I quit

Aww, thanks! I read every little thing I could get my hands on when researching surgery--I've always been the "researcher" type, in fact my job involves medical research. I always try to share info if it's something I've come across. You're welcome, have a happy day yourself!

You are wise " O B ONE Kinobee". I see your posts on this site all the time. You are a great help to a lot of posters including me. Keep it up, please. kathy

Kathy, you cannot quit. You have already gone through too much to give up. You have done the hard part...making the decision. You did the research, knew the risks, knew your risks if you didn't, and made an extremely brave decision to extend/improve your life. Don't quit. You had a bad weekend, so what. It's behind you now, forget about it and move forward with the same determination and focus you used to make the decision to begin with. You cannot compare yourself with everyone on here, we are all different. We started at different weights, had different amounts to lose, had different types of surgeries done in different ways... You've lost almost 30 pounds in 3 months! When was the last time you were able to do that? Everyone on here is pulling for you and praying for you. We all have our demons we have to face, and I just hate to read the desperation in your post. YOU CAN DO IT! Take it one day at a time. Have a good eating day, exercise, then have two good days. After a while it will become a habit and much easier to do. Please continue and keep us updated on your progress! Chris S.

Chris my cowboy rescurer, you gave me great inspiration and snapped me to attention. I am back on the trail now and will keep all of you posted from time to time. It is great to have a big strong man in my corner. thanks kathy

Kathy, please don't give up. Don't quit! You've already come so far. 30 pounds is no small feat. Maybe you need to set smaller goals for yourself along the way. Just think how much weight you will have lost a year from now - A LOT! Talk to your doctor, stick to it...it will come off! Some people are slower losers. But, you're still a winning loser! Hugs, Stacey 283/211/150

Stacey, you are right about the smaller goals. I don't want this to be about numbers but only about a better life. thanks for your help. kathy

Kathy, I am not too familiar with the DS procedure but you had this surgery for a reason,right? Nobody said it was going to be easy. You are going to go through "plateaus". We all do. Everyone is different and our weight loss is going to vary. 30 pounds is awesome! Do you really want to give up or do you want to grab hold of your life and make it better? I have faith in you- we all do! If you ever need someone to talk to or you just need to vent, thats what we are here for. We are all here to help each other get through this journey and on with our new lives. Be positive and know that you can do it. TAKE CARE of Yourself and if you need anything, ANYTHING- I am here Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie and I will be back to be sure for help again. We have to break our old habits...habits we have had forever ....a day at a time, a meal at a time, a better attititude and buddies like you will do it for all of us. thanks kathy

Think of it this way... When have you ever lost 30 lbs in 3 months before? Would you feel better about yourself if you were losing even though you are binge eating all the wrong things? Losing is good, but if you keep sabbotaging yourself to this degree, you will hurt your health, regardless of your loss. The problem we have after WLS is that they operated on our stomachs, not our heads! We still eat wrong for the wrong reasons that drove us to that in the first place. For many of us, denying our desires feels like punishment. If you are that way, you might find some success in creating better eating habits by focusing on "protein first". That is, allow yourself the junk, but only AFTER getting in 60 grams of protein. It really doesn't matter whether you do it with protein shakes, cheese, meat, eggs---just do it. You will find that if you do this, you will probably not want as much of the bad stuff and you will start losing again when your body gets what it needs. When you are malnourished, your body is going to hang on to everything it can. I suspect the reason your doctor will not make you malabsorptive until you lose is that he does not want to risk throwing you into a starvation mode. He knows that if you are losing, you are getting adequate nutrition. Don't feel bad--we all struggle. I am a Marcher -- FROM LAST YEAR -- and I struggle with cravings too. Today was a bad day for me, so I am writing this for me as much as for you. We have to learn to work at taking care of ourselves. That is a reflection of a new self-respect that we need to be working on along with our newly-sculpted bodies. You are NOT through losing. You have NOT ruined your pouch. You just have to face your fears and start caring about yourself enough to treat yourself as well as you would treat someone else. Hang in there... Joy (3/2/2004) (Sorry this was so long!!)

21 pounds the first month isn't bad, and I, too, hit that dreaded plateau the second month. Please reschedule your follow up with the doctor, it may take 6 months, 9 months or 12 months to lose 100 pounds but you'll do it. The only way to get that malabsorption factor added in which will KEEP the weight off, is to get the full DS.... so do whatever it takes to get there. The main thing about the sleeve gastrectomy is that right now, it's basically like you have the gastric band - restriction only, no malabsorption. For that reason, you need to stick to proteins, do an atkins/south beach kind of way of eating, because hon, the sugar will do you in quicker. It's easy to stuff in and it hits the body fast. Be encouraged! Remember, you can do anything for a certain amount of time. Even with the DS we still absorb sugar easier than other things. I've been avoiding it as much as I can. I'm not perfect about the carbs thing, but it's working. I would like you to encourage you to put down the sugar and get focused- you can do it! Are you getting in enough protein? Often times I hear folks craving sugar when it's really that they need more protein. I'm trying for 90-120 grams per day. Water/liquids are the other thing that are hard for me to get, but I aim for 64-80 oz a day, and am happy when I hit 64. I lost a lot (like you) the first month, and only 8 the second month, and 12 the third month. It was really frustrating for me. This month I added exercise into the mix and the results have been fantastic! I know you can do it- don't give up! Jill