Question:
I am almost 3 years Post-Op and still need to lose 60 pounds!

I became so comfortable after losing over 130 pounds. I didn't really care if I lost anymore at the time. Now I care! I have remained the same weight for over 2 years now and I want to finish what I started. The problem is I do well with a structured program. Does anyone have any advice on how to get the rest of this weight off for good. I eat really bad now, and consider myself lucky (for now) that I only flucuate 10 pounds up and down! Any advice would be great!    — Lauren G. (posted on June 27, 2005)


June 26, 2005
Hi, I am in your shoes too. I let up on my exercise and watching what I eat. It is hard to take the reins and pull back and discipline again. You probably know what to do, but doing it is not easy. Paula
   — shoutjoy

June 27, 2005
wow have you done great so far!!! I would go back to the beginning and do a liquid diet for a few days and up the exercise and see what happens. Of course do the protein shakes and plenty of water, water, water!! Good luck.
   — mssexyfaye

June 27, 2005
I see you had the RNY. Are you playing to your strengths? Meaning, do you lead off your meals by eating dense protein foods first, so you feel fuller? Are you avoiding "slide" foods that don't fill you up well, and/or lead you to "graze," aren't packed with good nutrition, and maybe spark overeating (insert names of favorite junk foods here!). Are you consuming too many liquid calories, sugar calories, junk-food calories? How's the exercise?<P>I'd think about all those things, and maybe keep a food diary for a week or so to see what you're actually consuming these days (and how those calories break down). That'll tell you what your baseline is to maintain your current weight. You may be surprised at how many calories you're consuming. To take off 60, and keep 'em off, some permanent lifestyle changes are gonna have to happen . . . with due respect to previous poster, liquid diet for a few days won't make a real dent in that (and, to me, it would be too remnisecent of all my failed pre-op diets). Doesn't mean you gotta starve and spend your life in the gym . . . may mean there are 2-3 key behavior changes you need to make and stick to, 80-90 percent of the time, to see this weight off and keep it there. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

June 27, 2005
You say you do well with a structured plan which is better than me. I joined weight watchers last november to get rid of the last 30 or so pounds left on me, but I have fluctuated the same 10 pounds because I can not stick to the plan. The Core plan is probably best for RNY persons. You eat from a list of healthy foods until you feel satisfied. There are no points to count or keep track of. Weekly points and earning activity points are for foods not on the list. Check out a couple of these websites: http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx http://wwkippy.proboards40.com/index.cgi?action=login2 http://www.stormpc.com/ww/
   — Heather M.

June 28, 2005
I think the best thing that you can do is get back to basics. Eat like you ate right after the surgery. You still have the same tool, just use it. Good Luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 28, 2005
Hi, I too am in the same boat with ya. I am going to be 4 years out at the end of July, and I need to drop at least 30 lbs maybe even 40 lol. I started back to the basics with liquids only to see if I could jump start myself, and utilize my tool, but I'm with ya. I just started so I can't really give any results as of yet, but I would love to drop it all before the end of summer. So my advice is like everyone elses, don't beat yourself up, congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished, which is a lot, and restart. If you feel you need a buddy, I would be glad to help. E-mail me. Good luck, you can do it!!
   — Carey N.

June 28, 2005
Dear Lauren & Responders, My heart goes out to all of you, including the lurkers! <LOL> The suggestions already given are, of course, absolutely right and totally effective. but, Lauren, you probably already knew about allllll those strategies. That's why so many of us who've had a lifetime of chronic dieting/gaining it back+/dieting and had the WLS find ourselves at 2years out horrified to realize WE'RE DOING IT, AGAIN! It was my realization, after reaching my goal weight and not starting those self-destructive behaviors, that THIS time, I was going something(s) differently. After studying what I was doing/thinking/feeling I began applying it to my life coach practice and created EMBODYsuccess! I had the privilege of speaking at the OBESITY HELP EAST COAST NATIONAL Conf. in NJ in May and giving a free class giving folks an introductory "taste" of how this method works to finally overcome self-sabotage. Feel free to check my profile, go to my website & contact me to see how I might be of support to you. I'll be speaking at OBESITY HELP SHOWS this fall, as well. Lovingly, Lauralyn, 5'9"+ 280/146 3X/ 8
   — EmbodySuccess

June 28, 2005
Lauren: I, too, am in the same boat as you. I will be 3 years out this September and went from 268 to 177 and am holding at 186. As I'm only 5'4' this is too much weight and I still need to lose another 40-50 lbs. I remain convinced that my thyroid and PCOS conditions interferred with a better weight loss. But that's an explanation and not an excuse. To me, this surgery allowed me to get on first base, maybe second. I am able to exercise with alot less difficulty and I simply eat less food. If I am to get to the place where I always wanted to be - where my lean body is my main accessory - then, like everybody else, it comes down to 2 basics: regular exercise and healthy eating. After much trial and error, I have concluded what works for me and what I expect will take the remaining weight off is walking 4x-5x a week and then some weight resistance 3x a week. As a beginner, I am using those bands for the weight resistance. Being 45 years old, I also have to be concerned with a slowing metabolism and to counter the effects of a creeping weight gain. For a food plan,it's the basics. Plenty of protein and low glycemic vegetables and then some fruit. I try to eat 1650 calories a day but am still pleased with myself so long as I stay under 2000. Not a desirable caloric intake for weight loss but during those times that I'm struggling, (which is frequent) I'll settle for 2000 calories vs. an all out binge. As far as carbs, go, I try to watch the white carbs but am now convinced that the evil of carbs is that they are calorie-dense and not intrinsically bad (unless they're the garabge carbs.) If you omit them, you significantly reduce your daily caloric intake and lose weight. I also try to watch the type of protein I eat and limit any animal tissue protein from sheep, cows and pigsto a few times a week. Yup, sounds gross, but that's how I actually view it. Instead, I try to eat chicken, dairy, loads of shellfish and fish. I will try to have 2 protein shakes a day but often end up having one or none. Vitalady is my favorite vendor. I get the nectar protein from her and it's pretty good. I am also faithful about following a daily vitamin regimen. So, bottom line is, while I have the deficits of an underactive thyroid and PCOS, I have the advantages of reduced absorbtion and a restricted pouch. In my case, they cancel each other out and I am left as any other person who needs to lose some weight. And what I hope and believe will ultimately work is what the experts have said all along; exercise, lean protein, veggies, some fruit, and complex carbs. Now, I just have to continue doing it. Otherwise, I will remain a size 16-18 and will never be that sleek, fabulously dressed babe that I know is in me.
   — kelleykeith

June 29, 2005
I too know how you feel. I will be 3 years out in November and still have 30 more pounds to go. I think everyone is right in that we need to get back to the basics and return to the immediate post op diet. Again, like the others have said, we have the tool we have to use it. Keep in touch.
   — valerie A.




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