Here's some food for thought!!

Hello friends, how are you all doing? Well I have read so many posts from everyone, including me, about what we are going through with slow weight loss, no weight loss, etc. thaqt I thought I would share some information that I have from a handout that I got from a support group. It's not from my physician, but I do go to the support group occassionally. I am not going to post the whole thing but I wanted to post the first few paragraphs. Some of the stuff from this group doesn't go with what my own doctor recommends (for instance they prohibit soup, whereas my doctor has never said that was a problem). But I just thought it might be something that would be of interest to some of you. Remember, I am not suggesting this is the bottom line on this, but it's just some 'food for thought'. I still am not sure of the 'honeymoon' period. I have heard 9 months, 12 months, 18 months. So who knows. Everyone has something different to say. But here it is - I hope you get something out of it. Oh, and the rest of the paper is about what to do -- mostly exercise and diet. If anyone's interested I'll post the rest, but my fingers were tired of re-typing this (I don't know how to do my scanner) and so I quit here!! But my fingers will be rested if anyone wants the rest (which is just about another 5 or 6 paragraphs). donna THE FIRST YEAR AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS The first year after gastric bypass is usually very rewarding in terms of weight loss and an improved sense of well being. However, this time can also be confusing, frustrating and frightening due to the many changes the body undergoes. The function of the stomach pouch 'tool' changes almost continuously over the first six months, and continues to change periodically over the year or so. Just when the patient feels they have begun to understand the stomach pouch tool and how to use it, things change all over again. There is an especially frightening change that takes place around 6-9 months after surgery. The stomach pouch softens and expands slightly so that a patient regains a regular appetite and can 'suddenly' tolerate a significantly larger amount of food. Patients frequently worry that something has pulled apart or broken on the inside, though this is rarely the case. This increased interest in food and increased capacity for food is a very natural and appropriate part of the recovery process after gastric bypass surgery. The reason it frightens patients so much is that they had previously felt that they had control of their weight for the first time in their lives, and the renewed appetite threatens that they are losing control once again. This page is about how to gain control of your weight using the stomach pouch 'tool' and to keep control of the weight for life. The first thing to realize is that for the first six months or so after gastric bypass you did NOT have control of your weight. The pounds were going to come of almost no mater what you did. The stomach pouch could not handle enough calories to maintain weight for the first dew months - we call this the 'honeymoon' period after gastric bypass. The return of appetite and the increase in food capacity signal an end to the honeymoon period and the transition to the rest of your life. Your surgeon has created a stomach pouch that will be your tool to use to control your weight for life. We prefer to describe the stomach pouch as a tool so that patients understand the need to learn how to use it, and stick with the 'rules of the tool' over time. Patients who are aiming for the best long term success begin using these concepts and rules immediately after gastric bypass;. The time to really choose your new habits is during the early recovery after surgery - this is when you motivation is highest and the other parts of your life have been thrown out of kilter by the surgery anyway. Use this early recovery period to choose your new exercise and diet habits. Even though patients lose weight 'no matter what' for the first few months, use of the concepts outlined below will also maximize the weight loss during the honeymoon period - take advantage of this time so that when appetite and capacity return there is not so much further to go in achieving a weight goal.

Great post!! I still find that most days it takes very little food to fill me up. I do get hungry sometimes, but I find that a whole wheat cracker with a piece of cheese satisfies me as a snack. But for about 1 week a month (could be pms, I have ovaries, but no uterus) I don't get full as quickly, and I'm more hungry, but it's controlable. I am so thankful that my hunger hasn't come back with a vengence like some others have been fighting. Love the new pic pretty lady! Micha

Hi Micha, thanks for the response. I hope it is helpful. I'm like you I am not filled with the 'hungries' yet. But I'm afraid it's right around the corner. But for the little amount that I eat - I am a slow loser (which could be tied in). But I just fill up fast. Thanks for the comment on the picture - I think I look totally goofy!! But it took me so long to get that and I don't have another one handy!! love donna

Donna, Just looked at your profile, OMG Your so beautiful. You are a beautiful woman. You look so healthy and so young and so happy. Hugs Love you Donna Barb

Hi Barb, thank you so much!! That was very sweet of you to say. love donna

morning donna, Love the new picture. Your post is great. My Dr. said that we continue to loose for up to 18 months if we make fairly good choices. I did believe that I had stretched my pouch until this week. It seems that when I went back to basics I found that I really still do fill up fast and can stay full with the right foods. I also find that during that one particular time of the month I feel like I could eat everything - but everything is still a ton less than what I would eat before. thanks donna

Hi donna, yeah, I think sometimes I've stretched my pouch, I'm so paranoid about it. But I have to tell you, when I look at what my husband eats I just think he eats so much (and yes he has put on weight since I've been losing!!) and I mentioned that to one of my daughters and she said 'mom you used to eat the same amount'. So I know I'm eating less. I am going by the 18 months - I've heard that many many times. But I do see a difference in how I think of food now as compared to right after surgery. I do think of it more!! Have a good day donna, and have fun with all your busy activities! love donna

If I continue to lose at the pace im going. I am going to be one skinny woman with no shape and be ugly. So once I get to 160 If I lose another 10 pounds that is okay. anything under that is not tolerible. I am 6 pounds from goal. I will eat carbs and do what I have to to stay at that wait. I couldnt imagine having a problem like that. Take Care Barb

Barb, you wil never be ugly!! But I know what you mean. I see some women my age and they are thin, but they just look weak and not healthy. I don't want that. I am 174, I thought 160 for me, then I thought maybe 150, but I don't know. I am 5'7 so I just am not sure. I have never had this problem before. Are you 5'7 too? I thought I read that you were. love donna

I am 5`8 Donna. My Goal is comming up fast !!!!! and I still have 10 more months to lose weight. Like Christina said. That seems kind of scarey. I might end up a bone. My brother in law laughs at woman like that. He calls them chicken legs with big caps.( Space between thighs upper thighs) LOL. I cant go that route. Right now I look so healthy. I would be happy at this weight. Honestly. If I lose to 150 that will make me a size 6 or 8 For a woman my height that is quite thin. And I am losing at a alarming rate as well. So Keep posted. I might be posting a Bone up here in a few months. Take Care Love Barb