Hello, I am in some desperate need of some self-motivating talks for myself.

Here is a little bit of my history...

I had GPS 11/9/06, after 5 months I had lost 74 lbs. I have not lost anything since then. I have Graves desease ( they had to get rid of my thyroid ). I started (yes, late start) exercising in January. I have since gained 4 lbs. I have not been doing well at all on my protein. So 3 weeks ago I started drinking at least 40g of protein per day. I have since changed it to 2 drinks per day that has 42g per drink. I will say I have done this one day so far. I was told by someone today, that your body will not consume more than 20g at a time. Does anyone know if this is true? Anyway, I weighed myself today and I have gained 2 more lbs. I am so frusterated it is unreal. I do know that if I look at the big picture. I have not done EVERYTHING I can to start loosing again. And I don't know how to motivate myself. I read about channeling my inter strengths but I don't know what those are.

I would like to put some self motivating tips on my bathroom mirror, fridge, washing machine etc. Does anyone have any good ones or where to find them online?

Again, Thanks for listening and helping.

Hi Dana!
Welcome!!
I have some questions...
I am a bit confused. Do you have to drink your meals due to the Graves Disease?
Are you eating real food three times a day?
Do you have a calorie limit, between 900 - 1200 a day?
Are your drinking 64 oz. of water a day?
Are you snacking on anything?

Give us a bigger picture so we can help you.

Hugs!

Keep posting!

Nancy

No, the graves desease isn't a real factor except for the thyroid.

This is what I did today, I had a shake in the morning for breakfast (because the shake has 300 calories) and a V8. Then another shake for lunch. I ate a totsie roll sucker. I did snack on about 10 choc. hershey eggs (bad, I know, but I am being honest with myself). Then for dinner we ate at church and it was a chicken tetrizini (sp?) and green beans and bread (which I didn't eat the bread). I ate all of the green beans and about 8 small bites of the chicken stuff. Then about 8pm I had another v8. And 4 girl scout lemon cookies. I cannot stand water so every since surgery I have been drinking tea. Sweetened tea but I only put about 3/4 cup of sugar in a 2 quart pitcher. And I do drink at least 64 oz of it. Maybe even 96 oz.

Thank you for your honesty -
Lets look at it, OK?
The morning Shake... was it a protein shake? How many Grams? Did it have sugar?
V8 is good.
Why another shake and not real food, real protein, like fish, turkey etc? Just curious? Was it the same as the morning shake?
The sugar you are having may be throwing a wrench in the works.
- Sugar is not digested well for us WLSer - and may be causing some distress. (?)
- Sugar is empty calories - no nutritional value, better to have a piece of protein.
- Sugar is somewhat addictive, it can make you hungry and it makes you crave more sugar - is it this way for you?
If you are looking to loose, I would cut out the sugar and concentrate on eating real healthy foods.
The Diner Chicken is good. Tetrazzini usually has noodles - While losing, it would be good to stay away from "simple carbs" (see link below*)

Good job staying away from the bread
Re the Iced Tea - Try Crystal light - something without sugar - I drink de-cafe iced tea with Splenda

This should get you started...
Are you able to stock good proteins in your home? Chicken, Turkey, Fish, lean beef, eggs LF Cheese, LF Milk?

Also - a good jump start for you might be the 5 day Pouch Test - go to the tab in the upper left hand corner and follow the prompts.
Don't forget to look at the recipes, the are easy and delish!


Good Carbs vs Bad Carbs link

Talk to you soon!
Nancy

Welcome to the neighborhood!
I agree wholeheartedly with Nancy's advice. I think you should start w/ the 5DPT and get yourself back on a WLS diet. Thank you for your honesty; this is the first step. Looking at what you are eating, I'm surprised you haven't gained back more. You have to get back on protein (you've made a start) and some healthy veggies and get off of the sugar, cookies, candy, etc. You can do this. Plan for the 5dpt and get going back to a healthy lifestyle. You have to get the non-caloric fluids in and your have to do some exercise.
Best wishes!

Welcome!

There are a lot of people here that have slipped back into old eating habits, and this is a good place to help get back to the basics. I know I did and I also know that I have to be strict and consume no sweets, but thats just me. Some people can eat candy and cookies and not gain....(jealousy for them!!)

My body takes sweets and smacks them right on my body as fat, h*ll I can gain a pound at smelling a donut, candy, or cookies...I don't have to even eat them..hehe. Not to mention that I am sugar-addict.

Its seriously a life long process and one that even when thin (which hasn't happened for me) that you will have to battle on a daily basis.

There is a lot of support here and people who listen.

Dana,

Nancy has given you excellent advice! I had my surgery about the same time as you. I still have to stay pretty much protein only or I stop losing weight. As I understand, the protien keeps you in ketosis. As long as you're in ketosis, you're burning your own fat.

My Dr. group wants us to stay in ketosis through the entire weightloss phase. No more than 15g of carbs/day.
On maintenance I think the number goes up to about 40g., but I don't know I'm not there yet.

best of luck to you! I know you can do it!

HI Dana and Welcome to the Neighborhood!

I agree with Nancy as well...

What I see is the sugar as well...sugar or carbs in the shakes regardless of the amount of protien might be sabotaging your weightloss efforts. Simply because they will promote hunger.

If you choose lean protien instead of the shakes...I believe it will SATIATE you and keep you from wandering to the sweets!!

ALL of it is CALORIES!! GET THAT CRAP OUT OF YOUR HOUSE!! The Easter candy and the Girl Scout cookies!

I KNOW THIS because i've done the same....but its ony 2 or 4 or whatever...I bought those darn lemade cookies...ATE THE WHOLE BOX over the weekend!

NO MORE!

I'm also an AVID water person....but I Like it...However, I KNOW that it works!!

TRY TRY TRY to get that water in....STRAIGHT WATER..no tea with anything...yes you can have that too....JUST DOWN IT IF YOU HAVE TOO!

It REALLY helps wash the fats out of your body..unlike tea or crystal lite etc...

Sooo this is my 2 cents...I agree that if you do the 5day pouch test..you might see a drop in weight and find that you dont feel the hunger as much which may or may not be driving your urges to eat.

Liquids DO NOT satiate me. Luckily I never did the protien shakes much. My doctor believed that we should get our protien from FOOD!

So hang in there...REGROUP, MAKE A PLAN and as for motivation....Kim aka: SARGE said this to me and I put it on my bathroom mirror as well.

If IT'S GOING TO BE, I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

Julie aka: Sunshine of the hood!

dana...welcome to the neighborhood, Nancy pretty much spelled it out for you. Gotta get those sweets out of the house, don't buy them, if you are like me, i can't eat just one or two, like Julie said before i know it the whole package is gone....so i don't buy it. if you need something sweet.....SF pudding works for me usually.
also like mentioned...try the 5 dpt , it got me back on track, and i was really off track, i didn't realize how much snacking i was really doing.....ALot!!!!
don't do so many shakes if you don't have to, eat some lean protein (chck, turkey, fish)
and get that water in!!!!
and try to get some kind of exercise....even a short walk if you can


good luck and keep us posted
Joy

Here's one:

OK, LARDASS!!! GET YOUR FAT BUTT OUTTA THE FRIDGE OR I'M GONNA COME DOWN THERE AND UNSCREW YOUR HEAD AND s**t DOWN YOUR THROAT!!!!!!

Ok, maybe the drill sarge thing is a little harsh perhaps??

My wife has one on the fridge that doesn't work but it looks good:

Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

stu

Dana,
I had my surgery (RNY) five years ago, and I was told that we cannot absorb (or whatever it is that we do with it) more than 30 grams of protein at a time. Also, I heard it said that we should not use milk (too many carbs) with our protein drinks, preferably water.

Hi Dana,

Welcome to the neighborhood!

I can't add much to what has already been said! I agree, get the crap out of your house, if you can't resist it. It is just easier!

Sometime if I need a pick me up or some reinforcement, I look at before pictures of myself when I weighed 328 lbs. Try that. Put up a before picture on your pantry or fridge door or where ever! It might help to motivate you and keep you on the right track.

Good luck to you and once again, welcome!

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to everyone. I have been sooo busy. I appreciate all of the wonderful advise.

Here is what I have been doing since I first got Nancy's reply. I have been having 1 egg for bfast and a v8, then lunch a protein shake and about an ounce of lean smoked turkey or ham then for dinner whatever I have cooked for my family.

The one thing that I have found is that when I eat chicken, fish, or any solid protein I guess I don't chew it up well because I end up hurting and then that makes me what to say enough no more (at that time). As I have been reading I think I have went to the "slider foods".

I wll start the 5day pouch test. I have to go to the store to get the items.

Thanks again! I feel much better.

I just have to keep telling myself "No one can loose the weight for me, it is ALL up to me"

Boy dana! This sounds terrific! Both menu and attitude. The advice here was right on the money, honey.
And keep posting and asking questions and telling us about your progress. I really think, the more we post,
the more we practice thinking in a right-minded way... and the more right-minded thinking we do, the
better we lose! Best of luck on the 5 Day Pouch Test! Read over that material many times over the next few days.
By the way, your family will love the rich and hardy soups!

You will do great on the 5 dpt ........... hugs

I don't see where anyone said this so I know I was told not to drink any liquids 30 minutes before, with, or 30 minutes after a meal. I believe V-8 constitutes as a liquid


Drink flushes the food you eat through too fast and makes you hungrier faster.


Good luck on the 5DPT..

Wow , I am new to this site and I just have to say what a wonderful supportive group you all seem to be. I am really struggling with weight gain. I had WLS 6/12/03 started at 255 and got down to 160. I have slowly crept back up to 179 and feel miserable. I have no motivation and just feel like such a failure. I have a wonderful fiance I met three years ago and he was very active , ran etc. then had an awful accident involving a rope swing as we were up the Sacramento river just three months after we met. Needless to say he broke his heel and took a year before he could really be semi active. I guess I started using his excuse as my excuse. Well he is now truck driving as of three weeks ago and gone allot. He came home yesterday and has already lost TEN pounds !! He loves me so much and is very supportive of me but Im the one that has to do it !!! It really makes me feel good to read your comments to each other. I cant say Im brave enough to start chatting because I am so embarased at my failure an non will power. Thanks for listening.

Dana & Tracey,

Welcome to the neighborhood. You'll find a lot of wonderful support and knowledge here to help you on your journeys.

I don't have anything to add to the messages above other than to re-stress what Smiles says - don't drink with your meals. Wait at least 1/2 hour after eating (longer if you still feel full) to start drinking, then just start sipping slowly, increasing as you get further away from the meal. Try to stop drinking 1/2 hour prior to your next mealtime.

I have a motivational trick you might try, also. Put a photo of yourself on your bathroom mirror, fridge, wherever works for you, with a note "What can I do for YOU today?". Helps to remind you that you have to put yourself first and take care of yourself so that you can be strong and healthy to take care of everyone else who depends on you.

Hugs to both of you.