Real Questions...

Suppose the real questions I have are the following:

1) how do you find the strength to raise above a day of not eating as healthy as you should?

2) how do you know if you are full or hungry if your hunger/fullness cues are not there?

3) how do you manage to keep the same mindset that you had when you are first post-op.... Where the foods you were scared to try because of the dumping, and avoided sugar/fried food becaus it scared you.... And, now you know that there is no ill effect. And, you read so much about other people eating it post-op you have tried and there is no dumping with it?

4) What do you tell yourself everyday when tempted -- but you don't have the right balance, yet. All your experts of teams tell you different things-- AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAD THIS SURGERY.

5) How do you keep your head up when you were always judging everything on the number of the scale?

Throw the scale away.  Eat at meal times (breakfast, lunch & dinner), exercise to your limit and live life everyday like it's your last day on Earth. 

Throw the scale away.  Eat at meal times (breakfast, lunch & dinner), exercise to your limit and live life everyday like it's your last day on Earth. 

Pretty well sums it up!

What a great response, best I've seen posted in a long time. We all need to make this our Motto. 
 Nancy S

3) how do you manage to keep the same mindset that you had when you are first post-op.... Where the foods you were scared to try because of the dumping, and avoided sugar/fried food becaus it scared you.... And, now you know that there is no ill effect. And, you read so much about other people eating it post-op you have tried and there is no dumping with it?

I"m right there with you girl !        I just know that tomorrow is another day............and have to start over..................don't let it get me down too much. 
I've been battling this for quite a while........................I have the same problem..........I chose this surgery for the "effects" more than a hand slapping that I was suppose to get when I ate something I wasn't suppose to.................and  I'M NOT GETTING THOSE EFFECTS.............GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Now, Phyllis, just last night you said "Oh, I shouldn't have ate those marshmallows.  I love them, but they don't like me!" ..... that was the effect, right?  You know the cause and had the effect!!

No more marshmallows! 

Before I respond I will warn you, my reply will not be a popular one.  But it is MY response.  It is what works for ME.  Everyone is different.

1)  how do you find the strength to raise above a day of not eating as healthy as you should?

I get on the scale every day, twice a day.  My strength comes from my results.  I make sure I take my vitamins and supplements.  And I get in as much protein as possible.  The rest I let take care of itself.  So what if I ate bad for a day.  I gained two pounds?  The next day, I straighten up and fly right, making sure I get plenty of water (Crystal Light) to drink, using it to slow down my urge for snacks.

2) how do you know if you are full or hungry if your hunger/fullness cues are not there?

I get no cues, except my pouch feels full.  I normally give myself small portions.  If I am not done eating and I feel the full feeling in my pouch, I go to the trash can.  Don't leave it sitting there for temptation.

3) how do you manage to keep the same mindset that you had when you are first post-op.... Where the foods you were scared to try because of the dumping, and avoided sugar/fried food becaus it scared you.... And, now you know that there is no ill effect. And, you read so much about other people eating it post-op you have tried and there is no dumping with it?

You remember what I said at the beginning of my post.  These are MY answers.  I am different from YOU.  If you don't dump, some people think of it as a curse.  I think of it as a blessing.  It is one thing that I can have that I did not think I could.  And I use it as a treat.

4) What do you tell yourself everyday when tempted -- but you don't have the right balance, yet. All your experts of teams tell you different things-- AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAD THIS SURGERY.

I just take one day at a time.  I know my docs have not had the surgery, but I know they are the experts.  They have treated hundreds of patients.  My doc made sure I understood each patient is different, but he can tell me what is normal and may or may not happen.

5) How do you keep your head up when you were always judging everything on the number of the scale?

I keep my head up BECAUSE I judge everything on the number on the scale.  I have been successfull.  I am two months shy of 2 years right now.  My doc wanted me to get to 220, I got down to 210.  Thought I leveled off at 210-215, but had that little spike and am currently staying at 216-218.

Here is my advice.  Before you go to bed, write down your meal plan for the next day.  Schedule 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks.  Determine your calories, fat, and carbs to be sure it is balanced.  The next day STICK TO YOUR PLAN.  You can do this.

Laura

Like George, my answers probably won't be popular either, but they work for me.  And while I love all my peeps and my WLS group dearly, let's remember this is about individuals.  For ME this works.

1) I weigh every single day.  I see the immediate results when I choose to eat the wrong foods for my body and I make the appropriate changes.  Sometimes that means calling on a small intimate group of friends that hold me accountable and they will call me on my crap.  They don't let me back talk or make excuses.  I don't need hugs when I fall, I need a swift kick in the rear to get me going.  I also have before pictures all over the place...talk about a swift kick in the rear.  :)

2) I have no "regular" hunger/full cues.  I eat 6 small meals a day on a schedule.  If I get off schedule, the first cue I get is lightheaded, shaky and about to pass out.  If I overeat I know it immediatly as my pouch screams at me.

3) See answer to #1.  Same thing.  And, I'm lucky becuase I do dump - a lot!  My recommendtion to new folks is DON"T TEST IT.  If you think you dump, good.  Use that.  If you've already tested and now you know you don't dump, then you need to stay away form your trigger foods and stop playing games with yourself.  You know the rules of WLS, follow them.

4) Jess, we've discussed this before and you know there are options out there to consult with experts who have had a WLS.  Your best option is via a support group, but you can also find licensed medical professionals and personal trainers who know exactly what you're going through and have gone through, but until you're ready to really hear the answers and heed the advise, it doesn't matter who you're getting advice from.  I'm sorry if this hurts your feelings.  That is not my intention at all, but you've asked for help before on these same issues and you get a ton of god advice, but come back a few weeks later and ask the same questions.  I'm going to say that talking with a good therapist who specializes in WLS may be a big benefit for you.  I saw one early on and I swear that she turned the light on for me and really put my mind in the right place. 

5) Judge by the scale, there is nothing wrong with that.  It can be a wonderful tool and feedback mechanism.  But you have to be willing to make a change based on the feedback you receive.  It does no good to get on the scale, get a negative response and yet continue making the same choices.  If you're going to ask for feedback from the scale, be ready and willing to do something different.

You've come a long way.  You are healthy and you are fit.  You are already a success.  If you choose to do more or lose more then I'm confident that you can do it.