former_vbg

You are better off googling it. It will help you reset your restriction.

You will get better information from other threads for people who just had their surgeries. This thread is for those a year or more out from surgery!

This thread is for those longer out from their surgery. I'm not sure why the newbies keep coming in here and posting about weight gain right after their surgeries. When I catch these posts, I try to post something nice to guide them to other threads but they still keep coming in here.

I understand you want to get to goal by just trying to eat smaller meals, but as your body changes, so will your body in how it metabolizes food. If you haven't lost anything in 4 months then you will need to find something different in your regimine. If you are unwilling to be more restrictive in your eating, then you will need to step up more exercise- particularly in the cardio area so you are burning more calories. Bottomline, you will need to change one or more things in your routine that will get you back on the losing path.

So, in June it will be 4years this June that I had my surgery. Overall, I would probably say I've been successful, although I have had my fair share of challenges. I reached my goal of 120# and stayed there a few months but had lots of comments from people who said they thought I looked too thin. At times, I wondered the motives from some of the people who said it because I think some people feel threatened when all of a sudden they might be the "fat" ones, even if they are only 20 or 30# overweight. I guess I gave in and "allowed" a 10# gain which I regret because I had always decided that I wanted a 10# bounce zone for those times of stress that I know happen. Well, that has now put me at 155# that I am struggling to get off. I am going to work hard to get back to my 120# range and stay there if I can. I have people who tell me now, "oh, but you look fine". Ok, maybe I do look "fine", but I felt fantastic in the 120#, or even the 130#, but I am not going to let others dictate how I should look. I wasn't at an unhealthy weight. I have had a lot of job stress the past couple of years and it continues even now, but I started a couple of weeks ago to clear out all the bad carbs and get back to the basics. I've been successful in doing so and am seeing movement on the scale. I know everyone has their preference about getting whether it be daily/ weekly, etc. For me, if I weigh daily, it makes me LOOK at the # and face reality. I know that when I avoid the scale, I'm ignoring my addiction to food and giving myself "permission" to not pay attention to what I'm eating. I have gone weeks w/out getting on the scale and then when I get back on, I get nervous for the damage I have done. Yes, my clothes tell me, but for me I need to SEE that #. I am back to weighing daily and I am going to get back on track. It's going to be a litle more difficult not just because I'm further out from surgery, but also because I have a fair amoun of hip pain. I have learned through a number of dr. appoinments that I am going to need hip replacement soon. I'm only 43, but I have been able to trace it back to being born with hip displacia as a child. My PCP had always said it was bursitis and so I have put up with the pain all these years until it started getting worse earlier this year. And, then the MRI's and Bone Scans told the story. I'm not going to let this deter me, I just am going to have to be extra careful with what I eat. Anyways, all the best for those of you struggling on the same journey. We didn't come this far to fail!

mrwvw, You are only 3 months out. You will notice when reading other threads that this is a natural process. Even if you hadn't had surgery, it is a natural part of weight loss. This thread is for people who have reached or nearly reached their goal, or it's been a significant amoun of time since surgery and never reached goal. Just stick to your plan and you will find your way.

Speaking of cookies, I ALWAYS have a hard time when the girl scout cookies are out there!! I'm a sucker for those Peanut Butter cookies. OMG! I'm not doing the 5:2 exactly, but similar to you. A few weeks ago, I stopped ALL sugar and doing high protein with some vegetables. I'm down 6# but I know the first few is Water weight. I'll take it though. I need to lose another 25# to get to back to my original goal weight of 125#. I look at pictures of me in my skinny jeans and yearn so badly to be back in them without looking like a squished sardine. One day I will get to wear them. I ask myself, Why oh why didn't I fight harder to stay there or even better yet, why did I let it keep creeping up and up before I put a stop to it. Darn carb monsters!!!! Ugh!

Do a search for "White Pages" on your smart phone, it's free and provides caller id.

Ashley, it's a huge thing to be able to admit that you are not on track. I have been facing many demons myself the past year. I am now a little more than 3 yrs out and I go in phases where I kind of don't care. I say, "kind of" because deep down, I really do care but sometimes so much gets dumped on us whether it's work/ family/ whatever that something has to give and unfortunately most of us have found food as a way to help ease the stress in our day to day lives so it makes sense in a way for this to happen. Not saying it should be an excuse but I continue to try to recognize the things in my life that are causing me to get off track. Carbs are my drug of choice- always have been/ always will be.... I still have really good restriction WHEN I eat how I'm supposed to eat--- meaning dense Protein first, plenty of Water or something equally good. My lowest was 120# and have been fighting to get back there for the past year. I keep bouncing between 135 and 145#. Do I look fat? Hmmm, no, but I know how I felt when I weighed 120# (see my avatar picture). I felt on top of the world. I want to get back there and I will. I recognize some of the things going on in my life that are making this more difficult and I'm working on changing those things. For me, it's a miserable / horrible job w/mandatory OT every single week and I'm a salaried professional in my field. Anyways, allow yourself to be upset, but try to do your best to not dwell on it. They say that the measure of a person's success is how they handle failure. By no means is an 8# gain a failure, but try to keep it from being a 10# gain or more. Think about the things happenign in your life right now that are creating the road blocks or challenges. Maybe you can change them, maybe you can't. I'm pretty certain you know how to fix this, and coming here for support is an excellent thing to do. I still read posts, but don't come on the board nearly as much as I did the first year or so. I think its important to keep in touch with people that remind me that I'm not alone with my struggles. It's not an excuse for me to not stay accountable, but it reminds me that I'm human and that I can dust off my boots, and try again the next day. Stay true to yourself and just keep moving forward in the direction that is best for Ashley.

You know a thought just occurred to me. It would seem all of us are so busy with work, family and everything else that leading a group is not something any of us can do. What about planning a get together this Fall. I can help plan if there is enough interest. I am thinking of getting together at a park or something where people can bring their kids, SOs, etc, It would be a chance to meet one another locally. Maybe just do this a couple times a year or something. Then, if you feel like you connect with 1 or more people, they can exchange information and provide a little more support for one another. Just a thought. p.s. I am thinking maybe late September or early October???

How long have you been stalled? How much more do you want to lose? Here is a link to the 5:2 plan. Several people have reported much success. http://thefastdiet.co.uk/

You are just a babe in the process. Most of us on this thread have been out a year or much longer and either reached their goal with some regain or never quite got to their goal. You are experiencing a very normal part of the journey. So, when you read these posts, understand that the issues are more specific to being further along.

This thread is for people who are much further on their journey, not recent post-ops. You will probably find more helpful information on post-op regain on other threads.

Welcome! I'm so sorry about the trauma you experienced as such a young child. I was very touched by your story and just felt compelled to tell you I am certain you will discover a whole new person through this journey. You will discover many new things about yourself and an inner strength that will help you claim the joys in life you deserve! Best of luck to you!

Congrats on getting your surgery. Please understand this discussion thread is for people who have reached goal or near goal and then regained. Good luck with your journey!