Question:
Has any post op(ers) gone to weight watchers for help?

I am 16 months post op and I am a junk food junkie. I am really out of control when it comes to chips, cakes, ices, candy etc. None of the sugery foods bother me, in fact they never did since I had the RNY. I am planning to join weight watchers today and wanted to know if anyone out there has had simular problems and concerns. FYI I have lost 120lb but I still need to lose 30 more.    — anessa W. (posted on October 31, 2002)

October 30, 2002
I am 17 months out, and I have lost around 180 LBS. I joined WW the last week of September. I was having difficulty with losing the last 30 pounds or so. I have lost from 197 to 180 during this time frame. I knew my honeymoon period was over, so I am working the last 20 off. I think it is a good program that I can live and work with. Good luck to you.
   — sheron H.

October 30, 2002
I posted a question about WW a few weeks ago. I wondered if they had attitude about people having the surgery, maybe thinking we had taken the easy way out. I thought of joining for the ego thing. You know having tried and failed so many times before, now I can be an after picture.
   — Tawnda C.

October 30, 2002
i think ww would be a great program for they teach you to eat right..the only thing is, we need to eat our protein first....but..hey..whatever works that is healthy is the right thing to do...
   — Jackiis

October 30, 2002
I too am a junk food junkie. I lost 125 lbs since 9/17/00 and need to loose 25 more. I have been looking to talk to someone about how they are planning to or have lost that last few pounds. I still have the same weekness I had before when it comes to sweets and rich foods.
   — Shelia R.

October 31, 2002
I'm following WW too, using 21 pts per day. There's an electronic points calculator available that makes it much more manageable, so hopefully it will get this last 50 lbs off as I'm seriously stuck. I have always said that WW was the best plan in the world as you got to eat REAL food, didn't have to make a special meal for yourself while everyone else ate whatever. Good luck!
   — scottiemaam O.

October 31, 2002
As a pre-op, I really liked Weight Watchers (though I couldn't keep the weight off!). I enjoy my WLS doc's support group, but sometimes it'd be a nice break to go to a support group with fewer fresh post-op issues. At five months out, I find myself in a phase of "okay, I can eat more these days, so NOW how do I control my cravings?" It's all about controlling what we eat, an issue we still share with our fellow "normies" at WW (even with our big advantage of the pouch). Plus, I learned a lot about good foods at WW, new stuff I wouldn't have tried on my own. And they don't make you buy their foods (I'm always suspicious of diet programs that pack their profit margins with that requirement). So I say, "Go for it!" And I can't see why they need to know that you had WLS. Like the previous poster said, just modify their program with "protein first" and your WLS vitamin supplement needs, and you should fit right in. :D <P>As far as sugar cravings go, I think those are killers if you keep intaking them (they make me crave more and more if I "go there"). This is just my 2c, but I'd seriously want to divorce that stuff (avoid it! no nibbling!) if at all possible, and try to train your body to crave protein snacks instead. I've had some luck doing that so far, but I'm wayyy behind you as a post-op, so save me a seat in your boat just in case!. I know it's easier said than done, but sweets produce some pretty tough cravings for some of us -- personally, I can't just eat little bits of 'em without suffering pangs for more. So I don't do 'em! More power to those who can, and do, but I'm not one of 'em.
   — Suzy C.

November 1, 2002
The junk food comment bothers me. I was still a candy junkie that first year and I did not have dumping like other people when they ate sugar. Almost a year ago, I was having heart palpations and the shakes a lot. After wearing a heart monitor and having a glucose test, I found out I had become hypoglycemic. I still have cravings but I monitor the junk food. Sweets and candy are a treat now and at certain times of the day only after a meal so it doesn't effect my insulin level. In our support group we talk about a 4 prong approach and surgery is just one part, the others are diet, exercise and mental. You have to work on the issues that cause the cravings. After 3 years I know that my worst time is 8-11 pm but I have it down to one or 2 craving foods, salty now. My weight has stayed stable at 100 lb for my second year, my third year I lost another 10 and have lost much body fat because of the change in diet. We have a psychologist who comes to our support group every 2-3 months to talk about this part of the new life. As we know, surgery doesn't fix all the things, we as patients have to work on what we call 'the head stuff' ourselves. If weight watchers will help you, then go for it. Their aproach is a good solid one I believe and they teach education and support. The goal is to keep it off and eat healthy for the rest of our lives.
   — Elizabeth K.