What's on your Wednesday Menu?

I can be lumped into that shame group but maybe for a different reason. I've been through the gain/loss cycle a few times and it's really the fact that I don't want to be lectured by yet another person. When you're big...you know you are. It's help I'm looking for when seeing a doctor and in my experience with several doctors, there's a lot of bias against weight. Just stop eating, you know? It's easy...

For me, that builds up over time to the point where I can have a resistance to dealing with doctors no matter how much treatment could help. My metabolism is pretty sluggish. The last time I lost weight I was only able to maintain by briskly walking 4-5 hours a day on 1,000 carefully counted calories. Not sustainable but regular doctors just assumed I was lying about exercise and intake. After a while, I did slowly give up and the weight piled back on.

And yep, have psychological things, too. Therapy helps. :) When going to some of my follow ups, I've run into people who were in my surgical cohort. Two of them were talking about how they were able to eat around their surgery already and get in all the junk food they've been craving by just nibbling on it all day. Most of my cohort also got SADI operations. No one had dumping so they took it as a green light assuming the weight will just fall off. Kind of a scary thought.

Post surgery though...I call my clinic a lot with questions. They're probably sick of me...but I want this to work and they're part of the support and knowledge that can be tapped. :)

Thanks for having that supportive conversation with patients. Wish there were more out there like you. :)

I totally get the whole shame thing, especially if after going through the process to get approved for WLS, then having it done and not losing or gaining back the weight I would probably not want to follow-up. As you said, we can eat a lot of calories by grazing through the day a little at a time that causes the calories to add up and the weight to pack on. It scares me when I hear about the year 2-3 weight rebound. I am trying to be diligent in tracking what I eat and getting my exercise daily (or 6 days/week) because I don't want to go back or have weight regain. That is why I like this site; it is great to have other people to be accountable to. My family doesn't question what I eat, they support me eating well but I am not sure they would ask me what the hell I was doing if I deviated my diet and exercise program on the regular.

I can see why that previous diet and exercise didn't pan out, 4-5 hours day of exercise with 1000 calories. Definitely not sustainable specially to wake up thinking you needed to plan for the kind of activity every day. I couldn't do it.

It is great you are such a wonderful advocate for yourself. I love seeing the progress you are making. You should feel proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Not just weight loss but attitude and any physical activity you have added to your life.

I should say...all of that previous to say, I do get why people wouldn't want to follow up. :) didn't mean it to sound like a rant, and wasn't disagreeing with you.

You're so diligent with the exercise! Both you and Jen talk about twice a day sometimes. It's inspiring, and I don't know how you do it. Kudos! Maintaining is the scary part since it can be so easy over time for the change in habits for a bit of convenience. And I can't imagine how you manage keeping up with diet around nursing shifts.

Agree - it's good to have a community of folks who have walked the same path :) Everyone here is great. And I appreciate the directness when feedback is needed.

And thanks. I'm trying to specifically be better about advocating. I'm also hoping that the surgery will help to reset my metabolism so I don't end up like last time. Research seems to bear out the possibility that it could work out that way and I'm hopeful. Much as I love being active, being chained to a treadmill is...tedious. :)

I didn't think you were disagreeing with me. I hope I didn't come across as being defensive.

Luckily, I no longer work at the bedside and for the most part (unless there is a meeting) I determine my own schedule during the day so I can eat on my schedule. Yay!

Agree on the treadmill. I would rather be outside for a walk but not for 4-5 hours everyday!

Nope, you do not. :) it's me ruminating and thinning, "that might have come across badly."

Glad you have some control over your schedule!

Honestly I went to these meetings when I was a candidate and newly post surgery and it was NOTHING like last night. They used to be the blind leading the blind with tons of judgement. Last night was educating and judgement free positive support. Night and day difference. I don't know that I could have participated or considered making an appt while in my shame and denial but now I am an open book and I seriously want to take care of business.

I am so happy that the experience has changed. It is surprising that a support group for a bariatric center would be judgmental as that is a huge turnoff for the patient. I would have definitely found somewhere else to go if it were me. You seem very inspired by your participation last night.

Yeah Amy! So glad the surgeon is reaching out. I hope they give you sustainable answers. I'll be excited to see what they have to say. Go Vault!!

Right?! Thank you!

I was afraid to see my PCP next week (annual physical) because I've put on 10 lbs since I saw her last year, but I realized last night that this is actually a great reason TO see her - to try to get on top of this before it really spins out of control. If she can't really help, then it's back to my bariatric clinic....