Duodenal Switch - What I learned

I love that quote Gina. I'm putting that on my fridge.

I need to have it tatted, on my eating hand !!!

Thanks for reaching out, Gina.

Hi StevesGal,

Welcome and we are so glad you came here for support and information. Unless there is a medical reason for your regain your best (may be tough) option is to get back to the basics. I am 15 years out and stayed at goal for years. In 2015 lost my husband and put on a ton of weight. It took a few tries and fails but I finally get back to the rules and lost my regain. Your own words are telling yourself what is best. I failed my tool my tool did not fail me. Identify your triggers, take steps to eliminate them one by one and then follow the basic rules that worked for you before. No one is saying it's going to be easy but YOU CAN DO IT! The DS is a very difficult surgery and on top of the RNY? I would NOT do it! But that is me.....

Come here daily and be accountable in a food thread. Here are some steps that helped me and I hope they will help you too! You may have several starts and stops but don't give up, don't beat yourself up. IT WILL CLICK!!! Our tool works if we work the tool and get back to the basics.

Planning/Preparing

Remember when we were preparing for surgery? How many meetings, classes and such did we attend? We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success. And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods. Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every bad carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies, grains and fruits.

Journaling

Get back to journaling. This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life. Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating. It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband. It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food. Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL

Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health Tracker. Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.

Goals/Rewards

Make a list of goals for yourself. Make them realistic and small. Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein. If you didn't make a Weight Loss Surgery bucket list when you first had surgery do it now. GREAT reminder of all the things you can enjoy in life after losing weight.

Food

In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat?, calories, and sugar. Important, vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan).

Water

Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea? I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass. I found once I started carrying one of the metal bottles of water to keep it cold I drank water all day.

MOVE!

I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what, I kept moving. If I could not go to the gym I would walk. Grab a cart and walk all the isles at your local box store. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lifting weights. When I stopped, the weight started coming back. So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV. Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.

Support

If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group. Come here on OH daily for support and participate in one of the food threads. It helps you be accountable and also great ideas for food prep.

Keep me posted on how you are doing.

Thanks, Kathy. I've already started doing a few things you've mentioned (like keeping a food journal). I'm seeing my GP soon to get some help from her as well. Surgery isn't my #1 choice, but I'm keeping it open and doing the work leading up to it, should I decide to go that way. Better to do that now than wait a year, then have to wait another year for the process to run through.

My husband has committed to doing it with me, but sometimes I don't want him to - he can be a nag!

We've decided to modify everything about our household eating, so the kids will have to be onboard as well.

Having the support of your family will make all the difference, in the world!!! Were they supportive, the first time around? Do they need to lose weight, or just need to have a healthier way of eating?

Sounds like you are taking baby steps to get back on track and we are here to help you all the way.

I agree with some of the things said here. However if the surgeon feels this is your best option then I say go for it! Good luck!

You know docs make money when they are doing surgeries? And getting a new patient to visit. It is called business. Most good surgeons - good ones - would advise conservative approach, and avoiding surgery if that is possible. Not all docs are like that IMO.