[jmart41076]

I happened to search the web and came across this site looking for some support and maybe familiar situations that others are going through. I had my surgery on 3/5/03 and my starting weight was 320lbs. I had no complications with the surgery and starting loosing weight and felt great. I did everything i was suppose to and worked out faithfully 4 times a week for 1 yr straight. In 6/05 I had reached 189lbs and felt and looked great. However from that day forward I had started gaining weight and just can't get a handle on it. I am hungry all the time (whether it is in my mind or my stomach) and can eat a lot again. I worry I stretched my stomach and have failed miserably at this diet. It is 5 yrs later and I am back to 225 lbs and feel terrible. I know I am not eating the right things but I have the same food issues that I had prior to the surgery so I have an extremely hard time saying no to the things I want. Does anyone have any situation similar to this or any words of advice??? Thank you.
Janet

[A new me]

Sorry but I am only 6 months post op. However your post is good to read. To know that this isnt just a magic thing. Its a tool and we have to use it correctly. Its a daily mind game I think. The mind part is the hardest thing to work on I feel.
Thanks for sharing and Im sure someone will be on that has more post op experience.

[MsVickie]

I just had my surgery so I cant help much but to say this. You have did a hell of a job so far to get to where your at. Your still 100lbs well below were you started from. Keep that in mind when you beat yourself up. When you go to eat find out the calorie content and keep it at the serving size honey. Water or a sugar free beveridge is your best friend. Fill up on it when your really hungry. You know the skills it to you to get it off. Perhaps follow it again for a bit and see it if it helps. You can do this.. We are in your corner her so dont feel like your alone in the world. We have a few people on here that are 2 years plus out im sure that can help you emensely. They will be posting soon im sure. Take care

[Ladyhawk]

Welcome to the boards. I am only a couple of months out, so I don't think I will be a great help to you. Have you tried going back to the basics? No drinking 30 min b/4 eating and after eating. Have you gone to back to your nutritionist?

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Thank you for sharing your journey, and as Ms Vickie says, even though you've regained, it's no where near where you were pre op, so that's a for you, congratulations on your weight loss.

As you know, surgery is not a magic wand that corrects everything for you. It is just one of the tools to improve your health and life, and how you use your tool is up to you. Your sucess proves that you know how to use the tool, even though you find yourself slacking now.

Have you ever looked deeply into why you seem to feel hungry all the time?
When is it that you feel hungry, some of the old foods call to you?
Is it when you are bored, or have something stressful going on for you, or when you feel certain emotions?
Are you feeling down in the dumps?
Do you shop for food when you are hungry, go grocery shopping without a list, and keep some stuff at home that is better for you to avoid?
What about your eating habits, do you keep to the pouch rule, no fluids before, during and after eating, until a certarin time has passed.
Are you still exercising regularly?
It also sounds like craving trigger foods have snuck back into your diet, so you may have to detox yourself from that, too.
When you go grocery shopping, go on a full stomach, and with a list, and never dviate from the list.
When you feel bored or tired, go out for a walk, formulate an exercise routine that you can turn to. Do gradening, find something that interests you, start a hobby that will take your mind off food and hunger.

Don't beat yourself up on where you are now, you still have the tool, which is yours for life, if can get back on track and use the tool as it should be used, you will be able to lose again.
It's just that, since you are already past the *Golden Time* it takes a bit more effort and harder work than before to get the ball rolling again.
And yes, it is tough but this is a life long journey in many aspects.

((((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

[Msdjones65]

You've done well and welcome.

[katd]

Thanks for sharing your story! I think it is something we all need to read because we do get comfortable and forget that our surgery was a "tool" and that we still have to have a total Lifestyle Change in order to maintain what we worked so hard for! Thank you again! You have put me in check because I have found myself snacking a little too much...mostly when I'm bored or stressed! So, good luck with your journey and keep sharing.

[fr1endly2]

OKAY TAKE A DEEP BREATH
AND get back to the basic pouch rules.
I know its not easy im 2.5 years out and struggling.
but im gonna be doing this plan next week:

in FIVE easy days:

Does my pouch still work?
Have I broken my pouch?
Have I ruined my tool?

These are questions many weight loss surgery post-ops find themselves asking occasionally during their journey. Perhaps it feels like we can eat more food or we know that we are eating more food. Sometimes these questions are asked when there has been a weight regain.

This is the 5-day plan that I have developed and used to determine if my pouch is working and return to that tight newbie feeling. And a bonus to this plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty good, right?

The 5 Day Pouch Test should never leave you feeling hungry. You can eat as much of the prescribed menu as you want during the day to satiate hungry and prevent snacking on slider foods and/or white carbs. You must drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. A reduction of caffeinated beverages is suggested, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey.

Weight loss is not the intent of the 5 Day Pouch Test, however, many who have tried this plan report a significant drop in weight. More importantly they celebrate a renewed sense of control over their pouch and eating habits and easily transition back to a healthy post-surgical weight loss way of eating.

Below you will find a brief list of the menu for each day. Please click the "Read more" links for further detail and hints and tips that will enable your success with the 5 Day Pouch Test.

Days One & Two: Liquid Protein
low-carb protein shakes, broth, clear or cream soups, sugar-free gelatin and pudding. Read more.

Day 3: Soft Protein
canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. Read more.

Day 4: Firm Protein
ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut. Read more.

Day 5: Solid Protein
white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game
Read more.

Good luck! I believe you are going to like the results when you give this plan an honest try.

Cheers!
hope this helps you ...
\i need to get the right products for this.
and hope to try it next week

[size8in09]

Janet:

I just posted a very similiar post to yours. I am 4 years & 4 months post-op and was able to keep if off for about 3 years, but this last year I have been really struggling with the Carb monster. I...like you have fallen into many of my pre-surgery habits. Finding this site was a great thing for me because now I hope to at least find/give incouragement on getting back on track. After reading many of the post, I know that we are in the right place.

I wish you much success on getting back on track.

Z

[judijo]

Z and Janet...I am glad to see you two got together!