Interesting SG Meeting

On Monday, I helped facilitate a support group meeting at the hospital where I had my surgery four years ago (so hoped to see Pam and Mike there but alas...) - two women presented as a "panel" to talk about their journeys, both of whom had their surgeries in August 2004. They were both in their late 50s, and they looked pretty darn good! One had lost just under 100 lbs., the other about 120 lbs. They were both maintaining and neither reported any real weight regain. I was fascinated because they both talked about how they have lost their appetites and interest in food. One said she sometimes has to force herself to eat. Here's the kicker: neither of them exercise. At all. Nadda. Now, to be sure, neither looked very fit. I'd say they were both of average height and weight but sort of "fleshy" - if that makes sense. Soft looking. Still, I couldn't believe that they both reported no hunger and no regain after nearly 4 years. On the one hand, this was very encouraging for me because I see so many people gaining and so dismayed about that. On the other hand, I feel like something must really be wrong with me because I am almost constantly hungry. If I eat something, no matter what it is, an hour later I am in extreme pain from this kind of hunger that I've never known. And I work out almost religiously - still - and I'm gaining (although I am only up by 7 lbs. since my surgeon's visit last year - saw him on the same day as my SG meeting and he was about as helpful as a toad). I just thought you guys might find some sunshine in this post - there are people out there "Living Normal" and keeping their weight off - here's the other big piece, though. Neither of these women were "emotional" eaters - they both talked about how "boring" their lives are, but the kind of "boring" that sits well with them - no pressures, no stresses, just kind of comfortably going about their business. Very interesting for me - how is everyone today??? Love, Reenie

VERY interesting insights here....and I hope a lot of people read this. These women report very little stress and they are not emotional eaters....excellent candidates for WLS. They have the time and inclination to take care of themselves and not worry about the stresses that others have to deal with....unlike those in the 'real' world. With lifestyles like this, I wonder how they became overweight to begin with. I think, honestly, they were bad examples for a support group. People like that can make others feel inadequate, or like failures. Not good. Show me the women who deal with the ins and outs of life....the ups and downs and stresses....AND manage to keep their weight off and take care of themselves. Those women would be my role models. As far as you're concerned, little missy, you have physical reasons for feeling hungry the way you do, and that will be fixed very soon. And by the way....YOU are the best role model of all...just so you know. Take care and be well.... Joanie

HI Reenie, Couldn't make the support group. Had to work. Thats life when you have a morgage to pay. I'm wondering like Joy how those very happy women with no stress lives had gotten over weight in the first place. Could be a medical reason I'm not discounting that. They mus****ch what they eat religiously or after 4 years they'd be alot thinner than they are. Did they look anorexic? I had a visit with my GP for low blood sugar issues and have gained 10 pounds in the past year since I saw her. She says thats good. I say its terrible. I want it off. But when I really look at the tags in my clothes the 10 fits snug but still fits. So I'm not as bad as I think. I feel hunger. The pain of not eating. I also get the emotional hunger. I'm working on not reacting with food to the emotional hunger. I'm working on acknowledging the emotional hunger and compating it with something else. Sometimes it works soemtimes it doens't. For me its a big plus to be able to acknowledge which type of hunger it is. That might seem silly to say but I never realized the difference until recently. \another thing I need to do is get my butt back to a gym and excersize more than what I do at home. Since Curves closed in my town I'm not doing tht extra. I need it. Thats goign to be one of my weekend chores! go and visit the ones in my area and make a decision! Have a great day! Pam

Pammie = another WLS hero. You just confirmed what I wrote earlier. Thanks! Joanie

Pam, see my response to Mike below, which is really my response to both of you. Love, Reenie

Sorry I missed the meeting Sweetie. Being brain dead, I had forgotten that Abigail and I had an appointment that night with my accountant to have our taxes done. I also find it encouraging that some of us are having success with keeping weight off. I sometimes despair that I'm sentenced to fatness for life. Mike

I can't believe you'd prioritize your TAXES over the chance to see me again!!! Just kidding - all is forgiven (you too, Pammie!) - Hey, are either of you planning to see Aranow for your 4-year check-in? I was pretty PO'd...he does a 2-second scan of the blood work results, asks, "Any problems?" - shrugged off my concerns (low blood sugar episodes...he said no, they were dumping episodes, not LBS and it's because I'm not eating enough complex carbs) which, of course, mandated that I see HIS nutritionist, gotta keep her employed! I am getting PLENTY of complex carbs, by the way. And I could TEACH nutrition blindfolded! Then he asked if I would take part in a patient forum that will demand a lot of time and effort to go up against legislature to demand that WLS be covered by insurance. He said (and this is a quote), "It's not my job, it's my patients' job to advocate for this." Of course, lack of insurance really impacts his bottom line but it's MY job to take a lot of time away from my job and family to go up against the CT insurance companies and legislation. I don't think so! So that was my 5 minute annual visit with the good and ARROGANT Dr. Aranow. I'm not sure I'm going to see him again...Maureen

I haven't gotten around to making an appointment with Dr. A. I'm not really sure that I am going to do so either. The last couple of visits were disappointing to say the least. Last year, I didn't go to the nutritionist and got the hard sell from Aranow. I haven't seen the newest nutrition guru, but the last one was about as useful as tits on a boar hog (pardon the anatomical reference, but it's a fitting analogy). The first nutritionist we saw was great and I really felt that she was concerned for my health while her replacement seemed only interested in getting me in and out the door after paying the bill of course!! I would still use Aranow without hesitation and would still recommend him as a fine surgeon....however, I feel that his post-op follow-up in a word SUCKS!! I don't need to waste my time and my insurance provider's money to get the bum's rush from a medical demi-god. As for getting involved in his legislative fight.......he can kiss my shiny hiney (sp)!! Cheers, Mike

MY Turn to speak out! I LOVED LovED LOVED Dr A. As a surgeon he was excellant. His bedside manner was ok dokey. I would and do recommend him over and over again. First nuterionist - Great! Second one - not so great. First year follow up appointment - I recommend this for first year. I even recommend goign to the nuterionist the first year. Second year - What was the point in going???? Once I said no to plastic surgery I was invisible to Dr A. It was ok bye bye. In and out but don't forget to pay the bill! Third year - Didn't go. New insurance, not enough time, but the bottom line...why waste my co-pay on that? Plus I wasn't in the mood to spend extra money I do not have to go to a nuterionist that I really dont' think I get anythign out of. I'm better off to spend that money on goign to weigh****chers meetings or a nuturionist local who will care. This year - I decided to go see Dr A. Made the appointment 2 months before hand and the week of it was canceled by his office becasue he was on vacation. Now my question would be...didn't they know 2 months before when he'd be taking a vacation? Ok so maybe it was something last minute but I am sure that because of the work that he does he knows in plenty of time when his vacations are. Me on the other hand is less than a year in a new job that i love and need to plan far in advance of when I need to take time. Add to it that his office is over an hour away for me no weekend appointments and a late night. Forget it! By the time I get home at night its jammies and nite nite time. I'm old and need my rest. So I take vacation days when I plan on seeing him. I wasn't a whole lot happy about that appointment beign dumped. But then again Oh well he needs time too. Anywho, I'm not planning on making another one for a while. And I will not pay to go to the nuterionist. Call me cheap. Let the newbies pay.