Question:
Can you jump start losing after 19 months post op???
I had the Open RNY in Dec. 1999 and had lost 129 pounds, regained 20 pounds and am stuck. I feel like a failure and my doctor told me that I was a failure. I weigh 248 and still have just over 100 pounds to lose. Is there anyway to still lose quickly and successfully after being stuck for several months. I can and do eat a lot more than I imagined I could and feel completely out of control. Someone, PLEASE help me! I don't want to stay fat!!! — Carol M. (posted on July 28, 2001)
July 28, 2001
My first thought when I read your question is were your stapled or
transected? If you were stapled then it is very possible that you have a
staple line disruption. I would definitely ask your surgeon. BTW-How dare
him to call you a failure!! You have acheived a wonderful weight loss.
However, anytime there is a gain, I always wonder about a SLD. YOU are not
the failure!! Maybe your staple line is ?? Shelley
— Shelley.
July 28, 2001
Hi Carol, You are not a failure. Your wt loss is MAJOR MAJOR success!
Don't let anybody program you into thinking you are a failure. I have been
trying to find out the answer to this question for a while too and have
researched a lot. I read one post where a person said that you can
"shrink" the pouch by eating lightly for 3 wks and doing all the
"correct" things....no drinking and eating, no overating, lots of
liquids, etc. You know all the things you did for your awesome wt loss. I
have been at a plateau for a few wks now but it is starting to go down
again. I have been maintaining 800 calories, exercising, and lots of
protein. I set goals for myself and wrote them down...very important. I
am about to attain my first goal of 8 lbs lost in two wks. Program
yourself for success. The mind/body connection is very powerful. Instead
of proclaiming yourself a "failure" and beating yourself up, set
goals and go about attaining them. You know how. If there is staple line
disruption, everything I have read has said you would eat two to three
times as much as you have when all was intact. For example, 3 cups of food
at a sitting! How much can you eat? Do you fill up on solid food like you
did before? Do you still burp a lot? One more sign of disruption,
possible stomach acid or heartburn? Good luck, Carol. You can succeed in
jumpstarting your loss again. You GO GIRL!!!
— Marilyn C.
July 28, 2001
http://www.oregoncenter.com/article1.html
(that is a "one" after article, not an L)
You can retrain your pouch "tool" at any time.
Read this article. Print it out & study it, as it is 12 pages. We have
the capacity to retrain the pouch --barring any staple line disruptions,
etc.
— Barbara B.
July 28, 2001
Hello! I have not had surgery yet, however, I received a valuable piece of
advice last week that might help you: If you went to see a
dietician/nutritionalist pre-op, consider making another appointment to see
them again now, and discuss your problems and challenges with them. Last
Monday was my dietician appointment, and the one thing she said was that
she's here to help me every step of the way. To quote her: "Many
people think they only need to see me as part of their pre-op checklist,
but if you hit a plateau, or something isn't working, I'm the person who
can help you!!!! So, please, keep my number handy!!!" Well,
needless to say, her number is next to my phone, and I won't hesitate to
use it!! If you were not required to see a dietician, perhaps you might
want to ask a nurse at your Doctor's office, or call the hospital where
your surgery was. They may be able to recommend someone <i>who
specializes in gastric bypass patients</i>. Oh, and tell that Doctor
of yours that in calling you a "failure" he did the worst thing
a Doctor can do to the patient who believes in
him....<b><i><u>HE</b></i></u> failed
<b><i><u>YOU</b></i></u> Go to your
profile page, and fill in your surgeon data. If he can be this cruel to
you, others should know about it and decide if such a uncaring and
unprofessional person should be cutting them open. I'm here to help if you
need me! Good luck to you! Keep us posted!!!
— missmarisa
July 28, 2001
Hi Carol, I have my surgery on Monday, and although I'm not where you are
now, I have to say that you are not a failure. The weight you lost is a
great success. I think everyone falls off the wagon once and a while, and
you just have to hop back on. Your doctor shouldn't have told you that you
are a failure. He should be supporting you and helping you to figure out
how to get on the right track, or at least send you to the person that can.
I would take the advice of the other posters and see a dietician. Best
of luck to you!
— [Anonymous]
July 30, 2001
How dare that idiot call you are a failure. Obviously, he's more
interested in his statitics than he is in his patients. Even if you
never lose another pound, you've done wonderfully in going from a
well over 350 to 248. it certainly, isn't too late to start losing
again....but....you might not ever get to 148. Why not try for 199
as an interim goal. Then, go back to basics. Keep your carbs low,
get to a gym and work out...hard. Eat lots of proten and drink
your water. You'll start to lose again, it might only be a pound
or two a week. But, you will lose. Just think about how much
better you must feel and look today than you did before your
surgery and If you want to lose more, do it for "yourself" not
for
that insensitive, cruel doctor. If you decide that you like your
body as it is now and you don't want to struggle to lose anymore
weight....and you will have to struggle. Then revel in the weight
you've already lost and enjoy your life. 248 ain't so bad.......
ask anyone who's at 448lbs. today.
— [Anonymous]
July 30, 2001
Thanks so much for all of the suggestions and encouragement!! I feel like
I can start thinking about it again and have already started a food diary.
I didn't change any of my horrible habits, just wanted to see HOW MUCH I
was eating. I'm gonna bite my tongue and share the results. Is this too
much at a time??? I know that this is the wrong foods - I have been off
track for a while, but now feel like I CAN continue this.
7:30 1 glass Dr. Pepper
8:00 1 ham w/inserted cheese sandwich
11:30 1 glass Dr. Pepper
1 can cheese tortellini
2 pancakes with onion
3:30 1 handfull plain, wavy chips with french onion dip
1 glass Dr. Pepper
4:45 2 serving spoons Suddenly Salad Ranch & Bacon
5:45 handfull trail mix
7:00 chicken patty on white bread w/miracle whip, pickles, onion
1 serving spoon suddenly salad
1 cheese toast
1 mini tootsie roll
3 glass crystal lite
Some days I can eat double this. I think this was a 'medium' day. Does
this still sound like a staple line disruption? or do I only need
self-discipline? I am gonna check out the site on re-shrinking the pouch
and I do believe that I'm getting fired up again! Thanks Friends!!
— Carol M.
August 6, 2001
Sweetie I think your problem is not so much the volume of food that you
eat, but that you may have fell away from the healthier foods you should
concentrate on when trying to lose weight. I honestly believe that you can
have some of ANYTHING you want, but I think one should hold that off until
the are close to goal. Maybe one bite here, one there. But that's it.
I'd say the biggest problem I see in your diet is the Dr. Pepper. I notice
you don't say Diet Dr. Pepper. Hear me when I say this (and note I too
LOVE soda)...it is one of the worst things for you. In fact, my doctor
will not go through with the surgery unless the patient vows to seriously
curtail future soda drinking. I mean, notice how fat little kids are
getting now, and that's all they drink! Now, I'm not saying totally cut
out the soda, but how about one cup of soda a day? And if you cut out the
chips, or just generally make healthier choices, you'll get back on the
ball and be on your way to goal. I know you can do it! Once you're there,
then eat all the kinds of things you want in moderation. Take care.
— [Anonymous]
August 6, 2001
I agree that the biggest problem is the kind of foods you are and are not
eating. You have way too much refined starch and sugar, not enough protein,
and no fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You are NOT a failure, but
you do need to learn more about a healthy diet for best health and weight
loss. I vote for cutting out sugared sodas and having the diet ones only
now and then, as a treat. If you drink the water you need (64 oz/day or
more), you won't be thirsty. Think about some substitutions. For example,
how about a protein shake at 7:30 instead of that Dr Pepper? Maybe some
grilled chicken breast on whole grain bread instead of the breaded patty on
white. Pretzels or popcorn instead of chips -- or a piece of fruit -- as a
snack. Budget Gourmet, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice all make frozen entrees
which are low in fat and sugar and high in nutrition, and the BGs are often
on sale (here, at least) for about $1 each. Even if you cook your own, take
a look at what they put together in those entrees and copy them. A bit of
meat/fish/poultry, some starch (potato/rice/pasta), and some veggies. Try
to make your meals colorful -- white chicken + peas and carrots, instead of
chicken and mashed white potatoes, for example -- and they'll be lots more
nourishing. Go for foods you have to chew instead of the ones that slither
right down. Check out your local bookstore for "healthy eating"
cookbooks and try some new things. I know it's hard to change, but you'll
feel and look much, much better if you're well nourished AND you should be
able to lose more weight. Don't forget, this is a lifetime plan, not a
diet! And don't forget to exercise some. Walk as much and as often as you
can, to start -- this, too, needs to last a lifetime. Good luck and try
not to let yourself get discouraged.
— Linda B.
August 11, 2001
I have started back on the Protein Power Plan that I had originally been
on. It's been 4 days now and it's really been hard. I didn't know you
could go thru withdrawls with sugar and carbs! I have cut out caffeine
except for a cup here and there if I get a headache. I am having a hard
time figuring out the nutrition part - it just doesn't click! I have
recruited my husband and am making him learn it so he can teach me (or cook
for me!) He's doing good. I am happy to report that the bad taste is
back!!! I feel like I have lost a pound or two! I am not getting sick
between meals anymore and am learning to eat healthy. I bought some
sugar-free Kool-Aid and Crystal Lite and am drinking, drinking, drinking!
I think one of my problems also was that I was too dehydrated. I'm on the
right track now thanks to all of the encouragement from you!
— Carol M.
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