Why even go through all the pain of having this surgery?

You've always cracked me up.

Blair - Bravo !!  What you are saying here are only just half of what I say to those that I do one on one's with . I have people that come to me that tell me they don't do vitamins, protein .. etc.. and my first words to them are .. " Why are you doing this if you agreed to this surgery ? " Most say they did not " really " think they had to . What the frick ?  I have gone back and looked at the different surgeons my mentorees have had . I can say that I do call the doctors offices and get their surgeons protocols. I have had some lie to me , telling me there surgeon did not give them anything , or their surgeon did not tell them they had to do protein.Once I find this out , I explain to them they are not going to waste my time . If they want my help , they must first be honest with themselves and take responcibility for their actions and their neglect. 100 % so far have come to terms with their actions and have changed and are doing better, but they needed that wake up call . One should not have a wake up call with this surgery.  I do believe that there needs to be more life style change coaching - before , after and during this surgery process . I for one had been bulimic and anerexic before surgery , and seen where patterns of this was trying to carry over with my WLS . I talked to my surgeon , did some life coaching with my NP and have over come this . But others are not so lucky . They still have eating disorders that carry over and it plays a great part in their success.  Some ask me how I learned so much about my lifestyle . I tell them , I stay educated , I look constantly for more ways to get in protein , exercise . I never leave it up to anyones else.. it is up to each of us to take our journies serious , and take care of our selves .  While no one is perfect , and we do all falter at times. It is knowing that we are armed with the tools to get back on track .  Your post was well needed . If we postops can do anything it is to keep encouraging those that come here to lean on us for support .  Thanks for your great words !  Nat

Nat-- Thank you for your support. And thank you for echoing part of what I was trying to get at: that this is not a solution to your problems. It is a crutch and it will help carry you back...but at some point you have to do it on your own. And if you can't do it now why will you be shocked when you fail. One of the big keys is exercise. I have been shocked to read how many people are post-op and are not exercising. Now I am very sensitive to issues that people have, but you have to do something. I realize the running crew gets on here and brags about our road races, but that was a long time coming. I had to drag my fat but up on the treadmill after surgery, but I was there 7 days post-op and it took everything I had to walk a mile. Now, I was lucky that I didn't have as far to go to get mobile, but I can't believe after being given a get-out-of-jail-free card that people aren't doing more. I am not suggesting that we all can run 10ks yet, but we have to do something. If it takes everything you have to walk around the block then do it. After a week you'll find that you can do it twice. If you don't then you're just kidding yourself.

Anyone that has had success from what the excercise, running , areobics, weight training or what ever needs to brag. Look at our lives pre-surgery. If we were dilegent atheletes or exercised , do we really think we would have needed this surgery ? I applaud you all !! I am a runner of sorts. I am trying to regain my strenght as I have been sick for so long, but still manage to keep exercise of some form in my life.  The statitics are stagering on how many people refuse to exercise, or think that it is not necessary. I can tell anyone that the simple key to it all is exercise. I hate reading post where someone is not lossing , doing all the " right ' things but neglects to add the one simple element . Exercise. I know first hand how hard it is to get our butts moving . I really had to work at it . But I listened to those before me, I listened to my surgeon. And I guess 225 pounds as my weightloss is pure fact that it does work. Would I have lost it all with out it . NO ... I may have lost 150 pounds, possibly , but to be where I am now ... takes determination and the fact that I refuse to go back .  I hope that your post is taken for what it is . Truth and Care ...  Thanks again !  Nat

Well I will say that I dont know who's post in specific you are speaking of...BUT I know that I dont follow my docotrs orders to a T and Im doing fine. I try to do my very best but Im not going to let myself think that if Im not all a sudden PERFECT that Im going to be Obese again. I also want to say that coming from someone who has lived it, we didnt all become overweight by eating cheeseburgers! If everyone that ate a cheeseburger once and a while became obese the epidemic would be much greater. Kudos to those who can do better than most, judos to those who strive to do their best...

I am not speaking to anyone in particular; just in general. That being said, your post kind of reflects what I was getting to in my earlier post. To be a recent post-op and not willfully following your doctor's orders is a huge problem and is likely to set you up for failure. And no one expects any of us to be perfect. We make mistakes. The thing about this surgery is that you cannot help but lose weight at first. But, you have to use that period as a time-out and look at changing your habits so that when your body catches up you will be a better manager of your food and more able to control your weight. The surgery does not solve the problem. People can and do gain the weight back. Look at Carie Wilson: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/entertainment &id=6017854 "We know that 5 percent or maybe even more of these patients over time can regain weight," said Dr. Daniel Jones, director of the bariatric program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. "A large part of that has to do with the fact that the factors that caused them to be overweight to begin with are still out there." So why is that? Well I'll tell you...starting pretty soon you can eat again. Sure, you can't eat what you used to...but you can still eat. So if you don't look at your habits now when you're in time out then you're much, much more likely to slide back. You can still get a ton of calories down with a post-op stomach if you graze all day. When I eat I am hungry again in an hour. So, I find other things to occupy me now until my next meal. Before that time was focused on eating. I can tell you at 6 months I can eat again. Where a 1 oz. piece of chicken would fill me up immediately post-op, it now takes a bowl. The key is to follow the program that your doctor has set out. And to work exercise in. As I eat more, I am comforted that my exercise will help me to maintain. And while I am not dropping as rapidly as I did in month 1 (I lost 14 lbs. last month for those keeping score), I am still losing...which means I can still take in more calories if I maintain my exercise. And I don't claim to know everything...but I know this much...I only have 19 lbs. to go to get to my ideal weight and I like that a lot better than I did the idea of being 170 lbs. overweight like I was before surgery. I am troubled by the cheeseburger comment. I read through what I said and at no point did I say that eating a cheeseburger would make one obese. I can say that my problem is that I ate every meal like it was a special celebration. Many people can eat more diverse foods and maintain a healthier weight. But, I got news for you....I ain't one of them (and I would guess that the reason why we're all here is that we're all not). But I would argue from looking around that way more people (while not falling in the obese crowd) are way too heavy from eating the crap that we eat in this country. My point was that now is not the time to game the system. It is the time to sit back and listen to the people who know what they're talking about. It reminds me of the Covey definition of insanity: Doing the exact same thing and expecting different results. We all know that our way of doing things got us to the point where we needed surgery. So given our track record, why are we not listening to people who know what they're doing??? I truly hope that you will not fail, but comments like yours that you are willfully ignoring your doctor this soon after surgery are worrisome.

The cheeseburger comment was just an example. I certainly havent tried cheeseburgers at this point but Im sure one day I will. When I say that I havent followed my docotor to a T, it doesnt mean that I have purposly and willfully sabatoged myself. It means that Im not perfect and unlike some people...I dont pretend to be. If any of us on here were perfect we wouldnt have needed this surgery to begin with. I have missed my vitamins a couple times, I havent counted my protein as much as others have, and I tried veggies a lil earlier than some did BUT I havent started eating greasey high calorie foods to which will sabatoge my weight loss. There's many ways to go against, or not go completly along your doctors guidlines that arent Ness going to keep you from your goals and etc. That was my only point. I understand your point but I wanted to point out tho those who may read this and like me, who have a times slipped and forgotten to take vitamins or didnt excersise as much as recomended ( not me I enjoy working out )....I didnt want them to think that they made a mistake by having the sugrery which is almost what these type of people would get out of your original post. Point is NOONE IS PERFECT...I think we have all agreed to that and I dont want those people who may be struggling with their life style change to become discouraged by this post.

The epidemic is great . Obesity in this country is staggering .  http://ezinearticles.com/?Obesity-in-America----The-Growing- Epidemic!&id=7567 My surgeon looked at me 2 days before my surgery , he made me look into his eyes. He asked me did I fully understand that I must live this life daily. He asked me did I understand the keys to succes were Protein-Water and Exercise. He gave me a plan, and I do live it daily . Am I perfect at it . By no means, but I do practice good WLS living .  For the first 6 months, you are going to lose the weight no matter what . Your body is in starvation mode. After that , it will be up to you to make those right choices , and correct any bad choices and learn from it all .  Most post ops that experience re-gain will tell you that they ignored their surgeons protocol. Or they just did not think it applied to them .  When you say you don't live it to a "T" and are doing fine, that is a very broad statement . Right now you are still so new to it all , you are going to make mistakes or try things that you think work. These may be things that your surgeon would or would not approve of . Ignoring the common equation : PROTEIN - WATER - SUPPLIMENTS - HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES .  I truly do not know one Bariatric Program that says these key things do not play in weightloss surgery and success. I trusted my surgeon enough  to allow him inside my body, to cut my stomach, to rebuild my new stomach. I trusted him to lay his hands on my fragile intestines, to reroute my digestive system. Why would I not trust his guidance post op ?  It is so critical to listen to your surgeons and your nutrictionist .   No one is perfect. No one has lived the Perfect Weightloss Journey. We do however , for the most of us , strive to be all that we can be ,  to live the life we have chosen, With out regrets, with accountablity and with " to thine own self be true "  I wish you nothing but success as always,  Nat

Blair  - you get a big standing ovation from me!!!!!!!! When I hear of new post ops proudly announcing that they can still eat doritos etc and they were not sick from them I want to ask them - and often do - why the heck would you do that??? Just because you can does not mean you should! And you only get a short honeymoon period before it becomes much harder to lose again....... I have found that many people simply do not get it. In the first few months you will lose weight no matter what you really do but after that, if you have not changed your life style, you will start to really struggle. And in many cases they will be unsuccessful. And the part I feel strongly about is that the statistics will make it look like the surgery was unsuccessful - when in fact the cause of the failure was the patient's non compliance. Now I do firmly believe that when you get to two years out it becomes harder to sustain and old habits do start to creep back and fighting the demons becomes harder - and in many cases you need a refresher to get back to basics and understand why you are sabotaging yourself...... I became a certified Back on Track Facilitator because I believe these people need help and are asking for help.  I also do one on one lifecoaching with people to try to help them understand what they are doing and help them take the steps they need to to get back to where they want to be or to change their habits to better ones. I think the answers are out there, you just need to get to the correct questions. However,  if people do not want to listen you just have to let them do what they want. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink........  there will always be the mindset that know better than the doctors, who do not believe it is important to take their vitamins, protein and water and do not take any exercise.  Hopefully they will find out they need to change before too much damage has been done.  But for some they will blame the surgery......... that is why the surgery has had a bum rap over the years. The surgery changes your body but not your mind. Terry Simpson, a reknown gastric bypass surgeon says patients that are 5 years out and above have these things in common 1. - they weigh at least one per week 2. - they avoid highly processed foods

3.  they emphasize good foods  - fish, meat and vegetables 4.  fast food is rare on their diet 5.  exercise is part of their lives 6.  they keep track of their iron, vitamins and overall nutrition He said this in one of his books but they have actually published in in this month's edition of OH. So what you wrote may not be popular Blair but it is right on the money!  I doubt that people that follow this lifestyle correctly most of the time will have an issue with it........ No-one is perfect but most of us all strive to do the best we can.... Jackie

Jackie-- Thank you for your kind words. And to your point about being further out, I get it even though I am not there. I can only speak to life 6 months out, but I know of which you speak. When I think to right after my surgery, I never fathomed that I would eat again near the volume of what I could before. But now I am far enough out that I can eat a salad and a cup of soup. The thought of that after surgery would have blown my mind. I'm also lucky that I am not a grazer. My life never afforded me that. I would just eat massive meals when I could eat. But I see now that if could graze, I could take in enough TODAY to start gaining back weight. And I am only 6 months out. So, my point was that I am trying my best to follow what the doctor's telling me because I see where my trip points are and I am doing everything I can to avoid them. But to your point, if you're pushing it now...or trying to see what you sneak past your pouch now...when you can eat at 2 years it won't be pretty.