Umm.... 1 Year Appt... Now what...

So I just got back from my 1 year appt...

Good news is I'm down 111 pounds YEAH...
My labs, all levels are in good shape.. YEAH....

Like fantastic way to go right!?

Well I met with our "new" nutritionist, as the dr's were busy with lap band fills and other appts... 
that's fine. But she's new and admitted new to the world of bariatrics... she couldn't tell me what my calorie count should be around (for certain) asked me twice if I feel hungry... and really didn't ask alot of questions or anything.. it was very weird...

Im left with the sense of NOW WHAT... like what do I do now? How do I maintain this? How do I continue loosing the last 25 pounds, guidance is lacking... I felt untaken care of... 
I felt a little lost too as for the last year every 3 months, labs and appts were my follow up care.

We did talk about the running I was doing and my plans to start a family....

Is this normal to feel this, lost feeling after 1 year and post op care ends? Should I email the dr? Find another one for post care? 

It certainly made me want to dive face first into the grocery store (a habit that is coming to the surface with me.. ) the ice cream isle and cookie isle.. Im feeling sad and angry and well I just don't know what to do... I need some guidance as I don't want to gain the weight back and.. Ive worked so hard over the last year.. that I need some kind of something to walk the walk with me. (I guess that's while I'm here now isn't it!! ;-) ) 

Thanks for listening and any feedback would be appreciated.. 

Amanda 

So glad to hear you have great results so far. I feel bad that you left more confused about what to do. I would MOST definitely email or call the doctors office. If you left the office feeling this way, you probably are not the only one. New or not she needs to know how to do her job. If she still is in a training mode, then she should not be left alone to work with patients. This is our health and it is important.

I wish I could tell you about life 1 yr post op, but I am not there yet so I have no idea about calories and such. We have very smart ladies that I am sure will help you there.

Good luck!

Thanks for the support Brooke!! :) 

Amanda,

First of all....WOW!  Fabulous new avitar.

Second...Congrats on the progress at 1 year

Third...How did you do at the marathon???

Fourth...YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN HOW YOU FEEL!  If it were me...I would not e mail the doctor but call and speak to no one but the surgeon.  If he were not available I would leave messages and as a last resort I would show up at the office on a day I knew he was seeing patients and not in surgery.  With your running your calorie count is a lot different than others.  The "new" nutritionist should not be seeing patients solo until she knows what she is doing (JMO) and the doctors office needs to know about it.  You paid for your follow up care, too.  If she is unable to perform then someone else in the office needs to take over and help to guide her.  Yes, she needs a learning curve and some guidance but not at your expense.  It is not normal to feel that way after an appointment.  If I were in your shoes I would give then (only the surgeon) one chance to fix it and then I would seek treatment/follow up elsewhere.  You paid for HIS expertise...not that of a nutritionist that does not really know what she is talking about!

 

I am here if you need anything...you know how to reach me!

Amanda-

Ok....it is a normal feeling.  Unfortunately, the baratric community hasn't caught up to those of us who work out the way that we do.  At 3 years out, i STILL feel like I've been left to figure it out on my own.

If you work out alot and not eat enough, you will gain weight (it's the body's starvation reaction).
If you work out alot and eat, you could gain weight as you are grazing and may not eat the right types of foods.
If you work out and eat carbs, you could gain weight
If you work out and don't eat carbs, you feel like crap

It's a vicious cycle and yes...it's exhausting and can make the whole process no fun.

I suggest that you email the doc.  Let them know your feelings and ask where do you go from here.  But, your feelings, I think, are pretty normal.  I remember feeling the same way.  It was the beginning of the dwindling "WOW" moments, which was a bit depressing, too.

How do you maintain this?  By eating right and exercising.  How do you lose the last 25 pounds?  Add some weight training, and change your workouts.  If you run all of the time, take a day and do something else - kickbox, spin, sprints, intervals, hills, hike, swim.....

But, congrats on a great 1st year!

Thanks Jill!!  Yes a vicious cycle it is.. good lord, if ever it gets easy, then I should be scared right?

I do plan on adding some weight training, getting into spinning and trying some other stuff I've always wanted to do ... excercize wise.. hiking, pilates, who knows.... :) 

Too bad your not closer I'd have you be my JILLIAN :) maybe you can yell at me from afar...

Wow Amanda!  Sounds like  you have done fabulously!!!  Great Job!!!!

My thoughts on some of your questions are this:  Yes you should follow up with your surgeon.  Just think what is happening with newbies who have no clue & are going to this nut.  Definitely not a great way to have a good program.  You should have the guidance you need.  As for losing those last 25 lbs, keep following the rules and keep working at it.  Are you still losing with what you are doing?  If so then it will work it's way off,  if not then you need to shake things up some & find the combination for you (pretty much what Jill said).  As for those habits that are resurfacing, do what you can to figure out how to combat them, you have taken the first step by admitting you see it so figure out how to fight it.

We are here for you!!!!

It's definetly funny how the "problem" eating wasn't cut out with the new system... sure wi**** was sometimes... I watched an oprah recently that had an intervention with the teens, did you happen to see it?  Anyway, it was all about asking them instead of eating (Those that were emotional eaters).. what are you REALLY hungry for... so I keep asking myself that .. and I keep talking to the DH (god love him!) he's a saint...... one day at a time..

I've even considered going to FA ... cause I know I have some addicitive habits or had about food... those ones like I have to have something as soon as I get in the door, which I think stems from me being a latch key kid growing up and needing comfort because I was alone... I gues.. (my psychology coming into play).. it's really interesting to be able to see certain patterns and behaviors now that before the surgery I was so numb to or just blind to...

Thanks for ALWAYS being there...

Your problem is similar to one I have had. And do not get me wrong, I could not be more happy with my Dr. and the whole practice, but they seem to have no idea what to do after the year (especially if you're highly active). There really does need to be more support done in th eyars after the loss wiht how to live a life as normal person. I have simply done a ton of research on nutrirtion and have experimented a bit to try and find what works.

For me, my issue is getting enough in to eat. Jill mentioned the Catch-22s we all face afterward. You have to eat enough to maintain an active lifestyle. Yet not so much that you will gain it back. Yet not to little....

There is a simple rule to follow though that I know you're onto. Just remain active. If you do that then any fluctuations you have (especially when you're pregnant) will remain within the range that you can reel them in. We see that the people who gain substantial amounts back generally aren't also exercising, so just think of your struggle now as the same that most average people go through daily and not the Herculean task you undertood by having WLS!

And you're doing great btw!

HIGH FIVE Blair!!    Thanks for the advice and kudos... thank goodness I'm active.. like a crazy freak!! marathons, biking and such.. good lord!