When the "RAH! RAH! RAH!" is Gone: A Dose of Reality (long but worth it)

After my post yesterday on the RNY board venting my anger over my stall (“Second Stall – Seriously Pissed – Big Rant – HELP!), followed by Jenny R’s post about having a positive attitude and looking for success regardless of weight loss (“Pollyanna I’m Ready For My Enema Now”)… I went home and had a serious self-evaluation.  I pulled out my favorite WLS books and my Barix Clinics Guide to Good Health for inspiration and help. You know what I found inside?   A big ol’ dose of reality. When our “RAH! RAH! RAH!” attitude is gone, the REAL work begins.  I knew this surgery was a lifetime commitment; that the journey would be long, sometimes arduous, and filled with bumps.  Weight loss and reclaiming of health would require more than just a small stomach.  And in the early post-op weeks, when you’re home from work and lounging in your PJs, you can devote all of your time and attention to planning your meals, increasing activity, and taking your vitamins.  Adopting the post-op lifestyle becomes your new job when you’re fresh out of surgery.  It’s fre****’s exciting and it seems so do-able!  “Whoohoo!  I lost 15 lbs this week!  Planning and cooking on-plan meals is easy!  I have so much time! I can do anything! Jus****ch me go!” But then, step by step, we move from surgical recovery back into our routines again. Lookout when real life starts stepping back in!  Jobs, families and obligations take over and our focus can blur and shift until we end up back where we started pre-op, but with a smaller stomach.  Old mentalities and habits return, even when we think we are trying our darndest to succeed and follow our plans. For me, at 2 mos post-op, meal planning and preparation have almost disappeared.  I’m back to my fast-paced, super-single days of grabbing whatever is quick and handy.  Conscientious eating has given way to mindless meals in front of the TV.  I’m bored with fast and easy food, it doesn’t satisfy me, and it makes me want to snack MORE to fulfill my longings for more than nutrition.  I may be eating surgery-friendly foods, but the habits that got me to 300+ lbs are moving back in.   Oh dear.  I’m THAT girl again.  Wait!  What???? You mean she didn’t disappear on the operating table along with my flabby stomach???  You mean I actually have to WORK at this conscientiously for….EVER????  Eyeballing portions and thinking ‘just this once won’t hurt’ isn’t good enough??????  uhnnnnnn….. i think i knew that once…. i remember reading that somewhere and nodding ‘yes yes, easy enough, i can commit. i’ve learned all this stuff, it’s stuck in my head. no way am i gonna get off track.  ’   Ha. Ha. Ha. Guess not.   But hallelujah for the access we all have to information, guides, resources and the almighty kick in the ass to get us back on track.  Let me share all that I re-learned last night with you. From “Before and After…” by Susan Maria Leach  “…This surgery is truly a medical miracle that can change your life, but it doesn’t do all the work for you…what many gainers have in common is that they never turned their life over to this surgery… and figured that they would be able to control their habits once they lost the weight…They are out of control because they never had control but thought the surgery would provide it for them with minimal participation. My advice is to go into this surgery knowing that it is going to take a lot of work and dedication to your health.  Know the rules, identify the boundaries, and be prepared to live without crossing them for the rest of your life… Finally,… train yourself to look for the good things as they unfold instead of the bad…Learn to love your new life, but even more important, learn to love yourself!”  Ouch.  I find reflections of myself in those underlined sections.  Do you?  Now how did that happen???   From Barix Clinics “Guide to Good Health”  (some of this may vary based on your individual surgeon/NUT advice, but the concepts apply to us all!)  

 

On-Track Checklist:  * I am utilitzing the 5/30 rule constantly, avoiding fluids 5 minutes before meals and at least 30 minutes after a meal.  * I am avoiding liquid or mushy foods if they are not satisfying.  * I eat meals slowly and stop when comfortable, limiting food intake to 3/4 cup of food at each sitting.  * I eat six small meals a day.  * I obtain adequate fluids (64+ ounces) mostly from calorie-free sources.  * I choose mostly lower-fat foods.  * I limit added sugars to 2 grams or less per serving.  * I choose foods that nourish my body, not empty calorie foods like sugar-free ice cream.  * My fitness program is optimized for my fitness level, including both strength training and cardiovascular training.  * I follow my fitness program on a regular basis (5-6 times a week).  * I limit emotional eating.  * I plan ahead and have healthful foods available at work, home, while commuting or traveling.  * I check myself by logging my food and activity periodically.  * My attitude is positive, focusing on my improved health and enjoying the opportunities for lifestyle habits that support my health.  * I am seeking out support as needed.  So, when your "RAH! RAH! RAH!" is gone… are you still on track? Heather

i REALLY need to pull out my guide to good healthy book and start getting back on track. I can't take this no weight loss thing any more it's driving me crazy! TAKE THE EASTER CANDY AWAY FROM ME NOW!!!

Thanks for posting this.  I'm really starting to hit the "back to normal life" phase as well. This was an encouraging post to put things into perspective again...

Thanks for posting.  My rah rah has recently left and I was getting really bored with my food choices.  I know I need to get things back into perspective food-wise