long term DS weight maintenance results with RNY thru gardening

 Sometimes I hear that  a DS  is the only surgery that works long term.... and that's  simply not true .  I have an RNY  and three years post  am still hovering around my lowest weight . 

I'm also VERY healthy  , energetic , and have zero deficiencies ... and eat a VERY healthy amount ..ALL the time     I hate to admit that I  don't even have to exercise to maintain my weight .... ( though I enjoy hiking , walking and working out ) 

The key I think  is a lowfat , extremely high fiber and  high nutrition diet supplemented by the fresh produce from my garden ...

Right  now( in zone seven AFTER a very mild  frost )  I  have  broccoli , kale , kohlrabi , tomatoes , red peppers , brussels sprouts , Jerusalem artichokes , fallgold raspberries , lettuce , radishes , sweet potatoes  and  all kinds of fresh herbs to  choose from and of course  many varieties of delicious squash and pumpkins ...all free,  all gorgeous , all just begging to be picked and eaten and  savored in my backyard.  

I can literally step out in my PAJAMAS  and pick  an amazing tasty dinner .  

I have had friends get RNY's  and  bands out eat em  rapidly with fast food   and just extra bites ( more slowly )  of "normal food " .  

So far  ,  my high fiber ..and high "  satiety "  menu  ( read  -  great nutrition and  great BULK ) ...outsmarts my  tendency to graze and self medicate boredom  or frustration with bites or snacks of extra  food .  

Do you guys  garden?   Do you find it a great substitute time wise  for the extra COOKING  and overeating I at least used to do ?  

here are some pics ....  and the beauty and satisfaction with the accomplishment also  feeds my soul....

Girlie, just some quibbles. 

"Sometimes I hear that  a DS  is the only surgery that works long term.... and that's  simply not true .  I have an RNY  and three years post  am still hovering around my lowest weight . "

You are 2 years out, not 3 - that is not long term.  5, 7, 10 , 15 years?  That's long term. 

Not everyone can/cares to/works well with low fat. Some of us gain, crave, and generally do not do well. I am *glad* you have found a way that works for you, but your truth is not universal. Its YOURS.

Like my truth is not universal, its MINE.  You would not do well eating the way I do, and that's okay!  does not make either one of us good or bad, just the way we are.

I guess I do not see why you need to compare yourself  and your success to other surgeries.  You have done well with your surgery until this point.  I have done well with my surgery, to this point.  You and I could both find folks who have failed on *all* surgeries, whether by their own accord or a mechanical issue. 

I am excited for your gardeny pictures though.  I do not see them at all. 

Edit to add - I see now! Very beauty garden!

 I totally agree that everyone's  body is different -  that's  what makes our metabolism challenges  so CHALLENGING to solve lol .. especially  long term...  

its so important that we stay healthy too ! ( more important than ANYTHING else )

sometimes though I think those of us who are managing to maintain  need to pay it forward  by  showing others  how we do it ...  SOMEONE probably has a metabolism like ours  and doesn't need to reinvent the wheel all on their own.. 

here's  another pic  the  system wouldnt let me upload 



 

I see what you are saying, but perhaps folks might be better served by your just saying LOOKIT!  THIS CAN BE DONE! And here is how I do it!  Instead of doing comparisons.  Its like muck raking politics, it just makes me not wanna vote for anyone!  But you know.. we all respond to different stuff, so perhaps I should shush!! 

Ooooh!!  Those are pretty!!    I hate it when my food is *nearly* too pretty to eat! 

You know.. NEARLY :} But food is my favorite dish!  :}  And your squashes are beautiful!  I gave up with the gardening, our deer are *******s!  ha! 

Let me tell you something that will horrify you.  I grew the most delicious tomatoes one summer.  They were so much better tasting than anything you can buy in the store.  I had a bunch and I gave some to my friend.

I found out later she threw them all out because it grossed her out to be eating something that she knew grew in the dirt!    Instead she went out and bought some from the store because she could somehow disasociate her mind from where the food came from!!!!!

This same friend (who I love dearly in spite of everything ) bought second hand underwear from the charity shop! 

To recap, she will wear pre-owned underwear, but won't eat "dirty" produce.

I hope she is no longer your friend. Any one who would throw out a homegrown tomato should be shunned from society. I'm almost not kidding.

Well we didn't fall out over it but I was a bit offended at the time.  She lives in FL now, so hopefully she got over her aversion to fresh produce. -Doubt it though.

 I grew up in the city and have a tendency to think tomatoes just grow in cute little plastic containers.  I can "pick" all of my vegetables in my pajamas too, because they all come from the store already frozen.  For a few years after surgery, I lived on protein powder, skim milk, sliced lowfat deli ham, string cheese and grilled steaks.  No breads, no starches and no vegetables.  I find myself wanting less meat or fats and enjoying vegetables more.  

I retired last year and am planning a garden next spring.  Any tips, websites, books, etc. for someone with lots of time and space to garden, but almost zero experience? Your garden is beautiful and the thought of those fresh vegetables is mouth watering.  I am going to spend this winter making plans for a garden like yours.  Thanks for sharing.

www.gardenweb.com

There are dozens of forums here, from state-specific to plant-specific, and exchanges, too! Lots of how-to info. Be sure to check out the winter sowing forum---it's time to start that right away.

 I can see that there is a lot to learn.  It is not just putting seeds in the ground in the spring and coming back and picking the veggies in the fall.  Thanks for the link.  It will give me a lot to think about this winter.  We are promised some sunny days next week and I am going to go out and see what I can do to prepare for spring.