Tool....Not Brain Surgery!!!

How many times have you heard WLS is a tool, it is not brain surgery?  I heard it before surgery back in November of 09.  However, the farther out that I went from surgery, the more it impacted my thoughts. 

While losing around 90 pounds, I am grateful for the surgery.  I feel so much better.  However, I am now able to eat just about anything.....bad for me that is.  I still have problems with dry chicken, steak, and breads, but the horrible part is that I can eat chips, brownies, cookies, pies, cakes, etc.  Not as much, but still more than I should.  I continue to try and focus on protein rich meals and snacks first, but often find the temptation of sweets too strong.  I hate going into the nutritionist because I know exactly what I should do and not do.  It is just the discipline to do it that I have a problem with.

I have been away from OH for a very long time.  I am back, thanks to a friend that is going to go through the same surgery soon.  That is when I told her the statment above and wished her much success. Hopefully, I will be able to regain my support system through OH, and plan on going back to the support group meetings as well.  I need to get back on track and away from the unhealthly lifestyle that I am returning too.

Scott H.

Helping your friend will help you to get back on track.  Carry on.

 You know that I have these same problems but I do find support here.  You can get help on many forums and strength from the Men's forum.  If you go to the RNY Forum, you will find more people being careful with what they are eating and a few suggest signing up for a Foodie e-mail that provides recipes--Look there or at my Latest Posts.  The Graduates Forum isn't as busy and is as concerned with trying to follow a clean post-op program.  At first, I thought it was going to be made up of people who had perfect programs and I was wrong.  The only basic requirement there is that you be post-op for 1 year.  Some people proclaim their accountability on a daily basis.  If you get tired of that, you can just skip those posts.  However, it is good to see some people trying to work this out so hard.

You can get the support you need at OH.  Perhaps someone who belongs to bigAl's group can explain how you apply to get into that Men's Group.  The major difference ther is that BigAl or someone else tries to verify that you are a man so that there are no women on the site.  As the administrator of his group, he can terminate anybody's membership in the group ( i.e., he sets the rules for the Group and he can stop your access to the Group if you violate them.),  Whereas most of OH is an open site--including the forum--the Groups are not.  Basically, anyone can read what's on the open forum but only Group members have access to what's said or done in the group.  I keep losing my password so I just post on the Forum.  Bob

Thanks, both of you.  I really hope I can get back on track with my friend and these groups and forums.  I am already on the Mens forum.  Back when I started with OH, I joined that group.  Helpful, but infrequent postings...at least that is how it used to be. 

Thanks again,
Scott

 After posting, I recalled something that one of my mentors here had told me.  Food addiction is a disease.  As such, it can be treated but not cured.  It may not be active for long periods of time, but you still have the disease.  Actually, it's like the saying, "once an alcoholic-always an alcoholic."   I consider myself to be a sugar and white flour addict and a junk food junkie.  But, I know that the tiniest bit of white flour or sugar does not trip the addictive response.  There is some level that does and I don't know what that level is--can I eat a roll and be ok or will one bun make be "drunk."  It seems to vary by the person and by your body chemistry that day.  However, the safest thing to do is to avoid the addictive foods.

If you slip, forgive yourself.  Continue with your normal eating.  You may need a few days to get back to your normal.

I've found that sometimes I'm better off allowing a little of the wrong foods into my life rather than going "crazy" trying to eliminate them.  It's similar to some drinkers.  We all know people who can barely go a day without a beer.  It may never get worse than that, but they need their daily drink.  We may be that way with a small amount of our addictive substance.  If you recall, I used to think that the only way to be successful was to be abstinent from the addictive foods.  I still think that's the preferred stance, but I'm not going to be harsh on myself if I just can't do it.  I know that there are people who would say that I am giving up and that I can do it.  WRONG.  there are times when I simply can not be abstinent.  So I accept my condition and try to eat according to my food plan for the rest of the day.

I've been dealing with my addictions and my demons for years.  I do Know how they affect me and I know how I can live with them.  If I give them too much power or if I imagine that their power is greater than it actually is, I tend to go crazy--either on binges or living on pins and needles being afraid of eating the wrong thing.  Neither way is right.  So, I learn how to live with my disease as I go along.  AND, if I have a difficulty--even if I can't understand it-- I can post here and read your collective responses.  The group may or may not be right, but I can get that inner conversation exposed to a Forum of Men who are here to support me.  Bob

well,, i don't diet,,,eat what ever i like,,,basic,,protein first, fats are a plus, then carbs,,, and still lose a 3 lb average each week,,,, the key is what surgery I had,,, like you I was informed of the DS and that's what I had,,,I malabsorb 80% fat calories, and 60% of the rest,,,do your Friend a favor and have her learn about the DS,,,at dsfacts.com

Good luck dude!!!! I think one reason to stay in contact with a support group to stay focused because it's easy to eat too much of the wrong thing. WLS is not magic.

Scott