A gastric bypass forum is a great resource for help, but sometimes we have to reach for other places for help. Even though I have had gastric bypass surgery, I still struggle to stay at a healthy weight. I have set myself a goal to lose 50 pounds in the next 10 months. That is 5 pounds per month. This goal will keep the scale moving in the right direction and will also allow me enjoy the things I love without making hugely dramatic changes in the way I eat.
I have already lost 6 pounds in the last 3 weeks. I began following the Weight Watchers Points Plus program and I like this program. I have opted to try to do this without going to meetings. This is not what the experts would recommend, but I am using their eTools on their website. I am a very busy person and the meeting that fit my time schedule was somewhat unorganized and the wait to be weighed in was lengthy.
Exercise has not been an issue for me for several years. I have enjoyed walking regularly for the last 3 years, but neglected any kind of strength training. It was a big mistake thinking that strength training was not important. I tried following a book and doing it from home, but felt that I did not have correct form.
About 6 months ago I hired a personal trainer and I have to admit that the money I spent on her was a wise investment. My muscle strength and tone has improved ten-fold. I look at this whole journey as a process and with that being said, I have opted to continue my strength training on my own. My personal trainer set up a plan for me to workout about 30 minutes 3 times each week. If I decide I am bored with working out with weight machines, the gym I belong to offers a large variety of fitness classes.
I will meet with my personal trainer once a month to make sure that I am staying on track with my fitness and weight loss goals. With me, it is not the fitness that is the problem, it is the eating. I am a recovery addict and it is common for addicts to substitute one substance for another. Mine is food and it is a full time job trying to deal with it. Food is the one substance that a person can be addicted to that you cannot abstain from. It is something I take one day at a time like many other things in my life.