Hello all, I am NOLA Lady. I am 4'10" n on the day of my surgery I weighed in at a whopping 230lbs and was in a size 18/20. I was extremely regimented, listened to every instruction and was ahead of my group in weight loss because of it. In six months I lost 100 lbs and went down to a size 2. I was so excited that I could finally shop at Victorias Secret & Cache that I became a clothes horse. I have a closet full if fine clothing. I am in sales n marketing and my career took off with the weight loss. I quickly rose to the #1 sales rep as I am a petite blonde in a male dominant field. I have kept the weight off for four years effortlessly and have stayed in my size 2. I went through a really rough time on my job at Airgas. The men hated me because sales came effortlessly to me because if the way I looked. Not once did I dress in appropriately with low cut shirts and or mini skirts. I was always professional in a business suit or when at a refinery or chemical plant I was in jeans n Airgas shirt and steel toe shoes nothing attractive about it. I went through an extremely stressful time and was forced out by men who could not handle being beat by a woman. They lied on me made up rumors and heck one guy went as far to not give me any accts out his branch for 5 years. When I confronted him two days later he gave me a new acct Southern Comfort Strip Club said I could sell them beer gas! Text book sexual harassment case that any attorney would have had a field day with. I did not pursue I found another job n moved on. However the stress I endured was overwhelming to say the least. I was forced to leave a job I loved was passionate about successful n the best of the best. Well I am a stress eater n a eater of the wrong things chocolate chocolate n more chocolate. I put on 25 lbs in one year and went up to a size 12. I am sick to my stomach about it. I so want to get back on track yet I am now overwhelmed with depression. Between being forced out a career I loved n enjoyed so very much and now the weight gain after spending $15k out my own pocket for the VSG surgery I am so depressed about things. I keep trying to drink my 42 gram Myoplex every day n take my Vitamins yet I am so down n out n overwhelmed with depression that I feel immobile n unmotivated. I feel like I am sinking into a black hole n can't stop myself from swirling down into the quick sand. Please help!! Does anyone have any advise or words of wisdom for me??? Toolgirl16@gmail.com

Well first of all, congrats on being sleeved 5 years, that makes you a VET around here! And congrats for losing the weight AND keeping it off. As we all know the losing part isn't the hardest battle, it's the keeping it off that is ever-elusive.

Since you were able to not only lose the weight AND keep it off for a number of years, I'm guessing that this job situation has basically chipped away at you emotionally and you are turning to food. We all know that there is an easy way to defeat our tools, eating the wrong kind of food, grazing, not exercising, etc. And sadly once you are about a year post-op the harder it is to lose the weight. We almost become "normal" in the sense that to take weight off we have to be super-strict about calories, exercise, etc. in order to drop the weight.

But as I always say one of the many things that helped me decide that this surgery was for me, was the fact that this is permanent. We get this tool forever. But we also have to use it wisely.

I wish I had better advice for you, but honestly I think you are just going to have to go back to basics. Have a big pity party for yourself, and then pick yourself up by the bootstraps and start over again. You may want to consider counseling, so that you aren't using food to comfort yourself. Hard stuff for sure. But you either make peace with where you are or you start fighting to get where you want to be. None of it is easy, but you can do it. Good luck!

What she said.

You have had a rough patch. You have fallen off the wagon, but you have not been run over by it yet! Hop back on and take the reins!!

We are all cheering for you. We want to see you succeed in dropping that 25 lbs and succeed in reclaiming that inner strength and drive that took you so far before!

I do take an anti anxiety/depression medication written by my obesity nutritionist (also a GP or pcp for u guys). She says ppl who use food to cope need help when you take that away. There is no shame seeing a therapist nor taking medication for chemical imbalance (depression). If it was insulin medication, no one would think twice, it's the same thing.

Exercise releases feel good endorphins, find something you love, crossfit looks cool!

And lastly remember--- the best revenge is looking good!!

Get in a support group - mabye the hospital has one by you. It would be helpful to be around others that can encourage you. Also the therapy is good. The first step is you recognized the problem. Now nip it before it's too late. I know you can do it cause u made it thru the surgery and were successful. You are amazing- good luck