Encouragement Needed!!!

[HealthyforLife]

I had the sleeve done 1/2015. I weighed 258 when I had sleeve. I lost down to 137 & felt awesome. Almost 4 years later, I now weigh 168. I don’t want to go back, I want to go forward & keep this weight off. “Suggestions to jump start” would be welcomed!

[KiwiGal]

Hi Paula
Good on you for wanting to get back on track.
I'm not a veteran as I'm only 15 months out but having read similar threads before all advice seems to be to go right back to basics.
Protein first, non starchy veg, good carbs if room, watch portion sizes, drink lots of water and get out there and exercise.
Maybe even go back to you pre op diet for a few days?
You've done it before and you can do it again :-)

[HealthyforLife]

Thank you for the encouragement! I do have a gym membership, but haven’t gone in about a month. Also I know it’s so important for all the water. I was doing almost 100 Oz a day & felt so good & my skin was amazing. Getting back on track tomorrow!!! ��

[Dutchie]

I can't tell you what to do, I am only almost 2 years out.
But I think you know exactly what to do... you did it before and you sure can do it again.
But what I think maybe very helpful, is to stay here and keep us informed about your progress.
I know that being on a board like this keeps me accountable.
So: toss out the foods and drinks you are not supposed to have and get started today!
Good luck, you can totally do it!

[AnnieG]

I'm barely past the one year, but know the long-time folks who have maintained always say protein first, then dense carbs & lots of water. Then other things. I don't hear too much about anyone having fruit or fruit juice....

[Ann2]

Good on you, Paula! Nice to see you again.

Every once in a while I go on a fancy vacation and gain a few pounds. Then I come home and get right back on my usual thing (less a couple hundred calories) and in a week or two or three I'm right back where I want to be.

This may or may not work for you -- but I LOVE eating pretty much the same thing day after day when I'm getting back on the straight and narrow.

You may also remember that I'm a huge fan of My Fitness Pal -- planning and tracking my food daily. That continues to be a very useful tool for me. Some people don't like it. I think it rocks! It's second nature for me, now.

I agree that the water is very, very important! Just do EVERY DAY what you need to do that day. Pretty soon, it'll all be second nature to you again.

You CAN do this.

[Christie13]

You can do it! Just go back to the basics about how you ate when you were first sleeved. Focus on filling up on lean proteins and then healthy veggies. Limit carbs, no sweets, no sodas, no alcohol. Exercise. Refocus. You will still have restriction. Focus on solid proteins. They are much more filling in your sleeved belly. You can do this. Just remember it won't fall off as quickly as it did when first sleeved but it will come off if you are focused and honest with yourself about your eating habits. You got this Paula!

[Sandra3]

Hi Paula,

Like Ann wrote, planning and tracking your food is the main key.

Having regular check up is also important, because you need to have regular blood test to know your vitamin level. For example, my anemia make me "hungry", it's important to make sure all your levels are normal, if they are not take the appropriate supplement under supervision.

You might also want to talk to you doctor about your weight gain and look at the medication you've been taking and if there is a link. Each time I take cortisone I gain a lot of weight and it takes for ever to lose it after. But that was already the case before the sleeve, except I was gaining a lot more before..

Also a bariatric doctor I saw last week was also talking about how patients can develop hypoglycemia after a few years, and that could make them change their diet without even noticing. Which is why the blood test is important.

Good luck!

[sraebaer]

Well you are still down 90 pounds which is amazing! You can lose those extra 31 pounds by just going back to how you were taught to eat when you got your sleeve. Take your vitamins, concentrate on protein first, drink your water (but not with meals), exercise, etc. You basically have to reset your mind in my opinion, once you do that the rest will be easy.

It's not easy now that we can eat such bigger portions. But we still have restriction, so can do it! I struggle daily with maintanance. Others don't, not sure why some of us have to be extra careful and others don't.

Good luck!

[kenson]

I'm in the same boat as you. Five years out and have gained some weight back. I have started again by making small changes. Back to the gym 3 days a week. Next, I have taken out my "bible" given to me by my nutritionist. Like everyone said, its back to basics. We can do it!