Blaming Mechanical Failure

The further out from surgery Ive gotten Ive started to pay more attention to posts people make about regain.... since I am done losing and moved onto maintaining its definately a concern so I try and learn from others mistakes and see why it is people regain weight. 99.9% of the time people are immediately jumping to mechanical failure as being the reason - typically saying the pouch has stretched - but then go on to say they are not following the rules, eating junk foods, not eating enough, grazing, drinking with meals, not exercising etc. That leads me to believe that people *know* that their behavior is the reason for the regain but they just do not want to admit it... they hope its something that can be 'fixed' by a surgeon instead of the person putting forth the effort to figure out what the real issue is and working on it themselves. I think its important for the newbies to know you HAVE to work on the mental aspects of the surgery... the surgeon cannot fix whats in your head, only whats in your body. I am seeing more and more people not even 2 years out starting to experience regain (again, Im sure they were always there I just didnt pay attention)- and I rarely come across anybody who truly was having a mechnical failure. Many times the people who post about some form of regain have also had problems in their life - divorce, seperation, death in the family, loss of job, loss of house etc - basically *life* happening... if you use food to cope/soothe your issues then you MUST learn other ways besides food to help you handle life's ups and downs. In other cases people just get more lax as more time passes - the beginning was so easy (for some) they let the bad habits sneak back in, they dont see any recourse for their actions so they keep on with the habit or let them escalate (1 cookie a week turns into 3 cookies a week to 1 cookie a day etc) - eventually it *will* catch up and the the proof will be at the scale. I dont feel the surgeons put enough emphasis on people making the necessary behavioral changes... its really left up to the patient to 'figure out' everything else beyond the nutritional guidelines given. Anyways, thats my observation for the day - any thoughts please share.

I completely agree, Jennifer.  That awareness was why I started lurking on the grads Yahoo group.  I want to head this off at the pass, as it were.  Particularly with my own tendency to lose weight real slowly.  I had to get real and see what others have experienced and I also had to hear what those who have maintained their weight loss for many years do.  Their secret?  They just keep doing what they did in the beginning.  Practicing the basics.  Severely restricting carbs.  Exercising.  It works if you work it.

Suzanne, What is the link to the Grads Group?  I am a slow loser too and have been stalled for about a month now.  I want to tweak what I am doing and avoid the mistakes that others are making.  I work with a gal who had surgery 4 years ago and I observe everyday at lunch.  She is making all of those mistakes and I have watched her regain most of her weight over the last year and a half.  Not me buddy.  I' ll take all the advice I can get.  I did not have very good follow up after my surgery with my surgeon or the nutritionist.  Neither have been available to me since surgery.  I have gotten most of my help and advice right here from this forum.   I have seen a nurse for every follow up visit and I get conflicting advice from one visit to the next. 

Hi Ruby! Here is the link: Just in case the link doesn't come through you can copy and paste: [email protected] Like you, I have found that surgeons are only good at one thing:  cutting, and you can't even rely on that much from all of them!  If you want medical care, you have to go to your PCP and pray that he or she is well-versed in the follow-up needs of the WLS patient.  Unfortunately most aren't.  The nutritionists are trained in the American Diabetes and the American Heart Association schools of thought and they seem to think that we can tolerate all those carbs (whole grains or not) and eat like normies and we will be fine.  The truth is that most of us are carb addicts, and like with any good addiction, one taste is all you need to set you off and running.  The more I learn (and I have a LOT to learn) the more I realize this is REALLY going to be a matter of constant vigilance, just as is treatment for any addiction. JMHO.  BTW, you can lurk but not post on the grads Yahoo group until you have at least a year out from your surgery.

Thanks Jennifer for posting this reminder.  I"m only 9 weeks out, but even though it is early on, I realize that I have to replace old habits with good ones NOW so that I can have continued success later on.  I had a follow up visit with the dietitian yesterday and she spent 15 minutes discussing this very thing.  She has a patient who had tremendous weight loss and then got complacent with her routine and eating/exercise habits.  Now she's re-gained 40 pounds and they are having extreme difficulty getting it back off.   Thanks to all of the WLS veterans out there who are paving the way for us newbies.  It really is good to share your experiences with you.   Lorie Anne

Great post!  Now that I'm starting to maintain, I am noticing those posts too!  When looking at those who have had long-term success (years maintaining thier loss), you'll see a trend.  They all are still following the basic rules:  eating what they know they should eat and exercising.  Do they ever make mistakes?  Yes...then the next day they pick themselves up and get back on track.  It's just a matter of changing your lifestyle.  It's what we were all told in the beginning, and it's what will keep us in this happy place.  :)

Thanks Jenn for another thought provoking post.   You are one gal that I have learned a lot from.   You are thoughtful enough to share with all as we are all in this together.    Pam

Hi Jennifer,

I just had my one year appointment with my nutritionist yesterday and we had this very same discussion. I asked about 'bounce back' and malabsorption fading and causing regain. He said that the malabsorption that RNY patients experience is just micronutrients like iron, calcium, folate, b12 ... not macronutrients like protien and carbs. That being the case, you can't regain due your body becoming more efficient at absorption. He also said 40 years of data shows that patients that exercise and stick with the 'rules' like not drinking with meals, leading w/dense protien, staying away from crispy, crunchy, creamy stuff don't tend to experience 'bounce back'. 

Soooooo...I  plan to keep moving and stay with the program because I don't plan to gain it back.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Barb

I concur..  I have been reading some of those posts too.  They scare me to death.. but I am with you.  You HAVE to stick to your guns.  Those of us who are farther out know what works.  I have seen a lot of talk about "losing malabsorption" and such.  I talked to Dr. K. when I saw him back in June and he says there is no proof of losing that aspect of our new digestive process.  (Reminded me of the talks we have had about diet sodas and straws!  LOL)   When my sister went for her information session there was a lady in front of us who was BIG.  I could not help but think that I hoped she was able to get the surgery and begin a new life.  You know how us post-ops are.. we want everyone to feel like we do!  Well, the lady raised her hand and she was there for revision.  REVISION!  Said she had the surgery in 2003.. lost like 150 pounds.. gained EVERY SINGLE pound back.  NO WAY.  NOT EVER.  I will NEVER be fat again.  I have had my taste of being thin and know what I have to do to stay this way and I will NOT go back.   Great post as always my Friend!

Wow - I agree with these posts! The one thing I'm realizing more and more as time goes on is that it's like alcoholism. I will have to be vigilant and work at this all day, every day, for the rest of my life, never letting up and never becoming complacent. For me - I know I have to stay away from carbs. I started in on crackers a few weeks ago, had a few days of intense hunger and snacking and realized there was nowhere to go with that kind of behavior but back up. Now I won't touch them with a 10 foot pole. If they come in my bag with my Wendy's Chili - the first thing I do is throw them away. I know I can't open those and have even one - it's a slippery slope. I don't EVER, EVERY want to be fat again. It's like a mantra.