I can't say my WLS failed, just me.

Hi.  I hope it's ok that I join your board, I wasn't sure where else to go. 

I had my WSL on 1/16/2003 & proceeded to lose 162 lbs.  I hope I'm not the only one who got used to being "normal", forgetting where I had come from and why I had the surgery.  I think I felt a little too safe and stopped paying attention to what and how much I was eating.  Add in a (very) surprise pregnancy and I have now managed to pack back on 66 lbs in the last 4 years.   I really didn't pay much attention until someone posted on a message board I belong to asking what our BMI was.  I didn't know and went online to calculate it.  I'm absolutely HORRIFIED.  I'm obese again.   I won't go back, I can't.  I was SO miserable before I lost the weight, I don't want that again.  I haven't been here in a really long time and when I went back & read my story again, I sobbed.  I've worked too hard for too long to fail again.  So... here I am.  I'm going to need support because I've fallen back into old habits that I wasn't able to break on my own before the surgery but I have no choice but to break them now.  I want to make my goal weight by my 40th birthday next year.  I want that fast weight loss back but I KNOW that's not going to happen so I've given myself 66 weeks to do this.  I'm hoping that forcing myself to slow down and pay attention rather than jus****ch the scale drop will help me maintain my weight once I reach goal.  I'm disappointed in myself but determined not to fail. 

I work full-time at a place that doesn't allow us to use the internet for personal use so I will mainly be here at night and on the weekends but I'm looking forward to supporting all of you as well. 
Nita

Hi,

I am with you.  I am nine years out and I too got the feeling I was normal, and I'm not.  Since I have been watching my support group via UStream every week, I have had to do a reboot and reset of my thinking and bring that back under submission.  I am still trying to get rid of bad habits but that takes alot of effort.  You may want to consider another board I belong to.  It's called Back On Track Together.  Alot of us are in the same boat and work with each other to get back on the track.  Hang in there!

Check out the DS, just another option for a revision.

Your issues with your  weight are right in front of you...you're missing baby sister.  You must moe on and take care of yourself and not blame yourself for your loss.  You know she'd want you to be the best you can be.  C''mon gal, get back in the game!  If I'm wrong, I appologize.  take care, 

I had been wondering if I would ever post over here because I too felt like I failed my surgery and that it did not fail me. I was simply afraid of all the drastic changing my body was going through...too many too fast. I deliberately sabataged my own WLS. My first year I only lost about 80 lbs...before I started to gain again.  I am almost 5 years out and I was 306 at my heaviest ...I am 230 now. I have started to work out and track my food again.  It is helping...I did lose 20 pounds since February.  I am with you on needing to do something.  I figure if we all support each other we should all come up winners when its all done.  I also will be starting weight training soon.  My goal is to lose another 42 pounds before I consult with a plastic surgeon.    

Your story sounds exactly as mine does. I've too have regained over 40 lb since surgery over the past 5 years. Same old habits, no exercising is mainly the reason. I am now back in the gym and need some advise on how to eat again to help me lose the 40lbs.

Did you go back to the basic eating plan for WLS - any comments, or advise is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
MiMi

Nita, I am not telling you to do this, but for me, after gaining 30, then 40, then 50, then 60 pounds, I found the duodenal switch forum. Many of those there wanted another chance to do it right and have chosen the DS (duodenal switch) WLS. Quite a few lapbanders and RnYers have gone under the knife again to do it right. My turn will be Tuesday, May 19th. I have waited two years to do this right and finally it is my turn. Sure, it is tuff at first, for a couple of months, nausea, diarrhea, not able to eat, but in the end, it is all so worth it. I would request that you at least check out the  DS forum and then if you decide you don't want to go through it all again, that is fine, but you owe it to yourself to check us out.

Just my two cents - and this is certainly not a knock on the DS which I understand has worked fabulously for many people, but re-gaining 60 pounds over that time span does not constitute grounds for revision surgery. You've fallen to some old bad habits, but you still have the tool and the resources to get back on track. You know the deal - protein firs****er, fruits, veggies, wholegrains, no white carbs, vitamins daily, etc. etc. The main thing is realizing that, just like before surgery, if you screw up and eat something crappy your day/week/month is not shot. You can always start again, as everything you put in your mouth is a choice. We all know it's easier said than done but until you have given that an earnest effort, considering the risks of surgery a second time seems a bit hasty to me. YOU CAN DO THIS!! Check out the Back on Track Together forum, it is really helpful.

Best of luck!

Have you thought about tracking your food on one of the sites like Daily Plate?

Maybe set a calorie goal and protein goal and see how well you can stick to it. I would only consider a revision if you were eating  your goal of calories (mine is around 1300) mostly healthy foods, drinking all your water AND still physically hungry after. Work your tool again and then see where you are. Good luck to you!

Meg