Dana M.

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Ok, the first thing I need to do is stop saying "try" to lose weight.  I know that 'try' is not a commitment from myself, and I should just do it  but I am finding this even harder then before the surgery.  I think I thought the surgery was going to make me loose then keep it off the weight, but I am smart enough to know it is just a tool.  I guess I just didn't want to believe it. 

I found on OH an article that was trying to help with regained weight... it kinda said the same thing I knew but I am hoping I can adapt the suggestions to my daily routine.

The advice is as follows:

The 5-key questions you can use when faced with regain:

1.) What are you doing differently at home or at work that could be contributing to weight regain?

          No longer work.  Parents passed away.  Eating to soothe my depression.  Sitting more.

2.) Has your access to food changed in any way recently? Have your grocery shopping habits or portion sizes changed?

          Yes.  Before Oct 2011 I could focus on me and my weight loss by making my own food, but after that date my mother's Alzhiemer's became and my stepfather was hospitalized.  Well, after all that life was no longer about me and what I needed, so I moved in with my Mom at her Assisted Living facility to take care of her.  I ate their food on their terms.  I was depressed about my Mom's decline, my family at home without me, my elderly dog being without my care, my son and his struggles and unease, my stepfather's failing health and the loss of support (even from OH since I had no internet connection.  I stopped documenting what I ate which I have now learned is a huge tool in weight loss. 

My Mother passed in Feb 2012 and my stepfather (of 35 years) passed in June. My life returned to my home but my commitment to me did not.  Since I was gone so long my family needed me to 'step-up' to the plate and become fulltime Mom immediately.  That meant focusing on their needs.  I know I should have also returned to my needs, but I was so drained and depressed by the year's losses that I did not have the energy or desire to do more then what I had to.  My fault.  I take the accountability, but what now?  

3.) Do you multitask as you eat? (How aware are you of what and how much you are eating when you eat?)

          Yes, it seems like everything I do these days is multi tasking. Whether it is on the computer, or taking care of the dogs, family, friends, or getting the house back in shape I am always thinking or doing multi tasks.  That is why it is so easy to eat the Lays Stax as I am on the computer over a few hours without realizing I ate an entire can.   

4.) Have you developed self-care habits that bring you pleasure and support your weight loss? (If so, have the frequency of those habits changed? If not, what could you imagine doing that would be enjoyable and support taking better care of yourself?)

          NO... that is my main problem.  I have not yet been able to figure out enjoyable anything besides playing and napping with my dogs.  In terms of support, I think the first thing I can do is start back on OH daily.  I will also begin again with the GSH WLS support meetings in the area.  I have stopped because of the weight gain and I felt so embarrassed, but I feel the people at the meetings would be supportive instead of judgemental (I get enough of that at elsewhere).

5.) What three actions are you willing to take this week to support shifting your energy from weight regain to weight loss?

          1)   Begin OH daily (am weight, food journal, activity journal)

          2)   Move furniture in house to access exercise machines 

          3)   Make second appointment with personal trainer to find out best exercises for my ailments

I think if I get my self into the habit of completing #5 every day (instead of weekly) it may help me focus on me once again.  I will begin tomorrow.  LOL... no really tomorrow!