Any other 4 year post-ops (RNY)?

I just found this part of the site. I am thrilled! Am tired of reading posts from newbies who are still under the impression that they are certain of success and do not yet recognize that the only thing different about them is that their stomach is smaller. AND that their smaller stomach is oh so temporary. Particularly I would like to know if you are successful, have maintained your weight for more than 2 years, and what has made you successful. About me: lost lots for the first 18 mos. stayed around the same for 2 years. Have lost about 25# in the last 8 mos. and am 9# from my goal (which keeps getting lower and lower). I am a married, mom of 2 boys (12.5/10) and am 42 years old. About you: tell me...about you and your success/challenges/etc. we can share and help one another! Hugs with a bit of bat-wing arms, Karen

Morning Karen, Welcome to the grad board! I'm 4 years post op as well. I'm doing great, lost loads of weight.. Maintained for about the same, 2 years, and then realized a bounceback. Not happy about it, trying to change that. How were you successfull in getting back into the losing track, so far post op? I'm very interested in anything that works. Wendy

Hi Wendy. First of all congratulations on your incredible success! Clearly you are committed to making positive changes in your life! Regarding my path...I think I owe my recent weight loss to my initial post-op phase...I know it is hard to believe! About 6 wks. post op I realized that the only thing different about me was that my stomach was smaller. I was still me, the me who had a long history of making bad food choices, closet eating, stuffing feelings, beating myself up for all of that and capable of making great commitments in the AM only to blow them by PM. I panicked at 6 wks. and realized that I needed to learn how to make the old stuff go away and replace it with positive thoughts and behaviors. So, I found someone who does behavior modification (changing negative behavior for postive behavior). Not covered, I have paid $125/wk for the last four years...best investment I could have made!!! So, to make a long answer to a short question, I caught up mentally with what I looked like and realized that I needed to lose more weight. All I needed to do was make a few changes to the things I was doing to help me maintain. So...here are my secrets, and I won't charge you $125/wk if you want more info! 1. I EAT FOOD, NOT JUST PROTEIN...never did, never will. That all protein crap is a temporary solution, this thing is about lifestyle and success for life, not about dieting...that is from the fat side, not the winning side!!! 2. I COUNT MY CALORIES...I walk around with a book of fat and calories. I WRITE EVERYTHING I EAT DOWN and keep a tally of my calories. For the last 7 mos. I have eaten ~1200 to 1500 daily, and have lost around a pound a week (BTW, many long term post-ops are eating below 800 cals. daily and wonder why they are yo-yo-ing). 3. I WEIGH MYSELF EVERY DAY...naked, having peed and pooped (best case!) wouldn't want the reading to be higher than necessary!!! I even weigh myself after I have pigged out...which leads to #4... 4. I PIG OUT ONCE A WEEK...I know, scary huh? I allow myself one day a week to eat the things that I craved but was able to put off because I had my day of planned piggery. The reality is that it is not all that exciting, but it is nice to plan a day that does not involve counting calories, being in control and exercising...which leads to #5... 5. I WALK EVERYDAY FOR 35-45 MINUTES...I live in Cleveland and we only have 2 seasons, summer and winter. So in summer I can walk outside. Winter I walk on my treadmill using an interval training program (up/down/fast/not as fast). I chose walking because you can do it anywhere and can never have the excuse that you don't have the equipment to get in exercise...if you have legs and they work, you can walk! 6. I plan what I am going to eat and have the food on hand to prepare, or take to work, etc. I plan what I will eat at a restaraunt, which is really about being in touch with likes and dislikes. 7. I AM AWARE OF MY LEVEL OF HUNGER...I ask myself on a scale of 1 (not hungry) to 5 (starving) how hungry I am. I also record this in my food/calorie log mentioned above, that way I know which foods have staying power. 8. Today I am eating three meals a day, with a small snack in between. I never let myself get too hungry, because I have a history of making really bad choices that lead to even worse choices, blah, blah, blah...morbid obesity. 9. I don't eat after 8 PM. Unless we are at a dinner party, etc. where I don't have a choice. 10. I EAT DESSERT EVERYDAY!!! I realized early on that I often came home and wanted the things that I denied myself in public (classic closet eater) and would eat a whole bunch of crap! So, I eat dessert, and remind myself that just because some is good does not mean that more is better...and I mean it! Oh yeah, its also fun to freak people out who know you have had WLS, they cannot understand how it is I can possibly eat dessert! BTW, I don't eat a whole piece of cheesecake...always less than half, and only if it fits into my bank of calories...and because I have planned, counted, etc. dessert always fits in! So, I would say that my late post op recent success is all because I made the decision to continue practicing the things I have learned, I know that I can stay in control, and I know how to make modifications to impact my weight loss. As a parting gift, I offer you this...eat like a normal person, think like a normal person...you are normal! Likely you are very special too! I hope we can keep in touch!

Thanks! What great advice! I think too many of us don't eat enough and that makes our body hang onto every ounce (starvation mode). I also like the fact you watch everything you eat, and plan desserts and "pig outs!" I think we do have to find middle ground -- not too much of a good thing, but enough treats to be "normal." "Eat like a normal person, think like a normal person ... you are normal" -- that's certainly a transition that will be hard for many of us. Sounds like you make the transition! I think that's probably a key to long-term success. Glad you found this site. It's very supportive and informative! Welcome! Joni

"Think normal, eat normal, be normal" Wow! I like that! I may put it on my refrigerator! Julie

More for you refrigerator: "Just because some is good, does not mean that more is better!" "Animals eat standing up...people eat sitting down!" "If you think I am morbidly obese you should see my sister!" Just kidding about this one. I hope my sister does not visit this site. My son got a t shirt from my husband's single brother that said, "If you think I'm cute you should see my uncle." I digress.

I am post op about 21 months and I wanted to thank you for the advice. I have slipped recently into eating alot of SUGAR! ALOT!!! I think that I will try the once a week thing or ONE dessert a day, cause I am doing alot worse than that now...while I have gained no more than the 5 pounds I bounce back and forth on anyway...I am afraid that my habits will catch up to me. I just wanted to thank you, again, for the post. I thought it was down to earth, realistic and alot of common sense stuff I needed to see. If it's too complicated for me, I just flat out won't do it, don't have the time of the mental fortitude to.... Tracy 36 years old-confessed sugar holic Dec 2003 -150 lbs or so...and holding at 180 (five foot ten)

I am post op about 21 months and I wanted to thank you for the advice. I have slipped recently into eating alot of SUGAR! ALOT!!! I think that I will try the once a week thing or ONE dessert a day, cause I am doing alot worse than that now...while I have gained no more than the 5 pounds I bounce back and forth on anyway...I am afraid that my habits will catch up to me. I just wanted to thank you, again, for the post. I thought it was down to earth, realistic and alot of common sense stuff I needed to see. If it's too complicated for me, I just flat out won't do it, don't have the time of the mental fortitude to.... Tracy 36 years old-confessed sugar holic Dec 2003 -150 lbs or so...and holding at 180 (five foot ten)

Hi Karen, I'm four years post-op. I lost to goal, but fight bounce back, right now about 10 pounds. It was more than 10, but I've lost some. I still have a raging carb addiction so that's my biggest challenge every day. White flour and white sugar are evil! Linda

Hi Linda. Congratulations to you. Raging carb addiction? Isn't that the kind of thing we would tell ourselves when we were really fat? OK, so the carbs call your name and haunt you...can you eat more grainy carbs like whole wheat (not the refined crap)? Can you have a little something sweet and tell yourself that just because some is good it does not mean that more is better? Try it...just for today, let me know how it works! Oh yeah, don't label these challenges...those are things we did when we were fat, and they only made us feel worse. You are a successful wonderful person who happens to be learning how to deal with carbs...'K? Hugs, Karen