GO AHEAD....BEAT ME UP!!!

I had a revision from lap-band to rny 1/9/07.  Background:   I had the band for four years and had a plethora of complications: broken port, slipped band, hiatel hernia. .  I initially lost 100 lbs., but 40 crept back on when I had to unfill the band due to reflux, etc. Since RNY:  I have lost only 50 lbs.  Started at 275 and am down to about 224.  I have been in a holding pattern for close to two months. Almost since the beginning I have been able to eat way too much food.  The surgeon told me he had to make my pouch slightly bigger because of scar tissue.   However, it seems to me it is WAY bigger than what I read about.  I can easily eat a whole sandwich w/ chips or a six inch sub or two slices of pizza, pasta--no problem.  I can usually eat a moderate amount of sugar very comfortably  I do not seem to be very restricted at all.  If I "overeat" I dont feel well and I almost always stop before that happens. BUT, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THIS SURGERY IF I COULD EAT PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER I WANT???? I seem to be testing the limits all the time now because I am so disappointed that my intake is not restricted.  Is this mental sabotage or is the surgery failing me?   Is it normal to be able to eat alot?  I know I am breaking rules, but my pouch doesnt dish out any consequences.   Today I really pushed the limits.  I ate: Early morning-AchievOne B-Whole Lg.  Bagel w/ cream cheese and coffee L-! Slice pepperoni pizza and 5-6 miniature snickers w/ diet coke S- 1 nectarine and a handful of almonds D-3 oz pork, 1 cup couscous, 1/2c peas and carrots, 2 soft breadsticks w/ butter w/ few sips diet coke S- Glazed Donut & milk HELP!  HELP!  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I can't say if your surgery is failing you but I feel from what you posted for food intake that you could make better choices. Eat  your protien first!!! then  if you are still hungry have some vegetables, fruit or whole grains. You really should not make it habit by having bagels and cream cheese, snickers,  bread  sticks and donuts. Those are choices you made not the surgery failing. Also you should not be drinking with your meals.  Maybe there are other issues you need to address that are making you eat foods that are not the best for weight loss. I would suggest seeing a nutritionist  to help you get a better handle on what you should be eating and if that does not help maybe talk with a counselor. You have lost 50lbs, you can get back to losing. You can do it. Wishing you the best Sher

I'm not gonna beat you up but.... I do think you're sabotaging yourself. I notice that you're drinking with your meals. That could be a big part of your problem. I sometimes drink with meals, sometimes not and the amount I can eat when I drink with a meal is probably twice as much (or more!) than when not.

So maybe try limiting your liquids with meals (or eliminating them would be better) and see. At that point you'll have a better idea.

As for the emotional stuff, one thing I'm working on with myself is the whole "just because it'll 'fit' doesn't mean I should eat so much" thing. Sometimes I find myself testing, for just one more bite, you know? And almost invariably I feel like crap, but it's like my stomach is full before my taste buds are satiated. :( When I slow down it's much better, because I get the full sensation of the taste of food when I don't rush things.

Good luck!

Vickie

I know EXACTLY how you feel and do the same thing.  We ARE sabotaging ourselves and it's just insane.  We have gone through so much to try to get healthier and make better choices and even if we don't have the advantage that we should have, we still have to commit to making a difference for ourselves.  I listen to so many people talk about how horrible it is to dump and how they can't eat a thing, etc..  and I have never had those benefits except for with ice cream.  If all sugar made me feel the way ice cream does, I'd be SKINNY!  One thing that helps me was a tip from my nutritionist.  She suggested eating apple slices and baby carrots with the protein first.  The fiber would help fill up, the crunch is satisfying, and they're not terrible choices. We CAN do this!!!

sorry to hear about your luck in this battle but it seems to me that you are failing the WLS, the choices in food that you take aren't the best, snickers, doughnuts, that won't fly. everything else was ok but why the sweets?, you need more protien and less garbage to eat, I would give up those surgar snacks and eat cheese or peanutbutter for a pick me up. You have to work on this the surgury was only a tool. go to a nutirionist or better join weigh****ches, you need some kind of guidence. Good luck

I think your responses so far have really hit the nail on the head. I believe you could be at a disadvantage b/c your pouch was made somewhat larger, but I also see areas of self sabotage so I guess its a combination of things. I don't dump (did in the beginning, but now at 2.5yr post op I no longer do) so I have to make the choice not to eat snickers and donuts~some days I succed with this and other days I give in to temptation. Thankfully I keep those days very limited b/c I went thru too much having this surgery to blow it for a donut. I think you need to focus on the pouch rules~push protein first and then if there's room allow for other things, don't drink 30min before or after a meal, get in at least 64oz of water and exercise. I know we don't want to do these things b/c there are many days when I don't feel like it either, but we have to follow some guidelines to be successful. When I look at your day I know I could eat that quantity of food with no problem, but I still think its WAY less than I could throw down before having surgery. I know its hard, but you CAN do this! Just don't give up! ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))

I have two words for you:  Personal Responsibility.  We are all told that WLS is not a quick fix.  We are all told that we will have to change our eating habits if we want to lose weight and maintain our loss.  We are all told that we need to exercise.  We are all told that we need to avoid processed/refined carbohydrates.   I suggest that you look at why you are still choosing to eat in a different manner than what is generally prescribed for WLS patiends.  The point of the surgery is to provide a tool, but you still have to use that tool to be successful.  Frankly, I think you are mentally sabotaging yourself.  I would encourage you to talk to a therapist or use a support group to deal with the things that cause you to continue to eat in a manner that you know is wrong.  Your pouch may not give you immediate consequences when you eat the "wrong" things, but your scale will give you consequences; sounds like it's already doing so.  I'm 22 months out from RNY and, with my current food capacity, I can say with certainty that I could eat my way back up to 300+ pounds.  If I did so, would it be the surgery that failed?  I say no, it would be me that failed the surgery.  I choose to take personal responsibility for my actions.  I strongly encourage you to get a grip.  Step away from the processed carbs.  Replace those carbs with lean proteins.  Eat low-starch veggies (skip the peas and carrots, eat some green beans, or broccoli, or cauliflower).  Eat a limited amount of fruit.  Instead of immediately reach for food, try drinking 16 ounces of water.  Stop drinking when you eat.  You know what you need to do.  Now step up to the plate and do it.  PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. 

Kellie

I thank you all for your replies.  I think one of the things that is really challenging here is that this is quite different from the band.  With a properly adjusted band, you can eat VERY little....  no bread, no rice, no cake, no pasta.  I am used to the restriction of the band and expected the rny to do the same.  I cannot seem to get my head reprogrammed for the freedom I have now.   I am resentful that I went through all this and I see people post on the general board that are full from a hard boiled egg and I can eat the whole omelet and have been able to since day one.   I guess I am going to have to get my head around this.  I did not think I would have to actively diet and restrict myself with the rny.  I need to start reading the boards more and refocus my thinking.  I appreciate all the replies.  It helps!!

Good luck to you!  I hope you find a way to work your tool that works for you. Kathy

I am sorry you are having a tough time.  I go through times where I feel like I have this all figured out and I can “work my tool” properly and there are other times when I just make poor choices and eat too much.  I am feeling good and working it right now, but 2 weeks ago I was struggling.  I do get full on a reasonable mature pouch portion of food.  You want to hear something weird: I have eaten a 6 inch sub from subway, (it makes me very full, I usually get a wrap instead) AND I have gotten full on a hard boiled egg.  Go figure!  I can eat less in the morning.  FYI: I can eat more of an omelet because, in my opinion it’s light and fluffy it’s not as dense as a hard boiled egg.

Anyway, if you feel you have a larger pouch maybe you could try the old dieting tricks of feeling full, you know high volume, low calorie AND NUTRITIOUS.  When I feel that I am not full even after I had a reasonable amount of protein, I top off with veggies or fruit.  If I choose veggies I go for raw or cooked slightly.  Think dense and fibrous!  That will make you feel full with out packing on calories.  Sometimes I stop when I am satisfied and sometimes I eat until I am full, just depends.     Good luck and I am so sorry you are having a tough time.  You can do this!