Question:
Healthy eating, no weight loss.
First off, as I review the boards every day and I do support those who are having WLS and wish them the best of luck. My question(s) is, has anyone ever not achieved weight loss through dietary measures? I've been an 1600 to 1800 calorie eater, two to three mile a day walker (actually a lot more many pounds ago), under 30% fat eater, lots and lots of water (40 to 80 oz a day) for over 12 years and am now up to gaining about three pounds a month. I've changed physicians twice telling me that "i'm pre-disposed and I have a bad metabolism" My thyroid is a bit low and some more tests are being done, but has anyone had this surgery who was not a big eater and could not achieve any kind of weight loss? My new physician suggested without hesitation that WLS was right for me. (My husband and children are extremely thin, mostly because I feed them and I eat what they eat!) Having 700 calories a day, constantly going back to the hospital, 1 out of 200 people dying on the table, nausea, vomiting, etc. My life now with two kids is great and I work at a hospital which I'm on my feet just about the whole time. Please don't get into stats on those who have comordities as I know who comes into the hospital and the problems faced with people of all sorts of problems. To risk dying on the table now rather than comorditites (i'm almost 40) in the future (none now) doesn't seem to be the best solution for my children and even getting through the surgery would lower the quality of my life if I have to vomit and experience nausea and risk malnutrition and get more surgery, etc. Explain to me, those with children, why this risk is worth taking and if you are a three or four year post-op, how much weight has come back on? Thank you and I don't mean to be a bummer, but just seeing the numbers drop for people isn't enough for me. I'm seeing too many problems with too many people only to gain the weight back. I don't know about you, but I know a lot of old fat people. They've been active and healthy until they've become old. I welcome ALL comments, even those who disagree with me, which I'm sure I'll find! I appreciate it. — Mi R. (posted on June 20, 2001)
June 20, 2001
Are you being honest with yourself? Is your quality of life and your
health at their best potential even though you are morbidly obese? If they
are, then maybe wls is not for you. It is a life-altering procedure.
However, I am sure that your quality of life and health would improve if
you lost weight, no matter what method you chose to achieve the loss.
Maintaining it is the key.<br><br>I am widowed with two young
children. I could not take care of me, much less them, or worse yet, even
play with them. They lost one parent, I had to do something so I would be
here with them. Read my profile for the full story of why I chose the
surgery that saved my life.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 20, 2001
Mi,
I know that I did ask a similar question in the months prior to my surgery.
I was 233 pounds (fairly "small") had no health problems
whatsoever, and was very active. I also was very much content with my body.
I too wondered if it was worth it. Now, being 6 months post op, I can
offer this opinion. First, I now weigh 155 pounds. You can't imagine how
much better I carry my self. I have not vomited once, nor have I ever
experienced nausea or dumping. I can eat anything and everything I want,
but I choose to eat healthy food because I can literaly see the benifits of
eating "right". I love that my tummy gets that satisfied feeling
after maybe a 1/2 cup of food. I love that I don't constantly think about
food, have guilt when I eat, or wonder if today will be the day I stick to
my diet. Food is such a small part of my life now, mentally and physically
that I could never regret having this surgery. Yes, there was pain
initially, but it passed and I would do this again in a heartbeat. Has it
changed my life? Not really, I still have to get up and do the laundry and
the dishes, fold clothes and vaccuum, and to tell you the truth, my kids
and husband barely comment on the weight I've lost. But, has it changed ME?
Absolutely. I am making sure to take care of myself. I take my vitamins,
and get my protien in. I take just as good care of myself as I do my
children, which I never took the time to do before. And this time around, I
know I'll make my goal, not feel defeated again.
— Marnie K.
June 20, 2001
Marnie and I are very similar in our experiences: I have had no nauseau or
dumping, can eat what I want, and have never really felt as if I've had
surgery! I also started out with little in the area of co-morbs, as I only
had one arthritic knee.
<p>
But, just because I didn't have any medical problems doesn't mean I wasn't
miserable carrying an extra 130 lbs. I've lost 103 lbs. in 10 months, and
only have 24 to go. And these are the reasons this risk was worth it: 90
degree weather doesn't make me miserable anymore; I can walk 2 miles
without my thighs chapping from the sweat; I can sit in all lawn chairs,
even the folding ones I've always avoided; clothes don't bind and cut into
me anymore; I can be active all day without being in pain all night; for
the first time in my life, I can actually see a spine in my back and ribs
and hipbones.
<p>
You see, before WLS, my eating habits would cause me to have almost
constant bloating, cramps and gas. It was common for me to wake up with
sugar hangovers - shaky, headachey and with that gnawing, unbearable
sickening hunger. All that is gone now. In fact, I don't think I've had
as much as even a cold since I had WLS - probably because I'm eating so
much healthier.
<p>
One of the biggest reasons I decided to do this was because of my children.
I am a single mom and I had to make sure I could be around to take care of
the kids. I'm 36 years old and knew that as I age, it will be harder for
me to lose weight and keep it off. The risk I took was well worth it, and
I'd do again in a New York minute. Good luck to you and keep up the
research.
— Allie B.
June 20, 2001
Marnie..not all of us have a lot of problems, in my case it's the
inconvience of eating less(what a concept), I have learned over the last
couple months that there are things I cannot eat(so what)and I now don't
miss those things...I am 46 and I have been steadly gaining all my adult
life..I am down 75lbs in 5 months(started at 336). I haven't seen this
weightloss in 15 years or more. I do put up with eating smaller amounts,
but I always thought I ate small amounts. I am finally at peace with
myself and I have stopped beating myself up inside over my weight. I
finally don't feel like a freak. I feel normal like everyone else. I fit in
a booth. 10 years ago I was not ready for this surgery...I was this year.
I could not stop the steady climb of my weight and always felt it was
something I was doing. So when do you give up? when you're 400lbs, 500lbs?
for me..it was this year, and this weight. I didn't want to keep climbing
any more. Don't have this surgery until you are really ready for it...but
when and if you are...don't hesitate..do it!(LAP RNY 1/16/01)
— Debora H.
June 20, 2001
Since I am pre-op, I can't really help you that much except to offer you
some opinions. I don't have co-morbs except a a bad knee. I am so ready
for this surgery. It really sounds that your not yet ready metally for
WLS. If you are really only eating what you said, you should get checked
for other problems. Please make sure that you are totally ready. Have you
been to any support group meetings? Meeting and talking to someone in
person might help you make a decision about yourself. What ever you
choose, good luck!
— Amy B.
June 20, 2001
I have achieved a miniscule amount of weight loss through diet/exercise,
and, as usual, it came back. I'm in the early pre-pre-research stages for
WLS right now, so I appreciate your questions. Is WLS worth it? Can I
lose weight some other way? I don't have kids, but I do have a husband,
and I can tell he's nervous about the fact that I'm even considering this.
I do know that, as far as long-term stats are concerned, some of the types
of surgery haven't been around long enough to provide them. Also, the type
of surgery has an effect on the odds of the weight coming back. I only
have a few ideas that may or may not be related to your question. 1) Diet
research shows that dieters often *underestimate* the number of calories
they consume daily by up to 25%. I did this myself when I was coming off a
liquid fast of 700cal/day. The only way I could overcome it was to have a
notebook, measuring cups and scale on the kitchen counter and eat all my
meals at home! 2) Is your exercise in your target heart rate, or are
those miles more leisurely than you think? If you've been walking for a
long time, you're probably reasonably fit. When you're fit, you have to
keep "upping the ante" (walk faster, jog, etc) to get the same
benefit from the same exercise because your heart gets stronger. 3) My
weight maintenance counselor tells me that the average American adult gains
one pound per year regardless of diet and/or exercise (I have to get that
cite...). It is a part of aging. Over fifty percent of my immediately
family members are overweight or obese. The others are thin-thin until
they reach about 40 and then BLAMMO! Maybe it's payback? :) Ruling out
all other ideas, you could always ask your Dr for a stress and metabolism
test to make sure you're burning the calories you think you're burning. A
nutritionist could also help in making sure you're estimating what is going
in correctly. Good Luck!!! p.s. you don't have to have WLS just because
your doctor said so, but at least you now know it is an option!
— Maria K.
June 20, 2001
I went on a Dr. supervised 1400-1600 calories a day diet a few years ago. I
saw a nutritionist weekly and worked out with a personal trainer 3x a week.
On my own, I walked and jogged about 25 miles a week. I did this for almost
a year, and managed to lose about 40 pounds. I needed to lose about 100. I
got tendonitis is my ankle and shoulder and as soon as I started execising
less so my body could heal, I immediately started gaining the weight back,
The nutritionist cut back on my calories to try to compensate for less
exercise, but the weight came right back on. So, yes, you can eat right and
exercise and not lose weight. When I had WLS surgery 5 weeks ago, I
wondered if I would be the one whose body just held onto the weight no
matter how few calories I took in. It hasn't, not only because I take in
fewer calories, but because I take in "better quality" calories
and absorb less. I have lost 30 pounds, slower than some, but fast enough
for me. Like you, I didn't feel so bad, or was so sick, that WLS was a
clear cut answer, but think about what you said-- You are gaining about 3
pounds a month; that's 36 pounds a year! In three years you could gain 100
pounds. I decided I was not going to wait until I was very unhealthy even
heavier and the risks were greater. My surgery was easy, I have not had any
food problems, I am losing weight, I feel really good, emotionally and
physically. Of course, I have followed the good advice from veterans like
Michelle and Barb. I supplement protein, vitamins, and minerals very
carefully and get water in. I come from a family with a lot of overweight
people. They are not old and active. They are sick with diabetes,
arthritis, cancer, heart disease, sleep apnea. They have had to give up
activities they love. They wish they had more energy for their
grandchildren. They are cheering me on and wish that they had had this
modern version of WLS available when they were younger. I have five
children (5 to 14) and know that I will be a better mom with more energy
and self confidence. I am so grateful to have had this surgery and I look
forward to many years of health and happiness.
— blank first name B.
June 21, 2001
Hello Mi...I'm 5'3..320lbs with a BMI of 55. I have been exercising for
years and whenever I stop the weight comes right back. My biggest fear
everytime I go on a "new" diet is gaining the weight back. Is it
worth the risk? It really depends on the person. My Doctor visit back in
November was the last straw. She harped on my weight so much she had me in
tears, she assumed that I've never tried to lose weight. For me this is my
tool of choice, I've tried everything else. At 31 it's time for drastic
measures.
— vmckel3783
January 3, 2003
I am 47 years old. 3 years ago, I went to Kaiser and begged for the
surgery - I was 292 lbs. I had tried every diet, personal trainer, etc. I
have always been an active person, I love the outdoors, but at about 300
lbs, my osteo arthritic knees were killing me (my only co-morbid). I felt
my quality of life was zip, I couldn't do anything fun. Sitting in a chair
was beginning to be painful, I knew that I couldn't work much longer, let
alone live. Kaiser asked me to give the Optifast program a shot. I agreed
and in 7 months, I lost 140 lbs., I felt great and was training for a
marathon in Ireland, then I had a hysterectomy/gallbladder surgery and
stopped my exercise. The weight was coming back on so fast, I panicked. I
couldn't stop it and nobody at the Positive Choice center had anything to
help me. I tried to eat carefully, nothing worked. I went back to Kaiser
for the WLS at 314.9 lbs. and they approved me right away. Have I been
sorry?..sometimes I wish I could have been a happy, fat - grandma. Yet
part of me wants to ski, rent snowmobiles, ride horse, etc. - I want my
life back and if I have to work my butt off to get it, I have to fight. I
feel if you just give up - thats dying. The risk is greater there than on
the operating table, so my decision was made! I am only 8 weeks out, I
have lost 52 lbs. and I give myself until next season to be skiing,
teaching my granddaughter. That will make me worth more to her and myself.
— Bonnie S.
Click Here to Return