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I realized the other day that I hadn't been here in awhile and talking with a friend about the types of people you see on boards early on that scare you into thinking Orange Juice will ruin your life post-DS surgery I thought "I need to go back and tell people what it's really ilke to live with the DS."

I'm 14 years out of surgery. I had it in April of 2009. I was 453lbs at my highest weight. I have not been so much as over 165lbs since that first year of weight loss. I also had a 150 CC and my doctor was Srikanth at the Fife Bariatric Center of Excellence here in Washington.

In the beginning I was strict - but also kinda terrified - in my diet. Egg and cheese crust pizzas, eating only the meat off burgers, it was an okay life especially to lose weight quickly. But now I don't much care. I stick to the rule of "Protien first and less sugar and volume eating in my day than I used to."

The things I eat would never tip someone off that I had a weight loss surgery - a snickers bar, a doughnut, white rice, a glass of juice, whole milk, creamer with sugar, mashed potatoes, an elephant ear at the fair. But it's far far less. The DS taught me to listen to my hunger and satiety cues so I don't over eat. I might eat HALF a donut or one donut. I'll have a cup of rice as opposed to four. I'll eat half a pint of Ben and Jerry's not half the quart. Now I would laugh in your face if you tried to get me to eat an egg and cheese only crust pizza. No thank you.

The best part of surgery is that all of my four kids - One born post weight loss - weigh less at their respective ages and so far throughout their lives than I did at those ages. I grew up in a household where everyone got their own large pizza with their own toppings. Now I buy one for a family of five. Everyone gets two slices. If your hungry later have a PB and J. Again, learning to listen to their actual hunger cues has been an invaluable gift and the real working tool part of my surgery.

I know my DS still "works" I get vagus nerve irritation and get sneezy full when I eat something too quickly and fill up too fast.

But basically I just live my life, I never get on a scale, I take vitamins, and get my levels checked. I don't drink any extra protein.

I got the Duodenal switch to have a "normal" relationship with food - because I fu*king love food. And I still do. I love pasta and good bread and to bake cookies and have sundaes for dinner with my kids. And that's what I get to do and I couldn't be happier.

You are correct. I really cannot eat much of processed foods, because I also dump with my RNY. And it would spike my blood sugars. But I also do not forbid any food or eliminate any category of food. For me, it might be a bite size piece of candy, not a whole candy bar. One of the reasons I see for obesity is that people put food into "good" and "bad" categories and then when they eat a "bad" food, they give up and continue to eat more of it because they have failed to stay away from "bad" things.

Weigh****chers current program do not have any "bad" or any forbidden foods or food categories. Everything is permitted as long as you count the points. It has resulted in a lot more successful outcomes than the old system of good and bad foods.

Thank you for your response White Dove,

I hope I don't offend you if I respectfully disagree with your calorie is a calorie theory. If I was to eat a brownie, chances are it will spike my blood sugars then dramatically drop it and 2-4 hours later I would become fatigued and craving something sweet or starchy. If I choose to eat the same number of calories in roasted chicken, it will not have a spiked my blood sugar later thus causing me to eat more. For me, the root cause for my obesity is sugar and processed carbohydrate addiction. If I eat 2000 calories per day of processed carbs, I will be hungry, fatigued and dealing with cravings which would most likely cause me to cheat on my diet eventually causing weight gain. If I instead choose to eat 2000 calorie low carb diet, I will feel great, have lots of energy, no sugar or carb cravings, minimal hunger and most likely will stay on my diet or food plan. You are basically right, 2000 calories in carbs versus 2000 calories in protein will have the same fuel burning effect, but with the caveat that processed carbs lead to more processed carbs and a low carb diet leads to better diet compliance. As a recovering alcoholic I am unable to drink any amount of alcohol because it will set me up for a relapse or binge. As a processed carbohydrate addict, I am unable to eat any amount of processed carbohydrates because it will set me up for a relapse or binge thus causing me to gain weight. 80 percent of the American people have fatty liver, insulin resistance and metabolic disorders caused by the brainwashing by our food industry. They want you to believe that processed foods are not harmful. They taste good and are convenient, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners are in 80 percent of the food in our supermarkets and they are making us sick and will eventually kill you. So, whole and natural foods with 2000 calories are not the same as 2000 calories of processed foods.

Respectfully,

Ginamarie

It's been a very long time since I posted to this website with an update. Presently I weigh 135 pounds and am very healthy and happy. Unfortunately, I gained most of my weight back 8 years ago after an intensive stressful and painful period in my life. Due to hereditary factors and my weight gain my abdominal wall was completely destroyed. 2 years ago, my surgeon told me that he could not fix my abdominal wall until I lose 80 pounds. This ended up being a great blessing and motivation to lose weight. At that time, I was also severely hypertensive which was uncontrollable with medications to the point that it damaged my kidneys. I was also on antidepressants and was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and a high white blood cell count. I retired from a job I hated and started walking 45 minutes per day. Then I gave up sugar and white flour. Next, I gave up all processed foods eating only meat, veggies, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds and eating a fermented food each day. The weight started melting off me. Fast forward to 4 months ago, I am down 80 pounds, had my full abdominal wall reconstruction and reversed all my medical problems. I no longer take medications; I am fit and healthy and I have more energy than I did when I was in my 20's. My nearsightedness is gone, and my teeth are no longer reseeding and collecting tarter, and my intestines are no longer popping out with unsightly huge bumps all over my abdomen. I have found a church I love, and I joined Toastmasters. My social life has really blossomed with many new friends. I am now studying to become a accredited Functional Medicine Nutritional counselor so I can help and inspired others with my transformational story. It's all about the microbiome, if you take care of your gut health most of your health problems will be resolved. Protect the liver and feed the gut with lots of plant base and fermented foods and the magic will happen.