12 yrs out and regained most weight. Need help getting on track

[Christinede 0]

Had gastric bypass surgery in 2012. I kept everything thing off until 5 years ago. Now, I'm steadily regaining all of my weight back. I stopped following the "rules". I want to get myself back on track again.

[Arabesque 6,970]

I’m a believer in slowly incorporating better eating habits & food choices back into your day. Aim to work towards how & what you were eating in those first few years after your surgery. To begin may be start tracking your food to see what may need to be adjusted. Then work on hitting those Protein & fluid goals & portion sizes. After a couple of weeks change something else like reducing your Snacks or change up a cooking style. Work through what ‘rules’ you have become complacent about making a change or two every couple of weeks. Making changes this way is much easier to adopt and adapt to.Also don’t think of them as ‘rules’. That sounds restrictive, inflexible and limiting. How you eat should complement your lifestyle, be sustainable & flexible.

Maybe get in touch with a therapist to talk through what may be happening that may be influencing some of your food choices & habits. Maybe get in touch with a dietician too just to check your on the right track again.

All the best.

[JennyBeez 280]

(I feel like everything I ever see Arabesque comment is 100% brilliant)

Can you reach out to your care team as well? My team only technically offers medical care for a year after surgery, but said I can call if I need guidance after that. They may be able to offer referrals if needed, etc.

I think it's important, too, to make sure you don't punish yourself. (I don't know if you are, but throughout my lifetime of weight struggles I feel like many of my friends and relatives reluctantly admit to the same thing, where you look down at yourself / judge yourself or even 'punish' yourself for what you perceive as failings.)

We're all a Work In Progress. food can be an addiction just as much as drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or any 'bad habit'. One of my old therapists said that just like many AA members consider themselves 'in recovery' for the rest of their lives, we should look at our relationship with food also as an ongoing journey.

You've got this.