joyfulinga

Welcome to the Back on Track group. Having gastric bypass surgery opens doors to a whole new YOU! It is a life changing experience that allows you to do things you never thought possible. What happens when you put back on a little weight???? A lot of weight??? Well you can throw in the towel and concede muttering how life isn't fair and you knew you'd always be big or... You can hold your head high and get back in that saddle. All the right things you did at the beginning can be done again. Are you eating carbs? Are you eating "white" foods? Exercising? Drinking Water? Get the picture. If you answered no to any of these CONGRATULATIONS! You have just found your places to start. Come join us and we'll lose the regained weight and achieve our goals together! All are welcome! Joyful

Good evening my friends! When you had RNY did you ever tell yourself "if I lose this weight I will never let myself gain it back again"? Well, I sure did. I had RNY in June of 2008 and went from 328 lbs. to 175 lbs. I felt positively svelt and could do all the things I could never do heavy. I continued on and did very well until my son passed away suddenly at the age of 27. That was in December 2010. He had a brain tumor in 2001 near his pituitary and due to the trauma to the gland, he would be on testerone injections, thyroid meds, DDAVP (Desmopressin for Diabetes Insipidus) and an assorted other types of pills to do for him what the pituitary couldn't. One of those drugs was Prednisone. He had been on them for nearly 10 years to help provide the cortisol his adrenal gland no longer did. My son literally dropped dead outside his apartment on Friday, December 17, 2010. I had just hung up with him and I said "I love you Brandon" and he said "not as much" and I said "whatever". We found out he had passed on Saturday afternoon when he didn't meet me for Christmas shopping. Long story to say that the prednisone had caused severe liver damage and the liver had severe cirrhosis. The cause of death: Arythmia caused by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. After Brandon died, I can't explain it other than I felt like I was being trivial to count carbs and exercise when he would never be able to do those things. I was pretty strong throughout the arrangements and the weeks to come. The only way you could really tell I wasn't dealing well is when my weight started spiraling out of control. Fast forward to September 2012. I was 246 lbs. which was a definite oppositie of "I will NEVER gain it back again". I felt fat and bloated. I was sad and felt like I had (once again) let myself go. I decided I had to do something so I attended the Obesity Help Conference here in Atlanta. That was the motivation I needed to get back on the wagon and get the regained weight gone. I started a program called Back on Track through the Bariatric Resource Center and I am literally back to basics. Protein, protein, protein.....watching those carbs.....starting to move more.....drink water.....log my food on My Fitness Pal. If you have regained and want to get back on the loser's train, this groups for YOU! We can discuss our ups and downs (quite literally), our strategies, our plans and lessons learned. Monday was my weigh in day and I am at 225.2 which is still about 50 lbs. to get back to where I got down to but I'm on the journey. Come join me and we can do this together!!!

Phaeton dreams, I just sent you a message on here. Check it out.

Oh Phaetondreams, I year you girl! It is so hard and I often feel like a failure myself. What kind of food plan do you try to follow?

Well I am off on my adventure to get my act together to lose my regained weight. I really want to be healthy. I will be 52 in November and I think I can have the regain off by end of year if I am diligent and disciplined. At that point I will decide if I want to lose more or maintain. I quit smoking a month ago so I can breath when I start walking again. Ha ha. I have bought a couple of short sets, some new walking shoes, a new headphone (wireless Bluetooth) and a strap to hold my phone around my arm so I can really move. I have went all the way back to basics....protein first, shakes, water, etc. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

Kristen, that is great news. I will pray for a successful outcome. Just follow all the directions, don't drink alcohol (another subject for another post) and you will do great. Solve the emotional eating piece and develop good substitutes that are not food or alcohol. God bless you!

Ladies, I am still battling and some days I feel victorious but others not so much. I know the thing to do is to go back to basics....limiting carbs, eating 3 times a day with no Snacks, no drinking when eating, Vitamins and walking at least. I wish there was a magic bullet. I wish the weight I gained would just fall off but reality has set in and I know it won't. One thing I do know is that I have an eating disorder. I always looked at an eating disorder was when people don't eat (Anorexia) or eat and purge (Bulemia). I have come to realize that I am a food addict, a compulsive over eater. I don't know how to deal with emotions except to stuff them down. I am working to get a grip on this as I believe that is my only hope to ever attain and maintain a "normal" weight. I just want to be healthy. I have to fly on business 3 round trips in the next 4 weeks and I'm already freaking out that the seat belt won't fit around my 265 lb. belly. I was totally humiliated once by a flight attendant who made it crystal clear to everyone with in 4 rows of me front and back that I needed an extender. That was the final straw to have me get everything in order for gastric bypass. I have got to learn how to deal with this addiction. How to live with emotions and not be controlled by them. How to handle people who hurt my feelings without eating.

Let everyone hear your stories! Hearing good reports gives you hope. Saying you are struggling lets others know you need support. Sound off!

I went shopping for our annual Thanksgiving meal yesterday. I was trying to think of wise food choices this year - not just for me but for the family. I opted on grilled vegetables in place of starchy corn, turkey & ham (Protein, Protein, protein), etc. I do not believe that weight gain is inevitable during the holidays. There is no rule that you have to gorge until you are over-full. I am focusing on the great times with family and friends rather than the food. A different perspective perhaps. I will make my families favorites such as stuffing balls, sweet potato souffle, and the likes. I'm thinking a late Thanksgiving walk may be a way to ward off any unwanted calories. Stay tuned...

Beth, you are a very motivated lady! Working through a masters program requires skill and dedication. Now that all that "stress" is behind you, it is time to make YOU the new masters program!! My son used to think there wasn't anyone out there for him. I am happy to report that within the course of a year, he met a sweet girl and got married. In other words, that can all change in a short time. Just be sure you are out and about so you can meet people. Don't "wait until you lose the weight". Do it "while" you are losing! Do not allow the weight to demotivate you!!! Hang in there and get back on the horse. You can do this. Joyful

Shay, I have been back on track now for the entire year. I have literally went back to basics. I went back to Protein Meal Replacements for the entire month of January. After that it felt like my pouch was back to post-surgery say 6 months. I have a definite stopping point now or I am sick. The other night I had some watermelon and dumped. It hurt like crazy but that is back and for that I am grateful. I joined a group through WLS Success Matters (on-line) called Back on Track. It is 6 weeks long and there is a fee that covers the 6 weeks plus materials. It was like $199. It was worth every penny. I started this after I had been on Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacement (recommended by my surgeon) for a month. Please let me know if you have any questions.

That is awesome. Dr. Richard did my Gastric Bypass in 2008. He is awesome. Very considerate and caring.

Congratulations on the 2 kiddo's. That is awesome for you!!! You lost quite a bit of weight! You sound like me. I had put on a lot though....about 100 lbs. In January, I drank Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacements 3 times daily the entire month. It worked. My restriction is back and I am full with about 3 oz. protein. Get back on the train and get a hold of the regain. You need to lose about 40 lbs. it looks like. YOU"VE GOT THIS!!! Please do it now so your 40 doesn't become 100. Joy

It sounds like you are hanging near your weight. Just keep your meals the size they should be, stay away from carbs, take your supplements and keep moving and exercising. I think having a fear that keeps you on the straight and narrow is a good thing.

Lillian, please give us an update!

I live in Lawrenceville, GA and there are no groups here except my surgeons one hour a month which isn't near enough. I would love to have one closer since I'm struggling with regain.

I live in Lawrenceville. I had RNY in June of 2008 in Gainesville. Dr. Robert Richard did my surgery before he moved his practice to Gwinnett.

Yes we are. Ha ha. So do you have a date for surgery yet?

ok

I seriously need to pull myself up and put on my big girl panties and get back on my plan. Help!

That is awesome! You will feel so much better! Quiting smoking and dieting are really a good combination. You don't replace one with the other that way. I had people tell me that I should concentrate on one or the other but I completely disagree. I say blow it all up at one time! ha ha.

Well here I am on my new blog. I'm not sure where to start so I will just ramble a minute. I had RNY in June 2008. My starting weight was 328 lbs. I lost down to 175 lbs. in about 13 months. I did pretty well and maintained until after my oldest son passed away in December 2010. I literally fell off the wagon and gained back weight, a lot of weight. I was shocked to find I weighed 246 lbs. I was so disappointed and scared that I cried. How could I have let this happen? Looking back there were several opportunities to get a grip but I didn't. Fast forward to October 5-6, 2012. I attended the Obesity Help Conference here in Atlanta. I walked away with a renewed sense of "I can do this". I went back to basics and eliminated the carbs, made protein my first priority, drinking my water and walking. This past Monday I weighed 225.2. I know I have a ways to go but I'm on the right track! Joyful

I would tend to say bug. I have had the bread get stuck before (when I used to eat it) but it only lasted a short time. I seriously stay away from bread.

Hello my RNY buddies. It is a cool, crisp November morning in beautiful GA and I have had the morning to myself. I find myself wondering what on Earth I should do. I searched the web for ways to finish my kitchen cabinets, did some on-line Christmas shopping and now I'm writing this blog. I have always been known as a bit of a workaholic. I'm just not sure what to do when I don't have a "to-do" list. I love to sew but our son is back home waiting to close on his house so I couldn't get to my sewing room. My husband is gone to his Massage School to do clinic and will be off next weekend so this is my last "alone time" for a couple of weeks. What do you do in your down time? Hobbies, reading, please share.