Failure

Has anyone on here not have a successful surgery? Please explain.

I'm going up and down in weight. I'm at 232 and not close to 199. I use my fitness pal, go to TOPS support group weekly, see a dietician monthly, my regular doctor monthly, and have a therapist. But it's all on me, I know this, but I'm constantly fighting urges to eat out. I started off strong in my journey, but now I'm fighting to stay away from carbs, pizza, spaghetti, any noodle really, waffles, and breads. I feel like I'm at my new weight and surgery was a waste.

I share all this with doctors/therapist, and there responses make sense, but im still not committed to following through with healthy food choices. Any advice other then criticism is appreciated. I had 2 appointments today and both were a hard hit of reality check, but not necessarily what I needed.

I'm struggling with some regain myself. I went from about 260, to roughly 130. Then my husband and I decided to have a baby. There were months of trying, 2 false pregnancies, then I got pregnant with my little girl who is now 1.5 years old. Anyway, I love my daughter. She's the light of my life and I'm so happy to be her mommy! But, I'm less happy with the weight I've gained. I'm in the mid 180s now.

The best advice I got was from a doctor at my surgeon's office. I started seeing him when I realized how much I was struggling. Anyway, here's what he told me.

1. Focus on protein and fiber with every meal (even snacks). Rather than trying to cut foods out, try adding foods in. When I do that, the carb cravings are much easier to deal with.
2. Move. Whether it's getting out for a walk or doing an exercise video, just move. The goal is 5-6 days a week. If you can't do that yet, do what you can consistently and work up to it.
3. If you're a stress eater, find non-caloric things that soothe you. Herbal tea helps me. Also, doing something else. I started knitting and crocheting again because having something to do with my hands helps me a lot.
4. Finally, the most important piece of advice. Take ownership. I found myself just letting things happen and not really trying to take control because honestly, having a baby at the beginning of a pandemic was pretty dang exhausting. Add in that I teach online and am responsible for most things in the house. Well I didn't really have the energy to take control of anything else. But sitting down and writing out a plan helps me a lot and it makes everything else a bit easier too.

I hope this helps!

VSG surgery helps you to lose about 70 pounds and that takes between a year and 18 months. Most surgeons consider your surgery a success if you lose 50% of your excess weight.

When we first have surgery, our stomach goes from being able to hold 32 to 48 ounces of food to being about to hold two or three ounces. We lose weight very quickly because we can't eat enough to keep the weight on.

By the time six months have passed, the sleeve has healed up and grown some. We start to learn how to eat enough food to keep from losing more weight. This is where we have to start planning to eat fewer calories, instead of just not being able to eat them.

By 18 months after surgery, there is no more weight loss due to the surgery. We have learned how to fill up that small stomach by eating smaller meals more often. At the end of the day the calories add up to enough to maintain our weight.

If you weigh 230 pounds, then you are taking in at least 2300 calories a day. That is a typical American diet. To lose weight you need to eat less calories. If you also burn more, you will lose even faster, but cutting calories is the only thing that will work for you.

Take a break from TOPS until you are at the weight that you want to stay at for life. Use the My Fitness Pal app. Buy a digital food scale like this one.

Weigh everything that you eat and track everything in My Fitness Pal. It really does not matter whether you get your calories from carbs or from protein. What matters for your weight is that you don't eat more calories than you need.

My goal is 136 and I can maintain that on 1400 calories a day. If I ate 2000 calories a day, I would end up weighing about 190.

If you cut to 1200 calories a day, you will see a weight loss of about 2 or 2-1/2 pounds a week. That will be about 50 pounds in 6 months and 100 pounds in a year.

I agree w White Dove .... Staying lighter means cutting calories .

For me working out an hour first thing in the morning makes all the difference. No more cravings hunger .... I guess its the endorphin release from the exercise. But I can't miss a single day or I'm in total trubble.

I'm stress eating right now as I read this. My weight is generally fine because I follow many of the comments above about tracking my weight and steps on MyFitnessPay, Move, Eat more food focuses on protein and fiber, and having stress eating options like fruits and teas.

Anyhow good luck. All success is built on learning from our daily failures.

My suggestion: Instead of trying to overhaul your diet immediately, fix one thing at a time. This can help you from getting overwhelmed.

1. Track everything you eat.

As you track your eating, think about why you're eating. Were you hungry? bored? stressed? Just wanted the sensation of chewing or crunching something? Was it a social occasion and you wanted to join in? I've learned that it's perfectly normal and healthy to eat sometimes when you're not hungry. Everyone (whatever their size) does it. Instead of trying to white-knuckle through these urges, I find it best to plan for it by having foods on hand that are fun to eat and low calorie (or low carb, if that's your goal). Some examples: pomegranate seeds, carrot sticks, frozen grapes/cherries (suck on them to defrost a bit, then chew), sugar-free jello, sugar-free popsicles.

Also, for the less-healthy foods, why did you choose them? Were you stressed and trying to self-soothe? Before my surgery, I made a mental list of things that I could do when stressed out, like curl up under the duvet, drink some fragrant herbal tea, take a hot shower, snuggle with my cats, listen to music. Notice how these activities involve a lot of different senses, as do the fun-to-eat snacks I mentioned earlier. I find it helpful to remind myself regularly to engage other senses besides taste.

Too tired to cook? Personally, I hate cooking. I knew I should meal-prep, but that was never going to happen. So instead I looked high and low for healthy prepared meals. I was surprised at all the options available. I have to drive a little farther to do the grocery shopping, but it's worth it.

I found that my desire to eat varies from day to day, even when taking activity level into account. My high-hunger days are usually balanced out by my low-hunger days. Realising this was a game changer for me. Now when I have a day where I eat more than usual, I don't feel I've "blown" my diet. I accept that it was probably just a hungry day, and I only need to worry about it if there are a few days like that in a row. I've noticed that my cats do the same thing. Some days they'll naturally eat more than usual, some days they'll eat less than usual.

2. Identify one thing that you can improve about your diet without feeling deprived.

Look at the things you eat most often. Perhaps one of them would be just as satisfying if you chose a sugar-free version, or made some other small change. Perhaps if you had better options on hand, you would chose them. Perhaps meal-prepping would help.

3. Get comfortable with that one change. Then you can consider making the next change (if needed).

TIP:I find it works better to focus on doing the things I should do, instead of resisting the things I shouldn't. I try never to tell myself "no" when it comes to food; instead, I tell myself "later". How does that work? From the time I wake up, I focus on getting enough fluids (I have found I feel better if I have 2.5 litres) and eating a vegetable dish. Once I've accomplished those two things, if I really want something, I eat it. My exception to that is sugar; I never want to get addicted to that stuff again! I do eat sugary foods once or twice a year, but it always leaves me feeling a bit queasy.

I am not yet a year out and I had a period where my weight was going back up. The reason was I was consuming alcohol regularly (beer) and eating crap foods while out with friends (mostly carbs) even though I could not eat a lot the amount of calories in both of those things lead to regain. Also I found that when I was drinking beer and eating carbs I was having what I think is dumping and I would go in to a feed frenzy afterward where I consumed more food. I gained about 20 lbs in two months and I was sure I had ruined my surgery. I spoke with some people on her via private message and encouraged me to start tracking all my food intake and to meal plan. I started doing that and sticking to high protein meals with balanced veg and fiber and I started losing again. Since that time I lost the 20 I regained and I am back on track. It is not too late to get back on track. The group I attend has some people who are out by 9+ years and many have had the same experience at one point but have said that this is all up to us and all we have to do is work to succeed. Can I ask why surgery you had rny or vsg?

My stress level is out of this world! I caved in and bought 3 breaded unhealthy meals today. On the flip side I got a gym membership and get a fitness lesson in a week. I'm great with visual reminders, so I'm going to start a food chart and print some pictures of all the healthy foods I love- to post in the kitchen. I feel down on myself, but I feel like I have the motivation to keep aiming for my goal.

Thanks for all the feedback, I wrote down a lot to help me stay focused. I know VSG surgery wasn't a waste and I need to commit to the changes. I also have a great team of doctors who help me strive to lose. I am taking a break from TOPS and I decided to work full time verses part time which begins in November.

You CAN succeed at this !

Losing all the weight you want n staying long term emotionally and physically healthy is up 2 U !

First key is movement. Making movement a first priority every time you wake up ( no forcing just get out there for ten minutes and then allow yourself to go home or continue exercising if you?re enjoying it ) is everything. You?ll lose twenty lbs and look fantastic before you blink .

second ... no matter what anyone recommends listen to your common sense regarding food .

There?s a heck of a lot more forgiveness if you choose to eat low fat . Truth is the average American diet is ridiculously high in fat and contains giant portion sizes enough for an entire family and is crazy high calorie.

If you try to eat the way you always did you?re gonna get what you always got - fat!

Fried foods , ice cream , ? fast foods ? road food and slider foods have to be off the menu .

But it?s a proven fact .... you stop eating any item for six weeks your body forgets it and you won?t have that craving .

I couldn?t eat ?breaded? and fried foods if you paid me -literally. I couldn?t eat anything from a seven eleven or Mickey DS . Nor should I want to - a supermarket with salads and fresh juices is just right around any corner. Chinese takeouts with healthy cheap lunch specials are everywhere. I always ask for no oil and lots of condiments to make the food tasty as compensation. Some restaurants will even give you no rice or noodles but just more fresh veggies for no extra cost.

This surgery works and will continue working but how well is up to you .

You have to appreciate the once in a lifetime chance your lifesaving WLS gave you.

This is IT ! Just do what you agreed to before the surgery... you knew your eating and exercising habits were going 2 permanently have 2 change

. Most WLS patients end up backsliding and even heavier because they refuse 2 change their habits. It?s really tragic don?t be a statistic. Hugs