smithpy

It's really hard. I'm 2 years post op and have gained back weight. Try to stay focused on healthy eating and not overeating. The creep is real and it's much harder to take it off the second time around (at least for me).

How much does it generally cost to remove excess skin? Also how much pain is involved.

Now is the time to learn how to Celebrate without food. That's a slippery slope that lead many of us to needing surgery in the first place.
Why not celebrate by pampering yourself? Get a mani/pedi or treat yourself to a massage? I did a spa day with girlfriends this summer. We bought them off groupon.

Try partying without food .... Bowling, movies, skating, anything that doesn't revolve around eating but where you can still have a good time.

Try partying without food .... Bowling, movies, skating, anything that doesn't revolve around eating but where you can still have a good time.

I would love to be in touch with some 2013 sleevers. I'm committed to getting back on track.
HW: 240
LW: 135.5
CW: 179
Open to anyone willing to recommit with me. Need all the support and tips I can get.

First of all, is your head in the right place to kick-start a program and stick with it? Without that, it's much harder. But since you're posting here, hopefully you've reached that place we all got to before our surgeries where we were ready to do anything and everything to get healthy. If so, here are a few sites you may find useful:
First off, here's a site that describes the top 10 bariatric mistakes. You may find your own situation in several of the categories. This will show you that you're not alone in making these mistakes, and suggest changes you need to make to overcome them.
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/
Next, here's a site that many people have used to "reset" their pouches and sleeves in order to feel the restriction again. There's a book you can buy on the website, but from what I can tell, all the info is there for free if you look around. This could be a powerful tool to help you start over!
http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html
And finally, if you need a refresher course on the rules of Bariatric Eating, here's a site that provides a ton of answers. You'll probably be most interested in Steps 9 and 10, but reading through the rest can remind you where you came from. Maybe by doing the 5-day pouch test and pretending that you just had a new surgery, you can feel like you're getting a fresh start.
http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/
Hope you find these sites to be helpful, and I wish you great success in the next leg of your journey to good health!!!

To reprise:
* I'm 2-3 years post-op.
* I'm gaining weight.
* I snack and graze, especially at night.
* I'm eating a lot more sweets and other slider foods.
* I don't exercise. * I don't attend support meetings.
What should I do?
Well ...
If it were me I'd track everything that went into my mouth. I'd track my exercise / steps / whatever. I'd find a serious support network (in-person groups, online groups, bariatric counselor, doctor, etc.). I'd identify ways to become more accountable for my eating / exercising behavior. I'd look at my life carefully and see what factors were hindering or stopping my doing what I needed to do to lose and maintain the weight -- and try to change those things.
I'd stop agonizing about having gained some weight and just start anew. You can't change the past. You can only change the future.

Wylie/Sachse/Murphy
I would love a support group in the Wylie/Sachse/Murphy area.

Honestly I hadn't thought about focusing on stress relief but you are right if I learn to manage the stress it may help manage the eating triggers. The kids and I are going to attend a counseling works support group which starts in Sept.
No offense about the alcohol. I'm aware of the research and that does worry me which why I brought it up here.
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I did "better" this week but still a way from back on track.

It is very common with veteran sleevers. In the beginning, it's so hard to eat, and we are full from such little amounts of food.< /p>
It's like I can't ever relax and expect to keep maintaining. All it takes is a few Snacks and I am up 2 lbs, and if I don't get right back to basics, it's 2 more in no time at all.
It's depressing. They way I look at it though, it's much easier to lose 10 than 100. I still have my tool and I know how to use it. Willpower is something that we have to have if we expect to live in everyone else's world.

Here is what i think. Statistically, people experience some weight regain 2-3 plus years post WLS. We have lots of anecdotal stories to go with that and i believe it happens with all the surgery types.
Those of us that keep a positive mental attitude (ie don't just give up, all or nothing thinking, or beat themselves up too bad) generally find a way to whittle those pounds back off, or stop the regain at some sort of "reasonable" amount.
It is the story of nearly woman over about 40 that i know... they battle with at least some weight (maybe it is only 10#, maybe more). It is part of life, we must accept it and have a plan for tackling it.
I was happy at my goal of 158. I was estatic when I got to 150. I didn't plan to get to 140, but once I was feeling better I started liking it. I have regained up to 145# and while i am okay with it, i liked it better 5# lighter. If that little feeling of disappointment creeps up - I pull out my collage of before, during and after. I realize that even if I wind up back at 158 somehow, I still look and feel damn good!
So, I think this battle of the 12# or 20# or whatever is really really normal and we can all support each other in ways to work it back off... and more importantly support each other in learning to not let it be too distressing either.
If I keep gaining I will likely be one of those posting this type of topic... you have my permission to throw my own words back at me.

I know the feeling. I am three years out now and maintained my 100 pound loss for two of those years. For the last almost year though, I have gained 12 pounds. I have been bouncing back and forth between 141 and 147 since about October of last year. I would tighten up some and get back to 141 and then it would slide again and I would be right back up to 145 or higher in a couple of weeks. It would take a few months to lose the 5 or 6 pounds only to find it back again after only a week of eating whatever I wanted. I have to learn that I cant just eat carby Snacks and think I wont gain!
I am back on track as of today. My NUT told me when I was trying to lose the last 12 pounds in a month (when getting to goal in one year) that it was possible, but I had to eat 30 carbs or less a day. She told me to get at least 70 grams of Protein and no more than 30 carbs--didnt matter the calories. It did work, I must say. I did reach my goal in three weeks from that day and kept it off for a whole year by eating high protein. I did snack some but it wasnt out of hand. Now, its out of hand. I dont snack every once in a while, I snack daily and graze a lot. I guess it is really feedback, not failure. I can see where I am going wrong. Its a hard habit to break though.
I set a new goal to have this extra weight back off by Halloween. That gives me about 7 weeks. I made a ticker. I logged my food today on mfp. I have set my goal and I am determined to reach it no matter what else is going on in my life. I have three jobs and school part time. I am one busy woman and snacking and bad food choices seem to go with that lifestyle really easily. I think to reach the goal, I need to prepare a little better so I am not stuck with bad food choices due to not having good choices readily available.
I wish you luck on your journey too. Maybe if you made a specific goal and made a ticker, started a challenge or some such, it would give you jump start you need to get that extra 20 back off. HTH

I've been working to lose 25 pounds I've regained. I've been at the same weight for three days. It's not long but it feels like forever. One thing I'm trying to do is look at the non-scale victories. In my log in addition to weight loss there was a column to list non-scale victories. This was very helpful during my dry spells whether 2 days or two weeks. The key is doing better for the long run.
Non scale victories this week -
Feeling slimmer
Free from the guilt of overeating
Healthier due to increased exercise
Better control over my actions (not eating out of impulse)

This is a lifelong journey. Don't be too discouraged. Stalls are natural but keep doing what you are suppose to do and your body will continue to lose. Be sure you are at least walking, taking your supplements and getting the Protein needed.

This is a lifelong journey. Don't be too discouraged. Stalls are natural but keep doing what you are suppose to do and your body will continue to lose. Be sure you are at least walking, taking your supplements and getting the Protein needed.

Any sleevers struggling with weightloss and eating habits?? I'm 5 months in and is at a stand still...feel very discouraged.Any suggestions

I got to goal in less than a year 104.5 lbs lost. Over the last few months I've not eaten/exercised the way I should and I've gained back 26 lbs. I've gotten further and further away from goal. I need to lose 21 lbs min to be at a happy/healthy place.
Joined a closer gym and started working out in the mornings again (my ideal time). Now just need to get back eating correctly and because I'm hungry and not because of stress, boredom and just because I'm happy or want to Celebrate.
I loved being at a healthy place and fitting clothes well.

The beginning is the hardest. Walk walk and walk some more. It will help relieve the gas. Hiccups means you are taking in liquid too quickly. You should be taking baby sips (and no straws).
Message me if I can help.
Pamela

I would love a seasoned sleever to buddy with. I was sleeved in Oct 2012 and lost just over 100 pounds. I've been off track for awhile and gained back almost 25 pounds.
I'm determined to get back on track and although I don't have to get as low as I was originally I do need to take off at least 15-20 pounds and more importantly eat right, exercise and not use food as a go to.
Thanks,
Pamela

I think this was good.

Honestly I hadn't thought about focusing on stress relief but you are right if I learn to manage the stress it may help manage the eating triggers. The kids and I are going to attend a counseling works support group which starts in Sept.
No offense about the alcohol. I'm aware of the research and that does worry me which why I brought it up here.
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I did "better" this week but still a way from back on track.

This book helped me a lot-- not saying I'm totally "cured" of impulsive eating, but I've stopped most of it and don't feel like I'm struggling:
Cynthia Alexander "Emotional First + Aid" (the bariatric one).

Thank you. I do realize that some weight gain is normal but my eating habits prove that I'm not where I need to be. Thanks for the encouragement. I do need to get back the basics again. At the gym now!!!

You've done great and your post illustrates why maintenance is a who new ball game sometimes. I do want to comment about "full". My NUT stressed to me that eating to absence of hunger rather than aiming for "full" is a key long term strategy. I am only 2.5 years post op so only time will tell but I never seek that "I am so full I can't have one more bite" feeling. It is like retraining my brain about how it should feel when it's time to stop eating.