I hope folks actually answer this.

 

Pre-ops, newbies, veterans. We all have fears related to this WLS process.

 

Many times fear is based on the unknown or a feeling of lack of control. Perhaps putting your fear out there may prompt someone to share something that’s helpful to you. You never know!

 

The only thing I ask is: NO JUDGMENT! While someone else’s fear may not make sense to you, it is very real to them.

Well at this point of the journey I worry about the transition into maintenance and it falling all to sh*t.  I fear that I will end up buried under a pile of cracker boxes in a permanant carb coma.  Big pouch days becoming everyday.  Losing sight of all the work I have done on my body and my head and just losing control of it all. 

And I think I feel a bit better just putting this out in the universe. 

That I gave up buffalo wings, cheesesteak subs and food comas for nothing.

Yep...I am being 100% straight with you.

Sometimes I wonder if being a long-termer isn't an inevitable march back to obesity. I know some long-termers who have maintained but I know far more who did not. Will I be one of them? My biggest fear is that I did all this - gave up foods I loved and that sheltered me from a LOT of pain - just to end up overweight and vitamin deficient.

Most days I can see the ludicrousness of this fear (I am sort of a gym addict so while I certainly have the capacity to gain weight as much as the next guy, I know I also have the tools to keep my weight steady), some days I just wonder.

That is my biggest fear at 4 years post-op.

Such a great question.  At the end of this month I will be 19 months out from surgery.  I think my biggest fear is the same as a lot of peoples...REGAIN.    I know my trigger foods, carbs.  I try so desparetly to stay away from them and not bring them into my house.  I don't have self control when it comes to sugars either.  I'm one of those RNY folks who can tolerate sugar, to a point. I have dumped on a hot fudge brownie sundae, which my husband even said, "I told you so"!  Not going there again.  I started this new year with a plan of journaling my food every day.  I've been shooting for 1200 calories a day.  More often than not I am between 1300-1400 calories a day. With that said, I do exercise 6 days a week.  Mon-Fri I walk 3-4 miles.  Saturday's I walk six miles. I have 12 more pounds to loose to get to my "personal" goal.  It's taking me forever but I'm enjoying the journey.

Thanks for asking such a great question.  I look forward to seeing other answers.

Cyd

That I'll give up before I even reach goal. That Ill stop exercising and start eating foods thatll make me unhealthy again, and by getting unhealthy, not bring able to exercise cause I'm in pain. A vicious circle.

 I worry about gaining it all back.  I am really starting to worry about that actually and i am only 1/2 way there.  UUUgghhh.   I have been on a bit of a stall on and off for about the last month and for the first time since surgery i am starting to doubt i will lose the rest of the weight.  I am worried about things like am i eating to much?  Am i eating the wrong foods?  I need to exercise more..i kjnow thats important to maintain my weight later on..at least to go for walks 3 or 4 times a week.  I can't seem to get motivated to go to the damn gym..and that worrys me that i am not getting out of my "old habits".  Altho i have been doing wii fit a lot but thats it..and i am sick this week and i live in cold minnesota.  No reasons really but thats my fears..all of them.  I think i am in mid winter slump..my job sucks too..lmao..so i  need to try to get myself out of this pit i have fallen in..  Oh this isn't a counseling session...sorry..ha!

 I had surgery 1/18/12 so I have not seen BIG weight loss as of yet and I am already in my head thinking about stuff I use to eat; what if the doctor didn't do anything to my stomach during surgery as a joke; and my biggest fear is "what the hell-o am I going to do to screw this up?"

My surgery is scheduled Feb. 16, 2012.  I am so scared that Im not going to lose alot of weight even if I do everything by the book.  I read on here some people say they have a hard time. The other day I think someone said they only lost 70 lbs in a year and they were in the 300"s. I can do better than that without surgery. I have many times. I need to lose close to 200 lbs. I dont want to go through all the pain, the dumping, the possible complications to lose 70 lbs in a yr. But I have had the fear that this wont work for me for yrs. Like I will be the only person that didnt lose weight after this surgery. I have shared this with the Dr. and his team and they have all told me that it will. I am going to have it soooo, I guess we will see.

                                                    bless you all,
                                                                         Melinda

May I ask a question? You said you can do better than 70 lbs. in a year. What happened after that year? Did you lose more than that or did you stall or regain?

The reason I'm asking is because not everyone loses it all in the first year. Most, yes, but not all. I know a lady who is five years out and all of a sudden her body decided it wanted to drop the last of the weight she had to lose. She was stalled for four years. And she doesn't exercise much (and is not sick, she got checked out). The human body is interesting that way.

Anyway, I just wonder. If you lose 70 lbs. in a year and KEEP that 70 lbs. off versus losing it and gaining it back (if that's what happened in the past to you) is that worth something?

I have lost 140 lbs in a yr before without sugery. kept it off for almost 3 yrs then My life went to hell and I gained in back in about 4 yrs I call lose wieght very well when I put my mind to it but yes I do end up eventually gaining it back. I know I can gain it back even after the surgery if I am not careful. I do know that when I limit my calorie intake too much I dont lose weight at all. I  have fasted for seven days and gained weight. All I drank was water. I have cut my calories to 800 and not lost weight. It seems it I stay between 1400 to 1500 calories I just drop the weight. I had to lose 35 lbs to have this surgery. I lost 50 without really trying. I can lose weight I just dont keep it off. I like to feel full. Thats why I hope that this tool will help I can feel full eating less.