Why so many failures?
I had surgery in 1999. I have kept the weight off until two years ago. I am scheduled to have a revision done. To help me lose the 50 lbs I have gained back. I fully support WLS. For me it was the best thing I had ever done. It totally changed my life. I wish you all the best in your decision making.
Because it's easier to re-pipe the digestive track than re-wire the brain!
Seriously, the first 10-14 months things are pretty easy with WLS. We are excited about the changes that are happening, we're starting to feel good (often for the first time in years), and we really feel the full effects of the surgery.
After the initial 'honeymoon' period we still have our tool -- let me say that again: We STILL have our tool, but it's not nearly as easy as it was in the beginning. Things become more difficult and we struggle like we used to with our weight.
We've got to take full advantage of that initial period to learn new habits and make the most of our opportunity to start over.
I wouldn't hesitate to go through the surgery again in a second if I needed too, but I also truly believe that I have embraced a new life style of healthy eating and lots of exercise.
Go into the surgery with your eyes open and realize that almost all of us had the same worries, complacency is the key to success!!!
--Sax
Seriously, the first 10-14 months things are pretty easy with WLS. We are excited about the changes that are happening, we're starting to feel good (often for the first time in years), and we really feel the full effects of the surgery.
After the initial 'honeymoon' period we still have our tool -- let me say that again: We STILL have our tool, but it's not nearly as easy as it was in the beginning. Things become more difficult and we struggle like we used to with our weight.
We've got to take full advantage of that initial period to learn new habits and make the most of our opportunity to start over.
I wouldn't hesitate to go through the surgery again in a second if I needed too, but I also truly believe that I have embraced a new life style of healthy eating and lots of exercise.
Go into the surgery with your eyes open and realize that almost all of us had the same worries, complacency is the key to success!!!
--Sax
It has been three years since my surgery and I have gained back 20 lbs - for me it was getting off track. I transferred to a new job and started working very long days and got away from tracking my food and working out. BIG MISTAKE . . people who say they are to busy to do both of those won't succeed . . making the decision to have this surgery is making a life long commitment. Find a support group stay connected to the OH board. Be accountable to yourself and you won't fail.
I'm back on track and it hasn't been easy, work schedule is crazy but now I don't worry about having my dishes done if I have to choose between going out walking or having a clean kitchen sink . . I'm going to go for that walk every time!
Good luck,
KRISTY
I'm back on track and it hasn't been easy, work schedule is crazy but now I don't worry about having my dishes done if I have to choose between going out walking or having a clean kitchen sink . . I'm going to go for that walk every time!
Good luck,
KRISTY
When my PCP and I discussed WLS and she told me that she has had a few of her patients eat their way through the surgery and regain weight. As she put it mashed potatoes and cheeseburgers don't cut it.
People who are successful have learned to make very smart food choices and new behaviors such as exercising, portion control, and how to deal with emotional hunger.
WLS is only a tool and not a solution or cure. If people fail to learn how to use the tool properly then they will not succeed at the goal of permanent weight loss.
Take this situation for example. It's 8pm, you're running late and you're starving. You decide to stop at McDonald's for something quick. Cheeseburger, small fry, and a small diet coke... Hey, it's small sizes how bad can it be?
Here are the totals: Calories: 530, fat: 24g, sugar: 47g, carbs: 62g, protein: 17g, Volume: 6.5 oz (minus the drink).
Shocking isn't it? Now lt's compare it to an equal volume of chicken breast and broccoli.
Calories: 195 Fat: 4g Sugar: 1g, carbs: 6g, protein: 33g, Volume 6.5 oz.
Even more shocking... This example illustrates how important it is to make the right choices and to modify bad behaviors. My thoughts are, if someone is still eating fast food after WLS then they are setting themselves up for failure.
People who are successful have learned to make very smart food choices and new behaviors such as exercising, portion control, and how to deal with emotional hunger.
WLS is only a tool and not a solution or cure. If people fail to learn how to use the tool properly then they will not succeed at the goal of permanent weight loss.
Take this situation for example. It's 8pm, you're running late and you're starving. You decide to stop at McDonald's for something quick. Cheeseburger, small fry, and a small diet coke... Hey, it's small sizes how bad can it be?
Here are the totals: Calories: 530, fat: 24g, sugar: 47g, carbs: 62g, protein: 17g, Volume: 6.5 oz (minus the drink).
Shocking isn't it? Now lt's compare it to an equal volume of chicken breast and broccoli.
Calories: 195 Fat: 4g Sugar: 1g, carbs: 6g, protein: 33g, Volume 6.5 oz.
Even more shocking... This example illustrates how important it is to make the right choices and to modify bad behaviors. My thoughts are, if someone is still eating fast food after WLS then they are setting themselves up for failure.
I'm chiming in late on this... but wanted to add my .02.
FIRST -- remember that OH is a support group environment where people come when they have problems, questions, complications or need help. You hear about all the bad stuff up front and out loud. Because if people are sharing every day that they are doing great and life is fine ... things get pretty boring around here.
If a little old lady crosses Main Street on a Tuesday afternoon you're not going to hear about it on the 6:00 news. But if that little old lady was abducted by a gang of teenagers who stripped her naked, painted her blue and left her in the mall parking lot... it'd be the top story at 6:00. And you'd have a hundred people offering advice on where to buy new clothes, how to get paint off skin and how to catch a cab back home. In general, we don't care about the mundane stuff - it's boring.
SECOND -- I heard a saying once a long time ago: "If you're worried about raising your children into responsible adults then you really have nothing to worry about." Meaning if you're worried about something, it's going to become the focus of your actions to do a good job. I think the same thing applies to WLS and regain. If you're worried about regain, you're going to take the action steps to prevent it from happening. If you get complacent and stop caring, regain is sure to follow.
THIRD -- Yes, regain is a very real possibility. About 25% of RNY patients regain 50% of their weight. However, when you compare that to the NIH statistics of regain in the population who do not have WLS, it's staggering. For people without surgery who lose weight, the statistic is that 97% of them will regain 100% of the weight. Only 3% of people will be able to keep off the weight they loss through diet and exercise alone. I like my odds better with surgery.
FIRST -- remember that OH is a support group environment where people come when they have problems, questions, complications or need help. You hear about all the bad stuff up front and out loud. Because if people are sharing every day that they are doing great and life is fine ... things get pretty boring around here.
If a little old lady crosses Main Street on a Tuesday afternoon you're not going to hear about it on the 6:00 news. But if that little old lady was abducted by a gang of teenagers who stripped her naked, painted her blue and left her in the mall parking lot... it'd be the top story at 6:00. And you'd have a hundred people offering advice on where to buy new clothes, how to get paint off skin and how to catch a cab back home. In general, we don't care about the mundane stuff - it's boring.
SECOND -- I heard a saying once a long time ago: "If you're worried about raising your children into responsible adults then you really have nothing to worry about." Meaning if you're worried about something, it's going to become the focus of your actions to do a good job. I think the same thing applies to WLS and regain. If you're worried about regain, you're going to take the action steps to prevent it from happening. If you get complacent and stop caring, regain is sure to follow.
THIRD -- Yes, regain is a very real possibility. About 25% of RNY patients regain 50% of their weight. However, when you compare that to the NIH statistics of regain in the population who do not have WLS, it's staggering. For people without surgery who lose weight, the statistic is that 97% of them will regain 100% of the weight. Only 3% of people will be able to keep off the weight they loss through diet and exercise alone. I like my odds better with surgery.
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
Visit my blog: Journey to a Healthier Me ...or my Website
The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
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