Question:
Has anyone who is a long term post op tried to stop eating in order to lose?
I am in a major depression because I've started to gain weight (up two pounds) and my clothes are getting snug. It really freaks me out !! I'm actually thinking about not eating for a while, or just eating a bite or two a day like I did right after the surgery so I can re-set my dumping mechanism, shrink my pouch, and lose some weight! I have about 15-20 lbs. to lose and I'm desperate to reverse this cycle of grazing and poor food choices that I've gotten into. I've thought about seeing a counselor that specializes in eating disorders. Has anyone gone off the deep end like I am? Thanks. — michelle T. (posted on August 9, 2003)
August 9, 2003
Hi Michelle, Thanks for your honesty in your question. My advice - stop
being so hard on yourself : ) I saw your profile and you look great,
perfectly trim. Know that there is no way (well, you'd have to work
extremely hard at it) that you will ever get back up in the upper 100s or
over 200lbs...I too am going on a while out (16 mos.) and it has been SLOW
going...I thought I'd NEVER get under 180lbs., then I thought I'd never get
under 170..then...well you get the picture. And now, here I am, under
150lbs. and not believing it! Just trust in yourself and your surgery that
it will keep coming off, and you WILL meet your goals. No need to starve
yourself...just be normal, happy and controlled around food....this is the
greatest "tool" of the surgery. All the best to you!
— rebeccamayhew
August 9, 2003
I'm 3 plus years out. What I do is weigh myself daily, if I go up 3 pounds,
sometimes 5 if it goes fast :) I go on the strict Atkins diet. Starving is
just going to lower your metabolism rate and make you sick. Get the book! I
eat lots of good food, no cravings after being on it for about 30 hours,
never hungry, high protein and lose 1 pound a day. I am having a reunion in
2 wks and typically go on for only 1-2 wks. I started on Mon and have lost
6 pounds today. For sweets I get the chocolate real whipping cream and eat
that or the regular with diet jello. Fat satisfies hunger and this works
well. If you're not a meat eater however, it might not be your thing. Just
do 1/2 hour of walking a day, which isn't much to speed the metabolism up.
Good Luck! You can do it!!
— ZZ S.
August 9, 2003
You are not alone!! I thought about it many times when my scale wavered
with a ten pound gain/lose cycle that drove me NUTS! (I'm 19 months out,
down 212 lbs). At one point, I went all the way back to clear liquid broths
and did the stages all over again, but for three days each, instead of two
weeks. See my second profile (sharon m. brittain), for the diet I follow.
If I see myself gaining, I cut out servings from everything but protein,
and add more protein. NOT EATING can make it worse. If it is a BAD plataeu
(two weeks of no loss), I went back to liquids! Good Luck!
— Sharon m. B.
August 9, 2003
hiya~ first off, i think you should throw away your scale. it sounds like
you've become a slave to it and that is no way to live. secondly, not
eating will put your body into starvation mode & slow your metabolism -
AND you don't eat much food now so you NEED what you DO eat to count!
counseling? that sounds like a good idea -- can't hurt...it sounds like you
have some demons you need to work on.
basically if you are grazing and making poor food choices than what you
should do is change that -- are you still drinking protein? how about
starting your day with protein and concentrating on cutting out the junk
food? add some exercise -- focus on why you had this surgery to begin with
and use that as motivation.
are you involved in a wls support group? studies show that wls patients
NEED at least 3 years support post op -- it is a great idea to help you get
back to the basics and to have other people to share this journey with --
all the ups AND downs -- and they are right there to give you a hug.
you've done an awesome job and if you truly believe you have an eating
disorder then get your behind to a therapist so you can be happy. you
deserve it!
good luck,
kate
— jkb
August 9, 2003
This is to BROOKE....I'm the original poster of this questions, and I'm
having a very hard time understanding why you felt the need to say
"don't be a JACKASS". That was totally unecessary. I don't feel
like I am, or will be, being a Jackass. Did you see the other posts? No one
else decided to degrade me. I asked a simple question and was looking for
some advice - not humiliation. I hope you feel good about yourself. You
know, what goes around, comes around. Next time you need help someone might
do the same to you. Think about it!!!!
— michelle T.
August 9, 2003
This is also to BROOKE...what is your problem..you are PRE OP..why would
you even comment on something you know NOTHING about!!!!!!
To michelle, hang in there, I don't have an answer for you but you look
great..even if you never loose another pound!!!
— PWEBB0716
August 9, 2003
I don't find myself on this website much anymore, as I prefer the maturity
and intelligence, and kindness, offered by the Yahoo Graduates. AMOS
Moderators, why are you allowing Brooke's negativity to detract from the
subject matter here? And isn't the purpose of AMOS to provide support? If
Brooke views this as a bleeding heart message board, perhaps she should
stay off of it. Furthermore, might I suggest that AMOS provide a separate
area for longer-term post ops?
— Anna L.
August 9, 2003
Michelle - Please visit the Graduates board. You have to be one year out to
post messages but are welcome to lurk until then. It is an incredibly
supportive group, full of knowledge and wisdom about the struggles of
living with being a long term post op. Here's the addy:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG/ Good luck to you!
— Anna L.
August 9, 2003
Original poster here again. Thank you everyone - except Brooke - for your
responses to my question. I'm happy to report, I am getting on the
"protein train" along with everyone else - and not starving
myself. I started my day off right with an egg and piece of sausage. I am
17 months post op and want to lose about ten to fifteen more pounds. I can
do it!! Thank you AMOS members - you are appreciated!
— michelle T.
August 10, 2003
Michelle - ignore that idiot pre-op Brenda. She thinks that she's so
knowledgeable because she's lost weight before? So have us all...and put
it back on again - just as Brenda has. That's why we are where we are at
- either pre-op or post-op from WLS.
<p>
Two pounds is not a reason to go into major depression - that is part of a
normal fluctuation. Try putting on a pound between June and July when you
are 11 months out like me. (I then lost 5 pounds between July and August.)
But you do want to stay on top of things to make sure sure that 2 pounds
doesn't turn into 5 and that 5 into 10...
<p>
In looking at your profile, it seems that you have identified your problems
and are beginning to work on it. In addition to concentrating on protein
and stopping the grazing, you may also want to eat 5-6 small meals a day
(with no food in between). This will prevent wild swings in blood sugar
levels that may be causing you to graze. You've also gotta stay away from
the sugars and sweets as you realize...
<p>
What kind of exercise are you doing other than the Tae-Bo that you
mentioned in your profile? Cardio?? Weights?? As my fitness instructor
at the Y told me, replacing the fat with the muscle helps to raise our
metabolism as it takes more calories burned to maintain the muscle than it
does to maintain the fat.
<p>
I certainly don't think that you've "gone off the deep end".
You're doing just the opposite. You've caught yourself early on and
identified some behaviors that can cause your further problems down the
road if you don't stop them in time. And you're here asking for help.
That's very courageous...JR (open RNY 07/17/02 -185 pounds)
— John Rushton
August 10, 2003
Sorry to the jerk Brooke for getting her name wrong and calling her Brenda.
Guess I had the actress on my mind for some reason (Brenda Lee). I see
she made a smart-aleck remark on some other question, too - perhaps some
pre-ops should be seen and not heard *G*...JR
— John Rushton
August 10, 2003
Rebecca M: I wanted to quickly post a repsonse to your answer, PLEASE do
not fool yourself, you CAN GAIN ALL YOUR WEIGHT BACK PLUS SOME, if you
abuse your tool. If you graze/snack all day, if your carb intake is high
(they are typically crunchy foods that melt to nothing meaning we can
consume many calories per day, consume liquids that are high in calories. I
know several people who have gained in excess of 100 pounds, one even
gained back almost 200! This is a tool for the rest of our lives.
<P>
MIchelle I am with you, I brought this very topic up at support group,
different ideas came up, one is there will be "bounce back
weight" could be up to 10 pounds from a low, the other which I like
the best cuz it describes me, is if your body ever spent a lot of time at
your current weight it may be your "set body weight", I was this
weight in high school (160-170) though my body was shaped differently (due
to heavier bone mass now from carrying extra weight all these years), I
have less fat, it is a number my body seems to be stuck at, no matter what,
I have not been able to break under the 165 mark, I continue to follow the
protein, water, exercise routine (except on the days that the conductor
runs be over with his damn train).
You can do liquid protein drinks for a few days, I notice when I have a few
days of eating less, my pouch capacity shrinks. <P>
Since this is FOR LIFE, we should retrain our thoughts, we dont have to
DIET ever again but we do need to work the program.
Good Luck.
— ~~Stacie~~
August 10, 2003
Some of you know that I have been fighting a losing battle with regard to
the fact that they won't let interesting but potentially controverial posts
through. But this is what should be censored. Name calling and degrading
peoples opinions and ideas for either side is not interesting. This is
where the censorship belongs.
— faybay
August 10, 2003
Hi...I am almost 2 years out, and I also battle the food demons. And
easier said than done, but the way to jump start the weight loss again,
even after this amount of time is start treating yourself like a new postie
again. Remember back when you first had your surgery, and how you had to
eat...go back to an all liquid (non-caloric) liquid diet for 3 days...this
will help shrink the pouch down a little bit. Then go back to your pureed
foods, high protein/low carb/no-carb pureeds or protein shakes...and then
soft foods, same thing...high protein/low or no carb soft foods (eggs,
ground turkey/beef), and protein shakes/drinks of some kind. I personally
can not stomach the protein shakes at all. So, I do the the ground beef
and turkey when I do this...string cheese too. And then eventually go back
to regular food. But you should have by now jump started your weight loss
again and detoxed your body from carbs. Stick to that for a while, and you
should be doing awesome again in no time. Up your water too, big time.
And don't listen to small minded persons who are not here to offer support,
but to build themselves up by bringing others down. Take care and be
good!!
— Mustang
August 10, 2003
Hi Michelle, This is the second post you've made this week, that I've read
that I can completely relate to. Although I am just over 2 years post, I
think we are at the same place emotionally. I think the carb devil has had
me by the tail since February (the snowed in days, I found out a lot about
how much and what I can eat..and have had a HARD time kicking it). I had
the worst weekend ever (EVER!!!) last weekend...spent it all day in bed
crying, because I could NOT stop eating. Like I was obsessed or something.
At anyrate, I put myself to bed early Sunday night (Like 6:00 PM) and
decided in the A.M. I would eat what I would have eaten 1 year post.
Moderate carb, low fat, low calorie, and no junky junk food (cookies,
doughnuts, muffins, etc.<<<---evil... lol...and my foods of choice
for awhile.)...I have felt sane this whole week...the first time in months.
It will always be a struggle for many of us, but when you fall down, pick
yourself up, dust off your knees, and walk the straightest line you can. No
words of wisdom (as with the last time I responded to you) Just want you to
know you are not alone. Best wishes to you. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -145ish
— KimBo36
August 11, 2003
Hi Michelle, thanks for your question, I'm only 10 months post op and I am
on a major plateau, I too thought about stopping eating to loose. Actually
thats why I came and read the boards to try and find an answer, Im
depressed right now probably has to do with the stupid scale not being nice
and I'm major PMS. I recently started eating protein bars for breakfast and
drinking high protein shakes for lunch, so far the weight is not moving but
my muscles have gotten very defined, I think I might need to measure inches
for a little while to see if I'm loosing there. Anyway going back to
liquids (protein) for a couple of days sounds like a great idea to me, if I
can suggest a drink for you that taste great its GNC Pro Performance MEGA
ISOLATE, it has 50 grams of protein per drink and only 1.5 grams of fat.
Thanks again for the encouragement to plug on this journey.
friends in WLS, krista
— Krista F.
Click Here to Return