mi75

Wow, I have been MIA for a while. Last semester of my master's degree program but now I am done and glad to be back. Are there any Dr. Now patients here by chance? I need to PM somebody for a question. thanks!

I just read a thread over on the 'POST surgery' forum about POP. a newbie post related to drinking soda after surgery, a vet answered them and got herself torn sideways from the OP. I feel bad because this person was QUITE obviously trying to only help, and give adequate information. For example, the OP carried on about their 'pouch' and stretching it. The vet simply responded that a sleeve is not the same as a RNY pouch and that it really can't be stretched according to anatomical make up. Well, so much for trying to help! When I was a NOOB i was so happy to get good advice from the vets. in fact, that is how I learned the majority of the information that I needed pre-op. Obviously the other newbies couldn't give me advice based on experience, but the vets then were SO helpful (that includes many people on this forum). So building off the other thread related to vets leaving, I look at this and totally understand why some vets have left....

Hi all, this challenge will be for 12 weeks, starting the week of January 1st. This challenge is to help those of us who have stalled out to get restarted, or for regainers to start their loss cycle again. Anybody else who wants to join is welcome too! Weigh in once a week, Sunday or Monday and post your stats on this thread. You may include any measurements etc. THIS thread will be our posting/meeting spot. You are all welcome to 'meet' here and cheer each other on. We can all certainly use it! Please also include your meal plan/shake brand/meal ideas, etc. The idea behind the challenge is to offer new insight and ideas to those of us who need a boost in getting going again. For me personally, the reason I offered the idea of this challenge is because I've had some regain and I really need some accountability, but in addition I need some new, fresh ideas. THIS challenge is simply a way for us to start keeping accountability. This challenge is not one of the typical ones that you see that have statistical data, etc. It's really just a way to have a planned, accountable online weekly support process. IF THERE IS ANYBODY doing the challenge who wants to run an actual spreadsheet, please respond and let us all know. I had not planned on doing a spreadsheet simply because this is about ACCOUNTABILITY, not about the numbers. Those of us who have been post surgery for 18 months or more generally lose a lot of the initial drive that we had when we were first post-op, and the pounds can creep back. So as of Sunday, Jan 1st, please do your initial posting including your 'starting' weight, current BMI, plan for the week, meal ideas, plans for getting yourself on track, etc. (Like I said, not a traditional challenge, but a NECESSARY one). GOOD LUCK and most of all, have fun getting back on track!

well that says it all! I'm starting a reset tomorrow because I'm once again off track. It just seems so easy for me to derail these days. I'm working SUCH a terrible schedule right now and my sleep is totally disordered. I find myself eating around the clock some days just to stay awake at work, and am sleeping terribly because of the weight gain. I thought I was getting back on track pretty well but i'm rolling down the hill once again! Going to just get a tight grasp on my entire situation before I find myself back at my staring weight!!! Wish me luck- BTW i'm doing the 2 day reset and then the BOT scenario from Bariatric Eating.

Hi Vets- well, to make a long story very short, at 24 months post op i was within about 10 lbs of goal and then had tragic loss. Gained 20 lbs. now have 30 total to lose, but really would be happy to just get these 20 off. Made it to the Y yesterday to make appt with trainer to get some sort of regimen for exercise. Called a new bariatric clinic for appt with Doc and Nut. My question for those who gained several years out and then lost it- HOW did you re-lose? did you start over (as the 5 day pouch reset suggests) with Day 1 post op type eating? Did you go back to reincorporating shakes? Was it portion measurement, carb restriction?????? Just curious mostly. I have appt to see a new doc and nut and will also be curious to see what they tell me!

oh my, everybody is doing SO well! Sorry I have been MIA for a bit, my work schedule is QUITE variable and I have been putting in a lot of hours, plus finishing up grad school!!! I'm doing ok. i have yet to step on a scale this week, i'll probably wait until later in the week. I'm struggling STILL, but fighting hard to stay off pop. Also trying to start back on shakes every morning- a necessary evil for me. Lastly, i've started trying to move more. I think i've been very lazy the last few months, so getting back into the groove. Everybody have a great week, and keep up your excellent work!

yes, definitely check with your clinic. it could be just an effect from anesthesia or the fact that you are healing...but you never want to presume that any new symptom is nothing! good luck

I have done it, and it does work pretty good. I am almost 3 years post sleeve too. HOWEVER... The amount of food that I'm used to eating NOW, versus the amount that you're allowed in the reset, is staggeringly different. I don't eat HUGE amounts of food, but a reset is essentially taking you back to immediately post op when you had a huge amount of inflammation that caused the best restriction! Back then i was eating 1/4 cup at a time and it took 3-4 hours before I ate again. Now I eat every few hours but i have been heavy on the carbs for the past 8-9 months. That said, another poster on here suggested to me that I go ultra clean, ultra low carb, high Protein for 5-7 days for the same 'reset' effect. I have done that too. Also, Dr. Alvarez from Endobariatric (NOT my doctor, but I watch his videos) has a youtube video that talks about a 'reset' far out and he says that there's just no way that 2-3 years post op we can get the same satisfaction from some yogurt or broth as we had immediately post op. And he is so right. Of the two, I absolutely prefer the latter plan. HANDS DOWN!!! Love the fact that i'm eating actual food, and i'm feeling really full when I eat it. I am actually on one of those paths right now, just trying to get my eating under control and detox from soda and carbs. I'm generally doing protein and veg, and trying to stay <50g carbs a day. After I get some control back I plan to go keto (probably in about 10-14 days from now). Good luck with whatever you decide, any path to cleaning up your diet is a good one!

So it appears that @@Zahra2017 will be taking the spreadsheet. please make sure your stats are posted. i have not posted myself (OOPS!) but i will update tonight...

Hey girl, hang in there. we're all human. i'm having a struggle too. i asked Alex to start a Regain forum and i'm moderating a challenge there. well, not a TRUE challenge, just a challenge for each of us to place on ourselves to be current, accountable, and post weekly. plus, we're sharing tips, recipes, etc. hope you are well, coming back and admitting regain was really hard for me too. hang in there!

@Zahra- PLEASE feel free to start the spreadsheet! We are more or less posting just for accountability, but I just don't have the time to take up the spreadsheet as I'm in my last semester of grad school! THIS WEEK------ Let's talk about: What is the one thing that you swore you would walk away from when you had surgery that you ended up caving and going back to? Could be a food, a behavior, a person, a habit, etc... This week I worked hard to walk away from soda. what a challenge. I LOVE my soda. I swore I would not drink soda after surgery and in fact, I stayed away from it for nearly 2 years. But then one day I took some diet ginger ale, then one thing led to another...I drank way more of it this week than I should, But I was able to pour out all the cups/bottles etc and bid it farewell. I still have a strong craving. I am drinking ice coffee for a while for the caffeine to ward off any symptoms. After about a week of this I'll switch to cold tea and I should be good. I haven't weighed yet, I'll do that tomorrow...Have a great week everybody!

No, everybody is welcome! please join us

1. I could no longer stand the taste of plain Water. it took nearly 2 years for that to diminish 2. No matter how prepared I felt, in times of stress and crisis I still turn to food and have had to face some regain and find the will power to lose it again 3. that there would be people right from the very start who would be saboteurs 4. that even when people acted supportive they may not have been 5. that i REALLY crave soda, and once I gave in I had to deal with that addiction all over again- and it has not been easy 6. that i CAN lose weight, and that this tool is JUST that. I still have to do the work. I still have to deal with my addiction every day.

Awesome, great results so far!!!! Each week I'll post a focus question for everyone to ponder and talk about in your posts! THIS WEEK's FOCUS: What is the one thing that has been the most challenging for you (IE: what is the one thing that has kept you from getting back on track prior to this challenge)??? For me it has been consuming more calories in a 24 hour period than i did post surgery. For the first year I did great but then started a different job. At first I did ok, stuck to my Protein and was really good. Then little by little I started slipping. I can actually tell you all that the week it all changed was the week prior to Halloween 2016. I took a soda to work with me. And then I did it again, and again...the ONE thing that I think made the difference in all this was my soda addiction. So this week I'm focused on giving it up completely and finally. It's very hard for me, but I know it will be done! I did it before, I'll do it again!

Never too late to join! We are just doing this for a SUPPORT and ACCOUNTABILITY thread more than anything. Everyone is essentially answering to themselves for their decisions, and what they try to do for loss, but this thread is here to document our decisions and our paths over the next few months. that's all! Welcome everybody, have a great weekend. Remember to post your loss info each week and update from STARTING weight.

I'm all about Amazon too. just love it

just checking on everyone's day today...

NICE!!! so happy for you. what an excellent resource for bariatric patients

Quest cookies and cream.

Ok. Here is my info! Surgery weight in 2014: 238 Lowest weight: 170. Current weight: 200 Goal for THIS challenge: 185 (or better). I will be happy with 15 lbs considering I am almost 3 years post op Regain of 30 lbs. Totally sickening. I regained a lot of my weight in the past 8-9 months after starting a new position at work (a bit more stressful, and WAY more craziness to my sleep/wake cycle). I have found myself eating all hours of the night at work to stay awake and alert (my office is isolated and I'm there alone for much of the night). Plan: Start a new muscle building workout plan tomorrow Refocus on getting some protein with my AM coffee Start reducing the amount of soda daily until I'm DONE with it by next week Count everything and start journaling tomorrow. Even if I do badly, at least I can look and see why Call my new surgeon office in the AM and get exact schedule for support group- block off my schedule to attend Call and make official appointment to see the RD again- regardless of what the scale is doing Go back into the recipe archives on this site and get some inspiration for meal ideas Quest bar every day for my snack Diligently eat every 4-5 hours instead of every 2 Aim for 75-85g protein daily NO MATTER WHAT Start drinking water every day- at least 70 oz. Log on to bariatric pal and get some inspiration So there's my plan. I have had this plan many times in the past several months but can't seem to make it stick. But I think that doing all these things concurrently WILL help. Good luck to everybody!

So. I am dealing with regain. Seeing the new surgeon in 4 days and not sure what he will have to tell me. Likely that I am in for a LOT of work, which I'm willing to do. However, I am feeling newly inspired and really looking for some form of serious exercise to do. I ordered Slim in 6 to start. But a couple months from now I'd really like to transition to something that is a bit more serious. I love American Ninja Warrior type competitions and love seeing what friends who go to crossfit are doing. I am truly inspired by an acquaintance that competes in fitness competitions. I am not nearly in any shape to consider those things, however I'm sure there are others in those places who all started out like me! Does anybody have some great suggestions for me, once I get going, for something to focus on? I have found that if I have a VERY SPECIFIC goal to attain I can remain focused. Thanks in advance!

NO issue, just knowing that you are unavailable, we'll be happy to count you in!!!!

I'm with Babbs, I love My 600 lb life, BUT I ADORE FAT DOCTOR. That series on Youtube became my primary source of information before my surgery. My favorite episodes are the 'cookery author', and the 3 sisters. I can relate to those gals for sure, also Sasha Cohen and Joy Vaughn. Absolutely loved her!! And...it doesn't hurt that Shaw Somers is pretty easy on the eyes! I watched every single episode in 2014, prior to my surgery. It helped a lot. I'm a sleever, and there is only one sleeve episode, but the overall stories are awesome. Plus, I love learning about the NHS system. I'm a nurse by education and almost a NP, so i'm always interested in learning about national healthcare! I love My 600 lb Life though too, and actually bought Season 1 from Amazon. I WISH that TLC would release the seasons on DVD. They could make a killing just from advertising on these forums!!!! I'd buy every single season if I could.

OK, here is the official call out for the New Year's challenge. We're going to plan way ahead this time so everybody who WANTS to, can plan ahead and get ready for a New Year, New Start! Just start thinking about it, and if you want to get started with all of us after Jan 1st, please just respond below so that I have an official count. I'll start the actual "Challenge Thread" late December, that thread will be for our 'official' stats, weigh ins, etc. The thread name will be "NEW YEAR, NEW START CHALLENGE" Here we go people, get ready!!!!!!!!

ok, I am closing THIS thread, and going to post the 'official' thread on the Regain forum. If there is anybody who has already responded and will be doing the challenge that MIGHT be interested in running the actual spreadsheet, please let me know. I'll only be doing the work on this site (bariatric pal). For me this is just a fun way to keep accountability with each other.... See you all there!