Anyone tried Smart for Life to get back on track?

I've been off the forum for a while.  Had RNY 11/02 and lost total of 175lbs.  Actually got to the point where I thought I wouldn't stop losing (boy I wish I could have those days back).  Over the last year, I've taken a promotion and added some additional stress and those old, bad behaviors came creeping back in and now I find that I've put on 20 lbs and about 3 sizes.  I tried the 5dpt and just can't do the liquids.  I came across the Smart for Life cookie diet plan and it sounds reasonable to get back on track with the small portions and protein/vegetable focus.  Just wondering if anyone out there has found themselves in this situation and was successful with the Smart for life plan. Thanks! mb

I'm also RNY Class of '02 and am fighting regain too, you are definitely not alone here.  I have not used the Smart for Life plan, but I looked at it online after I saw your post so that's all I know about it.  It looks like you buy food from them (which they package as cookies or muffins or similar treats) that they say is all-natural with protein in it, designed to regulate blood sugar and appetite.  It seems to me you can do that on your own without their products. Personally, I am not a fan of the five-day pouch test thing either because it reminds me of Optifast, a pre-op diet I did that failed.  I am not a fan of packaged diet foods either, because I did Nutrisystem as a pre-op and failed at that too.  So I will admit to a prejudice against such things, because for me, they failed before.  I have no reason to believe they would work now.  Much as regain scares me, returning to old failed diet gimmicks and yo-yo dieting terrifies me even more.  The failure and depression cycle that "comes with" is also something I don't want to take on again. Let me ask you this:  If you know why the weight has crept back on (and sure I know why mine crept back on!), why isn't it enough to dial back to what you were doing before that worked so well for so long?  It sounds like you were extremely successful and if you are fighting 20 pounds that were mostly recent gain, then you had a good program in place for quite some time that worked for you.  I can't imagine that the program you're considering right now will work in the long run if the bad habits that are plaguing you now aren't kicked to the curb.  Why not just come right at 'em directly? Good luck!!  This regain thing is definitely hard to deal with, but I'm sure we can each find a way to cope with it -- because we're here and we're trying and that's the most important (first) step. Suzy C.

Hi there I just read your post, I had surgery July 2000 and have gained some weight.  I too went searching for the basics during after surgery and found Medifast.  SImilar to the Diet Cookie plan however I enjoy the meals much more.  It's five meals per day, they are high in protein, low carb, sugar and fat.  Than i get to have a protein and veggie meal per day which is actually quite a bit of food so I split that into two meals.  So I eat 7 meals per day.   I have already lost 20 lbs on the plan although the first week or so is very tough to rid the carbs and sugar cravings from yoru system.  I never had much of a problem with fats, and sugars or dumping so this is why the weight gain.   Like I said I am enjoying the plan and for me it feels like i might get my weight loss back off and than be able to stick to this where many people have 2 medifast meals even after they reach goal to keep them on track and with vitamins and etc. 

I gotta say I totally agree with you...Great post... Love the honesty and directness!  I have a hard time old bad habits and diet fads and weight loss groups that failed me too (Or I failed...whichever!) Although the 5DPT completely helped me get rid of the carb cravings and pouch aches and stinky bombs ...It's true it is NOT a diet to lose weight...and I was discouraged when I gained weight...However...I got so much more of what it promised to do and that was to get me back on track. I would never recommend it as a diet to lose weight! That is for sure! How are you doing anyway?  It's hard to lose weight and it's hard to maintain...I feel like I am always fighting that weight gain, just as soon as I get the tiniest bit complacent I'm back two steps.  I'm pissed at my newest form of abuse called "protein bars"...and protein supplements. I didn't use this stuff for 4 years...Why do I suddenly think I need it now? Probably because I didn't think I needed vitamins supplements either and now I do! I'm so gullible and so vulnerable because of fear of my deficiencies and winter weight gain...I would try ANYTHING that someone says might work, even against my better judgment.  So It was refreshing to read this and totally relate!  Thank you...and well said! Anita

Hey Anita! I'm down 11 pounds, 29 still to go.  It's a slow process, I know I have to be patient . . . **but I don't WANNA be!! of course**  I was hoping to have half of the excess weight off by the sixth anniversary of my surgery (May 30), but I don't think I'll be there by then.  Gonna just keep on plugging away though.  I'm gonna take what I can get when I can get it.   I'm in  "food control" and exercising and that by itself feels great. Re: 5dpt -- anything that kicks a sugar addiction to the curb is great,  so if the 5dpt does that then I sure can't argue with that.  I appreciate how powerful these problems are for so many of us and one size definitely doesn't fit all . . . I actually like my protein shakes and they help me stay on track (I use 1-2 of them a day, Proscore 100 Chocolate [sigh. . .chocolate . . . of course!]).   Never could understand the protein bar thing though -- never met one I wanted to have again.  Then again I like my chocolate straight up, no  nuts or anything, so if someone put protein into a faux chocolate bar I'm gonna be pretty resistent I'm afraid. Speaking 'o protein cookies, there used to be a pretty good protein cookie I used as a new(er) post-op (can't recall the name), but they up and changed the formula and I didn't like 'em anymore after that.  Perhaps this is why the idea of protein cookie diets makes me sooo emotional  

WOW!  You are doing good!  That's just great...Everytime I see your pug's face I remember your "island" story LOL  You cracked me up!  So it's really good to see you making progress.  I know it's soooo slow.  But you really got a jump on it.  6 YEARS!  Wow!  That's a long time living this  WLS life, huh? Sometimes I wake up and wonder if I will ever really feel normal with all the stuff I have to do to maintain my health and weight...But then I look in the mirror and I know even if I gain 1/2 my weight back would be better than how I felt the day I decided to do the surgery! I never understood the protein bar thing either...I used to by Power bars for my son to eat before his wrestling matches in HS. He didn't have time to eat after shool and they gave him the endurance and muscle food before each match! I thought then that thye tasted awful...He liked them! Then my kids were working their own jobs and buying crap to eat...So I bought them protein bars to grab on the go, rather than finding the snicker bar wrappers in their rooms...and now I like these stupid Zone Perfect Bars!  But they really do have too much sugar/ carbs and fat for me. The more often I eat sugar...the more I want it... But I always feel like I need to allow myself a reward!  Rewards are "old habits" that didn't work...but it feels so guilty to eat something that is not a great choice and not feel guilty. LOL  All I know is I never used to bother eating stuff that didn't taste really great...and now I have resorted to PROTEIN supplements which I really don't like at all and the only good thing they truly offer me is "protein"....I'll figure it out... I just ate an Oh Yeah protein wafer! LMAO!  What a weak smuck I am!  LOL It was actually the best 210 calorie protein supp I ever tasted!  OH me!!! Oh NO!!! (hubby brought me a few samples because I look at them all the time and never buy one)

Thanks Suzy.  I probably could do it by myself, but I'm extremely busy (as we all are) and I also have a problem keeping to the high protein, low carb plan that got me those good results in the beginning.  I'm thinking if I can trick myself into eating a cookie a few times a day and then sticking to high protein with vegetables for dinner.....I too am not eager to fall for the first fad diet, but it's too late for that.  Tried Nutrisystem last summer and then WW a few months ago.  I didn't mention that I had a bad ankle injury that had me pretty grounded early in 2007 (physical therapy, etc.) then in July I actually had to have surgical reconstruction which really had me laid up.  I'm very lucky that I didn't put more weight on than I have but have been limited in the exercise arena.  So....I'm going to try the cookie diet, but I did mix it up a bit with shakes, muffins, soups and of course, the staple cookie (different flavors though).  I'm supposed to do the aforementioned throughout the day and then for dinner, 10-12 oz protein with 5 servings of veggies. I know I've stretched my pouch b/c I can eat sensibly thru the day but am continually hungry and then end up caving around dinner.  I can do the hi protein/low carbs with little difficulty but I end up extremely constipated and then miserable.  I think I might be able to shrink my pouch back down with this plan....I hope.  I'll keep you posted.  I'm hoping to start on Monday. Thanks for the support.  I definitely need to stay back on here for that and to stay motivated. Marcia