Hey everyone! I'm back on here, looking for motivation and advice. Long story short, I've just had my first surgery following my final cancer treatment and the biopsy came back all clear! Looks like I beat the odds and tackled esophageal cancer in 16 months. I did not go through chemo, therefore the stress of the situation drove me back into bad eating habits and I put on 30 pounds. I'm 4 years and 3 months post-bypass. I've maintained at 200 pounds (down from 369 at my biggest) and was very proud of myself until recently.

I have packed this weight on over the last 4 months. Winter. Holidays. Cancer. COVID. It all conspired to make for a rough patch, but I'm on the other side of the mountain now and determined to get back down to 200 which is where I'm happy and looking healthy.

Thoughts? Advice? Words of encouragement?

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I would suggest scheduling an appointment with a bariatric nutritionist to create a plan for you based on your specific circumstances. You probably need to get back to the basics. Start measuring and recording your food again. See what you are doing well on, see what you are not doing so well on. Eat on a schedule. Get back to 6 small meals a day... 3 meals and 3 small snacks. But MEASURE AND COUNT! For me, I went all the way back to the beginning and am currently retraining myself to eat the way my nutritionist taught me to eat. It I am on day 7 of getting back on track and doing well. I have almost all of my pre and post op notes available to me. Anyhow... YOU CAN DO IT! Just know, you aren't alone in the struggle... And so glad you got some good news!

Congrats to you!!!! Wishing you continued health!!

I agree with going back to basics, whatever your post-op eating plan was (once you got back on solid food). For me, that was focusing on protein followed by veggies, minimal processed food, limited carbs. The good news is, you've already fought and won a much harder battle, so you know you can do this! Don't worry about trying to lose super-fast, as long as you can get your weight trending downward, you'll get back to goal sooner or later. Best wishes!

Cancer sucks and it's so stressing. So glad you're on the mend! Talk to your doctor and your dietician about good strategies to improve your fitness while continuing to support your body's healing.

1. Support your continued health and healing.

2. Lose the extra weight.

In that order.

Talking to a bariatric therapist would be a really great idea, too, if you're open to it. Lots of people a few years post surgery can get into trouble when stressors push the limits of their coping mechanisms and those bad food habits come back. Talking this over with the bariatric therapist can give you some better options, and better ways to identify the self sabotage before it gets out of control.