~ 4 Years Out - Struggle Bus is REAL

[MandoGetsSleeved 443]

UGH - Just UGH - I'm an idiot. I KNOW what to do.... but can't seem to get back into the game. Up almost 15lbs from my lowest and can't seem to get it back under control. A couple of weeks ago, I put some slacks away because they no longer fit comfortably. It just about made me sick to toss my "goal pants" on a shelf. As I type this, I'm thinking I need to go back to where I started. Put those bad boys back in the closet, try them on weekly (like I used to) until they fit right again. STOP wearing the comfortable stretchy leggings that I wore when I was losing weight... It's so easy to get comfortable at this point.

I guess this is really just a rant (and a warning): don't get comfortable. Pay attention and BEFORE things get out of control, get back on track. It's much easier to lose 5 than 15. I tend to be a social eater/drinker vs. emotional so I know that I need to make sure I have the right (raw veggies and fruit) foods available when in social gatherings instead of the "standard" snack foods (charcuterie boards are my absolute downfall). Knowing I will have an adult beverage, making sure I'm also drinking a Water in between to at least slow myself down.... Putting on those ill-fitting shorts at home to remind myself NOT to over indulge. Make small changes every week instead of trying to go all-in with a "pouch reset" (which I fail miserably at every time I try). Take pictures and compare. Anything it takes to remind yourself of WHY you did this to begin with. TRACK - Whew, I can't say that enough... TRACK. My failure to track is why I am where I am. When I see what's going in, it's a real eye-opener.

[catwoman7 11,220]

yep - I think a lot of us how are a few years out can relate to this. I, too, thought I'd conquered all this. It's a lifelong battle.

Edited April 3, 2024 by catwoman7

[BlondePatriotInCDA 525]

5 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

yep - I think a lot of us how are a few years out can relate to this. I, too, thought I'd conquered all this. It's a lifelong battle.

Exactly this. A lot of Baritastic patients go into this thinking its a "diet" its not! Its a new LIFETIME way of eating. It is nothing more than nourishment to keep your body healthy. "Diets" are meant to be a temporary way to lose weight, bariatric surgery is a permanent way to eat.

I'll try and heed your words of warning!

Edited April 3, 2024 by BlondePatriotInCDA

[Arabesque 7,414]

Yes it’s a forever thing. And yes, I think there are behaviours we have to also adopt forever. Like tracking for you & weighing myself regularly for me. But it’s easy to get complacent, or life throws crap in our way, old eating habits return, health issues & medication changes, etc, can get in our way.

I’ve been a little complacent lately. Not sure why except weakening & testing things to see if I could be a little less narrow in my choices & how it would affect me. Learnt some things like I still can’t eat bread - hot cross bun sat like a ton weight & made me constipated - not Easter fun!

I’m a proponent of adopting the small changes approach. Easier to adopt & adapt to one or two adjustments at a time than diving in the deep end. The pouch reset is a fairy story. You can’t reset your pouch but you can reset your thinking. Won’t be easy but we’re used to the hard work around losing & maintaining our weight. You got this @MandoGetsSleeved.

[SacB 26]

I'm experiencing the same as you, but I'm only 6 months post-op. This past two weeks I've fallen off the wagon and am having a hard time climbing back on. I think I'm just rebelling because I'm so tired of having to watch everything so closely this past 15 months; it really does get old! Oh, I'll get back on the wagon soon because I don't want to embarrass myself when I have my 8-month check-in with my surgeon. But it's hard. It's just hard.

[MandoGetsSleeved 443]

Thank you all! One thing to edit/add is that I consider the "pouch reset" a myth also from the perspective of shrinking my stomach, but consider it rather a "mind reset" of what I did in the beginning and getting back on track mentally.

As @Arabesque says, weighing myself daily - Another mental reset for me. I can easily stick my head in the sand if I'm not on the scale, so no matter how painful it might be (especially after my last cruise where I went overboard with the um... adult beverages like sweet martini's), sometimes it takes that dose of reality to get you back on track. I'm back down to my standard weight (was easier than I thought to lose 10 when I paid attention which is a problem in itself), I still want to hit my goal of 155 - One day.... One day at a time.

Glad I stopped by here this morning - Getting ready to head out on the boat. Was initially going to pack the standard stuff, but inspired to change it up: Cut up veggies for Snacks, more Water and Gatorade Zero, less adult beverages in the coolers. Will make sure to take a picture and compare to a year ago so I remember WHERE I want to be vs. where I am.

Thanks ladies and gents!

[Spinoza 1,452]

On 4/3/2024 at 11:57 AM, MandoGetsSleeved said:

I guess this is really just a rant (and a warning): don't get comfortable. Pay attention and BEFORE things get out of control, get back on track.

Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you can get back on top of things and stay where you want to be.

I agree pouch resets sound drastic - we've all done boom and bust a million times. I hope you can incorporate better choices now that you've identified what's happening.

I also weigh myself every day. If I'm gaining I need to know. Whether I choose to do something about that, or when, is up to me, but I need the data!

I put on 5lbs over the winter and I am keeping a beady eye on that. Seems to have settled again for now so I'm not panicking and just putting it down to third year regain. Your post is encouraging me to remain vigilant though.

Edited April 18, 2024 by Spinoza

[ms.sss 15,717]

On 4/3/2024 at 6:57 AM, MandoGetsSleeved said:

TRACK - Whew, I can't say that enough... TRACK. My failure to track is why I am where I am. When I see what's going in, it's a real eye-opener.

couldn't agree more. i still track my food intake (albeit not as rigidly, i eyeball and guesstimate alot more now) and i still weigh myself every day.

i'm 5+ years out, and i have managed to stay below goal weight this entire time.

Edited April 20, 2024 by ms.sss

[Paynefulrunner 0]

Thank you so much for sharing! I’m 7 years out, menopausal and have put on about 40lbs… I have got to get my head hunger under control!