Weight Loss Surgery Graduates Forum

It?s a sixty-mile drive from North Platte, Nebraska, to the county hospital in Ogallala, but Jimmy Simmons has happily taken it every month since 2005, when he first began considering LAP-BAND® surgery. At that time, he weighed 330 pounds. Now, at 202 pounds, Jimmy visits the hospital to encourage potential weight loss surgery patients to participate in a weight loss surgery support group. ?I only talk for about five minutes, but it?s the best thing I can do for myself,? he says. ?I have to stay involved.?

Right after weight loss surgery, we?re on a wild ride of rediscovery, losing real, undeniable pounds for the first time. However, for many of us, weight loss slows down with time, even if we haven?t changed our post-surgery habits. This change can be frustrating, and the feelings of excitement can turn to self-doubt?but these challenging moments should not deter us from our long-term goals. If you want to stay motivated for the long haul, keep reading. These tips and tales from those who have been there will empower you to move boldly toward your weight loss goal.

Cathy?s Story
Like Jimmy, Cathy Wilson has stayed involved in the weight loss community since her Roux-en-Y surgery in 2001. As a Support Group Program Specialist for ObesityHelp, Cathy trains support group leaders across the country and interacts with OH members daily. With all that camaraderie, you?d think gaining back the 147 pounds she lost wouldn?t be a concern. But even someone as close to the issue as Cathy can be thrown off course by the ups and downs of life.

?I decided to move from San Diego, my home for 28 years, to Missouri to be near family,? she explains. ?I left my friends, a job that I loved, and essentially started my life over. As a result, my easily maintained weight hit some rough spots. Before I knew it, I regained 30 pounds from my maintenance weight.?

One of the dangerous things about post-honeymoon weight gain is its gradual, ?creeping? nature. The weight seems to come back in half the time it took to lose it. As Cathy tells us, ?I?d step back on the scale and say ?It?s just five pounds, it?s okay ... it?s only seven pounds, it?s fine.? And I knew it wasn?t fine, I was just in denial.?

Interestingly enough, Cathy?s light bulb moment didn?t come from stepping on the scale. It came when the negative, self-deprecating thoughts that were constant before her weight loss surgery began to return. ?Right after surgery, I?d wake up and feel so hopeful and happy. I?d excitedly go to the closet and think ?What would look cute?? It?s when I started going to the closet and saying to myself, ?What can I wear today to feel comfortable?? that I finally recognized I felt out of control again. Then I knew it was time to make a change.?

Determined to feel positive about herself again, Cathy began to closely monitor her food, exercise plan and coping skills. She visited her doctor and learned that some of the things she did immediately post-op caused her stomach pouch to lose its compliancy. At her doctor?s recommendation, she bravely decided to undergo the new StomaphyX procedure. Since then, she has returned to her maintenance weight of 115 pounds and no longer fears regaining weight. ?I appreciate this second chance. I?ve worked too hard at maintaining my size four for all these years to ever go back.?

In retrospect, Cathy is grateful for the setback. ?I?m stronger today than I was right after surgery, because I know where I don?t want to go again. Having this experience under my belt is proof that if I can overcome this, I can overcome anything.?

Getting Back on Track
Cathy, Jimmy and other successful weight loss surgery veterans rely on several core strategies to keep their weight loss and maintenance goals on track:

• Go back to basics: Think about the way you ate and exercised right after your surgery. Have you kept those habits going? Returning to your initial post-op behavior can kick-start your weight loss.
• Write, write, write: Record your eating patterns, exercise routine and mood throughout the day in a journal. If you find yourself eating when stressed, make a note of these times and find new ways to deal with your emotions.
• Build in accountability: Weigh or measure yourself weekly, and jot the results down in your journal. If it?s where you want it to be, you know you?re on the right track. If you?ve gained, flip through your journal to notice where you could have made better choices. Remember, the journal isn?t there to make you feel bad: it?s there to educate you. Once we recognize what we need to improve upon, we can think of solutions.
• Have a stress plan: Remember that the old way of dealing with stress isn?t compatible with your new body. What are five things you can do when you?re upset other than eat? Cathy has hers written on a 3x5 card in plain sight. ?Sometimes I have to go through the whole list,? commented Cathy. ?But after trying all of them, I don?t need to go and eat to feel better.?
• Stack your support: Jimmy posts on online forums, hosts a support group and relies on the support of his wife, another WLS veteran, to keep his weight loss plan in focus. Develop a number of support systems. That way, even if there?s a snowstorm, the Internet is down or a friend isn?t available, you?ve still got a way to reach out.
• Exercise for body and mind: Jimmy?s morning walk isn?t just for exercise?it gives him time to clear his mind. ?I usually pray for the first two blocks, then fantasize about winning the lottery for the next couple of miles!? Having quiet time built into your daily routine can help prevent stressful situations from spiraling out of control.
• Be proactive: Do you know when you?re eating next and when you?ll be exercising tomorrow? If not, begin to establish a routine for your meals and fitness plan so your kid?s soccer game or neighborhood potluck won?t throw you off track.

You?re in Control
Successful weight loss surgery veterans all agree that staying focused on their weight loss is vital to long-term success. Changing your routine and periodically resetting your goals keeps weight loss where it should be?on the front burner. By taking time to focus on your goal every day, you will remember how far you?ve come and know once again that you deserve to enjoy good health and happiness for life.

Joanna Fee, CPT, is a life coach who specializes in helping people lose weight permanently. Her ObesityHelp profile is Joanna_F, and her website is www.everydayweightloss.com.

January 2008