Need some help here..

Its been a long time since I posted here, used to visit several times a day.
I had my surgery 4 and a half years ago, losing 140 pounds in a year and a half. Today is a different story though.

I have gained about 30 pounds, and am devastated. I went from a size 12-14 to an 18W, and to be truthful, I am scared to death I am on an upward climb.

Heres my dilemma. I have this mind set that since I am 63 years old,,I will not be able to lose any more weight,,and on the heels of that thought comes another,,"why bother,,Im 63! How many "hot" senior citizens do ya see nowadays anyway,,and *****ally cares?"

I am severely depressed,,and find myself back in that old mind set every morning,,,what do I count today,,points, calories, fat grams , carbs,,good carbs and bad carbs,,,??!!

My family tells me that I am obsessing,,that I still look a lot better than I did at 325 pounds and a size 28-30. I am healthy...they tell me to relax and enjoy life. They just dont understand that I am only a few pounds from a size 20, then 22,,then 24 and finally back to where I was! All the stress of it causes me to eat more. I have been craving sweets for three weeks now, and am trying to break that addiction starting today.

Will the pouch still work?? Am I too old, is my metabolism too wrecked to lose weight? Should I go back to the protein shakes? How many calories should I be eating?
Im not exercising at all now, its been a dreadful winter and my exercise routine was walking the small town where I live.

I feel like a total failure,,and am so depressed that I dont want anyone to see me.
I need some help ,,and dont really know what I am asking for. I have never been able to attend a support group, as mine was about 25 miles away and met on my church nights. My surgeon has since retired,,so I feel like I am cut adrift here.

What should I do? Where should I start? I am in panic mode. I have three closets of clothes that no longer fit,,and a very limited wardrobe of things that do because I dont want to invest any more money in clothes when I already have plenty, and its my own fault that they dont fit.

Im  my defense, let me say that there have been some traumatic events happne in my family in this past year, and I have given in to the stress eating bigtime. Im just so sick of it all, all the stress, all the emotion, all the obsession.

Anybody got any advice on where to start,,what to do first..and is it possible to lose this regain at my age?

Betsy

Betsy

First of all, I am so sorry that you have had a lot of trauma in your life this past year.  No wonder you have gained. 

I would suggest going back to the basics of the diet when you started on solids.  Protein first, veggies second, carbs last (or not at all).  Start measuring everything and journal everything that  you eat.  Make sure you get your liquids every day.  If you exercise regularly, pick up the pace and lengthen the time you do it.  If you don't exercise, start today. 

Keep the junk food out of the house until you can regain self-control.  Remember, no food is worth gaining back the weight.  Slim feels good.  Obesity doesn't.  Does the food taste so good that it's worth gaining weight?

You are recognizing the fact that you need to do something.  Now it's up to you to get started. 
You have already taken the first step by coming back on OH and seeking the support and encouragement from your OH support group. 

Good luck and (((((hugs))))))) 

Wanda

Betsy, please don't give up on yourself.  Your tool still works.  You need to find someone to be your buddy and simply start all over with your food program....Start out with 900 calories per day getting in 60 gm. of protein, drink your 84 oz. of liquids, and cut out all sugars and bad carbs.  Do you have any paperwork from when you first started that shows you what you need to eat?  Is your surgeon nearby, if so, schedule an appointment and go and have a heart to heart talk with him.

Whatever you do don't feel you are alone in this journey.  We are all here for you and welcome you back with open arms.

Let us know how you are doing.   Prayers and special thoughts coming to you from me and all your friends on the OFF board.   We can do this together.

hugs,
pat r.

Thank you all so much for your posts! It helped already.

Pat, it was good to see you still here,,you have inspired me many times. I also reconnected with Floyd, he is having some similar problems and so we are "buddying up" to encourage one another. And thanks for the help with how to start, the 900 calories was what I needed to hear. Today I have had a total of 1400, so I guess Im on the right track. Its been a long time since I drank a lot of water and got that much protein in, so today is day one of the rest of  my life!! Ill start that now!

Ill dig out my notebook from when I first had my surgery, Unfortuantely I cant reconnect with my surgeon, he retired, but I will start coming here every day like I used to do. I have recently had all my blood work done and it was almost perfect, just a bit of high blood pressure going on. If I drink my water that will help that as well.

Im encouraged by all  your sweet concern and postings. Thank you so much.

I just read some other posts on the BOTT forum about people that have started again and lost their regain. I will aim for a pound a wee****il spring comes and I can walk. I live here in Indiana and the snow has been fierce..we have several inches on the ground and more coming. I do have the Walk Away the Pounds dvds and one of the Biggest Loser beginners,,so I will start them at least a couple of times per week.

Ok,,deep breath,,here I go!

Betsy

Hi Betsy,

I think you just have to get back into the right frame of mind.  Not sure where you live but winter is depressing in it's self.  I am sorry you have had things that have depressed you even more.

I know you can do it.  Go back to the basics again.  Drink Protein drinks, as far as something sweet, I buy atkins bars and they make me feel I am having something

AS far as your age and  we that are older can do it;  It just takes dedication and good will power.  30 lbs is not that bad.  Spring ill be here and you can walk again.  Thus having a great excercise again.   You will lose weight, don't think about it and just practice good eating habits again.

Start with your protein and drink a lot of wter or crystal lite.  I promise that will help.

Hang in there.  Welcome back and always come here for support.

Peace

Betsy,

Susan has started a posting each day - we are rowing the boat back to better eating.  It really helps to plan the day in advance by posting there and reading how the others are doing.

By telling us that you are having a problem is a perfect first step. Then take it one meal at a time and don't be hard on yourself.

Stress takes its toll on us and winter doesn't help either.

I'm 62 years old and believe me, the weight still comes off.

Big hugs
Annette

HI Betsy,
Nice seeing you again. Have thought of you for some time and wondered how you were doing. Regain seems to be a pretty common thing with us. Some is good, it helps fill us out and even out our bodies after we reach our lowest weight loss. Course this is my opinion. I too have some regain, I have 40 pounds but never have gotten down to any type of goal. My smallest size in pants is 18.

What I do when I need to get back to basics and kick start myself is I do the 5 day pouch test. It's really not so much of a test, only by name, but it does help clear the system of carbs and gives us a good start again. No, we won't have that honeymoon time again, but yes, we can lose it.... www.5daypouchtest.com is were you will find it. Good recipes there also.

I don't recommend the 5 day to those under 2 years out. Keep in touch with the group, that helps, and if you can find a RL group that is the best.

Good luck and keep us updated.

We can do it.....

Good morning Annette and Darlene,,good to know you both are still here!! Thanks for the advice and the encouragement..it helped.

Today I faced the reality of the scale, I had been avoiding that too. I have gained 33 pounds,,so ok,,the shock is over. Lets move on now....

I talked to Floyd Curvin last night and we both thought the 5 day pouch test would help us detox and get back to basics, as he is facing the same demons that I am. We are starting the pouch test Monday morning. We both have done it before with good results,,although its been about a year, but we are gonna keep each other motivated this time . Our support group is so far away, we had the same group of docs, that we will just be our own support. Accountability, both with him and with this forum, will help I know.

I got the Biggest Loser workout DVD, journal and recipe book for Christmas, so its time to start using them. I have all the tools, including the pouch,,so I can do this.

I will join the thread that Susan has to list our food for the day, I used to do that every day..wow,,I have really changed a lot of things I used to do, time to shake myself.

Thanks again for being there! Im not as depressed as I was, or overwhelmed as I was yesterday. That means a lot!

Blessings
Betsy

Betsy,
Good for you and Floyd. It can happen, it can work, all we need to do is tell ourselves to "do it". That's my biggest problem, the "doing it".


As much as some have tried to run me off, I just still keep coming back......or don't get the hint to stay gone.....lol

:)

Hi Betsy,

You're a real winner and must remember that. Even if you've had a little set back, you've come here looking for help and willing to listen to others who want to help you.

Every one of us fears first that the surgery isn't going to work for us and then when it does we fear we will gain back all of our weight. I think this is part of our disease. 

You are a true inspiration to many others and an example of success in this program. Don't forget that for a second.

Congratulations again on getting back on the boat and joining us on this happy path of recovery.

Kathie