Please advise! I am 2 years out and lost most of my weight and then have gradually gained back 30 pounds by eatting bad foods. I've have 3 fills and 1 unfill. I am scheduled to have another fill on Thursday because my volume has increased so much. For a few months I started drinking Diet Coke again because my nurse said that there has been no proof that it can harm you. But I've since given it up again, about 1 month now. I'm afraid I've stretched my pouch. I also drink during meals most times. But I can eat sub sandwiches, bread of any kind, and of course all the bad stuff. In fact, I haven't found one food that I cannot eat. I am not eating junk although I have eatten a lot of carbs. I don't exercise regularly either. I'd like some advise because it will cost me $150.00 for this fill. My nurse is going to try and talk me out of the fill since the last time (over a year ago) I was too tight. I'm so disappointed in myself and don't know how to get back the motivation I once had. Thanks, Jeanie

Truthfully, you should be able to eat anything BUT (and that's a mighty big BUT) that doesn't mean you should. For example, you might be able to eat a foot long sandwich from Subway but that doesn't mean you should buy it and stuff it in!

It's very tough to "get back on the wagon" but that's what you have to do. With this fill, why don't you go back to liquids only for 2-3 days and then mushies for a couple of days and then back to regular solids? That's what I'm supposed to do after each fill anyway. Then treat it like you're just post op and back on real food. Plan your meals, weigh/measure as an insurance policy that you aren't giving yourself an extra smidge here and there which could add up to gaining a pound a month or even more.

WRITE DOWN everything you eat and when. I say when because you may see that there are certain times of day/circumstances when you eat more than you should or eat when you shouldn't eat at all. That could help you plan your day better and perhaps avoid the pitfall(s).

Ditch the soda .... it may not stretch your pouch or it might BUT it's just not good for you. It's tough on your stomach, tough on your teeth and that's reason enough to not drink it.

And, I have to say it: GET BACK INTO AN EXERCISE ROUTINE. Yeah, I know ALL the excuses because I've used them. But once I started getting up at 5:00 AM instead of 6:00 and walking/running 4 miles, it's become a habit such that even if it rains, I go out anyway and just get wet. How sick is that? LOL.

Thanks for the great advice. My problem is that I'm not sure if I need a fill or just an attitude adjustment. lol