Food and Friends

I contacted a friend of mine that I've known since the first day of 7th grade (back in '85) who had RNY done back this past November. I told her about my fear of going under and she said that another mutual friend of ours had the exact same fear and she did great. I'm happy for her and glad that she felt the same way as I do. I feel better now too.... the fear isn't as great and for once I'm actually smiling and feeling very optomistic (like I normally am).

Anyway.... we were talking on the phone last night and she told me NOT to eat at Dairy Queen after surgery. Like I would anyway.... NOT!!!!!! I'm on an "I hate fast food" bandwagon at the moment. She proceeded to tell me that she goes out and eats Peanut Buster Parfaits!!!! Excuse me??? Even I don't do that now. I can't stand ice cream, let alone all the sugar that goes along with it. 6 months out of RNY eating PBP????? The mutual friend had her surgery almost a year ago and is continually scarfing down Kit Kats!!!! Hello????? Why?????:??? Why sabbotage yourself? Why have the surgery if you're going to continue eating like that? Also, the friend I called also still wolfs down perogies too.

I'm just in shock and disbelief that this is how they're eating. I don't want to say anything to either of them about it. It's just not right!

*hugs*

I am glad to hear that you are thinking about good eating habits now.  It will help you in the long run.  I am 10 months out and have lost 117 pounds.  I still eat some things that I shouldn't on occassion.  I regret it afterwards.  I "do not" want to put any of the weight back on.  Also, I can not eat ice cream at all.  It causes instant sickness for me.  Good luck to you and get on the good eating track now before your surgery.

Unfortunately the world kind of thinks that wls is a quick easy fix.    It is far from it and losing the weight and keeping it off needs to be a daily mindful thing.  This is not always easy. 
I agree they won't listen so just be supportive, positive and remember most of all that this is your journey!

I work with a guy who is now two years from his RNY...he lost 200 lbs and is now slowly starting to put weight back on.  When you eat whole subs, chips, and drink soda everyday...it's gonna happen.  I can't figure out how he gets it all to fit in; however, he's had a fair number of gastrointestinal problems in the last year.  We have the same doctor, so I know the kind of preparation and instructions he received prior to and after surgery...it's not for lack of information.  Some people just don't know how to appreciate the gifts they have.   Saying something will not make a difference for them, so save your breath and watch what they eat.  By your surgery date you'll know exactly what not to do.

Brid

Sheesh, a whole sub?  I just look at picture of a six-inch sandwich with all of that bread and get sick.  Really, just the thought of it is making me ill. 

I agree that you can't help those who don't want to be helped.  A friend I graduated with from high school with had surgery before me.  She lost some weight, but never was that successful.  Recently, her boyfriend dumped her so she's writing on her Facebook, "I'm so depressed.  I'm eating chips and cookies and M&Ms nonstop."  It boggles my mind.  She went through all of the same stuff I went through to get the surgery then pissed it all away.  I couldn't imagine doing that.  If I'm in a depressed mood like hers, food is the least comforting thing.  When I face hardship now, I've learned that a good three hour hike straight up a mountain puts things in perspective.  And your legs, not your stomach, are the only things to be sore afterward.

Cheers,

Chris

Here's what I know and can tell you.

Weight loss is not easy on the body.  All of the sudden your body starts to drop massive amounts of weight, it knows it's not sick, but the bigger secret is it doesn't know that your stomach has been reduced to the size of a jar of baby food.  So the brain will use it's old tricks to make you eat and try to gain weight. 

People who eat large quantities of mashed potatoes, ice cream, and other soft calories are succumbing to their body's desire to regain weight.  This impulse in some people is very strong but it is not very hard to figure out what is going on either.  It's not like you wake up one day and peel 4 pounds of potatoes, cook them, mash them up and eat them. 

For the most part everyone who has weight loss surgery is told how to eat.  The number one rule: Protein first!  The second one: No drinking 30 minutes before, during or 30 minutes after a meal.  And the third one: Do not abuse your tool! In all cases, if you do not listen to how your WLS team tells you how to use your new tool then you will fail.  

When surgical patients attend their psych eval prior to surgery the psychologist is looking for two things:

1.  What triggers this patient to eat?  For some it's emotional for others like me it's boredom, and yet for other people it may be anything.

2.  How does the patient plan to deal with the trigger after weight loss surgery?

The people who are eating whole subs, dairy queen, or pounds of mashed potatoes have the resources to know better they just choose to ignore them, succumb to the impulse, and will fail at WLS.  These are the same people who will say WLS is a fraud and does not work.  It's important to remember the surgery only treats the stomach, not the brain.  Support groups and one-on-one therapy are great tools you can use after WLS to ensure the brain doesn't turn you into the unsuspecting tenant at the local Dairy Queen.  

Congrats on giving up fast food by the way.  I gave it up 4 years ago and I am much healthier because of it.  You're well on your way to being very successful after your surgery.  Keep up your attitude.  It will really help you after surgery.