Here I grow Again

[Aaron L. Shaw 7]

Here I grow again!

I had surgery three years ago. It was a roller coaster ride, like everyone else. I did the pure liquid no carb pre op diet. I underwent surgery and after the initial feeling of having been through a bar fight, came out the other side ready to go! I was compliant with the whole thing, It was an amazing experience as the weight seemed to just melt off. . . until it didn't.

I got down to about 250 pounds and hit a very long plateau. In response I went to the gym. . . A LOT. I managed to drop down to 210 pounds and decided to go in for skin removal surgery. Things went backwards from there. The plastic surgeon was HORRIBLE. He didn't place a drain, I developed a seroma the size of a pringles can (1 liter) and had an incision infection. The seroma kept filling up even after I went to a general surgeon to have it cleaned out and a drain placed. I was not able to exercise because of the pain.

Old habits die hard. I became sedentary again, and I've gained back up to 257 pounds. Bad eating habits. A non supportive spouse. Too many carbs. Not enough exercise. Seroma is still there.

I went back to my PCP yesterday and weighed in. Much to my horror I was at 257. When I looked at my weight history, 30 pounds of that has slowly crept up since January of this year.

Compliance cannot be overstated. I went out and bought Protein Bars and yogurt. I'm cutting out any and all alcohol, and back to counting carbs. Since I'm a full time law student (at 46 years old with six kids at home) finding time to exercise regularly can be a challenge. Today I'm going to work some time after class into my schedule to go to the university's gym for at least 45 minutes to an hour each day (I have class 3 days a week).

I didn't go down this long, and difficult road just to wind up back where I started. Glad to find this forum

[Matt Z 4,139]

35 minutes ago, Aaron L. Shaw said:

Here I grow again!

I had surgery three years ago. It was a roller coaster ride, like everyone else. I did the pure liquid no carb pre op diet. I underwent surgery and after the initial feeling of having been through a bar fight, came out the other side ready to go! I was compliant with the whole thing, It was an amazing experience as the weight seemed to just melt off. . . until it didn't.

I got down to about 250 pounds and hit a very long plateau. In response I went to the gym. . . A LOT. I managed to drop down to 210 pounds and decided to go in for skin removal surgery. Things went backwards from there. The plastic surgeon was HORRIBLE. He didn't place a drain, I developed a seroma the size of a pringles can (1 liter) and had an incision infection. The seroma kept filling up even after I went to a general surgeon to have it cleaned out and a drain placed. I was not able to exercise because of the pain.

Old habits die hard. I became sedentary again, and I've gained back up to 257 pounds. Bad eating habits. A non supportive spouse. Too many carbs. Not enough exercise. Seroma is still there.

I went back to my PCP yesterday and weighed in. Much to my horror I was at 257. When I looked at my weight history, 30 pounds of that has slowly crept up since January of this year.

Compliance cannot be overstated. I went out and bought Protein Bars and yogurt. I'm cutting out any and all alcohol, and back to counting carbs. Since I'm a full time law student (at 46 years old with six kids at home) finding time to exercise regularly can be a challenge. Today I'm going to work some time after class into my schedule to go to the university's gym for at least 45 minutes to an hour each day (I have class 3 days a week).

I didn't go down this long, and difficult road just to wind up back where I started. Glad to find this forum

Small changes over time become habit. It's the large changes that are harder to fully commit to. You've seemingly got this under control, you know what you did wrong and how to resolve it. So, congrats on being ahead of this curve!

[J San 1,071]

Man, what a rough ride. Like @Matt Z mentioned you seem to know what to do. Best of luck to you on getting to where you want to be. Stay strong, it seems like you have a strong mind set so I don't doubt anything but success for you.

[Frustr8 7,886]

They say weight loss is a marathon instead of a sprint, but I think for you it has been a roller coaster or a ride on the Tilt-a- Whirl. Hope yours gets more like Dodgem Cars that's at least on a level surface!🚘🚖🚘

[GreenTealael 25,358]

3 hours ago, Aaron L. Shaw said:

Here I grow again!

I had surgery three years ago. It was a roller coaster ride, like everyone else. I did the pure liquid no carb pre op diet. I underwent surgery and after the initial feeling of having been through a bar fight, came out the other side ready to go! I was compliant with the whole thing, It was an amazing experience as the weight seemed to just melt off. . . until it didn't.

I got down to about 250 pounds and hit a very long plateau. In response I went to the gym. . . A LOT. I managed to drop down to 210 pounds and decided to go in for skin removal surgery. Things went backwards from there. The plastic surgeon was HORRIBLE. He didn't place a drain, I developed a seroma the size of a pringles can (1 liter) and had an incision infection. The seroma kept filling up even after I went to a general surgeon to have it cleaned out and a drain placed. I was not able to exercise because of the pain.

Old habits die hard. I became sedentary again, and I've gained back up to 257 pounds. Bad eating habits. A non supportive spouse. Too many carbs. Not enough exercise. Seroma is still there.

I went back to my PCP yesterday and weighed in. Much to my horror I was at 257. When I looked at my weight history, 30 pounds of that has slowly crept up since January of this year.

Compliance cannot be overstated. I went out and bought Protein Bars and yogurt. I'm cutting out any and all alcohol, and back to counting carbs. Since I'm a full time law student (at 46 years old with six kids at home) finding time to exercise regularly can be a challenge. Today I'm going to work some time after class into my schedule to go to the university's gym for at least 45 minutes to an hour each day (I have class 3 days a week).

I didn't go down this long, and difficult road just to wind up back where I started. Glad to find this forum

You can do it ... All!!!

[FancyChristine15 810]

You definitely have the right attitude. I'm glad that you are doing something before the weight gain gets out of hand, which is what I wish that I would have done! Congrats on that! You've got this!

[Malcy 132]

Congratulations to you on pursuing your dream of becoming a lawyer. Just as you are strong enough to juggle going back to school and raising a family, I know you have what it takes to get that weight off. You got this!

[wmbt 3]

Hi Aaron, I logged on after a couple of years because I have been struggling. It is so frustrating to still have to struggle after all your efforts.

I am a big believer that everyone has something that keeps them humble and working hard. You can do this. It is not too late. Stinks that you have to venture through it again but, you know that it's possible.

Keep positive, it's better than the alternative. I'm excited to hear about your progress.

[BajanSleeve 244]

Aaron I am just here to encourage you. Consistency is always the challenge. Having to push through pain to exercise is no joke. Can your primary care giver help with that?

What I like about what you have said is that you are not in a defeats mindset. You see where the challenge has been and acknowledge it. I can hear your will and desire to get back on track. I am positive there are those like you who have faced weight gain after WLS but have reversed it and you are not giving up.

Often we have to be our own best coach and not rely on others who do not understand or appreciate the battle with obesity - sadly even a spouse. Kudos to you for pushing through and remaining positive in spite of having so many balls to keep in the air with kids, studying, marriage, botched skin removal surgery and weight management. Nuff respect to you. seriously.

Edited September 2, 2018 by BajanSleeve

[ryan_86 335]

I feel ya. I e put about 30 pounds back on by the small accrual of old bad habits and letting new good habits fade.

I git my **** together in the past 10 days and am doing ver6 good going back to basics. Mostly liquid diet at the moment, and working with a behavioral therapist. The important thing is I didn’t let it get out of hand, I asked for help, and I understand it will always be a struggle. But it’s a struggle I can win, becaus3 I did it once already.