regain

[WayLessInNH]

I had surgery on Aug 26th of 2013. I went from 289 down to 173 by the end of Aug 2014. I have since been sabotaging myself, finding excuses and not doing what I am supposed to be doing. Since August I have put back on 18lbs. I weighed myself this morning and the # is now 190.8lbs. I am so mad at myself.

I've been telling myself for a few weeks now that "today is the day I start back on track" and then I go back to my grazing ways and not utilizing my gym downstairs.

As of this morning I am holding myself accountable!.. I am going back to my protein shakes, logging in my food and exercise journals everyday on my fitness pall, I'll be picking up a new pedometer today (I can't find mine) and I will not be the statistic and regain after all of the work, heartache, and struggles that I had to overcome. I will not allow myself to go back to the person I was that had major weight related medical issues, no energy, low self esteem etc.

TODAY IS MY NEW DAY!

[KentuckyHolly]

I know that feeling of sabotage ALL too well!

You can do it. You just have to start....

Good luck!

[Joe Poppa]

That is still almost 100 pounds less than what you were pre-sleeve. Congratulations.

You know why you put on a few pounds, how to correct that and the ambition to do so. Good for you.

[PITSTOP]

The first step is realizing there is issue. You made it this far, you got this!

[tinman]

I haven't posted anything in a long time, but, I have been lurking. Lots of folks are sending me pm's and I am glad to help out that way. I have been noticing quite a few posts lately from folks just like the OP. Lots and lots of success and then somewhere along the line, something stops working. I have been trading emails with someone on the board who stalled and stopped losing completely at month six or seven. I sent this person some suggestions and I think the suggestions I sent would be appropriate to note here.

So....here we go.

It occurred to me as I was typing my last email that one thing that has worked for me is that I refuse to alter my food intake to appease my sleeve. Instead of being at war, I offered a truce. Here's my point. It seems that lots of vets have the same problem. They were on a diet when they lost their weight with the sleeve and now they are ill equipped to live in a world of real food and not be able to cope. Diets are not sustainable or reasonable for a lifetime. If you devise a plan that includes all of the food you like, but also strictly adhere to the protein and hydration rules, then you have your compromise. If you lose your weight post op by denying yourself carbs, fats, or anything else that's out there that is considered "bad", you are guaranteeing yourself that eventually, you will go back to those foods. I count protein grams and fluid ounces. After that, I don't care what else is in the food. My supplements take care of my nutritional deficiencies and I am very happy with my current state. So, by counting protein, I am also limiting the amount of what I eat, but not the content.

It's not very reasonable to assume that any of us can eat the same way, day after day, for the rest of your lives. It won't happen. So, my theory is to learn to eat what's out there in a way as to not make yourself gain. You enjoy life and maintain your weight. For me, it's really simple. I do not over eat. That's the only discipline I inflict on myself. I eat what I want, when I want and made just the way I like it. I just don't over eat. Ever. It's easy to not over eat if you aren't denying yourself anything. But, deny yourself the things you like and then impose a strict plan, well..in my opinion you have created the perfect storm.

So, for the OP, I have this suggestion. Instead of going back to square one, why don't you devise a new plan? Try eating what you like, but only eat what you need. I eat five times a day. I make sure I get in all of my protein and water and after that, I pay zero attention to the content of the food or how it's made. I have maintained my current weight for over a year and lost my weight in about 14 months. If you don't over eat, it's just plain old impossible to eat enough of anything in order to gain weight. It can't be done.

So, in conclusion, I would like to suggest to all vets that the road to happiness is not paved with strict rules and mind numbing number crunching. It's paved with things that make you happy. Try figuring out how you can eat what you want, when you want, and not gain weight. That plan is sustainable and reasonable.

Remember, you didn't get the sleeve to build barriers, you got it to break them down.

Regardless of how you solve your problem, I wish you the best of luck.

[Quarry]

THAT POST (TINMAN) ^^^^^^^ "select all" ... "copy" ... "paste" for reference.

[Roxstar75]

Amen is all I have to say! Love this post & it is oh so true. Thank you again for making me open my eyes to a lot of things. I can honestly say you have changed my way of thinking.

[rockscott40]

You have to will power to do it....Go for it!!!!!!