I need some support

[jaimaroo]

Hi everyone
It has been quite some time since I have been here. I feel like I showed up just because I need help.
I have gained about 20 pounds, which puts me 10 pounds over my goal. I feel like a loser and like I have blown it. I am afraid I won't ever be able to get that weight back off. I think back 20 pounds ago and how I just wanted to keep losing more and more. I was just fine where I was at and I would like to get back to it.
I am hoping there are a few of you out there, well hopefully a lot of you, that put a few pounds back on and got it off.
Can I get some tips? Tricks? Help? I felt better about myself before I gained the weight back. I have worked out all of my emotional issues, but for some reason I can't seem to stay on track.
Thank you everyone

[Gvn71]

I replied to your other post, but figured I'd copy it here as well:

Get back to basics! Do you keep a food diary? Exercise? You say you don't eat super healthy. Focus on healthy eating for a week and see what happens.... You might be surprised to see the numbers move. It isn't easy though. I recently wanted to get down to what I consider to be a good "race weight" for the upcoming triathlon season. I have been working very hard to eat healthy and eliminate un-necessary snacks (it was brutal the first few days). I lost 8 pounds in the last 3 weeks from 194 - 185. I'm still killing my workouts so I will stay with this plan for a little longer to see how it goes.

Also, losing 140 is freaking AWESOME!!!! Don't kick yourself over the last 20 lbs. Huge accomplishment! Congrats.

[jaimaroo]

I will read it both places....many many times! Thank you.
I think I figured out what is stopping me. Once I accomplish this...there is nothing left for me to "fix". This is the first time in my life that everything is awesome for me. I have a great life. I think I needed to come to this moment to see that I don't need to be afraid.
Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

[Gvn71]

I think I get where you are coming from:

I've spent the last year working towards a goal.... Now that I have reached my goal (surpassed it) what comes next? I worry that if I don't have to work at losing weight, that I will regain. I'm terrified of that possibility. I use fitness goals as a substitute but what comes when that doesn't work? Absolutely terrifying.

[jaimaroo]

YES. Exactly. What a strange fear huh?
It is like I set myself up for failure because I need to be constantly losing weight. Who am I without that?!?

[Tamera2]

Hi Jaime, I agree with Glyn’s advice. Don’t beat yourself up over 20lbs. Youve lost a lot and kept it off for awhile. You had surgery june of 2015. You have a lot to be proud of. One recommendation would be to try and set new goals and try new things or improve the things you have tried and liked. For me I love hiking and climbing so I’m going to learn how to rock climb and going to learn how to summitt Mountain Peaks which requires different equipment and learning how to self arrest with an ice ax. I’m also going to start backpacking. There will always be room for improvements and learning new skills. Find away to do that with things you enjoy. Discover new passions! Wish you all the best and you the best kind of loser the lighter kind. Don’t beat yourself over 10 or 20lbs. You are great to acknowledge consern now then to continue to put weight on. wish you all the best.

[simplyseahorse]

Awwww, I can certainly understand that "nothing to fix" phenomenon. I am dealing with some other issues before I have my surgery, and it seems like things are almost going too well. Some of us get used to those hard knocks and then it is hard to accept that OK really is OK You are amazing!!

[Christie13]

Agree with Glenn. But I would suggest that once you get to where you want to be again to weigh yourself DAILY!!! As soon as you see a couple of pounds creep back up then spring into action. Do not let them become 20 lbs. You got this! You worked so hard to lose all that weight and I know that these pesky 20 lbs should be a breeze!

[Ann2]

I'll just go the practical route and ask: What specific changes do you need to make in your daily life to achieve your weight loss goal?

Specifically?

[sraebaer]

20 pounds is not "blowing it," it just means get back on track before the number gets higher. You can do it by following the sleeve rules and exercising. Don't put yourself down, it could easily happen to any of us. You can do it!

[jaimaroo]

thank you. Yeah. I need to get practical and not think so extreme. I need to exercise. I need to cut down on carbs. I need to stop when I start to feel full. I need to drink water.

[jerzeygirl]

A small gain is pretty common among those of us who are farther along, but the fact that you already recognize the significance of the gain shows you're ready to "remedy" the matter. Go back to basics, the pre op diet is a great way to "reset" yourself and I've recently done so myself. I also had pretty bad bronchitis and after 2 rounds of strong antibiotics and a steroid pack; I'm feeling unusually hungry and fighting the urge to give in. Even though I'm almost 7 years post op, I am still fighting the "good fight" to stay at a certain weight and back to basics works for me still so why not do it when needed...

You've done a great job and you got this, just be mindful about habits, be accountable to yourself and move forward. Continued success!

[Ann2]

thank you. Yeah. I need to get practical and not think so extreme. I need to exercise. I need to cut down on carbs. I need to stop when I start to feel full. I need to drink water.

OK ... that's moving in the direction I was asking, but ... can you be more specific?

How much water are you drinking now? How much do you want to be drinking?

Which high-carb foods are you eating too much and want to eat less of or cut out altogether?

How many carbs/day are you eating now? How many daily carbs do you want to eat?

What kind of exercise and how much and how often are you doing now? What kind of exercise and how much and often do you want to exercise?

See what I'm saying?

(BTW, I didn't come up with this stuff -- it ain't original with me.)

You can do this!

[AnnieG]

OK ... that's moving in the direction I was asking, but ... can you be more specific?

How much water are you drinking now? How much do you want to be drinking?

Which high-carb foods are you eating too much and want to eat less of or cut out altogether?

How many carbs/day are you eating now? How many daily carbs do you want to eat?

What kind of exercise and how much and how often are you doing now? What kind of exercise and how much and often do you want to exercise?

See what I'm saying?

(BTW, I didn't come up with this stuff -- it ain't original with me.)

You can do this!

I'm sorry that the weight gain happened, but grateful for the good advice. I am also a 'work in process' and get sort of flusstered when I don't have a clear goal. And Ann2, SPECIFICS are brilliant. Now to translate it to post sleeve life, yes?

[jaimaroo]

You are right. My goals need to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound)
I am only drinking 2 glasses of water a day and would like to hit 8.
I am eating flavored nuts and candy and want to eat 0
I snack on trail mix, which actually makes me feel sick...but I don't stop.

I am not sure what my carb totals are. I will start paying attention to that on my fitness pal. I do track my food.

I want to do 5 days a week of 30-60 minutes of cardio work.