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Well, I believe you have to do the same with WLS so if I can lose 50 lbs on Atkins, I would try just as hard to keep it off in maintenance by eating low carbs
Always great results with low carb. The point is can you do it for a lifetime!
Best,
Layla
3/30/2005 Lap Band installed 12/20/2010 Lap Band REMOVED
6/6/2011 Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy
Hi, I had gastric sleeve in Jan 2008. I got down to a low of 137 lbs (I am 5'7") and was able to maintain my weight perfectly fine until 2014 and I hit menopause. The hormone change really threw me off. I am struggling with being hungry way too much again. I have an appt to see my bariatric specialist to see what can be done. I would kill to get phentermine again but at 156 lbs now my BMI is not high enough. Sad that our medical system waits until you gain back everything you lost before they will prescribe a medication that has been around since the 1950's. I am married to a personal trainer and I have to starve and workout 5 days a week to get 1 lb off now.
But you asked about the decision to have surgery. I have never ever regretted getting it done. I totally relate to how you feel about being tired of being the largest person at the party, the largest person in the photo, etc. I am also tired of people saying, put the fork down and get on the treadmill. Yeah, right, it's that easy isn't it. There is a genetic component to the obesity problem. Me and my brother both got the "fat" gene and he had gastric bypass, I opted for the sleeve because I had less weight to lose than him.
I wholeheartedly believe for myself that this was and still is a long term success. It's not a perfect solution because things happen in life (pregnancy, stress, menopause...) that sometimes drive us to pick up the bag of Cheetos but overall it is better than spending your life regretting not doing it sooner. I had the sleeve done at age 42 and I can't tell you the number of people older than me in my support group who said they wished they had done it a decade+ sooner.
So the only question left for you is, how much longer of your life do you want to spend being physically and emotionally tired?
Band installed 9/2001 Dr. Rumbaut, Monterey MX $10,800+travel. Band removed, large slippage 3/2007 $12,000 Dr. Peter Billing, Edmonds, WA
VSG revision done Dr. Armondo Joya, Puerto Vallarta, 1/13/08 $11,000.
Well, I've just heard that Atkins is what I should really do for maintaining due to diabetes. And it seems as though no one here has had good results on it. Thanks
Hello! I was un-banded 12 months ago and still have the same comorbidities. I weigh 218 and wonder if I could lose enough weight by doing Atkins. My A1C blood work levels are entirely too high and my diabetes is out of control. I'm looking into RNY for that reason but was hoping I could do this without having another surgery. I'm afraid of not being able to get my A1C levels down before having complications. Has anyone done Atkins with good results?
on 9/17/15 4:41 pm
AMBER --- I just lost 18 pounds by tracking my calories on the free website loseit.com. I set my calorie limit at 1248 calories a day. That way i should lose 1 1/2 pounds per week. That is about half as much as a person with surgery loses per week. I hope to lose 60 pounds in the next 12 months.
I weigh myself every 14 days so I see some loss. I don't weigh every day because I would see ups and downs in the scale and get discouraged.
I take my picture every other month to see the loss too. So If I think I am not making progress ... then the pictures show my progress. So take a photo with every 10 pound loss.
DAISY100
CONGRATULATIONS ON DECIDING TO TAKE OFF THE WEIGHT! YOU'RE AN ANGEL! 
They called it the Medical Program. Not sure where you are located and I am not sure if all areas offer this program but the one I did is out of Humber. I was in the same boat as you after the orientation. All I did was after my orientation for surgery, I went and asked them to sign me up for the medical program orientation. There are two options with that program and they will tell you all about it at the orientation and then you can decide if that is what you want etc. Just like the other orientation. I believe that your current referral to the surgical will allow you to go to the medical if you want. Call the office and speak to them. I did not need a second referral. The program was good but I did not chose the opti program but afterwards I wished I had done that. Get yourself on their next orientation then make an informed decision that is best for you. I hope that helps.
Can you tell us what this is called? Do you need a referral from your doctor? I went to the orientation session for the surgery and it scared be completely. But this seems like a great option. Thank you!!
on 9/2/15 7:39 am
Hi Amber,
Your weight loss journey will not be easy and will require hard work. As it was already mentioned, eating less and be physical active are the main keys. You can also help yourself by taking weight loss pills, however these also need to be taken in a combination with a strict diet and physical activity.
Hi Amber, you are not on this journey alone. I was just like you. So I know your fight. I'm from Ontario Canada and at age 58 am starting again. Everyone here is right. It's not a diet but a new way of eating it is forever not just for a short time and a constant battle. Remember they say it takes three weeks for anything to become a habit. So hang in there. I can't tell you how many times I have started a diet in my lifetime. Too many to count. So baby steps. First you need to remember it takes time and lots of effort. Don't try to set goals that you can't make. I started this journey years ago at 380lb. Went down to 237 then slowly over the last few years put back on some weighing in at 308lb three weeks ago when I started to look at how to start again. First I decided what helped me before. Protein, veggies, and limit bread any thing white. I work out of my truck as a travelling nurse, so I had to have something I could travel with and would be right there when I needed it. I decided to try Pure Protein Bars from Walmart. They taste good and with a coffee or tea they fill me up. The first week is the worst when your getting off the carbs. I can throw them in my purse and I have one for breakfast and one for lunch. Then for supper I have a salad or veggies and some kind of protein, fish, chicken hamburger patty ect. I cut out the bread but if we go out or I get take out I usually get a chicken wrap, I am taking it one week at a time. 10 lbs at a time. I only get weighed once a week as daily it can fluctuate and then I get discouraged. When I got weighed last Tues I was down to 293.4lbs. Also drink as many fluids sugar free a day as you can. If you eat lots of protein make sure you don't get constipated. I take Senokot every night to ensure this doesn't happen. Remember you are not alone. There are lots of us in the same boat. It is going to take time but it's important not to look at a goal way down the road that you feel you are never going to make. I really find that getting excited about going from the 300's to 290's and now working towards the 280's works for me. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with. Also another tip is if you are an evening eater have a hot drink in the evening. I have a decaf coffee. It fills you up and stay away from bread and potatoes. That's exactly why they call a fat tummy the bread basket.. Good Luck Hun. Keep me posted. We can do it..... I'm right there beside you walking the walk
Christy
