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I agree surgery is not the answer to what we need! WE are in charge of what happens to our bodies. While surgery or other weight loss methods might help jump start our loss, in the end, it is up to us to take charge of what and how much we eat. Always has been and always will be.
Hi. I'm starting the Optifast program in Guelph shortly and have my orientation is this week. How is the program working for you? What is the timeline like from Orientation to actually starting the program?
The North American diet (filled with sugars and refined carbohydrates) is literally a killer!
Ample evidence exists that ties diabetes, heart disease and cancers to the stuff that we've been jamming into our collective cake holes.
The most damning (and perhaps least documented) testament to the damage that we inflict on ourselves is the fact that "Big Sugar" is now the new "Big Tobacco" Lobby!
It is morally unconscionable.
Sad to say but (at age 66) I have to admit that I've made myself a victim of an obsession with (addiction to) sugar and complex carbs.
Thank God I am not a heavy weight any more.
I am now a comfortably fit 165 lbs but in the depth of my addiction I managed to push my weight right up to 280 lbs.
I use the word addiction because (for me) that is what it is.
I definitely used "food" (usually foods/beverages made with loads of sugar and flour) as my "drug of choice".
My situation was hopeless and I couldn't stop eating!
Now, I eat meals that are nutritious and filling. ... My meal plan contains absolutely no flour or sugar and I feel fine!
I don't like to sell my program because I believe there are lots of weight reduction plans and programs out there that work.
It is kind of like buying shoes. ... The shoes have to suit the application, have to fit and also need to feel good. ... I believe that if you find something that works, ... great!
For me the what works is FA (Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous). ... Yes, it is a 12 step program for food addiction.
If you have any interest in finding out more, please check it out.
There are no dues, fees and no one is going to try to sell you anything.
http://www.foodaddicts.org/find-meeting
Recovery from addiction (any addiction) is a mountain to climb, I know.
If you slip and fall, you can always just dust yourself off and keep moving up the hill. ... You will never be a failure if you have a slip. ... You can only turn yourself into a failure if you slip, decide to stop and then turn around and walk back down the hill.
Good Luck in finding your recovery!
Jim G in Vancouver BC
I actually know why this is happening. I am a hypnotherapist and have helped a lot of people lose weight. What this is, and a lot of other problems fall into this category as well, is that there is an emotion(s) that is force feeding you. What we all do is try and comfort and distract ourselves from feelings inside we don't like. I call it the too muches. Eating too much, drinking too much, smoking, *****graphy, shop-a-holics... When we are engaged in that activity we are successful in the short term, of comforting ourselves.
For food it all started when we were very young... it's called a pacifier. When we were having a bad day, sick, or whatever we got a cookie, a treat, they shoved a pacifier in our mouths... we learned that by putting something in our mouths we felt better. (This is where the link with food and emotions started)
I would say this to you, to find out what's going on. For a few weeks, before you eat, stop and ask yourself, how am I feeling? You will probably see a pattern here. What emotion are you trying to stuff down with food? Once you figure that out, then realize that if you ate nothing, or ate a ton of food, that emotion is still going to be waiting for you when you're done eating... SO... once you know the feeling, for example lonely,stressed, sad, whatever - then instead of eating go do something that will actually resolve that emotion. If you're lonely, go window shopping where there are people, call a friend on the phone, etc...
This is why people who have had GBS often struggle after the surgery. Sure, your stomach is now small but all of those perceptions, belief systems, and emotions are still in there. I've worked with at least 30 people who had the surgery and were really struggling.
Emotions dictate behavior every time!
Good Luck! :O)
Ohh! Thanks for the book recommendation. I just purchased one for my Kindle called Food Junkies which talks about food addiction and is supposed to help. I'll look into Body Clutter as well.
I say try counseling...get to the bottom of why one little thing throws you off for weeks. I did several self help books to try to find the reason for my eating. One that was very helpful was called "Body Clutter." When I got really honest with myself and realized what a perfectionist I am it finally clicked for me. All this all or nothing thinking just doesn't work. If you mess up, make your next choice a healthy one.
Good luck!!
Good luck!!! You got this. The secret is remaining consistent. ;)
Awww, sorry for your ups and downs Nicole. I too revised (VSG) and weight is difficult when you like food 
- we ALWAYS have to work on it! I am glad you are getting strong and back on your feet.
Best,
Layla
3/30/2005 Lap Band installed 12/20/2010 Lap Band REMOVED
6/6/2011 Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy
hello,
i wanted to share my story with you because surgery is not a guaranteed quick fix to weight loss. In 2004 I weighed 298. I had the lap-band. I lost 70 pounds but with lots of hard work. I never had that restriction people talk about. Fast forward to 2008 and the band slipped and I was unable to swallow water. Out comes the band via emergency surgery. 2 months later my surgeon performed gastric bypass. I thought I finally had my tool! WRONG!! Yet again I still never really felt full. I gave up shortly after and stayed around the 240 area for about 2 years. When I finally changed my eating and portion sizes in 2010 I saw the scale moving. I got down to 143 pounds. I couldn't believe it!! Me, under 200 pounds, even under 150! I was wearing size 6 or 8 pants depending on the store. I'm 5'8. I looked fabulous. Wore a bikini that summer!
Well that was short lived. Here we are in 2015 and last Monday the 19th I went to another surgeon to talk over options. Well I'm back to 229lbs. I want to cry. I did cry. But now I am determined like before to get this weight off. High protein is what I am aiming for. I also was introduced to an injection called lipotropic or lipo b. It burns fat, boosts metabolism and gives energy. I got my first shot on the 22 which was Thursday and I feel amazing! I also asked my dr to prescribe the appetite suppressant phentermine which is working like a charm.
What I'm trying to say is once you put your mind to it, you don't need the surgery. We are all strong enough to do it without going under the knife!
i wish you all luck! I need it as well....one day at a time!! I'll check in once in awhile and post my loss (hopefully!)
298/182/143
Surgery/ Current/ Goal
How do u have so little.calories.before surgery aren't you.starving and.wanna.binge
