over 4 years post....truth

ok here goes....May was 4 years for me.  I lost 135 lbs and regained about half.  I have a very very stressful life with a medically fragile daughter.  I have seen that when she is in the hospital or back and forth to the doctors I seem to gain. I also went back to the comfort eating with all the wrong foods.  Even though they do not reward me the same way they used to it was just a retreat from life.  I guess some people drink, gamble, etc.  I have always thought I did good but not being addicted to anything.  My mom and dad both smoked and my sister does even though I never had.  Well, I am addicted to food and use it incorrectly.  I thought that my surgery was not effective any longer (due to me, myself, and I).  However, over the last 2 weeks I discovered I was wrong.  The restriction is still in place!   I purchased a new eating plan from https://www.facebook.com/IUseToBeU and started.  I have lost 8.5 lbs and should loose 10 by Monday which will be 2 weeks. I also started back putting everything into Livestrong (daily plate) and calculating every bite I put in my mouth.  Before surgery I only ate meals and did not snack.  After surgery I find that I am hungry every couple hours. So I started grazing with the wrong kind of foods.  The thing the eating plan has done for me is to give me a days worth of food and I eat every couple hours just what is on the plan.  It is really helping me.  I need a plan. I think of myself like a toddler now.  I need to eat several 6-7) times a day but only a small portion like 2 ounces of chicken and a couple pieces of broccoli, or a single rice cake, a jello, an egg white omlet, you get the idea.  But a couple weeks ago I was eating chips, cookies, rice, pasta, etc.  Those foods I can eat a MUCH larger quanity of without feelng full.  I also never get thirsty any more so I can't tell if I am hungry or thirsty.  I would always rather eat so I am really making an effort to drink, drink, drink.  I hope this helps someone else.  Would I have the surgery again?  IN A HEARTBEAT!  BEST DECISION EVER!  Just want you to know that you need to learn your new eating habits.  I will loose back to where I was.  My goal is Christmas and then to keep on loosing until I reach final goal.

The difference is that I CAN DO THIS!  Before surgery....it was too much, I didn't know how, I was overwhelmed........now I know I can!

Good luck!  I'm sure you'll get to where you want to be with your dedication!

I have always maintained my weight loss by eating six small meals a day.  I count calories and stay at about 200 for each meal.  I eat 300 calories for lunch and supper.

I am so sorry to hear about the stress in your life with a medically fragile child.  That must be the hardest type of stress for anyone.  I am so pleased that you are getting back to your plan and that it is still working for you.  Take good care of yourself.  You deserve the best!

Carol

You know, everyone's truth is different. I'm so glad that your truth and experience have inspired you to continue on your journey. Like you, I have experienced regain, fairly minor, but still bothersome. Food is a tricky thing and it's so wonderful that you are seeing now that you use food like an addictive substance. I wish you the very best and hope you get a good handle on your use of food as a comfort tool.

Well, allow yourself some love and grace :)   I am 5 years out, VSG has failed miserably with me and me with VSG apparently.  Don't get me wrong, the first  years I lost 100 pounds, awesome!  Then, regain, and me kicking and screaming the whole way.  I think that what the reality is for many of us, that maybe we didn't know back then is that the VSG loses restriction.  At least I know that it did for me.  I can't tell the difference anymore.  And, yes, I did and still do, even though the restriction is gone, obey the rules.  But, the difference is, it is about volume and without restriction or malabsorption, there is nothing to keep maintenance.  Anyways, don't feel bad!  VSG is a great surgery, if it sticks!  I too always said I would do it agan in a heartbeat, and I meant it.  So, that's what I am doing this time, just going to o DS instead.  Good luck and give yourself some loves!

I still have crazy restriction at 5 1/2 years out. I can't eat more than 1 cup of food at a time. That's too bad that you lost your restriction. I feel it's the most important reason why I've maintained my full weight loss effortlessly. 

Laura