Looking to Interview Those 5 Years Out ..

Hi there ,
My name is Natalie Blaum . I am currently working on writing an article for the OH Magazine.
In this article I want to interview those patients who are 5 years or more post op .
I am looking for those who have reached their goal weight and maintained it .
So many people write horror stories about RNY , DS and so forth . There is so much talk among those that have never had it how in 5 years you gain the weight back.  I want to talk to people who can clearly show that this surgery does work and how their lives have been changed by it .
What is your routine ? Exercise - Food - Support
If you would like to submit your story , please PM me here on OH .
I am looking to complete the article no later than the end of November.
 
I look forward to hearing from you .

Natalie

are you gonna represent DSers.....or is this just a ruse to push the RNY or band on people?

Scott

PS if you want 5+ year out post ops, you'll have to go to the DS forum most of us rarely come here.

You wouldn't want my story. YES I'm a WLS success but not in your way.
I did reach the magic BMI goal of 23.6 and I had BOTH my PCP and WLS doc yell at me for getting TO THIN at 4'10"113. I have a large frame but am in no way petite. SO charts can be WRONG. I  gained some and and now I stay around 130-125. NORMAL FOR ME at age 48.BMI 26.5
ANYWAY I eat whatever I want with in reason. Candy, cake, ice cream, pizza pasta, fast food, just not SUPER SIZED. I NEVER work out or exercise I never have and never will. I haven't taken any vitamins in about 5 years. I don't do all the lab/blood work  I haven't in about 5 years also.  I went back for my 5 year check up last year and the WLS doc spent less than 5 mins in the room with me.
Now is this NORMAL, I don't know I only know that it is for ME and a few others. There is a girl I work with that had the same doc and we have the same way of eating and thinking she s 4 years out.
I had WLS to be NORMAL and this is MY NORMAL.
Good Luck with your write up.
Robin

Like Robin, I'm not fanatical as I was the first year or two following my surgery.  I don't exercise regularly now and know I should.  I lost 135 pounds total and have gained about 30 pounds.  I would like to lose about 15 of those as 30 pounds ago, I was too thin (so said Dr. O'Malley)

I have started to cut way back on the munchies, but not obsessively so.  If there's a birthday, I'll have a piece of cake, just not a huge slice. I do plan to do the 5 day pouch test shortly (want the first couple days at home).  I do know I do not want to gain any more weight.  It's not comfortable and I know I don't want to go back to those "old days".  No way, no how.

Somehow, I've fallen off the radar with Dr. O'Malley's office, but that doesn't bother me as I just don't feel like paying yet another co payment for a 5 minute visit.  I do get my lab work done by my own PCP and do take my vitamins and calcium.  I hope I'm getting enough calcium as I really cannot drink milk.  Even lactose-free milk sometimes bothers me.  What is a girl to do?

I'm still far better off than I was over 5 years ago.  However, newbies need to be aware that you will always have to watch your weight.  That first year or so of free-falling weight is great, but it will not last forever.  The maintenance phase lasts for life.

 I am six years out from my RNY.  My surgery was a lifesaving event for me and a complete success.  I had surgery in September 2003, by December 21 I had lost 101 pounds and by the following March of 2004 I had lost 157 pounds.  I continued to lose for a total of 237 pounds gone.  I felt AMAZING!!!!!

In 2005 I began a round of hand surgeries on both hands alternating and intense therapy for an injury.  That was almost 2 years of not exercising, not really eating as good as I should have because well it is hard to prepare things when your hands do not work so well.  I gained a total of 45 pounds since the surgeries began.  I still have hand issues so things are still tough.  I need to find an exercise routine other than the occassional walking that helps.  I don't like the weight at all and in a part of my mind the fat girl still lives terrified to be fat again.

I have just rejoined OH in the hopes of getting back on the wagon so to speak.  I moved 3000 miles across country away from my surgeon and support group so I know this is going to be a bigger challenge than it could be.

I still think if you follow the rules always and take care of yourself, you will be successful in your weight loss and more importantly healthy.

Hi Natalie,
My name is Natalie, too. I had lap RNY gastric bypass 10/25/2001 and lost 113 pounds. I have maintained a weight loss of 100 pounds. I would love to be in your article! Being 8 years post op, I don't think the "5 year rule" applies at all. I know people who have gained all of their weight back, but it is due to their lifestyle and not the number of years post op!

You can email me at [email protected]

Natalie

Hi Natalie,
I had my RNY Sept 2000 and lost 225# and have maintained my weight loss within 15# since that time.  I will send you a PM with my e-mail address.  There is no magic to this.  It is very hard work.  One of the most common question that I'm ask is, " Can you eat anything that you want now?"    (There is an assumption that after you are 5 years out and you have maintained your weight loss that you no longer have to work at this and you can eat whatever you want.)  My answer, "NO!"  I didn't go under the knife and have my guts re-arranged so I could keep doing the same stupid stuff that I've done for half of my life. 

I am choosing to not eat whatever I want so that I can have the freedom to "DO" whatever I want for the second half of my life.  Enough said.

Kathy