Question about struggles for WLS grads

Hi everyone!  I read this board daily but I don't have the chance to post much.  I do have a question for some of you all that have had struggles with staying on track.  I am just really frustrated right now.  I am either doing absolutely wonderful and cannot even imagine making poor food choices and going to the gym regularly OR I am the complete opposite...making bad choices and being lazy and skipping the gym.  It's like a light switch gets flipped.  When I am in one of my "good" stages, I can look at cake, cookies, chocolate and not even miss it but then there are the other times that I just can't resist.  I have played with the same 10-13 pounds for 18 months.  Has anyone else struggled with this?  Do you have any advice to offer. I read some of my older post encouraging people who are struggling thinking I had been successful getting back on track but now I feel like such a hypocrite.  I don't know if it's my "all-or-nothing" personality but I was just wondering if I was alone in this boat or if others have the same struggle.  Thanks in advance! Mary

Mary,

I think what you are experiencing is completely normal.  Our WLS created a tool called a pouch. It did NOT fix our brains.....LOL  Having said that I am two years out now myself and deal with food demons on a daily basis. Fortunately, I reached goal in 11 months and have maintained since then.  I, too, catch myself sneaking in a few things that I thought I would never touch again. I just try to do it in moderation. I think our brains are in constant conflict with the "old" ways and the "new" way.   For me, I still weigh daily and give myself 3 pounds either way (132-138) of my 135 pounds.  Once I reach 132 or 138 - I do something to get myself back to 135.  To be honest I do not think I will ever be rid of the food demons.  I try really hard to do everything in moderation but geez - we are human and we will make mistakes.  Don't  be too hard on yourself - just devise a plan and stick to it. Best Wishes to you on this lifelong journey.

Hi Mary! We're kinda neighbors, well 45 minutes away. My mom lives in O.P.  I like your 3 pound either way guide. I think I'll borrow that if you don't mind.  My lowest has been 133 and my highest was 143. Thank God that was short lived. I'm back down to 135 again. As to the OP, I can totally relate to the "all or nothing" mentality. If I miss one day of exercise or eating good I seem to trash the rest of the week because I guess I feel like a failure and I might as well continue on. Oh the weight/food issues sure do suck. I hope you can find your way again.  P.S. Stay away from the Easter Bunny. He's dangerous.

You know, I'm like that too. Either I'm doing well or I'm doing poorly all around. It's horrible, especially since I never got to my goal. Now I'm in a good, motivated phase. I have tried to get rid of a lot of stressors that trigger my eating. My surgery was 4 years ago and life really took on a lot of craziness at the same time that I had my surgery. I can't believe it's going to be 4 years, sigh. My goal wasn't even that low, it was 168, and I didn't reach it. I got to 175 and stopped. Then my weight started to climb. I'd diet, take it off, something would happen and I'd tumble back into the bad habits. I try to identify the triggers and work around them. Cold weather seems to be a really bad trigger for me. I did well up through December because of the unseasonably warm weather, but once mid-January hit I started to crave the carbs again. Take it one day at a time, don't beat yourself up if you mess up a little. Right now I'm following a strict diet to help take off the extra 30 I need to ditch to get to where I was. It's tough going, but hey, I can do it.

I have found that I'm like you~sometimes so good and other times it all goes out the window and I'm very bad. It's discouraging during those bad times. I do still try to work out during those times in hopes that it will counteract some calories. I hate feeling out of control and I too bounce around weightwise at times. I don't know what the answer is and that's why I just started seeing a therapist~hopefully she can help me deal with my underlying problems, figure out why I am an emotional eater/food addict and help me cope with these issues. It seems like sometimes I"m trying to sabotage my success, but I'm not sure why????? Good Luck to You!

We must be twins! I am very much an all or nothing kind of girl. I am either doing very good or very bad. If a day starts off good and I slip, oh boy the rest of the day is completely shot. The only thing that I find that helps me is to keep the house totally purged of the "forbidden" stuff. Luckily its just me, my husband, and my three yr old and they eat what ever I buy. My husband has actually started dieting with me(he needs to lose about 40 pounds) so that makes it even easier. I am really strict about giving our son candy, cakes, sweets, etc. so there is nothing tempting here. On a really bad occasion though I have ventured out at 11pm to our local Kroger get the "crack".  If you are already attending a gym maybe you could make it a priority to do it no matter what and get it done early as possible. Hopefully that will motivate you for the rest of the day or if not it will make some room for the bad stuff with out counter acting the weight.  You are not alone, Candy