Hi everyone,

I had my sleeve in Aug last year and have since lost 90 lb. Since January I ave gained 10lb. I now this is due to eating the wrong things and drinking too much alcohol but it worries me that I still think like a fat person. I still obsess about food and want to eat even if i'm not hungry. I still do get hungry and get anxious when even a little bit hungry, just like i did before surgery. I'm also worried that my stomach may have stretched. How far can it stretch? If I spend a week on slimfast, will that hhelp me get on the right track, assuming I can stick with it. I feel I have let myself down big time.

My dr and case mgr told me that if I ever found myself gaining or slipping a year or two after surgery, to just go back to basics. That would start the losing process all over again.

So, go back to Protein first, exercise and drink your Water. You should lose on that!

Good luck!

Kelly

Hi everyone,

I had my sleeve in Aug last year and have since lost 90 lb. Since January I ave gained 10lb. I now this is due to eating the wrong things and drinking too much alcohol but it worries me that I still think like a fat person. I still obsess about food and want to eat even if i'm not hungry. I still do get hungry and get anxious when even a little bit hungry, just like i did before surgery. I'm also worried that my stomach may have stretched. How far can it stretch? If I spend a week on slimfast, will that hhelp me get on the right track, assuming I can stick with it. I feel I have let myself down big time.

I don't think I'd go back to slimfast...

Instead go back to logging all intake, cut out the carbs, eat dense Protein for that full feeling. You have a great tool at your disposal now. Use it!

Hi Pauline!

Hey.. Congratulations on the 90 lb weight loss!!! yeah!!! That is something to be proud of!!!

I read numerous web sites, and stories on WLS, forumns and advise. Several people refer to a "Pouch Test"... it is a 5 day disipline of the basics, like when you first had surgery. I have read very positive comments on it, read one person that did not like it because it is a temporary diet rather than looking at what you are eating overall and changing your complete diet.. whatever.. It is called the 5 day pouch test, there are several web sites about it if you google it and I also attached one link.. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

Good luck.....

Congrats on the 90 lb loss, that is amazing. It's good that you caught the problem at a 10 lb gain! I would first cut out the alcohol and wrong things first. Then if that wasn't enough, go back to basics. That should be all that is necessary. If not maybe basics with protein shakes to replace 1 meal a day. I don't think it's necessary to go too extreme. I also don't think you've stretched out your sleeve. How much dense protein, like chicken, can you eat? That is a good test to see what your sleeves capacity and size is. Everyone even fairly early out can take in a lot of liquid. Try just chicken or meat and I am sure you will find you still have lots of restriction. Good luck!!

Hey, Pauline! First, Congrats!!!! I can pretty much agree with you. It becomes easy to undo the good habits we have learned and committed to. I am battling the wanting to graze all day long right now myself. I DO know that if I am truly eating dense Protein my pouch will only hold small amounts but other stuff... well...

I agree with you about thinking like a "fat person". Our minds play tricks on us and even though we have a great tool to help, ultimately, it is going to be up to us to change our thought patterns and eating habits. I am reading a good book right now called, "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst who is battling the same things and gives her perspective and God's perspective. Really good.

thank you so much everyone, good advice. Will definitely go back to basics, you are right I cant eat much pure protein. I thin the real answer will come when I think like a thin person. At the moment I still get anxious if I am hungry, I think abut food and still crave bad foods. Its as if my brain/personality is conspiring to see me fail. I will beat this.

I did the same thing a few months ago. I was enjoying all the wrong foods and found I'd gained 5 lbs which put me in a panic and I got right back to low carb eating to start losing again. It's hard, but I'm determined to finish this to my goal. Our bodies want nothing more than to put weight back on. It's in our physical memory and bodies are smart enough to l sabotage our hunger and the way we burn calories in order to prevent losing! Good luck on returning to basics, but know that you're not alone. You've lost 90, you can lose more!

thank you so much everyone, good advice. Will definitely go back to basics, you are right I cant eat much pure protein. I thin the real answer will come when I think like a thin person. At the moment I still get anxious if I am hungry, I think abut food and still crave bad foods. Its as if my brain/personality is conspiring to see me fail. I will beat this.

Are we sisters from the same mother? Lol. I think exactly the same way and then wind up grazing on wrong snacks

Hi Pauline (((hugs!!!)))

Here's my advice, first of all - forgive yourself!! Second, like many others have suggested here, start logging your food for awhile to get a good guage on exactly what you're supplying your body with for fuel. Next, go back to the eating of 1. Solid Protein, 2. Veggies (mostly greens), 3. Complex or Whole Grain Carbohydrates (with whatever room is left).

Dust yourself off and pick yourself up. You didn't do anything most of us probably won't go through a few times and when that happens we'll need you to write us a little something on here, reminding us what we need to do. That's what this place is all about, support!

You got this, no worries. There's going to be many bumps in the road - but the only way to get through them is to ride them out.

All the best!!!

Re: our stomachs stretching. Not likely. They take out the stretchy part and leave the part with muscle. If they can stretch it is VERY little. Some say they don't stretch at all. If you overstuff, it will come back up. But still not good to overstuff. Just do what folks above suggested -- do the pouch test and get back on track. Your stomach is still tiny. However, grazing will get around the size restriction.