Offbeats

The best advice I've seen for how to jump-start weight loss again after a while off is to just go back to the basics, as if you just had surgery again. Do a shortened version of the post-op food stages. A couple days of shakes only, then onto purees, then soft foods, then solid foods. Just a couple of days in each stage. That will wean your body back off carbs, kind of reset your restriction, and reset your head as well. It will give you an opportunity to refocus on putting Protein first, eating on a schedule, getting your fluids in, etc.

Hello, friend.
I, too came back to the program --five years come June for me.
In my opinion, you've made the most important step. You got you head wrapped around your sleeve again. I also have RA, OA, fibromyalgia, replaced L knee and spinal surgery--all in the last five years. I know of your pain.
Is this going to be easy for you? Nope
Will it be the same weight loss as when you first had you WLS? Nope
Is your sleeve still willing to work with/for you. Mine did, so I will give you a --Yep
My advice to start off with is to get reconnected with your bariatric team. If they are not available, find a new team to work with. Make an appointment with the medical representative to get reacquainted , make an appointemt with a registered dietician, make an appointment with a bariatric friendly therapist, make an appointment with a gym, a pool or a walking path.
I guess what I'm trying to say is to try and lay out a blue print for success. Get all of your appointments lined up and then bowl them over with your wiliness to get back on track.
I will tell you now, that the weight loss will not be as rapid, but the weight will come off. The hardest part is already done---you got you head "wrapped" and your heart engaged.
I've had to increase my pain meds to get my exercising in, but that won't be forever.
I wish you nothing but sunshine and rainbows, my friend. Just be ready for the rainy days and tsunamis.
Keep posting. Any questions you have I am hopeful that someone on this site will have the answer for you. I'm sure someone will have an opinion--
Just keep in mind that your sleeve and your weight loss will be different with such a time warp. But---just as rewarding.
Prayers going up for you.

You look fantastic. And I k now from reading your posts feel pretty good too! Keep it up. You are an inspiration!
pam

Welcome to whacked-out hormoneland.

This happens to a lot of gals... hormones are stored it our fat, and when we start losing a lot of fat quickly, it also releases a lot of hormones quickly into our systems, throwing everything off. Down the road when you start slowing down and getting closer to goal, it should regulate better, but as long as you're losing steadily and quickly, this can happen! Watch out for major mood swings as well... this can make you feel like you're PMSing constantly too!

@@bakawaka - I have never tracked my total grams of sugar per day, but I do eat a couple varieties of Greek (because it contains more protein) yogurt; Dannon Light & Fit and Oikos Triple Zero, both of which contain 7 grams of sugar. As @@toasty mentioned there are some sugars that are okay and I have also been told by my nutritionist that the sugar in yogurt is one of them. So, sorry I do not have an answer, but you should be able to find yogurt with less than 20 grams of sugar if you are concerned about that amount. Good luck!

My nut wants us not to have anything wtih more than 8g of sugar per serving. I break this 'rule' with my yogurt because there is only one brand/flavor i like. I try to avoid eating it daily. Otherwise I stick to it.

I don't know that I have ever heard anyone indicate the maximum grams of sugar per day. And I know that not all sugar is created equal, so to speak. Generally, sugar found in milk (lactose) is not as much of a problem as say table sugar or high fructose corn Syrup, so I wouldn't worry about the sugar in Nonfat Greek yogurt. Other yogurts may have added sugar, though. Also, although fructose and sucrose can be a problem, in fruits with a high level of Fiber (such as apples, for example) the sugar is not really a problem.
So the answer seems complicated, and I don't really think there is a simple "no more than X grams of sugar" answer.
Generally, I follow the rule of very little ADDED sugar, or very little sugar from low-fiber products.

In general since I was a kid my ass and I have not really had a good relationship. I guess we tolerated each other, neither really liking the other one. Since surgery, my ass has evolved into four distinct categories.
1) Normal, just like everyone else, a good BM once a day, and all is well.
2) Constipated, however I feel it coming on and counter with Prescription Miralax, Colace and MoM if it's bad enough. I got that under control.
3) Volcano Ass. No other way to put it, I get a few rumbles, which is a sign to rush to the nearest restroom and my ass erupts, there is no telling what is coming out. Things I never ate appear. I swear I have no idea how my ass produces the things it does during a volcano stage.
4) Emergency evacuate. This is rare, but I have had it, along I think with everyone else all my life. It's like after eating a bad scallop, and about an hour or two later, your body goes into emergency evacuate mode. There is something inside it does not want and it is going to use every or-face available to get rid of the unwanted matter.
So, if you find yourself and your ass not getting along, know you are not alone. Tonight we discovered that the Healthy Choice mayo I got, my ass does not like. So that chicken salad I made, is now a real question mark.

Have you read the story of Zola? Google it. It took the internet by storm last week. Backpage.com is a hook up site. Prostitutes post there to advertise themselves. REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY and take all precautions. Contact the site admin to get the page taken down. Change your phone number and email addresses. You need to find out who listed you on that site and press charges. This is more than an annoyance, this could be potentially dangerous.

@@toasty I don't think you're a killjoy at all! Here's my own pumpkin pie recipe and it is oh so tasty, especially for only 77 calories and 9g of protein!!!
Crustless Protein Pumpkin Pie

1 - 15 oz can pumpkin (not pie filling)
½ cup egg whites
1½ cups Premier Protein vanilla shake
¾ cup Splenda
½ tsp salt
2 Tbs pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven 400°. Beat all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Pour in pie pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes, then turn down to 375° and bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. You can also pour into 16 (sprayed with non-stick cooking spray) cupcake tins. I like using silicone inserts.

It is best served cold and can even be frozen. Serving size is 3 minis or 1/6 slice of pie. Sometimes I'll top a slice with Greek yogurt (pic) but Nutrition info is for pie only.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Calories 77
Fat 1g
Carbs 10g
Sugars 6g
Fiber 4g
Protein 9g

I've heard that post surgery especially in the beginning that besides the psychological side of this, that there's also a hormonal release. Fat cells are full of estrogen even in men, so post surgery a lot of people experience the massive mood swings, the crying at a drop of a hat, the heightened sense of smell and taste, and nausea associated with morning sickness. That scared me a bit since I had hyperemisis gravidarum with all 7 babies! ???? but I think it's just a place we have to pass through in the tunnel to he other side and not a place, thankfully, that we stay.

Congratulations on your weight loss and new healthy lifestyle! It is always great to hear stories like these. I am currently working with my husband to help him do the same and it certainly isn't easy. It also isn't easy for me. I fight for every pound lost.
I lost hundreds of pounds over the years, the most at one time being 95. I would do a fairly good job only to gain it all back and then some.
Now every time I lose a pound I know it will be gone forever because I have a tool that helps me. For me, surgery literally gave me my life back and it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I am the healthiest I have been in my life as well. All of my previous medical issues are gone with the exception of one, I damaged my spine. I would not have been able to lose this weight without surgical intervention and not because of my eating habits.
What I am wondering is, what are you hoping to gain from The folks on this site? Why do you believe that losing weight without surgery is healthier?
If you are assuming that it is because you did not have to have your insides rearranged I would argue that losing and gaining over and over again is not healthy. Although this may have worked for you, I know I could have lost the weight, I simply proved over and over that I could not maintain it.
I know that if I follow the plan, I will remain healthy.
I am just curious why you would post to this site? Are you looking for support or simply a platform to make those that are considering weight loss surgery second guess their decisions? For many that use this site, weight loss surgery will save their lives.
If you are looking for support, that is fantastic and this group will always jump in to help. Please let us know what you are struggling with.

Brown: I am feeling pretty good. When I take my walks I get more winded than usual but otherwise am ok. The tummy tenderness is getting better, too. My doc wants me to get in 64 oz of Fluid....I haven't reached that goal, I've been around 50-58 oz. So close. food I get down easily, been having Protein shakes I make, Tomato Soup w milk, and greek yogurt w stevia and cinnamon. For Snacks it's the sugar free popsicles...my favorite!
Oh, and I poo'd!!

Congrats! It gets better and before you know it you are back to normal and better than ever!! The BM will come!

Oh wow you really had quite a handful to tough out! Congrats at getting through that! I think I am getting 40 oz but now I am starting to wonder if ill ever have a bm. I have til Monday.
Just watch your dairy with having your gb removed, for some ppl it can cause some issues.

I stayed 2 nights. I had my gallbladder removed during the surgery so I needed an extra night. So far I've been tolerating most liquids and I too am surprised ny the amount I can consume! My surgeon wants me to drink at least 40 ounces per day.

Went in Wednesday and was discharged Thursday evening. How about you? What have you been eating? I can handle.more than I thought, which worries me some.

I hear ya! My surgery was the 28th of July. When I woke up I was so miserable, and definitely thought I had made a mistake! But I felt a bit better each day and today I'm mostly just tired! Glad to hear you are feeling better too! How long did you stay in the hospital?

Well, I am now 2 days post op. When I awoke after surgery, I was in a lot more pain and discomfort than I had expected. I definitely had "buyer's remorse". But today is a much better day. I haven't had trouble getting food or Water down, although of course I get full easily! I took a shower and have been walking around. Still have tummy tenderness but it is manageable.

I have been on the pre-op diet for 1 week. My surgeon required 2 shakes, 2 crisp Snacks and 1 lean and green meal for the first week. Tomorrow I start 5 shakes per day ????????, until surgery day. I have my moments where I'm ready to scream but I'm trying to stay busy, so I don't think about it. Most of the time I'm ok. Thankfully, I gave up coffee a few weeks prior to starting my pre-op diet. No way I could've handled both. My energy level is down.
My surgery is July 30th.
Good luck in 5 days.

I am on Day 3 of my liquid diet. The first day was the worst. Today, it is actually not bad. I haven't run over anyone with my car and I have not stripped off my clothes and run through the neighborhood naked. I take that has a good sign! lol
Surgery in 5 days. I am so ready. I am sure I will be nervous that morning, but today, I am surprisingly calm.

So far I have...I had RNY surgery 6/2/15....immediately....my cycle is regular and finally predictable. ..neck has lightened up...I still have the chin Hair growth. ...but hopefully I will be preggo next summer! Good luck to you.....I'm a believer that it works.

My 14 year old son has been running cross country for the last 2 years. There are 1000 other reasons I wanted this surgery, but, the thought of me being able to go running with my son, still is something that drives me to push harder.

Hurting a lot and listening to my knees sounding like rice krispies every time I sat down.
That and going to the drive in movies and feeling the camping chair slowly bend closer to the ground until it wouldn't close up any more.
We wanted to go to Six Flags before school starts but I got so depressed thinking about walking, riding and just sitting while everyone had fun, we decided to cancel. And that depressed me even more. We cancelled a mini vacation because of my weight.
Been toying with the idea of WLS, but I just got sick and tired of being sick and tired, you know?

What was the final thing that you encountered that made you say this is enough? I have had numerous.
1. Leaving a wife and 2 sons, Husbandless and fatherless.
2. Not being able to get on amusement park rides with my sons.
3. Not being able to take my wife to a concert, because i could not fit in a seat.
4. Avoiding restuarant,movie theaters and sports complexes with tiny seats.
For me, walking through a a department store and some little child looking at me like im a alien had to be one the hardest things.
Respectfully,
Joe