4 Years Out and I've Gained!!!! - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

SidC · 07-17-2009, 04:00 PM

Good Afternoon All,

I'm 4 years lap RNY postop and I've gained about 30 pounds from my lowest point. I've picked up bad habits again - daily venti mochas, beer, soda and sweets. My wife is 5 years postop and is having similar challenges.

We rejoined Weight Watchers last night and are giving that a chance to get back some control. We recently adopted and haven't been as active as could be either.

Can anyone provide some suggestions, insight, etc. as to how we need to get back under control?

Thanks so much!

foxyfuzz · 07-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Many lately have done the 5 day pouch test and have done really well at getting back into the swing of things.

Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Good luck and keep us posted!

SidC · 07-17-2009, 04:08 PM

Thanks! We will check into this.

poet_kelly · 07-17-2009, 04:29 PM

I was going to suggest the pouch test, as well. In addition, I would recommend going back to the basics, to what you did when you were newly post-op. Measure your food, write down what you eat. Make sure you eat slowly and chew really well. Focus on protein first.

Kelly

Phoenixfire · 07-17-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidC

I'm 4 years lap RNY postop and I've gained about 30 pounds from my lowest point. I've picked up bad habits again - daily venti mochas, beer, soda and sweets. My wife is 5 years postop and is having similar challenges.

Hi there Sid (and Mrs. Sid): I'm a fellow long-termer, 7 years postop, and I've gone through both unwanted gain AND unwanted extreme loss. So I've got some "street cred" on the subject you're dealing with!

You two are the perfect example of the reason I hang around this forum: to share experience with others who truly are determined to use their weight loss surgery for a LONG TERM weight loss tool. So congrats to both of you for doing well the last 4 years postop. You're just facing the inevitable bump in the road that ALL of us deal with after this surgery, at one time or another.

When I did what you two have done, I went through a period when I decided to break all my "good rules" and pigged out on the same sort of goodies you two are "enjoying." I did the beer, soda, wine, Ritz crackers, donuts, etc. and of course I put on unwanted weight. I don't blame anyone but myself, because I KNOW that it's possible (and likely) for ANYONE post bypass to regain weight. It's quite easy and it happens a lot. So take comfort in knowing you guys aren't some sort of an anomaly, or absolute failures, or that you're all alone in your weight regain.

The key issue is what are you ready to do now? Enjoy your foodfest or give it up and exercise self-discipline so you get healthier? There are no magical tricks. The only trick is to going back to the diet that got you to goal. You've got to DECIDE to change. Otherwise it ain't gonna work.

As for me, I was at goal of 145 lbs. for a long time (and even went WAY down to 114 scary lbs.). Then, after about 4 years, I started eating wrong/drinking and I ballooned up to 165. BUT...I took it all off and have maintained ever since!

The good news is that I'm not unusual in this, and both of you can ABSOLUTELY get those extra pounds off and get back to your ideal weight!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidC

Can anyone provide some suggestions, insight, etc. as to how we need to get back under control?

You simply have to diet. You both know that's the answer.

Start by wrapping your minds around MODERATION. And slowly cut down, and then cut out completely if you must, those items you already know are packing on your pounds.

I'm not a fan, AT ALL, of quitting everything bad at once. It's a recipe for disaster, self-defeatism and failure. We all did that before surgery and look where it got us.

Instead, I took it one item at a time, a few days at a time, by cutting down and then when I surprisingly lost interest I cut it out completely. Some things I still enjoy, but ONLY IN MODERATION. I know it sounds lame, trite and you've heard it all before, but it really is the only answer I personally have found to work.

As far as suggestions about what you two are consuming...

Alcohol was an easy one for me. And you don't NEED to drink booze. It's not like food. I had to quit because I just didn't need it and I didn't like what it was doing to my body. I'd quit smoking so the drinking went right along with it. I'm glad I quit...but if I want to have a drink then I do. Last time was last year. That's how little I miss it, and frankly you should ask yourself: "why do I even want to drink if I know it's going to cause me to fail after all my hard work after surgery?"

Same thing with your Venti Mocha Lattes. You don't NEED those. There are alternatives. Choose them. Mourn the loss of your beloved treat, and grow a set of balls that is bigger than the temptation. Go ahead and ask yourself the same question: "why do I even want to drink if I know it's going to cause me to fail after all my hard work after surgery?"

On the starchy empty carbs, start stuffing your face with more protein and you'll find you're fuller longer. If you're choosing protein-based meals and snacks then those "slider foods" will be a little less desirable.

Do you know what slider foods are? If not, then it's what it sounds like. Those things that go through quick and let you eat more than what your pouch would typically hold. Cut out the slider foods. They're just a way to help you cheat your pouch's restrictive size. I LOVED slider foods! They finally soothed my feeling of being cheated of those big portions. Wah...wah...wah

But of course those slider foods put on fat I didn't want. I found soup to be a BETTER slider food, and could eat a couple big bowls and feel that satisfaction of eating more food. Just a little tip.

So, after my nice long novella of a post, I'm going to encourage you two by saying that it is SO easy to fail when you go overboard to the extreme and say I'M QUITTING COMPLETELY...EVERYTHING THAT'S BAD!!!!!!!!! That's a recipe for disaster and you both know it.

Make a decision of what you're cutting out TODAY. Then do it. Grow your self-discipline muscles gradually, and use your blessed pouch as a tool to help. Your brain is the problem here. Not your pouch.

Claire-in-Texas · 07-17-2009, 08:10 PM

Excellent post, Phoenix! Best of luck to Mr. and Mrs. Sid. Listen to Phoenix - she knows her stuff!!

Meaghan · 07-19-2009, 06:24 PM

AWESOME, awesome, awesome post by Phoenixfire.... only because I needed to hear it!!!!

Thanks for sharing, it's much appreciated~!

Beth in Texas · 07-19-2009, 07:26 PM

Phoenix....wow! Just awesome!

This sounds like something to be pinned...I'm not even on the op table yet, but this piece of wisdom is something that could not be better stated. This is what these forums are about!

Good luck Mr. and Ms....with sage advise like that, how could you possibly lose--er, well you know what I mean. Good Luck!

Phoenixfire · 07-19-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meaghan

AWESOME, awesome, awesome post by Phoenixfire.... only because I needed to hear it!!!!

Thanks for sharing, it's much appreciated~!

Why thank you Meaghan! It's good to hear that sharing my experience benefits others on the same path.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beth in Texas

Phoenix....wow! Just awesome!

This sounds like something to be pinned...I'm not even on the op table yet, but this piece of wisdom is something that could not be better stated. This is what these forums are about!

Good luck Mr. and Ms....with sage advise like that, how could you possibly lose--er, well you know what I mean. Good Luck!

Beth thank you for that.

Claire, your kudos means a lot...being the sage and wise woman that YOU are!

Feedback from y'all is what keeps this "old-timer" around Thinner Times.

I hope Mr. and Mrs. Sid find it just as helpful in their journey.

Meaghan · 07-20-2009, 05:27 PM

You are very welcome!

Just goes to show how you have to stay on top of things... and different perspectives shed new light.

I've seen a lot of folks on the board (that have hit about the 2 year mark +/) are quick to judge and swear up and down that they won't ever gain the weight back or wouldn't dare dream of eating poorly.... (I was on that soap box myself!) but as time goes by it seems defenses drop some and old habits creep up. Makes me wish I was just out of surgery again, when I was so "gun ho" about doing it by the book!

Anyway, thanks for the sage advice! I've almost made it through the day without a diet soda or candy.... the two things I swore I would NEVER touch again! It is really habit/and a mental thing, as I don't even really like either!