Cold War: Non-op vs Op

Ok everyone go back to your own corners and catch your breath.  I don't think it's so much about it being easier with wls than understanding the tool itself. I can only speak from my own experience and watching my DH with his new VSG tool. I fix both our plates when we eat. I try to put the same amount in both. Small amounts because his tummy can only hold small amounts. He can eat now and drink later I do not have to, but I do. I have found out that what he eats does not flip the hunger switch off in my brain like it does in his. I have found out though, that eating the way, he does protien first, then veggies and no drinking liquids for 45 minutes after does make my hunger level go way down.  I am like Chris, I could eat until I am stuffed which is a lot, not junk food either.  I conciously choose to stop because I know that the amount of food I did eat will sustain me. My DH on the other hand does not have a choice but to eat small. I understand how so many people have such a hard time doing this non- op. Sometimes I have to add extra to my plate but it is either a raw carrot or a celery stalk to make the hunger go away. If we could afford for me to have wls I would do it in a heartbeat. Not because it is an easier way out but I know now I can live on smaller amounts of food than what I think I can. It would just be a tool to be used. I still get hungry (real hunger). I get bored with water so I drink SF koolaide. I want sweets I get SF popcicles and SF pudding.  I have learned alot both pro and con to the "easier" way and there in no right or wrong answer, only opinions. Patience

In battling my own morbid obesity and having friend after friend have WLS I realize that loosing with on my own and keeping it off is HARD and losing weight through WLS and keeping it off is HARD.  The key words for me are KEEPING it OFF, not the losing part.  So yes WLS makes weight-loss easier, but no matter how you loose the weight it's keeping it off that matters to me.   WLS makes it easier to loose weight also in the sense that you see results faster.  What person wanting to loose weight isn't motivated when the scale moves.  The other day I had a .6 loss at Weigh****chers and was disheartened...I would have LOVED to see 2-whatever pounds lost.  But at the same time I know that my hard work will be once I reach my goal and keeping it off.   Is the dumping/etc blessings...yes for the moment, but anybody knows if you keep pushing a lock sooner or later the doors going to open.  If we all aren't mentally prepared we can easily "eat our way out of any surgery" and many do. Of course I am looking at the end of the journey NOT how you got there.  Because for me in the end if you haven't fixed your mind around why you eat you eat and OVER eat then it's a wash.  If you haven't learned to understand how protein, fruits, vegetables, cards etc work in your body then you will be lost once it comes to maintaining your weight loss.

Right now I am loosing weight because I am getting to the meat and bones of why I overeat.  I have realized that food is NOT the friend that I have made it out to be.  It doesn't comfort me but only masks it and when it's all said and done I am worse then if I had just dealt with the emotions.  I am also educating myself and relearning how to eat, what a portion is and why I "should" have so much protein, vegetables, fiber, carbs etc during a day, a meal.  I am learning how to remake my favorites to where the calories aren't dripping from fat.  I am taking my time when I eat so that I will notice when I'm truly full and satisfied and stopping eating because I am full.  I am learning how to NOT eat in response to my moods, or PMS, or stress and if I do, it's one serving, just to squelch the urge and not the whole thing. I have relearned how to eat...actually it's the finally learning how to eat and the listening to my body and what it's true food needs are.  At any moment I know I am quite capable of eating what equals 3-4 meals worth of food in ONE setting but WHY?  Just because I can?  I know I could eat a whole pizza, or chili cheese fries, or my favorite cheesecake factory meal, but again I ask myself why would I want to do that to myself.  Why would I want to do the things that got me weighing over 300lbs? But I know more then anything the hardest part won't be the loosing but the maintaining.  I'm with the young lady who talked about wanting a band now to prevent regaining the weight.  That's where I am.  I am of the belief that by the time I have surgery I will have lost 50-60lbs (still weighing over 250) and will have the LapBand, given insurance requirements, NOT because I don't think I can loose the rest, nor with the intent to help me loose the rest.  My intention is to use the LapBand in helping me to eat smaller portions for life. So that's my take of the whole thing...NonOp vs. Op, which ever road you choose it's the maintaining and how your relationship with food has changes that will create TRUE success. Ms Shell xoxoxoxo