Success Habits after WLS

I am sorry to hear that some of us are struggling. Even when things are not going well, I encourage you all to keep coming on here for the support. It is vital that we do not run away from these issues but confront them. We all used to use that method in the past and turned to food and then look what happened. This journey is not easy. Everyone is unique. Our bodies can be very resistant to all the changes we are putting them through. We also have to take the time to work on ourselves. This first year is the honeymoon but after that our long term success is all about the changes we have made in our lives. We also need to examine and take VERY hard look at ourselves and our choices. For some, a therapist can help. For others it is support group. Some of us need medication to cope with the hormone changes and resulting depression and some of us have other therapies. What I am saying is keep working until you find what works for you. I use my blog to make self examinations-I found this works for me. I also take time to really think about different issues I am confronting instead of pushing them down and then turning to food-my method of choice in the past. I also have used short term goals to keep myself on track. I also come on here everyday for the fellowship. I need to know I am not alone. I am also brutally honest with myself and others. BS just breeds more BS. Is it easy-NO! When I solicite others opinions about certain situtions or emotions I am having I have to accept and listen to what they say-even though I want to jump up and defend myself. I then come up with a plan to work thru it. Dealing with stress without using food as a crutch has been the single biggest challenge for me. I have also been very emotional. Not surprising considering all the lifestyle, body and hormone challenges I have been thru. Six habits we have been taught for success after WLS. 1. Accountibility-some way of getting yourself called on it when you are making bad choices. 2. Water intake-vital for health and flushing out the fat. 3. Nutrition-getting our lean protein in first. Eating healthy carbs and fats in small quantities. 4. Portion control. Serving ourselves the correct size so we do not keep trying to stretch our pouches. 5. Exercise-vital for long term success and health 6. Vitamin Intake-these are needed for life and making sure we get them helps how we feel and keep us healthy. I hope this helps. I feel bad that some of you are not where you want to be. We are in this together. You have been there for me thru thick and thin. I want to help all I can-if I can.

Thank you Sharra for posting this. I know we are all in this together. I have noticed my motivation being at a all time low. I don't want that to turn into weight gain though! It's not always about what the scale says.. but if we are making good choices for our bodies. One thing I did this last week was buy a Casio Baby G watch. It has 5 alarms that beep every few hours to remind me to take my vitamins. I could never remember to take them all without this gadget. I would get maybe 3 in before bedtime.. now I get all 5 vitamins in and I know in a few weeks I will be able to feel the difference. It's easy to forget why I had this surgery when I start to feel good and 'normal'. This isn't a cure but a tool. I will have to work at this for the rest of my life. I knew it wasn't a cure when I got WLS.. but I've been tempted to think it might be as of late. Also, I struggle with feelings that I have failed my WLS by not loosing as much by the first year as I hoped I would. But again, it's not all about the weight but the choices I'm making and the lifestyle I'm living. Yesterday I went and flew a huge butterfly kite with my husband and 3 kids. Before surgery I would have stayed home.. made some excuse about how I needed to finish something or that I was tired. I ran up and down the beach with ease and laughed and had so much fun. I nearly have forgotten how painful those things used to be. I pray I never forget how much better life has gotten and how much better it will continue to be.. as long as I allow it to. I realize that I need to take responsibility for my own choices and actions. My pouch or surgery isn't failing me. I am failing me when I choose a kit-kat bar over a protein shake. For me.. eating the wrong things have been a form of self hatred...self abuse. And I'm dealing with that right now.. learning to love my self and acting accordingly in my choices and actions. Hope that all makes sense. Just some stuff off the top of my head. Thanks for reading... -Shakeira

Shakeira, we are all very good at bashing ourselves. IT is very hard for us to accept who and what we are. I was the queen of self sabotage. I am working very hard on when I see myself starting to fall into one of these patterns to STOP, ask myself why? What set me off? and many times, will it actually make me feel better? or just make me feel worse in the long run? I have found the answer for me is similar to yours-just being able to do all the things I can now compared to barely getting thru the day and then sitting in the recliner until bedtime. That was not living and no piece of food will make me feel as good as having this weight off feels. Just starting the dialogue with myself or with others usually makes the negative feeling go away. I never learned this coping mechanism so I am finding my way slowly. I just wanted to reach out since I saw so many getting discouraged. We are in this together and I wanted all of you to know that I care. Hang in there. Life is so much better than last year this time. You are never gonna measure up if you compare yourself to others. The only thing you can do is measure yourself against yourself. The 2008 editions are way healthier and better off than the 2007 models. Maybe it would help to list all the things that are better now than before instead of focusing on "I am not at goal weight" will help put things back into perspective. The A team rules.........

Thank you, Sharra-you are SO right that we need to measure ourself against ourself. It's hard to not compare myself to others who have been more successful, but we all started out with different BMIs and we all have different metabolisms and lifestyles. Like Shakeira, my motivation sucks lately, and like you, I am a major emotional eater. These bad habits started before kindergarten for me, so it's taking a very long time to turn my attitude towards food around. I am doing my best to be mindful and not just try to stuff my face whenever I'm feeling anxious. Right now I'm reading "When Food is Food and Love is Love" by Geneen Roth, and it's helping. And, you're right-at this time last year I was a mess! I couldn't do basic things like walk, breathe, bend over, wipe my butt, sleep, etc. I mean, come on-ALL of my comorbidities are gone and I am living life again! I should be thrilled with that instead of beating myself up over these last 50 lbs. Also, I wanted to thank you for telling us that you broke your stall by going back to lean meats and veggies-that really is the way to go and I am trying it now. Thanks so much for sharing your success habits with us!