Question:
I'm a pre-op that is dieting successfully and now having doubts about surgery.
My surgery isn't scheduled for another five months. I just started Atkins three weeks ago and I am losing weight and feeling so good about myself; my control is amazing. The problem is this-- I am 41 years old and I weight 360 lbs. I have never taken weight off and kept it off, but now I'm beginning to think that I might be able to, but then again, what if I cancel the surgery and this sense of euphoria leaves me and I end up weighing 400 lbs. or more by the time I am 50. HELP!! — beckyvee (posted on June 25, 2003)
June 25, 2003
I dont know about you, but every person that I have ever kn own that went
on Atkins and was successful gained it all back and then some. Your body
needs carbohydrates. You cant live the rest of your life on protein alone
and what will happen when you stop...weight gain. I hope you do not cancel
your surgery for this diet. I think its awesome that you are losing weight
bc the smaller you are pre-op the easier your recovery will be on you.
Take care
— Kymberly H.
June 25, 2003
Maybe you should continue what you're doing as far as diet (losing weight
will help with the surgery and the recovery afterwards). Just go through
the procedures as if you're definitely going to do the surgery (go to
support meetings, see the surgeon, the nutritionist, the therapist,
whatever tests they want you to take, etc.). If you feel that the Atkins
diet is definitely working for you, you can always cancel the surgery. I
don't know about you, but I know that in this area, the waiting list keeps
getting longer and longer, so if you have you're name in, at least you'll
be that much ahead if you do decide to do it.
— sunneegirl
June 25, 2003
I know exactly how you are feeling. I am pre-op and have alittle over a
month until my surgery. I am required to lose weight before surgery and I
am not on a strict Atkins diet, but have gone to high protein low carbs and
have lost 10 lbs in 2 months. I thought that maybe I could lose this time
and would not need the surgery, then I remember all of the other times that
I lost and then I got sick and maybe could not exercise, or would give in
and eat a high carb meal, then gain more weight than I lost. I feel so
good having lost 10 lbs, that I want the "tool" WLS, so that if I
use it correctly, I will stop the "yoyo" dieting. I do not know
about you, but I need the WLS, to make me change my eating habits forever.
I know that I can not change my eating habits on my own. I would keep my
appt that you have, because you have 5 months to make up your mind, and if
you can stick to the ATkins for 5 months, you are just ahead that much.
But if you can't stick to the Atkins you will still have your WLS and have
the "tool" to help you get control of your life.
— cindy
June 25, 2003
It is tempting to push my personal decision knowing how successful my
surgery was. BUT< you meust make your own decision based on what is
right for you. There are people who lose on Atkins and maintain as with
every other diet. 5% of Morbisly obese are able to do it without surgery
and you might be one of them. you can cancel now or in 5 months if you
wish, or keep your name on the schedule til you are more sure. If you
cancel there will be someone getting a surprise bump to the head of the
line, no no big deal if you wait til the last minute to cancel. Or you may
decide to go thru the surgery. If you are not 100% committed to the surgery
, give it more thought, make your best decision. only you have to live with
your choices. good luck!
— **willow**
June 25, 2003
becky, weight loss surgery is a big deal, and i urge you not to go forward
if you have any doubts. you say your surgery is still 5 months away.
rather than cancel now, why not wait to see how you feel as the date draws
nearer, and use the intervening time to continue to educate yourself on the
pros and cons of the surgery. good luck!
— carolsaunders
June 25, 2003
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this question for you. What I can tell you
is that I, too, did the Atkin's diet. I lost over 70 pounds in 9 months.
During this time a friend had gastric bypass and I thought she was insane.
Why would you do such a drastic thing when you can just go on Atkin's and
the weight will melt off? Then I stopped losing weight and I gained all
that weight back, plus some. It was the most devastating thing I have ever
experienced. After that, the surgery didn't seem so crazy after all. I
had a history of 18 years of dieting and losing and then gaining again.
Now I am 5 months post-op lap RNY, down 80 pounds, and still losing. All I
can tell you is that I was at the end of my rope. I had tried everything
and it had not worked long-term. I felt this was my last option. If you
do not feel that way then maybe you should reconsider having this surgery.
Best of luck in whatever decision you make!
— Kristen S.
June 25, 2003
I agree. The decision to cancel your surgery should be made weeks before
the surgery, not months. It is great that you have five months, this gives
you enough time to test this eating plan over the long run and see if it
really works for you.
— Amber L.
June 25, 2003
Ya know there are significant similarities between what post op diet will
be and Atkins... Atkins is a God Sent for so many (may God rest his
soal)... and it is a life style change as well. Have you seen the newer
Atkins book, I think it is called Atkins for life. It discusses the
transition to maintance and has great recipies... anyway check that out
while you are deciding what to do. My own experience with Atkins was good
while I was doing it but once you decide to have that one sandwich it is
sooooo hard to get back on the horse, and this horse turned into a bigger
one when I had the one sandwich. I wish you the very best of luck and
blessings for the right decesion for you!!!!
— colette73
June 25, 2003
Unfortunately, Atkins doesn't teach balanced dieting. Take it from someone
who lost a ton of weight, and gained it all (and an extra 40 lbs.) back.
If you slip and start eating the carbs again, you will be back in the same
boat you are in now. Is this the first you've ever heard of (or tried)
Atkins? The diet has been around for a very long time...
— Matt K.
June 25, 2003
while I applaude your efforts to lose weight and am thrilled you are having
success, I went and read your profile and you've listed Atkins as one of
the diets that "helped" you reach the weight your at today. I
think you already have the answers you seek. Look in your heart. Are you
scared? Are you trying to please your mother? Put a lot of thought into
this before you cancel your surgery and best of luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
June 25, 2003
I lost 60 pounds in the four months I was going through the pre-op process,
but I never considered cancelling the surgery. I have lost over 150 pounds
three times over the last 20 years. I have always been able to lose weight
on a diet. It's keeping it off long-term that is the issue. Less than 5%
are successful at it. But some do succeed and I wouldn't want to discourage
you. Only you know yourself well enough to decide what happens a year or
two from now, and whether you will be able to keep the weight off yourself
once the "diet" is over.
— Jim F
June 25, 2003
Thank you all for your support. I don't know why I mentioned that I would
consider cancelling surgery. That really isn't an option for me. It has
been such a long time since I lost any weight and I have really enjoyed
feeling that sense of accomplishment. But deep down inside, I know that the
end result will be the same as it has always been. I should celebrate the
fact that I am showing some discipline. Just two months ago, my doctor
(with Scott and White when I was still insured) threatened to call off my
surgery because he was so concerned that I would not be able to limit my
food intake afterwards. I know now that that I can limit my food intake
(which is essential after WLS), but at the same time I realize that I must
have the surgery in order to achieve permanent weight loss.
Thank you all for being so helpful and keep those posts coming! I am
learning so much from you.
— beckyvee
June 26, 2003
You rock, Becky! It sounds like you have the best of all worlds -- the
self-control and improved health that comes from your success with your
pre-op diet, and the knowledge that all your hard work will NOT go to waste
because the upcoming surgery will keep you from falling back on your old
ways and re-gaining. There will be more hard work after surgery, but you
can feel really confident you can do it now. I only lost 12 pounds before
my surgery, but I had more fun losin' those little guys than I ever did
before because I knew I was saying goodbye to them for good. Good for you,
and good luck!
— Suzy C.
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