) The end result was sitting on my butt and not exercising other than lifting light weights on ankles and wrists.I have 5 more to get back to my goal...but it was hard beginning again. The answer is in your post....."I'm not"....GET BACK ON TRACK !!!!! Turn your I'm nots into I AM's by exercising everyday, drinking my shakes everyday and taking my multi-vits as I should...... You know the answer to your success is YOU !!!!! Take care, Karen
   — karensaporito

January 25, 2012
Well, I think most importantly you must go to support groups, there your questions will be answered, and it helps to keep you on track I feel. Now I will tell you what I did, I followed the Cleveland Clinic bible to the tee when I was in my losing stage. I was not allowed any carbs till I lost 75% of my weight, then I followed the stages and the diet that the CC gave to me. Exercise is important too, when I was losing I walked at least 30 minutes a day. Now I go to the gym and the days I do not go, I walk 45 minutes a day. I am out almost 3 years and it is very difficult to keep my weight at 125 lbs. I weigh myself about twice a week, and when I am up, I cut my carbs measurably that day. I also do not eat sugar other than my Fiber One bars.
   — FSUMom

January 25, 2012
Congratulations! You are 40 pounds less and I'll bet that you couldn't do that in 3 months before wls. First step, hug yourself and realize that you are worth whatever it takes to get where you want to be. Next, get to a support group. If you're in Oklahoma, we have the BEST group in Edmond. Then, be honest with yourself. Are you following the rules? I'm 4 1/2 years out and trust me that one day you will easily be able to do the "wrong" thing. So, now is the time to develop good habits. I realize that different doctors promote different plans, but we don't drink shakes unless there are extenuating circumstances. You should be having 3 meals of mostly protein with a couple of bites of nonstarchy vegetables. Snacking isn't on our plan. Liquid calories and carbs are bad. Don't forget the no soda or carbonation and wait an hour after meals to drink. I highly recommend taking a lot of measurements. There are times when weight doesn't come off, but inches do. You can also use a pair of jeans for your guide. Unless they're exercise clothes, I don't wear elastic anymore. I've lost 107 pounds and 68 inches with my lapband. You can't imagine all the beauty that comes with your new body. There are perks I hadn't even considered. It's the best thing I've ever done. You deserve this!!!
   — gouldsfiya

January 25, 2012
Hello! Although I could not agree anymore whole-heartedly with the post from gouldsfiya and the tips s/he may have offered, I thought I might offer perhaps a few more suggestions of my own. I am now 2+ years post-op WLS (RNY in 12/2009) and just recently began having what I refer too as "dream terrors" in that I have a nightmare about going to a doctor's OV and again weighing in as "O-B-E-S-E" (truly a word I NEVER want to see in my health history again)! That said, you do have to take care of yourself and as almost every other poster had mentioned it is a process that will occur in bits and pieces and is different for everyone in how the phases occur. But do NOT rely on getting the support you so obviously need by the website alone. There is nothing like a real hug or pat on the back from someone who shares the same way of life as you do. Please do find a support group as well as you might consider therapeutic options to personally help you keep your "head" focused and out of the games. I know this sounds somewhat silly coming from someone who just shared she's been experiencing dreams of being fat again ... however, I shared that simply on a conciliatory basis to let you know that as soon as I began having them I knew it was time to start once again focusing on me and my health! Typically our families will not understand the "selfish" mentality (at least mine doesn't) and therefore I need to caution you that if you experience that too -- then you are also NOT alone -- as I suspect most everyone of us has had that hurdle to climb as well. BUT it is a very important part of your process and you MUST stick with it. Although it is a bit early in your journey to be suggesting this, I decided to merely post a resource for you to consider in the future (although I strongly recommend you wait until you are at least 12-18 months post-op) there are webinar workshops available by BSCI (Bariatric Support Centers International). See that here: http://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/proddetail.php?prod=WEB-BOTT&cat=51. An additional therapeutic option for "de-stressing" and which firmly helped me remove the utmost of anxiety from my life was personally found with this method: http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/whatMBSR.php Because I don't know where you live I cannot help you personally locate a MBSR therapist or facilitator who offers classes, but if you simply Google mindfulness-based stress reduction you will certainly find a plethora of options. Best of luck to you and God Bless. You ARE now on your way to a whole new way of life -- shine your light and carry on!
   — momeego

January 27, 2012
Im with you, I had my surgery on Halloween, The gastric Bypass, I went to the dr for my 3 months check up and I have only lost 40 pounds, Im a little upset with that, so they gave me a way to get going again. I write down everything I eat, and I only have 700 calories a day, including my protein drinks, I have lost 5 pounds this week, so im excited again, drink lots of water, you will feel full, I also go to the support groups, I exercise everyday, I go back to the dr in 6 weeks, instead of the 3 months, they want to see how I have done with the 700 calories, so we will see, but try that.
   — wishiwasthin