Question:
Why do I have to diet? I had this surgery so I wouldn't overeat again.

16 months out and I'm 50 pounds from my goal weight. In the last 6 months I've actually gained 10 pounds. I've found I can eat a meal every 30 minutes and it scares me! If I didn't "feel" hungry it would be one thing but I AM hungry that often! This is more depressing than I can put in words. My surgeon says I must have "stretched" my pouch and now have to pay the price. What a jerk! I have never dumped and can eat several cookies at one time without feeling sick. That's better than the whole box but still... Is there anyone else out there that feels like I do? I had a re-do at 6 months out because the opening from my pouch to small intestine had opened up. I feel like I'm never full. This is torture!    — Maria H. (posted on February 19, 2003)

February 19, 2003
I don't know the answer to your question but hope I can give a helpful suggestion. I have cut out all carbs except fruits and veggies (of course a bit of something once in a while isn't a sin!) and basically have followed the Atkin's plan...I am still losing weight at 7months...though it has slowed down. I find that eating a diet mostly of protein has quelled my hunger quite a bit, and if I get hungry, I have a handful of nuts and that does the trick (totally okay on Atkins). Perhaps give it a go and see if it helps? Hope you find a solution soon, you should still be very proud of your progress, but I do not understand why you would even eat cookies..just because something doesn't make you dump, doesn't mean you should eat it..think about all that you have been through to lose weight and keep that in the forefront of your choices. Good luck to you!
   — missmollyk

February 19, 2003
Hi, I haven't had my surgery yet (April 3, 2003), but from things that I've read on this site and what my own Doctor tells me is "This surgery is not a cure, it is a tool." So I'm assuming I will always have to watch what I eat. Good luck!
   — TLLessor

February 19, 2003
I am 6 months out and started having a lot a problems with hunger about a month ago....then I went over the rules again and realized that it was because I was drinking with my meals and too soon after my meals...I had gotton so used to having to drink water constantly, that I forgot the whole concept of the pouch...I atarted drinking more water between and none for 1 1/2 hrs after meals. I made a concious effort to eat meat first then veggies. I dropped 10 lbs in 2 weeks. What a nice wake up call. The water in between meals is very important!...it keeps you from over eating at your meal....but if you wash the food out of your pouch, of course you'll be hungry again...Remember it is a tool...and you can't hammer in a nail with a screwdriver...lol. Good luck.
   — Laurie V.

February 19, 2003
There is a board on Yahoo, [email protected], for people at least 1 year post op. We constantly address ways to deal with this problem and other long term problems. Many of the 3,000 members still post here to share with the newbies. But, like the newbies said. This surgery is only a tool. There is no cure. We tend not to listen when we hear this pre op. We are so excited at the prospect of being thin, that we forget that this is really NOT the easy way.
   — faybay

February 20, 2003
I think a misconception of this surgery is that we will never have to diet again. I have a cousin who had the old stomach stapling 20 years ago and to this day does weight watchers...she has kept the weight off but it is a daily struggle. I am very curious as to what symptoms you had when the opening of the pouch opened up to your small intestine. How did they diagnose that?
   — Kay S.

February 20, 2003
The following is MY post (posted today). I am 4 months out and have lost 75 lbs. I kept saying, I didnt do this to be on a permantent diet...I wanna be normal and eat normal. Its a great idea for some I suppose..but not for me. I do not dump...the only time I have thrown up is if I dont chew meat well or eat pasta or rice. I can eat chocolate without dumping...The I-will-only-eat-one-tiny-piece-as-a-reward, led to me eating 5 uh-huh 5 pieces and a few hours later a few more. Yeah I know better but I swear it is like I just cannot control myself no matter what I do. I never go over 900 calories a day..but I went to fitday and started keeping track and I have had days when my carbs are in the 70's and my fat runs about 30. I know this is wrong and bad, but I feel so out of control. I have refused myself and noticed I was pacing the house like a caged animal at the zoo. I have waited years for this wls and have finally gotten it and now I feel like such an idiot that, me a grown woman, cannot control what I put into my face. I cant do the shakes they gag me, I am trying to find a bar I can tolerate hoping that it would help with the candy/chocolate/sugar cravings. I for some reason cant stand the taste of crystal light..It tastes like it has ground up aspirin in it. Splenda has a bitter after taste too. I have been trying to force myself to use the splenda to get used to it but I find that I will just nurse the drink for hours getting in only a few oz and I need more liquid than that. How can I get a hold of myself? I want so desperately for this to work. I have just sat and cried thinking about how dumb I am for not being able to get a hold of myself. Nothing works...I still go get the bad foods and stuff them into my mouth. The first few times I thought that since I had just discovered I could tolerate the junk food, I would let myself indulge and get it out of my system..BAD IDEA. Any suggestions would help. Thanks. - Terri U I am so glad that you havent been struggling with this from the start like I have been. Some one gave me the advice to follow the "Pouch Rules for Dummies". Another encouraged me to see a counselor and to go to the support group meetings. If your trouble isnt medical, maybe one of these things would help you. Like you I am scared....sorry this is so long...just wanted you to know that you ar not alone.
   — cherokey55

February 21, 2003
Terry, you've got to be doing something right to lose 75 pounds in 4 months. I experience the same emotional eating. It's crazy. But if you compare your snacking now to the old days, you will realize that you used to eat much much more then. Each time I think I am just over-eating, I realize in reality I am so much better off now than I was. I've been trying to break a month-long plateau and now I am going to go back to the no water-drinking with meals, and protein first. I'll still snack but I find that portion control is the key for me. I don't buy big bags of cookies, I buy the snack bags of everything. It's more expensive but I can't be trusted with the whole bag. The surgery doesn't cure your sense of smell or your sense of taste. All the reasons why we ate pre-surgery are still here. I had surgery cause I couldn't control what I put into my mouth--don't know why I thought it would be different after surgery. It is a little different, but I realize I have to make the efforts too. We just have to do the best we can. Don't give up and don't be too hard on yourself. Just try to eat good snack foods first---beef jerky, shrimp, cheese sticks, or try to drink a cup of skim milk to curve your cravings---even add a little nestle qwik to it. And listen to your stomach when it is full. Just dont' give up--you can do this! Maybe take up knitting or a hobby to keep your fingers busy and your mind off food.
   — Kay S.