Good Evening.... I'm new to this site... and also have started my very first 'blog'...
I had gastric bypass 3 1/2 years ago. And I had lost 95 lbs. I longed for the day to say... if only for one day... "I lost 100 lbs." but it never came. I maintained for the 2 years... just as you did... and then it's like I woke up one day and an evil fairy visited me in the night and I have gained weight since... gaining nearly 30 lbs. I, like you... went to Weight Watchers... yes.. and was introduced to the carbs that I was not allowed to have... After a month of defeat of facing that scale every week I put the kabash to that! I made an appt and went to my nutritionist and I guess I knew what she would say... but I needed to hear it. I still, after a month, have not lost any weight... but old habits die hard.
I talked to my husband, who is my biggest support, "you know... overweight people are physically strong... we carry around over 100 lbs of weight... where ever we go... but mentally... we can be broken so easily.... why is that?"
I know you can do this.... I want to also... I don't know if it is a cycle of what happens to rny patients? But I have found, through my own observation, that those that have had the surgery with NO complications seemed to lose more weight and keep it off... I developed a stricture... and needed two procedures to correct that, one month after my surgery. Now I can eat whatever... I sometimes wish I had that "sick" feeling again... I might stay away from the kitchen then!
Stay strong... I'll help you too through your blog and you can visit mine. I hope we can lose weight together. I have found that the people that know us, and the surgery we have had, can be supportive... and I appreciate it... but sometimes we just need to talk to someone that has actually gone through it! Take Care just keep telling yourself that you CAN DO THIS!!!!!

I would not consider a 15 pound gain a failure. You know you are slipping and are here confessing. That tells me you are ready to get back on track. Good luck....you've got this!

I feel your pain! I am in a similar boat.. only almost 4 years out. I am "dieting" myself into a 45 pounds gain... UGH... my head isn't right either. Best of luck to you!

Sometime between 18 and 30 months the body learns how to absorb calories again and a 20 pound bounceback regain is normal. Don't beat yourself up over it. It is not what you are eating, it is your intestines growing more celli to help them hold more of the calories for what you eat. This would have happened without the popcorn, sugarfree candy, etc.

It is normal part of healing.

It's so easy to forget where we have come from. I struggle with that a lot. In fact, I just bought a pack of sugar free stripped cookies last night and now feel so guilty (I also bought beef jerky and a tub of chocolate protein powder).
You'll get back to goal, just stay strong and as you said - Go back to the basics. Good luck honey.

Hey don't be so hard on yourself--you absolutely haven't failed. That's still a healthy weight.

It's pretty common to have a little bit of regain. You've caught yourself and you know what to do to get back on track. Focus on protein, veggies, and small amounts of good, whole carbohydrates.

It's easy to get overwhelmed, and I found it much easier to focus on cultivating healthy habits by promising myself to be successful at one thing each day (i.e. "Today I will get in my 64 oz. of water," "Today I will have at least 4 servings of vegetables," "Today I will exercise for at least a half hour.")

Think back to how you felt when you first had surgery. Remember that feeling of embarking on a new journey and recommit yourself to that lifestyle. You CAN do it.

Two steps forward and one back is still progress. :-)

Best wishes!

Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that. I can imagine how upsetting this is for you.

The first thing I would do is remember that you have gotten this weight off before. You just need to follow your doctor's instructions. And then get back to it.

The next thing I would do is stop going to Weight Watchers. I never found that they helped me, and I joined their program a couple of times over they years. They preach a good line, but in practice, it is awful. I'm sure all of that fake food is bad for you, and it doesn't help you not eat. And not eating is what you need to do.

You have the best tool for taking care of your weight problem. You are catching this problem early. You can get it done! :)

Good luck!

Like you said you know what to do...and I believe that you can. You already did once before you can be successful again! Best of luck to you.

Hey Spark,

I applaud you for seeing what is happening, that is the 1st step in recovering from slipping off the path...As to getting your head in the right place, still working on that myself so I can only offer words of encouragement - maintanence is the much harder part of "the Journey" for many - myself included...

Alesi a

I completely understand. There are so many low-cal, no-sugar, low-fat, low-carb options out there but they are still so processed and therefore really seem to be more hurtful than helpful. I feel like they awaken the carb/sugar monster and create more cravings. I've stayed away from Weight Watchers for exactly this reason - I don't want to regularly "allow" those foods back into my life.

You're up but the "damage" is not impossible to overcome. If your normal weight is 125, you are 7 lbs within that goal and getting back there is so reachable.

I've been off the beam as well but this week invoked the "5 day pouch test" and while I'm losing some weight, most importantly it's giving me the control back and getting those nonsense processed foods out of my way. It's been a bit of a cleansing and it's exactly the kind of extreme action plan I needed to put in place. Maybe this is an option for you as well. It can help set you straight and "detox" from those sugars/carbs. They are so brutal!!

Put your stake in the ground now - you are not so far gone!

Sparklegigi - as a therapist and a Bariatric Babe let me say you are being WAY toooooo hard on yourself! When it comes down to it, self-talk can determine your success or failure. Self-talk determines if you feel positive or negative about the surgery and your progress. Positives feeling create positive behavior. So for what its worth girl you look good!! Even at 132...now put the carbs down and chase after your dream weight. Get your stinkin thinking under control and go for it again! You can get to 117 again! You did it before, you can do it again! *Add Pom-Poms here!

No need to say anything, except good luck.

We forget the rules so easily...I am in the process of trying to find sustainable ways to keep myself from regaining... Once the honeymoon is over and the reality sets in, for some reason we flail as if we are drowning... Maybe we can help each other...

First of all, you're not a failure. You're still doing alot right! Don't forget it! On the treadmill everyday is fantastic!

You're right in the comment that you know what to do. I'm in the same place. I was no where near as low as you but have had the same gain at 2 1/2 yrs out.
Time to get back to basics! We can both do it!

Where is your head? Do not beat yourself up. You can go to weight watchers for weigh in just do not use the point system. Track your eating online but modify for RNY. Go to a Bariatric support group now! I didn't and I am up 60lbs. You can do it believe in yourself!

It is not a failure!!! Bump in the road- yes!! Can you fix it- yes!! Get busy woman:-) Forgive yourself <3

You've already taken The first step, which is realizing that what you're doing is not working for you. The second step is doing something about it.

Try not to be so hard on yourself. We all go through this at one time or another. That you caught it early will give you a much better chance at "nipping it in the bud" and getting back to the basics (like you said - water, protein, exercise... and let's not forget our vitamins :)) will get you where you want to be.

Maybe take a look at what caused you to start doing things differently and changing what you know "works".

I have a penchant for "self sabbotage". I have already caught myself doing it a few times and stopped before it could have an effect on the scale. I am not saying this is what is happening with you - I just know I need to be aware of it.

It's 15 pounds... a far cry from what you had to lose initially. Try to keep it in prespective.

You've done it before - and you can do it again... you know how. Believe in yourself and before ya know it you will be back to where you are comfortable again.

I would say "good luck"... but it isn't about luck... it's about getting back to the basics and what worked for us at the beginning.

Sendin g a big ol' mushy hug. Pam

Don't call it failure. You just need to refocus! You tried doing that with WW, but that is not the plan for you now. I would think you would need more on the lines of South Beach or something. I just started my journey, but I think that is what you will be telling me at my "2-1/2 failure". Alot of us will go through the same thing. We will just need to recommit to the lifestyle we wanted when we were very obese! GOOD LUCK- You can do it.

You are not a failure! Now it is just a matter of doing what you know you need to do. I think once you let the carbs go, it is easier to avoid them - I don't crave them so much!

As you said you know what to do, sometimes it can get away from us. Take one day at a time it will all fall back into place. Good Luck and keep us posted.

One of the reasons I had my surgery to leave the weight loss programs behind. That said I still hear their "call" to me that says listen to them and I'll be sucessful. I am sorry you had that experience. Go back to your surgeon's plan for you, and focus on what you know to be true, and save your money from those meetings to buy yourself a treat (non-food) and most importantly tell yourself you will be sucessful again without the WW "help". We are here for you. :-)

I can feel your frustration. Just remember that beating up on yourself, being so harsh and judgmental of where you are is just going to make it that much more difficult to get back on track. Treat yourself as you would a dear friend - and be kinder to yourself. You know what's going on, you are at a weight that is definitely NOT out of control, and you can enact a plan to get you where you want. Weight regain is a normal process after weight loss and you don't need perfection - progress is just fine. And I have never seen progress be a straight line - not ever. You can do this - ease us and recognize how far you've come. Good luck!

Hi: In my experience, whenever I 'did' weight watchers, I ended up thinking about food so much that I became obsessed. I do better just getting into a routine of what I eat and stay busy so I don't think about food. I've been practicing that, distracting myself with activity. My goal is to not make food choices take up so much of my brain...my problem becomes anxiety such as this past week I worked too much and had my daughter's grad stuff going on - basically no down time and that's when I feel like 'therapuetic eating'.

Kick start you weight loss with the 5day pouch test, thats what I'm doing to get back on track, I'm hust starting day 3 and have already dropped 4 lbs and I feel my pouch again, and the restriction. good luck, oh and never call yourself a failure look at how far you've come.

Must be something in the air. I have not only plateuaed but am also gaining weight, despite my efforts to lose. I am only 10 months out from surgery.

You maybe need to take a step back and look at the situation objectively. Number 1-you are really only 7 lbs over your "normal" weight. Number 2- Did you ever think, 3 years ago, that you would even be anywhere near what you could call a "normal" weight?? and number 3- look at where you were and how far you have come. Tell yourself the same thing you would tell anyone else....you CAN do this!!!