Day 6 - Calling all Vets - questions for you all

Hey Daisy- you are a star for doing this. I'm late to this party but I do think it's important to pay it forward and I love seeing the responses you e gotten so far :)

Q1: Diligence. Nothing has changed for me diet wise since i was 6 months post-op. I am 5 years 7 months out from my Revision; my second chance. I must remember where I came from, how I got there, and what works for me to stay there every day.

Q2: The head stuff is a mind game for sure. For me it's not living in denial and remembering to keep myself in the forefront ( and not last on the list) that helps me the most. That and as vain as this may sound, taking care of myself in all the ways that I didn't when I was MO.

Q1: NEVER fall for the idea that you can eat like a "normie" -- you will never ever be like a person who was normal-weighted their whole life.

Q2: I do not find the head stuff becomes easier, just different as time wears on.

Question #1 (Q1):

What in your opinion & in your experience is the most important rule to follow to be successful in maintenance?

Only one? - take your vitamins and minerals and get a detailed blood work to verify your levels. Don't trust doc when they only tell you " The blood work is fine". unfortunately for us, when most of docs see a number in "normal range", it is OK. But that is not enough IMO, specially for any vitamins or mineral that our body can store and use as needed. Iron is one of them.

Question #2 (Q2):

How do you navigate the "head stuff"? Does it get easier as time goes by? What do you recommend for someone who is struggling with this post op?

Head stuff - counseling really helped me, and .. medication. I was totally against antidepressants, but within 6 months i changed my mind and reluctantly started taking Lexapro to help with stress and anxiety. Now - counseling, medication, good vitamins and mineral levels (they can and they do affect our moods, and the way our body responds to stress) . i also get acupuncture, and massages once in a while. Sometimes instead of a counseling,to help me deal with stuff, I go shopping. I call that "retail therapy". I am spending time, and money but I bring more stuff home, while i walk around the store (exercise)...LOL. Thrift stores are great for that for me. I limit how many items and how much $ I can spend there and stick to the limits.

Reading also helps me dealing with that. i read about the mental issues, and how our emotions can be connected to vitamins and minerals our body needs. (i.e low iron, proteins, B12, D etc. can contribute to depression),

Q2: Confession-- I didn't deal with it at all. I totally cruised along and took my surgery for granted. And now I'm fighting some pretty serious regain, due 100% to my own attitudes and actions. LFMF.

I'm 10 years out and still going strong...

1) Never stop measuring and weighing, both yourself and your food. Even at 10 years out my eyes are still bigger than my stomach.

Don't "test" your pouch by seeing if you can eat this or that. Follow your plan no matter how far out you are.

Maintenance is forever. It doesn't mean you can expand to a full diet after a certain amount of time because you are thin now. You will be eating more calories in maintenance than in your losing phase. Make them count. I've said this before, I now eat to live rather than live to eat.

Find the foods you are happy eating and stick with them. We don't eat those "well balanced" meals our mom's made us eat anymore. Which brings up...

Take your vitamins and minerals!

2) The head stuff. In my opinion, it does get better as time goes on. It takes a lot of self examination and awareness to get through what ever our demons are. If you need help, please get it. Therapists specializing in obesity issues are the best if you can find one, but any therapy is better than none at all.

We did not become obese over night. There is no overnight cure. Surgery does not cure it.

RNY, almost 17 years out

Q1: Keep a close eye on the scale...don't have to be a scale ho, but don't AVOID it, for fear of having gained...Much easier to relose 5 lbs, than 50 lbs

Q2: Never gets easier. I get lazy. Stay plugged in, with people who "get" you, like daily participation, on OH. I cringe, when I read people saying "I had WLS to be NORMAL/not to diet/not to worry about what to eat/etc" ...Folks, we will NEVER be "normal", We are surgically altered freaks, and we must wear our scars proudly, and respect them! We worked damn hard, to get them...How many insurance/pre-op hoops did YOU have to jump thru????

9.5 years post op.

I think I already answered the first question enough in another thread.

Question #2 (Q2):

How do you navigate the "head stuff"? Does it get easier as time goes by? What do you recommend for someone who is struggling with this post op?

Head stuff is way harder than anything else. I don't tell anyone at work that this is part of my background, so I am surrounded by normies who think I am normal, too. I really need to kick myself into gear every now and then to remind myself how hard I worked for this and not to screw it up. I look at old pics and generally try to remind myself how hard it was and how much I don't want to have to go through the struggle all over again. I haven't mastered the head stuff, but I don't pretend I am cured from obesity which keeps me honest.