Battling Bounceback - Calories??

 Hi!!   I need HELP!!!!!  I'm 4 years out, from 300 down to 140.  Just hopped on the scale after ignoring it for months and have gained a whopping 15 POUNDS!!!   ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!   

Okay, now that the shock has worn off, i desperately want to get the weight off and then some, but am confused as to my caloric intake.  After all these years can i go back to drinking (hitting the protein shake thing hard core) the 600 - 800 calories i was taking a few months out from my surgery date or do i need to stick with the recommended minimum 1200 calories every other "normal" diet site advises?  I am obsessing on exercising at the moment and am hoping to be running in a few months, so not sure if that is going to make a difference?  Please help!  I'm totally lost.....   

Good Morning,

You are still a winner.  Just 15 lbs is great. 

As with all weightloss issues, you have to work at keeping it off.  Lower calorie and exercise will get that off quickly.  I think that is really what is good about our surgeries.  We have that option to do what everyone else does to lose weight, but we are almost guaranteed success and rapid loss.

I think that protein shakes, high protein, low carbs is going to be the way to go.  I think we all lose sight of that.  Plus exercising will just make you feel better and make the weight come off faster. 

Try and think back as to what you did when you first had your surgery and what you ate, and I really feel that you will not have a problem.  You are on the right track.  Please keep in touch and let us know of your progress.  On Wednesday morning post we track our weight loss, join in, that will help keep you accountable.  It's fun to see how much, as a group we lose in a week.

Take care and wishing you the very best.

Diane

 Thank you so much!!!!!   I appreciate the warm thoughts and encouragement.  :)  I'll definitely join the wednesday weigh in.  Lord knows I need some accountability!    

Besides ignoring the scale what else have you been doing?  Eating carbs, not exercising...whatever that is, turn that around as well.

I know for me I recently was gaining and it was entirely thanks to my boredom eating which meant way to many PROCESSED carbs.  I cut them out and upped my protein, so far I've lost 4 of the 8lbs.

 Oh my gosh, i've been doing EVERYTHING I shouldn't be.  Got into the habit of eating what ever i felt like when i was dancing non-stop (at least 2 hours just about every night tends to burn a few calories) and never changed back to being healthy when i stopped.  Totally my own stupid fault and i am so annoyed with myself!  
Awesome for you to have almost lost yours!  That's GREAT!  I'm hoping to follow your lead :)  Thank you for the feedback and help!

I can relate to what you are saying.  I just had a reality check and know what my problem is and it sounds like you and I may have something in common and that is too many BAD carbs. 

At the beginning of the week, I had a talk with myself and realized that I was eating to many carbs and getting into a grazing mode.  I put a halt to that and am now back on track and you can be too.  Just set your mind to it.  Drink a protein drink in the morning to have some energy and get that protein in and then do some portion control and hunger vs satiety control.  Do you eat because you are hungry or do you eat out of habit?

Wishing you the best of luck.
Terry