Failure Fear

Ok so here's the deal, went out with a friend who had the wls 2 years ago and all she did was eat-everything! A little background on her--She never really ever lost all she should, didn't go to before or after seminars, or any follow-up. So I havent seen her for a few weeks and she looks like she gained [scary moment #1] and she was scarfing down girl scout cookies, multiple glasses of wine, tequila shots and then at 1 am she was still hungry and got a whopper and mozzerella sticks [scary moment #2] Scary because...I thought we couldn't eat like that? I'm hoping and praying that we cant eat like that, been there, done that-so to speak. Any advice, I'm freaking out here that failure is an option! Not one I want , I feel so disillusioned. Louise 215/165/125

Louise~ I think it is up to each individual as to what choices you make regarding the kind of food and drink you want to put into your body. Before I had my surgery, I met with a family friend who was a few years out..for breakfast. Well this gal ate a whole plate of french toast with syrup..eggs..sausage and had a coke to boot. I sat there thinking wow..that's as much as I eat now and I hadn't had surgery yet. You can eat around the surgery and that is what I was told from day one..it's a tool. When I went for my nutrition class, there was a lady in it who was having a second bypass done..she ate around her surgery and gained back every pound she had lost~ she said don't ever forget the rules of your pouch. I have a friend at work who is three months out and I sat with her and had dinner...well here's what I had (cheese stick and a taste of peanut butter) she had a 10 oz portion of weigh****chers lasagna and ate it all!! I think alot of it has to do with the mental aspect of it all (head hunger) instead of true physical hunger. Plus, I told my doc about what had happened with my co worker with the lasagna..he said that you really need to do protein and that certain foods just go through your pouch quicker and can eat more than you normally do...so just stick to what you know and try not to deviate from it and you'll do just fine Louise!

Oh my god-I think I'm even more scared now--NO, I'll call it being aware, I guess this is not the do all and end all, I will definitly remember all you said to keep me on the right path. I actually feel better eating less around people who over-do it, so I'll just need to keep it up and be proud of myself, secretly!

I have a friend who had WLS 2 years ago and also eats whatever he wants, so I guess it can happen. The last time we went out to eat (before my WLS) he was eating HUGE dishes of food and entire desserts with no problem. He also eats and drinks at the same time. For breakfast he eats 3 eggs, bacon and toast. In addition, he makes a huge 16 oz protein shake at night before bed, after he works out. I didn't think anything of it pre-op but now as a post-op I can't imagine eating that much and actually hope that I will never be able to eat like that again!! He also never lost all the weight he wanted to lose and never went to any support groups or did any follow up other than his doctor appointments. He never did any research and until recently didn't even know there were "rules" until I showed him all the research I had done. He would still like to lose at least another 50 lbs and he hasn't lose any weight in over a year so I doubt he's going to at this point, because of the way he eats (but I mind my own business). So I guess we have to make sure we make the most of this time NOW while we can and change our habits for the better because it looks like in a year we can go back to where we were pre-op! Vi

ok so lets go the other way-anyone know anybody who has been successful, and has had this years ago!?

I have a friend who is 4 years out and has settled in at a very nice weight. She looks terrific, and although she can eat a lot more now, she doesn't. She knows why she had wls and doesn't want to go back there again. So that's one success story that I've seen firsthand. HTH. Carol

Just read the main message board. There are tons of people there who are 2,3 or even over 4 years out and are successful because they do the right things!

Louise, I was doing some research on the internet this w/e and found the fallowing information which I thought very helpful. I am also going to post a note on the board for others to read and hopefully get some good information out of it. http://www.nikkiinmd.com/pouch_rules.htm Jeanna

Jeanna, best article I've written in a long long time...Thanks! Celia

My sister in law had WLS 20 years ago and is a success! She gained about 30 - 40 pounds during her pregnancies, but has since lost it all. I'm scared of eating around this surgery as well, but find I can't eat much at a time, so I'm hoping I stay that way! I don't always make the best food choices, but I try! As long as I'm losing, I'm happy!