Help...I'm in trouble!

Thank you for the prayer and encouragement.  I need all the prayers and positive support that I can get.  I haven't tried a pool yet, as access is limited, but if my budget can handle it, I plan to join a gym in May that has a pool.  I'm hoping that I will have the follow through!  Please keep praying for me.  I believe in the power of prayer and of positive thinking!

I hate to ask but how old are you? What type of insurance do you have?

I'm 58 and have Federal Employee Anthem Blue Cross insurance. 

Joyce...you are well on your way and have success.  Look at what you have accomplished.  You have lost 60 pounds and have done it dealing with fibromyalgia...not an easy task.  I had a friend who had it, and it was hard on her.

As for the 5 pounds....I know it seems like a lot, but it isn't.  I did the same exact thing...I gained 8 pounds beginning over the Holidays.  I had surgery 1 week before Thanksgiving 2 years ago.  My first post op Thanksgiving one year later I did so-so...but last year.....different story.

We are not in a race.  We are in a one day at a time.  If I only lose 1 pound per month for however long it takes...I am progressing and moving forward.  You are in such a good place because you have caught this early,  are honest about the cause and want to make a change. 

I will share what I have been doing since last week.  It is working like a charm for me.  This may not work for you, but maybe you can tweak it.  I have struggled with those 8 pounds and, quite frankly, got just a little tired of it.  Today I have 3.5 more to get back to my goal.

I still have those old, lifelong dieting habits of "I need to starve myself"   to lose thoughts and tend to go too long w/o eating thereby eating too much when I do.  So last week I decided I was going to begin my day at 6 drinking a shake, then eating yogurt at 9, then drinking a shake at noon, then yogurt at 3, at healthy dinner at 6  and finally a shake at the end of the day if I needed one.  If at noon I needed more than a shake, I am eating healthy leftovers prepared the day before.  Essentially I am eating or drinking something every 3 hours. 
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I did this on my preop diet, and I was very successful - minus the meal.  If I needed something in between, I drank chicken bullion.  I do not feel deprived or hungry in the least.  In fact, I'm having to remind/force myself to make sure I follow the every 3 hour rule.  It is 8:30, and I am just now drinking my first shake of the day.  I should be about to have a yogurt at nine, but I won't need it.  It has helped me stop my regain and start dropping again.

Many are good about eating every few hours to stabilize their blood sugar thereby controlling cravings.  It is working for me.  If you haven't tried this, you might think about it.

Lasty, I sincerely think you are doing great.  Do you take meds for your depression?  Are you in therapy or support group.  If not, you may need to seek this out.  Also, come to this site.  I am so grateful for OH.  It helps so much reading about what others are finding works/doesn't work, etc....

You are certainly not a failure nor are you failing at this.  Far from it.  You must look great with 60 pounds gone, and I would imagine that is helping your fibromyalgia.  I understand isolation.  I am a shut-in, sort of speaking, and can go days without leaving my home.

Be encouraged...

Thank you so much for a thoughtful reply.  I will try your approach, tweaking it to fit my life and tastes.  I started therapy earlier this month, and joined a depression support group last week.  I am on meds and take them regularly.  A WLS friend of mine and I decided to start each morning with a call to each other, setting a goal for each day, that would both of us closer to our best eating, drinking and exercise plan.  We just started today, with my goal being to increase my liquids.  I never get close to the 64 oz recommendation, so I set today's goal for 40-50 oz of fluid.  I set a secondary goal of getting my treadmill set up.  I recently moved and the room it is in is still crowded with boxes.  So far today, I have had 20 oz of fluid and have moved things around to set up the treadmill, have it unfolded and just need a power cord for operation.  

Feeling good about my success so far today.  Thank you for stressing that  I'm not a failure.  I have to keep reminding myself of that and that it's not too late to get on track and even lose more weight.  Like you, I will be happy if I can just lose a pound a month.  I just want to be back on plan and moving forward.  I can also accept if I'm never going to reach my "ideal weight", as long as I am following my plan and healthy. 

Thank you again.

You are so welcome.  I have a treadmill in my garage.  If I only walked 10 minutes 3 times per day, I have done what my surgeon asked me to do.  I forgot to add, I too sip on water during the day.  When I do not do that, I am amazed how it does slow the loss.

Good for you and your friend.  What a blessing to have someone to partner with.  If you two continue encouraging each other, it will be exciting to see where you both will be in no time flat.

No judgment here. Hugs.

There is no magic, you know this.

Small, measurable steps will help you. I've been making a list of ten things i'm grateful for each day, and each night before i go to bed, i contemplate and try to pick out the best thing that happened to me that day. Helps start and end the day on a positive note.

Make some small goals for yourself.

Journal your food every day.

Is there a WLS support group nearby that you could go to?

Get some exercise in, even if its just 10 or 15 minutes of walking. Gradually increase as you feel better.

Research shows that a half hour of sunlight, at noon, is as effective as some antidepressants.

are you on medication for your depression? If not, maybe you need to talk to a doctor or therapist about that. Medication doesn't signify weakness. It's a tool to help you out of depression.

Give yourself a pat on the back, for reaching out to your support systems for help.

Hugs.

Thanks for the hugs and kind reply.  Funny that some of your suggestions are exactly what I've started doing.  I make a list of goals for the day, and then a separate list titled "Strengths, Accomplishments and Blessings".  My new therapist pointed out that those of us who are depressed spend more time thinking about what is "wrong" and non-depressed people do.  She suggested working toward spending at least as much thought on what is "right" as I do what is wrong.  My lists help me do that.  I can say that I have done this every day, but frequently and hope it becomes a daily habit. 

Yes, I'm on meds, three of them.  I am sporadic at logging my food, but know that it is the best way to be honest with myself about my eating.

I am making one or two small goals each day related to my weight, eating and exercise.  I firmly believe that success, however small, breeds success. 

Thanks again!

you'll find your way out of this. Just keep telling yourself how awesome you are!!! (and add the sunshine in there! It helps, honest it does.)

Joyce ~ (I love your username!)  I don't have a lot to add to what others have said, as it looks like everyone has touched most of the bases as far as things to do to help you get back on track.  Besides that, I'm a relative newbie, and haven't even had surgery yet.  However. . . 

I looked at your profile pics, and you look fantastic!  There is such a dramatic difference in your "before" and "after" pics.  I also noticed you don't have a lot of loose skin - gosh, I hope that might be true for me, but it probably won't.  Sigh.

The only other thing I can add is that I have lived with depression off and on most of my life (turns out I have bipolar disorder, and lean towards the depressive side), and I know how difficult it can be to overcome it.  But it can be overcome, as long as it's addressed.  Counseling, medication, light therapy, exercise are all excellent treatments, especially when they're used at the same time.

I have a feeling you'll get past this setback, because you've taken the first step in recognizing you need to make some changes, and you're doing something about it.  I feel very hopeful for you!  

Sending you lots and lots of good wishes, and positive thoughts,

Beth