Interesting Main Board today/Question

One really touching story of a woman who has regained. I just felt for her, she was sooooooooo crying out for help. The responses she received were enlightening as well, like I heard about an EGD revision, and I noticed that two people said that they were instructed by their doctors to go back to liquids if they started regaining? Have you guys ever heard this. I'm also struggling beacause I'm really getting in touch with my sense of fullness and satisfaction and I've noticed that if I really, really, really pay attention to it, I am sooo not hungry. For instance, I already have about 64 oz of fluids, about 3 oz of nuts and a 1/2 cup of roasted potatoes. Lets just say I'm not hungry at dinner time? Do I eat? Even though I'm sure that I could fit something in but do I have to?

Not having regain issues (yet?), I don't know what my surgeon's recommendations for managing it would be. I may ask when I see him as a hypothetical. Rich had regained up to 267 and is now back down to 260 and he saw our surgeon recently. Our surgeon said that was actually a fine weight for him (still down 190 lbs) and that it sounded like Rich already knew what to do to get the weight off or keep it in check (basically watch what you are eating in particular the carbohydrates). For me, with blood sugar issues past, I never miss a meal. I must eat every 3-4 hours to keep my sugars level and even. After surgery, I ate based on the clock and still continue to do so. More often now than not, I'm probably hungry before it is the next time to eat something anyway. Sheesh, what's up with that? LOL! I cannot say I've heard of going back to liquids. My original surgeon would put the pre-ops on a "liquid" diet for 2 weeks consisting of 2-3 protein shakes a day and 1 meal with a piece of protein and non-starchy vegetable. That's it. This was to downsize the liver. Definitely a carb detoxing. Is that a bad thing for us to do? Probably not. Is it unhealthy? Probably not. Just wouldn't try to live on that intake for long periods of time. I read the original post earlier today. I did feel so bad for the person but it sounded like she truly knew what her problem was and it was grazing. She let old habits come right back in full force. She was looking for information on revisions. Revisions are for when there is a mechanical failure for the surgery. Unfortunately revisions cannot fix the brain. If she got someone to surgically downsize things to early post-op sizes (since pouches do stretch naturally and expectedly) she is more prone to complications because it is a second surgery. Plus, if she goes right back to grazing in the long run... the revision might have been for naught. There is someone that posts on the main board that tells people that if they eat less, work harder and exercise a ton - they WILL get to goal. That really bothers me. I honestly feel that is not the case at all. I think many will get to goal but for so many others no matter how much they cut back their dietary intake and exercise... their body gets to a certain weight and it wants to stay there - period. I do not believe it is right to expect everyone to be able to exercise 2-3 hours a day, ya know? Some folks can do that - so be it. I think folks need to be realistic when figuring out how much exercise they can fit into their daily lives. I think some folks set unrealistic goals based on weights of their teenhood or young adulthood and don't factor in extra skin weight, extra bone density from being overweight for long periods of time and the fact that weight tends to go up with age. Then there are those that set very reasonable goal weights... but their body just won't let them get there. The body seems to have setpoints where it is comfortable and it likes to stay. Getting the body to move away from those setpoints can be near impossible. Whew, I've types alot, eh? Kathy

Kathy, You types a lot, but you types a good lot! I agree with you about the original poster, she knows what she did, and how she can undo it. (she did it before) Although my gain is minimal, I refuse to gain anymore, and thats why I've really been self evaluating, and just doing a lot of trial and error, seeing whats gonna work and what wont. I mean I'm sure the liquid diet will take these 10 pounds off, but like you said, cant do that forever...So thats why I am trying to get my mind right...because this is LIFETIME! Thanks for your input!

I understand where you are coming from, Aliya. I don't think one has to go on a liquid diet or something drastic to get pounds off. The thing posted often is "get back to basics" meaning protein first, non-starchy vegies next and fruit and only then some carbs. I think we can do that at any time if we need to. Personally, I think the woman from the main baord is looking for a magic way to lose weight and keep it off. Heck, weren't we all originally to a degree? I think at this point in our journeys we realize there isn't any magic. Yes, weight came off. In fact, it.came off pretty easily at first since we could eat so little. Yes, we had to completely turn our diets upside down which was far from easy and but it was hard not to lose. Now we've all gotten to the point where we either have stopped losing and still want to lose more or we've gotten where we want to be and are working our arses off to stay there or are fighting small regains already. Regain is definitely a fear instilled in me. Doctor tell patients to EXPECT a 10% regain. Yikes! How scary. I know none of us (okay maybe a few want a few pounds back) want that. Rich had regained about 22 lbs (he was pretty stable at 245 or so and got up to 267). He has remained very active so obviously his diet is in question. He definitely eats more than immediately post-op but I let him eat how he wants and it is up to him to figure it all out. I will say that we "brown bag" it most of the time from stuff we've cooked and we eat high protein foods though Rich does allow himself some semblence of carbs and I don't. To get 7 lbs of the 22 lb regain off - he cut back on 'em. Uh hum. Yup. BTW, 22 lbs is about 10% of his weight loss. Weird, eh? And it happened right before his 2 year mark. (Insert eerie music here...) Folks in my support group talk about that dreaded 10% regain that so many have encountered at the 18-24 month timeframe. Again, scary. But then I look at how they eat. We meet at Paneras for our get togethers and I've seen sweets eaten and such and heard discussion of sweets, pizza, Starbucks regular iced lattes and such. So, I think old food choices and habits perhaps have crept back in a bit? The reason for regain? Plus I'm not really sure how many of them exercise with any regularity anymore. I'll have to think about that. I read on the main board how some folks don't worry about what they eat - though they eat in moderate quantities and maintain their weight very nicely. Then I read they go out for a 30 mile run. YES, the one gal, 30 miles. No wonder she can eat sweets and all sorts of things. Honestly, I never want to aspire to those lengths. I like my simple 1.5 hour workouts (1 hour cardio, 30 minutes weights) several times a week. I can live with that. I can allocate time for that. I guess what I'm trying to say is I wonder if I'll ever eat "normally". Anyone think that way? My body is so sensitive to certain things that I feel like I won't be able to eat them again unless I want to pay the wrath of the scale or dump or worse both. I don't mind how I eat now at all. I can go out to eat and order interesting tasty things. Are there things I miss? You betcha!!! I'm not done experimenting with myself to see what foods trigger weight gains and dumping in me. So my list of *keep away from* foods may expand or shrink depending on the outcome. Gosh, you really got me fired up on this, haven't you! I'm enjoying trying to sort through my thoughts on this topic. Kathy

You kmow after reading ypur posts, and some others on the GRAD boards, I realized that I signed up for this! And when I did, I knew that there were some things that I should have missed, but don't becuase I still indulge. Not that I wish my body would ill-react to anything...(O.k., well some things) I do very well with all types of foods, dumping is a rarity except for EXTREMELY HIGH fats and sugars, and becuase they're so frrekin high, I do have the good sense to stay away (most of the time) Anyway as far as the back to basics thing...thats where I have to go...not just in food, but also mindset...not sure about you, But in my basics stage I was actually scared...now I'm just ****y.

Kathy, I may be one of those people you are talking about. I'm a very consistent 90 minutes a day, 6 days a week, heavy duty exerciser. I'm now doing weigh****chers and have lost a total of 1.2 lbs in 3 weeks! I still weigh 235! I want so much to get to 199, but, even if I do, I will still be 31 lbs over the recommendation for my height and age. I'm so fit! But, still fat. I know that I struggle with eating the right amounts. But, I work very hard at it. I eat very healthy foods. My blood work looks great. It drives me crazy, but, I refuse to give up! Lori 384/235/199

Hey, Lori... You definintely came to mind when I wrote that. Just didn't wanna name names, ya know. LOL! All I know is that you are someone who has worked incredibly hard day-in, day-out through these long, long 16 months. You were such an inspiration to me and so many others on this board and I'm sure on the Over 50 board too. Your workouts are amazing and your dedication to them has been unbelievable. You are probably one of the healthiest and fittest people I know and I mean that sincerely. Yet your goal weight which is certainly very, very realistic seems quite elusive. It would drive anyone crazy! I"m glad you are still forging ahead. Wouldn't expect otherwise of you. Any surgeon would consider your oss to be a great success having lost 80% of your excess weight. That exceeds the expected loss which is 70% of excess, I believe. The good news is that I have seen folks that are 2 or more years op who still lose. One gal in my support group was stable for over a year and then whammo lost 10-15 lbs. She was concerned because she couldn't understand it but everything was fine with her labs and medical check-up. You remain our exercise inspiration! Kathy

Kathy, I am happy I can inspire someone! I have to tell you all this exercising has really paid off. I'm getting a pretty good shape. People tell me that all the time. It has to be the exercise since my weight is not changing! Another good thing is that my surgeon is very pleased with me. Which helps a lot! Thanks for your always being there for words of encouragement! Lori

I have no doubt that you are getting a great shape. You have to be with all that working out! Glad there are other measures of success for you beyond the scale. Your surgeon's acknowledgement and people's comments are fabulous! Kathy