Hello everyone!

I'm happy to have found this site. My wls was 4yrs ago. I'm truly amazed at how fast the time has gone by. Since then, I lost 180lbs. Got married, and had a baby! (A complete dream come true!) Now I just need to get this pregnancy weight off of me. Our baby girl just turned 1. And we are weaning after a successful year of breastfeeding.

I'm working up to starting the 5pt. Only thing is, I told my hubby and he thinks I'm crazy. His response was "I thought you weren't into dieting..." Well, I need to find a better way to explain it all. We've talked about my wls. But he's never lived through it, so I guess it's harder for him to understand.

My energy has plummetted. People periodically have told me that they think I have postpartum depression. When in reality I think, I just have not been getting the nutrition I need. I've suffered pure exhaustion and weakness, I don't think I'm depressed, I luv my daughter and husband dearly. I just know that I can find more joy, when I'm more healthy. Most of those other ppl aren't aware of my wls. This afternoon had a huge light bulb moment, when I thought to myself... "I haven't been consuming my protein!" I hadn't noticed how far off track I've become. Anyhow, I'm here for encouragement and motivation, as I strive to make changes. I really need to improve my health.

Hi there.
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments in the last four years!!! I had WLS in 2002, lost over 100 lbs, had two babies since the. The first is two years old, the second just turned one year old last week. I think I did suffer a bout of post-partum, but would never really admit it to anyone. I just discovered this web site recently, and read about a vitamin supplement that changed my life: Emergen-C, a vitamin C supplement with a few other nutrients in it. The second vitamin I stumbled upon by accident -- it's called Estroven, a vitmin for pre-menopausal women. The box claims it will help with moodiness. Well, let me just tell you, the combination of vitamins has worked miracles in my body! I feel completely back to normal. I am also eating high-protein now, which I was not doing before I was familiar with this web-site.
If you would like to email, please do, my email is: jmh5167@hotmail.com.

Blessings,
Judy




quote name='newmomma' date='Feb 18 2008, 09:28 PM' post='68319']
Hello everyone!

I'm happy to have found this site. My wls was 4yrs ago. I'm truly amazed at how fast the time has gone by. Since then, I lost 180lbs. Got married, and had a baby! (A complete dream come true!) Now I just need to get this pregnancy weight off of me. Our baby girl just turned 1. And we are weaning after a successful year of breastfeeding.

I'm working up to starting the 5pt. Only thing is, I told my hubby and he thinks I'm crazy. His response was "I thought you weren't into dieting..." Well, I need to find a better way to explain it all. We've talked about my wls. But he's never lived through it, so I guess it's harder for him to understand.

My energy has plummetted. People periodically have told me that they think I have postpartum depression. When in reality I think, I just have not been getting the nutrition I need. I've suffered pure exhaustion and weakness, I don't think I'm depressed, I luv my daughter and husband dearly. I just know that I can find more joy, when I'm more healthy. Most of those other ppl aren't aware of my wls. This afternoon had a huge light bulb moment, when I thought to myself... "I haven't been consuming my protein!" I hadn't noticed how far off track I've become. Anyhow, I'm here for encouragement and motivation, as I strive to make changes. I really need to improve my health.
[/quote]

Oh wow...you are going to feel SOOOOO much better once you get that protein up again! Move your body a little (exercise) and you will be a whole new woman!

How about your vitamins and such? Are all of those in check?

Suck those protein shakes down and get ready for a new you!

Welcome and I hope that you will find the right combination of vitamins and nutrients to get your spirit back. I know for me, when I'm depressed, it almost always begins with exhaustion and lack of vitamins. Post partum depression is real, and I hope that you'll be sure and keep your doctor informed and monitoring you.

In the meantime, I know you'll find lots of support here!

Please take good care. Being a mom is the most demanding job in the world. You must take care of yourself if you're going to be good to your precious family.

congrats and hugs honey!

Welcome and congratulations on your outstanding weight-loss you are in a great place for support, encouragement and knowledge....good luck as you move forward each day....hugs

Hi and welcome to the neighborhood! The best motivation I can think of for you is that beautiful baby! Get in shape momma! The 5DPT will work wonders and your energy will soar! Remember, PROTEIN first and water, water, water, plus move your body! Can't wait to see the results. Be sure to post your progress.

Suggestion: tell him that, since you've been eating with the baby's needs in mind, you've lost touch with your pouch. Doing the 5dpt is not a diet. It will help you to feel what your pouch is supposed to feel like when you eat & help you to get back to eating for you. Have you shown him any graphics of what your pouch looks like & explained what what done in your surgery & how it helps w/ your weight? Those things might help him understand.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Congrats on finding us! I only WISH I had found this site when my son was 1 - as opposed to being 4! That "baby weight" excuse is LONG gone by the time your kid is 4!

To be honest, I didn't tell my husband about the 5dpt until I was on day 3! I had discussed diets before, but never followed through. His "rational" was "just because we have chips in the house doesn't mean you have to eat them." *eye roll* So...I planned out the menu, shopped accordingly and made meals for them with the same ingredients. For example, day 1, I made myself the split pea & ham soup - they got a hamsteak with a side of veggies. I just told him I was in the "mood" for soups. Come day 3, I was in the mood for Tilapia. Day 4, I was in the mood for hamburgers. Day 5, I was in the mood for steaks! LOL! By the time I told him, I was back in control, the carb monster was banished and I'd lost a couple of lbs! I had "ammo" and he didn't even argue with me! LOL! He just shrugged and said "o.k."

Now, a few weeks later, I'm following "day 6" and he still offers me stuff (today it was chili & corn chips at lunch). "No thanks, I'm not in the mood." He still doesn't really "get it" that I'm really watching what I'm eating (despite being down 17 lbs). I don't think he's noticed it's taking A LOT longer for the bread, chips, cookies, etc. to vanish because he's the only one eating them.

In a way, it's a nice feeling - he thinks I'm a normal person! LOL! He doesn't look at me as a WLS patient. I mean, he knows I've had the surgery, but it was long before him and he just never thinks about it. While that can be good, it can be bad when I'm out of control - he's my "sweets" (literally, he's got a huge sweet tooth and I would share in the experience (by baking cookies, wonderful desserts, etc.)).

Now that you're here, though - hop on to the 5dpt! While having a child is exhausting, not getting enough nutrition on top of that only makes it 10x worse. Before I came here, I was soooo tired and depressed. I felt like I was completely out of control and had NO IDEA how I would be able to lose the weight without suffering! It's amazing how much better I feel. I'm back in control and I have NO DESIRE for the crap I used to eat. Oh yea...every once in awhile a potato chip will call my name, but it's pretty easy not to give in to it! I know now that simple avoidance will keep me on the straight and narrow. Better to avoid it now than to be chased down by the carb monster because I gave in. To me, at least, carbs are an addiction - one "hit" and I'm on a binge for a long while. The 5dpt took care of that though!

Hi and welcome. Glad to have you here. You have come to the right place!

Welcome Momma!!

Well, I DO believe your LIGHT BULB MOMENT is correct! The protien will give you ALOT more energy!!

But just getting back into healthy eating will too! Plus...I know that mother hood can definitely be exausting....and lots of work..but are you getting any exercise in just for yourself? LIke walking or biking or anything? This will help too!

Many neighbors are doing the 5 day pouch test! I just finished day 5 yesterday and had great results, feel great and has helped me get back on track! I'm 4 years post op as well!!

SO grab ahold;...read all that you can and try the 5 days! I BET you'll feel better by the endof the week!!

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!

Julie aka: Sunshine of the neighborhood!!

Hello and welcome to the neighborhood!

I to have regained weight back. I had my surgery back in July of 2003. I lost 89 lbs. and felt GREAT! I got pregnant with my son and gained 32 lbs. I lost all of the weight before he was 3 mths. old, then I started taking medication (Zoloft) for post-partom depression and within 5 mths. gained 12 lbs. back. I got pregnant with my daughter and gave birth January 23, 2007. She just turned 1 and I still have 45 lbs. to lose. I'm just now going off my medication. So I'm hoping that without the medication and getting back on track I'll be able to take the remaining weight off sooner than later. I'm going to try the 5-day pouch test. I know going into it that the first couple of days are going to be very hard, I'm use to eating low-fat sweets. One of the bad habits I got into with this past pregnancy. I'm just going to suck it up and hopefully feel like a new woman and the end of the 5 days. I just hope that my energy stays up, I'm a stay at home mom of a 2 yr. old boy and a 1 yr. old girl. I'm a busy woman, but oh how I love my babies. I hope all of you have a happy day, I'm just so glad that I found this site. I get so motivated just reading other peoples post and questions, its nice knowing that I'm not a failure and that other people are struggling with the same things I am. Take care.
~~~Holly