I'm finally mustering up the guts to ask for help. I am 5' 2" and I had gastric sleeve at 205 lbs. My struggle with weight has been life-long. I dropped down to 155 and I was actually quite happy there, as I was down to a size 10. I consumed about 900 cal/day at that point.

Everything went to hell in a handbasket when COVID hit. I truly do not mean to make excuses, because there are none, but there were situational issues. My husband was hit severely early on in the pandemic, the kids were doing remote schooling, I was out of a job, I wasn't exercising and I chose to deal with all of this by getting diet sloppy. And the weight has just been creeping up. I am now at 190 lbs.

What's even worse, is that according to the 13cal/pound calculation, I would need to eat 2470 calories per day in order to maintain a weight of 190lbs. I don't come close to that. I average 1600, and usually not even that much. My metabolism has always been a problem, which I suspect lots of people can identify with.

I have tried Keto and Atkins on and off, but they are not sustainable for me. I read up on Pouch Reset, but then also read about the weight regain. I'm considering intermittent fasting, or simply using my Baritastic app and dropping it to 900 cals. I even looked into a revision, but that wouldn't solve the core issues, which I can't even identify at this point.

I'm so ashamed by this. I've made a mess of this but at the same time, I'm committed to fixing this problem.

Help? Thank you...

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by ElseeGee181

Don't be ashamed I gained 35 lbs back myself it sucks for sure. I started back on track about 2 weeks ago and so far so good.I'm not going to weight in but once a week. I have fell of the wagon and I need help as well.

2 hours ago, chewyandcoco.com said:

Don't be ashamed I gained 35 lbs back myself it sucks for sure. I started back on track about 2 weeks ago and so far so good.I'm not going to weight in but once a week. I have fell of the wagon and I need help as well.

It sure does suck, doesn't it? I remember when it started. My husband was isolated within our home with a bad case of COVID and the kids were sitting with me at the dining room table with their laptops, attempting to study. I would essentially put on a hazmat suit to take food up to my husband at regular intervals to keep him hydrated. The kids and I basically lived in the livingroom for 6 weeks.

First 3 lbs, then 5, then my jeans were snug, then, oh look! Another 5 and then 10! And then our daughter became very ill with something else...and I got to 30.

It has mostly been anxiety and stress eating, all at night. Add no exercise, and my metabolism has ground to a halt, it seems.

I'm aiming for 700-800 calories per day, and, as it turns out, if I force myself to take a half hour between liquids and solids, it forces me to be more thoughtful and deliberate about what I eat. At least so far.

Sorry for the outpouring here!

Good luck to you, my friend!