5 years out and still working to maintain goal!!

[handsam]

Ok - I was 405 at suregery on 1/24/2008. I am currently at 240. I was at 195 in March of 2010 following a major hernia surgery. I went up to 225 before my uterine cancer surgery in July of 2012. I dropped to 199 after it. starting in about Novemeber of 2012 I started gaining again. Both surgeries after my bypass put out of the gym due to recovery. The last being almost a year before I could do any water work or extended cardio. I am physically able to do exercise now, but am working 2 jobs to pay the bills, so . . . not in the gym.

I have decided to come back to what I know - blogging with those who are working on plans like me. I need motivation to get these pounds back off, get back in the gym, and to reach my ultimate goal of 180. BTW - I am 5'8 and 48 years old. Almost 49. I would love to be back to onderland by the time I am 49. April28th -

So, has anyone been post surgery as long as me and done this well, but still challenged to maintain or even reach goal???

Please help me find my motivation again

 

[dancinbr]

Ok - I was 405 at suregery on 1/24/2008. I am currently at 240. I was at 195 in March of 2010 following a major hernia surgery. I went up to 225 before my uterine cancer surgery in July of 2012. I dropped to 199 after it. starting in about Novemeber of 2012 I started gaining again. Both surgeries after my bypass put out of the gym due to recovery. The last being almost a year before I could do any water work or extended cardio. I am physically able to do exercise now, but am working 2 jobs to pay the bills, so . . . not in the gym.

I have decided to come back to what I know - blogging with those who are working on plans like me. I need motivation to get these pounds back off, get back in the gym, and to reach my ultimate goal of 180. BTW - I am 5'8 and 48 years old. Almost 49. I would love to be back to onderland by the time I am 49. April28th -

So, has anyone been post surgery as long as me and done this well, but still challenged to maintain or even reach goal???

Please help me find my motivation again

We have a few members who will chime in on this for sure: Frank and Linney. They are both so supportive of all of us.

Look up Linney's posts and watch her inspirational videos. She is terrific.

I know a woman in my local support group that had a relapse out 8 years.

She did the same thing you are doing now. She came back to the support group. She surrounded herself with successful and motivated people and got back on track. She lost the weight again and has maintained her goal weight.

The message is DON'T GO IT ALONE! We all want to succeed. We all want to see each other succeed.

I recognize I am still in the honeymoon phase. I hope I never face the struggle again of what you are going through right now.

The best thing you can do is continue to recommit to all the good habits you have learned and rid yourself of the "old ways", which will NOT bring you happiness.

You have struggled with many life challenges. I hope you are past them and now that you are feeling healthy again, you can work on staying healthy and seek to lose weight and get to your goal.

Ralph

 

[TillieS]

Wow you have done so well even at the times of your illnesses and surgeries. Like Ralph said you are in the right place for answers. I have not had my surgery yet I am due 2/10/14 so I am coming up. I have learned a lot of do's and don'ts here. Good luck and please keep us posted of your great progress.

 

[Kim M]

I am only 20 months post op and have been in maintenance for 6 months. So what I figured out after some trial and error is maintenance is the same for me as the losing phrase. The difference is I now maintain with the increase in calories. If I go up a few pounds, I go back to basics. Up the protein, cut the carbs. I am of the belief that you are not done until you think you are done. I know you are 5 years out, but what I hear is that you are not done. Detox first. No carbs. Eat protein only. Believe me you can only eat so much protein before saying enough. Anything else is a craving, not real hunger. Some do the 5 day pouch diet. Whatever will work for you. Just start to move some more. If you can't do the gym, maybe an exercise tape or start walking. If you want this, and it really sounds like you do, you will find a way to add more exercise. Not everyone exercises in the gym. Stay in touch with people that support your efforts. I use online support groups. Make yourself known. Track your food and hold yourself accountable. Be kind to yourself and love yourself to your goal. We will be here to support you.

 

[handsam]

Thanks everyone. And yes, I do need to jump start. I did the 5 day pouch test last week. Protein, protein, protein. Geezzzzzz!!!! I also bought a new cook book. It is for folks that have had weight loss surgery. All the recipes are protein or protein and natural carbs like in beggies and fruits. Nothing with bread or portatoes etc. All recipes are designed to go from puree to regular bites, 1 week post op to years in maintenance. Awesome book!!

The book is called "Eating Well after weight loss surgery." by Patt Levine and Michelle Bontempo-saray. I found it on the shelf at Barnes and Noble.

So a little over a week after my 5 year anniversary, I have worked hard to get my tummy back to working order. I hope I have. I am really limiting my carbs. Basically only having them on the weekend. Looks like the scale is responding. I weighed 234 this am. Which is actually 12 pounds down from my anniversary date. Though I originally posted 240, I didn't want to think about those 6 pounds - ugh!! Too close to 250 I'm still working on how to get exercise back into my life. It is way to cold to exercise outside with all this nasty winter stuff. Of course I have had to shovel snow a few times. What a way to get cardio - ugh!! There I go making excuses!! I need to move. I need to find it inside myself. Right now it is hard to look within and see that person that is being lazy, and has stopped fighting. My exercise warrior is nowhere to be found.

Being here, posting is making a difference. thank you all for the follow up. I will find my warrior, and boy oh boy, I want ya'll to meet her