Question:
What's next?

I was wondering what happens when you've lost all the weight that you can with the HELP(tool) of the surgery....can you go the avenue of Weight Watchers like "normal" people? I'm talking about if after it's all done and over and you're left with maybe about 60lbs to your ideal weight can you than switch to the typical diet plans with care taken regarding fats and sugars? What about a diet drug like Merida? Would that help that last bit of stubborn weight? Anybody have experience with this? I'm just curious!    — kathleen-Joan piper (posted on April 10, 2003)

April 10, 2003
Kathleen, I doubt programs like Weight Watchers would help much at all. I suspect that it would allow too much food. The secret to success after WLS is to eat healthy, nutritious foods consistently. The tool works at first (RNY) because of the restricted amount of food and the limited absorption by the intestines. As we progress further out from surgery, the intestines adjust and start absorbing more calories. That first 6-8 months gives us a chance to drastically change our eating habits - to give up all those nasty things that made us obese to begin with. I am 16 months post-op and have reached my surgeon's goal. I would love to lose another 30 or so pounds but he doesn't want me to. I am not "dieting" as such but I am still very mindful of the food I eat. I try to get the most nutrition from my calories. I love Wheat Thins and Cheese Nips but I have quit eating them all together because I realized that I was getting an enormous amount of calories and very little nutrition from them. As soon as I cut them out of my diet, I lost 6 pounds in 8 days. So, while we don't have to "diet" for the rest of our lives, we do have to be aware of what we are eating and how much. I don't count calories strictly but I have a ballpark figure of how many I eat each day. My surgeon recommends that I eat between 1200 - 1600 a day. I am not particularly active because of severe arthritis so I do have to be more careful than some. By the way, I heard that a study funded by Weight Watchers showed that the average person on their program loses 6 pounds in two years. Sounds like maintenance to me, not a weight loss program. As far as drugs are concerned, ask a doctor.
   — Patty_Butler

April 10, 2003
I actually do know a number of people who go to WW post op. They are happy with it and losing weight. I am wondering why you feel that it is the surgery working and not you. If you are losing then you are doing the right stuff. Give yourself a little credit! I personally see a nutritionist who deals with post ops and it has been great. I am only 3 months post op and she sees no reason why I can not get to my goal. She does say that it has to include a little exercise at some point and that seems to be now. I know that the loss is fastest in the first 6 months but that window of opportunity does not close for a long time after that, it just goes a little slower. I am banking on the fact that slow and steady will win the race for me. I am not a speedy loser, 3-4 pounds a week, but I do feel so much better already. Good Luck!!!
   — Carol S.

April 11, 2003
Kathleen, you always could go the route of Weight Watchers, but I'd do it more for the support. The previous poster said they may allow too much food, and too many carbs as well. WLS has us on a "diet" persay, of protein first always, then carbs. So we kind of always just have to do our own thing, but that is why its called a "tool." Because if we can't get all the weight off, there are tricks like increasing protein, exercising more, even going on a liquid diet again. <p> I know you were just wondering, but just in case, don't go for drugs to help your diet. Aids like meridia or anything with ephedra in them are so harmful. And especially post-op, they can really hurt our pouches, not to mention speed up our heart, etc. With a new focus on living more healthy and the aid of this surgery, I believe anyone can get the weight off and keep it. Goodluck to you :-)
   — Lezlie Y.