My Other Body...anybody read it?

Hi everyone,

Has anybody read "My Other Body" by Ann Pai?  It is a heartbreaking book about a woman who's sister died from morbid obesity.  I just got through it and it has really shook me up because I see me in her sister's story.  I think God knew I needed some hope, because I just logged on to Duke's wls site and found out that my file has been sent to my insurance company, so I"m just waiting for approval.  yeah! 

What scares me is the description of her sister's car - the french fries in the floor, the fast food wrappers and empty styrofoam cups...that's my car.  I need to hear from anyone else who was a fast food or coca-cola junkie.  I fear that even after the surgery I'll eat like this and won't lose weight.  Anyone relate? 

I'm now getting ready to read the Barbara Johnson book about wls-the other side of the story-the one with hope.  Thanks!  Vickie

While i was not a fast food junkie, I really loved carbs and sweets....ie..candy, cake, ice cream, etc.     I am almost 5 months post and for the first 3 months i was scared to death to try anything because of dumping.  A few months ago, i was out to dinner at a friends and had a bite of chocolate cake and no problems.   My doc advised we can have a bite of anything and the trick is moderation.   I really don't crave much of anything.   I have difficulty with a lot of carbs.  Bread, rice and noodles really don't agree with my pouch and i feel fortunate for that.   As far as sweets, this will continue to be a battle i have to live with and have my pouch on my side now.

Remember WLS is not the entire answer, just a tool to assist with our wt loss.  

Take care and good luck on your journey,

Pam

Hi Vickie,

Boy, can I relate?! I was absolutely addicted to carbs, cokes, etc... I worried, and to be honest still do to a certain extent, but I as you can see I have lost the weight. My concern is my ability to keep it off. I'm now 13 months post op and I am maintaining my weight loss. I am down 123 lbs from my high weight. I can tell you from my personal experience that I don't dump in the classic sense and I can eat almost anything. That's probably both a blessing and a curse, but to be honest, I'd rather have it this way. I am still working on learning how to think like a thin person. I would suggest that you add the "Beck Diet Solution" to your reading list. It's a book and workbook ... get both ... that are not a diet at all, but a program to help you learn to identify and modify behaviors that keep you from living like a thin person. It will help you to learn to 'think thin.' As Pam said and we all know, the surgery just creates a tool we can use to strip off othe excess weight and to help us maintain the weight loss, but we need to retool our thinking as well to maximize the short and long-term benefits that the WLS will provide us.

I believe that you will lose the weight. When you first have the surgery, you won't really be able to indulge in the fast foods that you have become addicted to ... this is a good thing. You will strip off the excess weight if you do what they tell you do ... According to Dr. DeMaria, you will strip off at least 60% even if you don't do anything, but you may maximize your results with the work you are doing now, sticking with the program, getting your tail moving (aka exercise), and making some long-term changes in your overall eating habits. The statistics show that those who do attend regular support groups, get their tails moving and work on changing basic habits tend to maximize their results in the short term and maintain those results in the long term. I think that you are doing the right things. It's good to make yourself aware of the things that have tripped you up in the past and make a considered effort to change those things. This is not a cure, but a process ... one that I could not have done without the aid of the surgery, but one that has been successful for me in the short term, and I am hoping will be successful for me in the long term.

I plan to attend the next support group at Duke in a couple of weeks. I go to every one I can and I'll also be at the Raleigh Area Get Together this coming Saturday at the Golden Corral in Raleigh (http://wls.meetup.com/101). I hope to see you at one of the upcoming support groups.

I congratulate you on making such a concerted effort to do the 'right things' for yourself.

Wishing success in your journey,

Barb

Thank you both for your replies.  I know I will make the changes I need.  Thank you for your encouragement!  I should be at the meeting Saturday-see you then!

Vickie