New Member - ambivalent about surgery

Hi all, Let me try posting again - something happened with my last post and I don't see it on the board. I'm pre-op and had my first (of 3) nutritionist appointments 2 weeks ago. Since then I've lost 6 pounds but I've also had 2 days where I binged on my "trigger" food. What's going on? Am I feeling deprived? Probably. I do know I'm feeling quite nauseous. I have actually lost 27 pounds since last March when my PCP made the referral for the WLS. Of course, as the nutritionist meeting pointed out, I wasn't eating balanced meals. I was eating alot of protein and had pretty much eliminated carbs from my diet. And now I'm eating carbs. Could that be the problem - my body is reacting to the re-introduction of carbs? And is it possible feeling nauseous is "triggering" the bing food desire? I know whenever I feel "sick" is when I have turned to that food in the past. I'm going to a WLS Support meeting tonight - hopefully I'll get some answers there. And of course that's why I'm here on this board - looking for help and answers. I am indeed ambivalent about the WLS. It is a deep comittment - imagine how sick I'd be if I binged after the surgery! And that's why I'm so ambivalent. Hmmmm - I'm trying to resolve the issues. I have until Sept. 22 (that's the last nutritioinist meeting). And who knows, maybe by then I won't even qualify per my BMI. But this binging really has me worried. Maybe I should not continue following the 1050 calorie diet? I don't know. The nutritionist said I am on the "fast track" to surgery and didn't really need to lose more weight - just don't gain! Well, eating only 1050 calories/day and exercising - no surprise that I'm continuing to lose - so why go through the surgery?? That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks, Shirley

Good morning Shirley, Congratulations on your 27 pound loss! That is fantastic! Your gain might be from reintroducing carbs. In my opinion, 1050 calories per day isn't enough, especailly if you're active. I eat between 1600-1900 per day & I'm still losing. Some days I go higher, some lower but I try to keep it below 2000. I just don't think that is a sustainable lifetime amount of food & your body will think it's starving. Weight loss & food issues are so hard. Read the profiles of the nice people on this board & see what works for them. What I learned from all of my past attempts at weight loss is to make small changes, one at a time, and changes that I can live with for a lifetime. Not choosing WLS was one of the best decisions I ever made. Good luck! Juli

Thanks Juli, I just weighed myself and find that I've actually lost 11.5 pounds since July 21st. This morning I'm feeling dizzy. So as soon as the doctor's office opens, I'm calling the nutritionist. Gonna ask about increasing the calories and explain that I'm very much so debating the surgery but would like to continue in the program for the duration. I went to a WLS Support meeting last night (not the first I've been to, but found it to be one of the best!). So I asked them if I decide to not have the surgery because I'm having this much success without it, can I still come to meetings. They said yes! Sitting at the meeting, I found myself evaluating what I heard - no drinking with meals, no carbonated drinks! And realized I'd rather not give those behaviors up. Juli, like you mentioned in your profile "find what works for you for the rest of your life". I'm much closer to finding the methods for controlling my weight. Shirley