Question:
I suppose I have questions...but mostly to let others know what I have learned
I had my surgery a year ago last January. I started out at 323lbs and I'm now at 230lbs...I am not done but I stopped losing weight long ago. I have not lost a pound since about 11 months ago...although I haven't gained either. I now feel I understand why they say there is a window of opp because I now feel my body had figured out what I had done to it. My old habbits are back. I think a lot of the reason postops don't check in anymore is because they may be like me where there just isn't any reason to check in. I don't mean to be negative but I felt it was time some of us spoke up. I will never regret having the surgery(I can cross my legs for the first time in my life). But I'm not done and the old nightmare of having to diet is back in my life. It's strange...I don't eat that much...but I do eat more than I did just after the surgery. I guess my question would be for other postops out there..I want to start a diet that works for us...not a weightwatcher etc diet that has a lot more food than we can eat. I sometimes wish I still got sick all the time like before..now nothing bothers me again...including sugar. Oh well....would be interested in comments...thanx — Debora H. (posted on September 4, 2002)
September 4, 2002
I have some of those same problems, I can eat anything. This is a blessing
and a curse. But I am MUCH healthier and feel great. My mind tells me I am
still MO. and I WISH I could loose another 10 pounds and am about to try.
<P> Given all this I am happy, much healthier but concerned I could
regain. Probably just like a cancer survivor who fears trouble is just
around the corner. This fear is GOOD, it should help give us some restrain
when visiting the derert tray.<P> People drift away from here when
WLS is no longer the center of their life. This is GREAT, according to the
psych doc who approes every one of my surgeons patients this means they are
well adjusted out living their life. Congrats sounds like your
there.<P> I remain because I preomised myself pre op if I survved and
did well I would give something back to our family here for the support it
provdsed me pre op. Thats why I answer questions and moderate.
— bob-haller
September 4, 2002
Are you familiar with the 'Pouch Rules for Dummies'? If not, search the
archives for them. I've heard that those are the best rules to follow when
you still have weight to lose, and should (hopefully) be more effective for
you than conventional dieting.
— Patricia E.
September 4, 2002
We just talked about this at my support group. They say you can
"re-set" your dump-o-meter by going back to liquids for 1-2
weeks, cut out all sugar and lower your fat intake. I am a
"newbie" (open RNY 8/6/02), but my brother is also going through
the process of trying to get the loss going again. Stay focused on you
success and good luck!
— Dana B.
September 4, 2002
I haven't reached your stage yet-only 7 months post-op, but already the
loss has slowed significantly. Reality is right around the corner. So
far, very little work-the weight has kinda dropped off on its own. My
suggestion is to try exercise. Before I had WLS and would try the myriad
of diets out there, I noticed that when on a diet, if I did NOT exercise,
the loss was much slower than when I was consistent with exercise. BTW, 100
pound loss is awesome and the fact that you haven't gained it back deserves
a pat on the back.
— Cindy R.
September 4, 2002
I think it is good that you speak up. A lot of pre ops do have this feeling
that this is somehow a fix all or cure to all their weight problems. I am 6
weeks out, and already finding out that this is not as easy as I first
imagined. The weight is coming off, but I have to watch what I eat still
AND exercise. I think it is important to look at this surgery as a tool
only and realize that window of opportunity is there so that we can learn
to make life changes that will last forever. I personally hate exercising,
and drinking all that water, and having to give up sweets...but I know this
is necessary and that I will have to do it the rest of my life to be at a
decent healthy weight. I am scared of falling back to my old habits in a
year or so. I am scared of failing again. But, I think it is important for
people like you to tell your stories and share your concerns. I really wish
more longer term postops would be more open about their experiences...both
good and bad.
— Shawnie S.
September 4, 2002
Right on Bob!!! (bob haller) I too promised i would never leave nor
forsake..and besides i learn something new every day!!!!! My dr told me,
the first 60 lbs or so would come off pretty easy ..then the rest..is up to
me..
i think knowing you have a choice of cutting calories or exercising more is
an option....works for some..not for others...I'm 20-25 lbs from goal and
ill keep pushing.
Ive gained and lost 3 lbs over and over!!!! It scares me to death!!!!
— Jackiis
September 5, 2002
Deb, please do not give up on yourself or this surgery. It was never
promised to be a miracle cure for all weight problems, but it really is a
miracle cure for "morbid obesity." You are now out of the MO
category, and you probably feel like a million bucks. Your health is
likely no longer affected by your weight. I started my journey 17 months
ago at 407 lbs. I am now 215 lbs. and don't appear to be losing anymore.
I would love to take off another 25 lbs. (I'm pretty tall.) but I'm very
happy with the weight loss I have been blessed with so far, and I love
being half my original size! Please, please, please try to be grateful for
how far you have come and work every meal on trying to make the best food
choices you can. Concentrate on maintaining your current weight, and reach
out for support as much as you can. You're worth it!
— Terissa R.
September 6, 2002
I know from experience that you can gain weight back. It distresses me to
see "weight gone forever" in the post-op posting. DOESN'T MEAN IT
CAN'T BE DONE!! Please read on...this is meant to ENcourage, not
DIScourage!!
I had the old fashioned stomach stapling done back in 1980. I was 30. I
lost weight really well,90+ pounds, kept it off for over 5 years before I
ever gained an ounce. Then I had a lot of personal stressors going on and
I started to overeat. Yes, I even threw up quite a lot.(THAT cost me my
natural teeth...from the stomach acid..YUCK!)I was throwing up because I
was overeating...but I blamed it on the stress! Anyway, I NOW KNOW that we
have to be ever mindful of the fact that we can 'defeat' any surgery. It's
really important to develope and maintain healthier eating habits..that's
what this surgery does for us....but we gotta keep it up.THE SURGERIES ARE
A TOOL..NOT A CURE-ALL. I managed to stretch out the exit port to my
pouch.I now weigh more than I did before the stapling. I have to be
accountable.IT IS MY FAULT. The stapling did what it was supposed to do. So
now I am having the open RNY on 9/25. I have supreme confidence in the
procedure and I know that I will be dilligent about what I eat and how I
eat for the rest of my 'skinny' days!
— Georgianne Faith W.
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