Confession time. . . .

About the only thing I am consistently doing "right" is taking my supplements. Yesterday I was thinking about what I'm not doing that I used to do and what I am doing that I used to not do. . . . I know my mind is so confusing to me I can hardly expect you to understand.

Here's where I'm coming from.  For almost 3 years post WLS I: exercised hard at least 4-5 days per week. I belonged to a gym and started my day there. I ate protein first and almost no WHITE anything. Couldn't stomach rice, bread, pasta, very little bread. Unfortunately I can now tolerate some of those things in small amounts. That would be ok if. . . . .I wouldn't "small amount" myself all too often!

Today I find that I have gained weight and no one is responsible except me! I hate to have  to be responsible but I am heading the wrong way; the way I swore I would not go again. So. . . . tomorrow I'm signing back up at the gym. I'm reinstating my morning protein shake which I kind of let go by the wayside. I'm removing "white" from my diet. It just gets me in trouble and when I eat "white" first I have no room for what I should be eating. I recently started drinking decaf tea. That seems to be helping me to get my daily fluids up. I was actually getting leg and toe cramps; not enough fluid in this very dry, hot weather.

Last year was such a busy year: Puppies, babies, selling house, building and moving. Nice jogging trail that I use some but not enough. Just excuses! So back to basics. Basics worked for over 3 years; I'm going to kick it up a notch and see if I have the big girl panties on right and can muster the courage to do what needs to be done. I needed to tell  you all of the plan. If I don't share it it is so easy to "forget" and think "next week."

 

Aloha my friend......I admire your honesty in telling us where you are in this process. It is so true that life can get in the way and zap us out of our healthy routines. It sort of creeps up on us, I think. For the first two years I didn't touch anything high carb like sugar, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, etc. (white I guess you'd call them) Now I've let them all (except rice which I don't like ... thankfully) back into my diet, especially bread in the form of bagels, whole wheat bread for sandwiches, etc. So far I've been very lucky and they haven't put on pounds for me, but they have changed my FOCUS which used to be so good. I do try and get in protein first, but my actual experience says different. For breakfast, I mostly have raisin bran with a banana! Not protein!

For lunch it's usually a scrambled egg with cheese sandwich (I cut off the crusts) and again there are carbs along with the protein. Dinner is often lasagne (frozen) with extra cheese, and half a bagel. See...I am not doing well in the choices I make and am not sure why I haven't been seeing a gain on the scale. I used to write down everything I ate....don't do that anymore either.

I have a feeling the carb monster is going to rise up one of these days and slap me in the face and I will deserve it. My rationale is that my surgeon must have rerouted things so that most of what I eat goes directly back OUT! If that is the case, I should send him a gift because I have not been very good about the "RULEs" for the past year.

Good luck on finding your rhythm in this, Karen, and getting those pounds off. I know you can do it......and I am here cheering you on!!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

MK, I truly hope the carb monster doesn't get you again also. It's evil!!It's not like I can't pick healthy stuff to eat. I like almost everything and very little bothers me. I just need to really get back to the protein first.And the exercise. . . Rhythm is what I need to find again. I have a really hard time with bal ance in my life! Thanks for being here for me.

You an me babe, have you been reading my mind? I think we are thinking and doing the same thing in regards to this food stuff.

The carbs are EVIL! Very little bothers me either. I have to get back to protein first. It really works when I do it right! DUH to me.

Karen:

Thanks for sharing you struggle.  It looks to me that this WLS no matter what form is never a magic cure. 

I think I and others have always wished that would be so.

Knowing what needs to be done and doing it are not always the same thing.  We only have choices to make and need to make the right ones.

I'm sure you will get back on track soon.

Jeane 

Jeane, I tend to be more honest with others than with myself. Today has been pretty good. Not perfect but at least what has gone in my mouth has been protein, veggies, and fruit. Lots of ice tea! Until they find a way to fix the brain it will be a struggle. I had it "easy" for almost two years in the sense that I had little appetite and no food cravings. Some of that has returned. I just need to get back to a healthier, active lifestyle like I lived for almost 3 years. . . I started the healthier eating today, tomorrow I head back to the gym. Once I get in the door I enjoy it; it's just the getting there! Thanks for the support.

Hi Karen,
Don't beat yourself up too much over it.  The important thing is you are regaining focus and moving forward with a plan.

You are not alone..........
I have used plenty of excuses lately for not pushing myself with my exercise.  I do ok with the cardio but have not been sticking to my weight lifting routine.  I really must get a grip and get back on track.  Maybe we can help and push each other to stick to our plans.

I too try to avoid the white foods and most starchy carbs.....rice, pasta, potatoes are not friends of mine.  If I eat them even in small amounts a few times during the week I will not lose weight.  The weeks I avoid them I do much better.  It's weird because I can eat oatmeal every morning or fiber one and they do not hinder my weight lose, but give me bowl of rice and get stuck (is that why they call it "sticky rice??)

Best wishes to you.......
Ruth

PS - Green Tea is very good too.......give it a try.

When I was going to the gym regularly (like I will be again  this week!) I'd have a shake before exercising and then my oatmeal when I got home. I lost like crazy. Of course I had a lot to lose and I was getting in about 1.5 hours of exercise 4-5 days a week. Gee, that worked, go figure!

LOL ........ as Matthew always tells me........."If something works don't change it"

In the middle of my trying to lose the weight I wanted to change my workout routines.....I'd stop doing one thing or add a whole bunch of reps........and I kept messing things up for myself.......finally I decided to listen to him and just followed the routine. The only changes I made were adding more lbs to the weights being lifted and I'd mix up my cardio between "wogging"(walk/jog) and bike riding.  And I reached goal so I know if I just stick to it it works.

With the health issue I'm dealing with right now I'm limited to my exercise but itching to get back on track fully.......I'm going to call the Dr today to ask if I can add bike riding at this point.....I miss it!

I sure hear ya....  loud and clear. I am in the same boat... and feeling miserable about gaining back 60 pounds in the past 2 years...

I had knee surgery, actually had the whole knee replaced, so this just added to the dilema.... add to that my wife had shoulder surgery so both of us have become couch potatos... except that my job is physically demanding i.e. I am on my feet moving nearly all the time.

So... what am I babbling about?... wish I knew... guess I just wanted to talk to someone who is basically in the same boat as me... so... you wanna row or should I?

I really can't seem to decide on a meal plan.... I can't deal with milk at all anymore.. totally lactose intolerant now... so all the shakes and yogurt I loved has gone away... I have been considering Weigh****chers, since a structured agenda seems to work better for me...

*sigh*

Tough isn't it?

Thanks for posting... it all helps to just keep it in the front of my mind....