Question:
6 months out... How is everyone else doing???
I had surgery in May. I am down 55 pounds, lower than I have been in decades. No more seat belt extensions, I walked non-stop in Disney World last week, rode all the rides. Problem is, I am still at 270 and am not doing what I need to do to continue. Protein foods are making me feel uncomfortable, simple carbs are not. Vitamins irritate my stomach, and often my tummy is too uncomfortable to take my Zoloft. I have given up on my very successful Welbutrin totally because it burns so much. I don't even want to drink the fluids. Worst, I can eat just about as much as I want and then some of all the wrong kinds of foods. Anybody been here and rebounded successfully? I even avoid this site anymore, feeling so distant and like a failure. I finally will see a PCP regarding some bad labs (iron-related ones) that I had done last month. Any help? Oh, and if you are inclined to open up on a judgemental lecture, save your time. I am asking for experience, not judgement here. Help...? — Karen F. (posted on October 28, 2002)
October 28, 2002
I have a friend who had surgery on May1. She has lost 120lbs!!! She is
20 away from goal. I am so excited for her. I am scheduled for Nov 6.
Can't wait!
— Sharon F.
October 28, 2002
Hi Karen...I wish I could tell you that I am rebounding from a slump...fact
is I am wallowing in a slump. 8 months post op and not doing much of the
right things. Bottom line there is no magic that anyone can tell us to
follow to get back on track. You have to want to make those changes. I do
feel great about losing down to this weight but like you I dont want to
stay in the 250s. We have a great local support group and I think that is
what pushes me every once in a while to keep going. I can let go of the
AMOS website anytime but these local gals will hunt me down...lol. Could
you find someone locally that could be a buddy for you?
— SARose61
October 28, 2002
Karen -
I also had my surgery in May and in the beginning food wise I was eating
really well. The old habits came back with Avengence. I continue to loose
weight though, so it makes it harder to get back on track. I have lost 70
lbs and am weighing in right now at 174. I do not get enough protein, hate
shakes, forget vitamins and barely get in enough water. I promise myself
every day to get back on track and then fall off again. This WLS is not a
miracle and now I realize that it takes just as much commitment and hard
work as a traditional diet. Who knew that we would struggle so hard to get
food in?? I feel really heavy and tired after protein. Red meat being the
worst. I really like fish and chicken. By far, the worst thing for me is
SNACKING!! I nibble all day long and prefer the carbs... Email me privately
and I will send you a long post about the rules of the pouch. I have it
here and have not started to read it, but plan to for some motivation!
[email protected] Good luck to you... and remember you are not in this
boat alone!! Love, Jennifer
— Jennifer A.
October 28, 2002
Hello! What you're going thru must be frustrating...I am sort of in the
same boat in that I am almost 7 months out and still have approx 40lbs.
left to go...My first bit of advice, and you hear it all the time, don't
compare yourself to others. My second bit of advice, have you considered
joining Weight Watchers (or whichever program?) I will be doing this in a
couple of weeks for a couple of reasons...#1) I believe it's a healthy way
to help get the last of my weight off, get me motivated to exercise, etc.
etc. and #2) I spent a lot of time "doing" the program without
sucess; I know have the built in controls (willpower, if you will) that I
am sure that I can follow it relatively easy, thus providing myself the
aprobation I need. I dunno if that makes sense, but whatever you do, don't
give up on yourself. You've got whatever it takes to make it to your goal
(as do I...I just have to keep reminding myself of that!) Warm regards...
— rebeccamayhew
October 28, 2002
I,too, feel exactly the same. My surgery was 4/4/02 and I still have approx
55lbs to goal. I have extremely poor eating habits and i can eat/tolerate
just about anything. I have been considering the method that one of the
other respondees noted...joining weight watchers or some other program. i
have no motivation to exercise or consume enough water...just like
pre-op.Dont consider it a failure because where would you be without it????
my guess is that I would be fatter than where i started. I just need a
jumpstart from the slump and I think we can both be ok. Good luck and if
you find something good...please share.
— Maria A. M.
October 28, 2002
I guess I dont understand why you would want to spend money On Weight
Watchers or another program when you cant really eat all the food that
regular people eat on that program? Do you really need an eating program,
or are you more interested in the SUPPORT that a group like Weight Watchers
could offer. I think that is what you need, support and motivation from
people who are in your situation or have gone thru it. I agree with another
person's suggestion to locate a Support Group Meeting in your area and
start attending it faithfully. It might be just what you need!
Congratulations on your success thus far! You didnt come all this way to
stagnate before you reach your goal! God Bless, Stephanie
— Stephanie B.
October 28, 2002
I am not as far out as you, but I too, have a terrible time with protein
shakes, however, I did find a protein drink through Herbalife (wildberry)
it has 15 grams of protein and only 70 calories, it tastes like kool-aid,
just mix it in water (or for a real treat add it to SF ice cream and put in
blender) Also I found a orange cream flavored protein mix (samples
available at vitalady.com) and I mix this with SF vanilla pudding and it
tastes great. I have purchased tons of protein supps and these are the
best (I must have the same tricky taste buds as you). As far as water,
MAKE yourself drink it, and it will become habit, you will feel so much
better. I also heard that if you go back to liquids/soft foods and no
sugar for a week or two, that you can get your dump-o-meter re-started, try
that and see if it helps you get back on track. Hope I helped. Good luck
and God Bless!
— Dana B.
October 28, 2002
I had my surgery on May 9th. I eat all of the wrong kinds of food too. I
am down 97.5 pounds. Which puts me 1 pound from goal. My doctor is even
asking me what I am doing different, and told me not to try and loose any
more weight. The only thing I have done different is I ALWAYS get in at
least 60 grams of protein a day. I take Real Meals. All of my labs are
good but I take two centrum a day and my protein shake has over 40 vitamins
including the iron,calcium and b12. And I drink water all day. I carry
around a bottle of spring water all the time. If you aren't getting in
enough fluids the fat has no way to escape your body. The protein will
also help you to loose faster. Remeber if you stop loosing go back to the
basics protein and water. Also, weight loss can depend a lot on how much
malabsorbtion you have. How many centimeters were bypassed in your
surgery? I had 150 centimeters bypassed.
— Linda A.
October 28, 2002
No judgemental lecture- just concern... I sympathize with the adversion to
shakes and protein laden foods (I think we all have a burnout period- but I
also think you can rebound). Still- as for your bad labs; and your
adversion to supplements and vitamins- you need to read back through some
of the posts from those who did what you are starting to do... We have had
a very restrictive surgery, you may not be able to follow the low fat, high
protein diet... but you REALLY need to be taking supplements. You really
need to take your vitamins, supplements etc. or you are risking your
health.
— Karen R.
October 28, 2002
Just a helpful comment about medications that burn...I have to take my
Zoloft in the middle of eating whatever I'm having for breakfast. Seems
the Zoloft has to "land" on food and be covered by food for it
not to burn going through. I tried everything under the sun with the
Zoloft including taking liquid Zoloft (gross!), and this is the only way I
can take it without getting sick for hours afterwards. I can't comment too
much on the weight situation....I had surgery in May, too, am down 82 lbs.
but not strict about what I eat. I still have about 25 more lbs. to go,
and I lose at the rate of a pound a week. This is okay with me, as I'm
trying to slow the appearance of saggy skin. Hugs and blessings to you!
Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
October 28, 2002
re: zoloft - I take this among many other meds. I swallow both my AM and PM
medications with a glass of no sugar added carnation instant breakfast and
don't have any problems. I cannot take meds with water alone, it usually
hurts my tummy. I am 5 months post op.
— sheltie
October 28, 2002
Buy yourself a food diary and be diligent about tracking your food each
day, it keeps you accountable.
I try and make vitamin taking as pleasant as possible for myself. I take
L'il Critter Vitabeans, which are vitamins and minerals which are jelly
beans and taste like candy, literally, and are chewable. They also come in
gummy bear form.
My B12 is from GNC, it has a pleasant cherry flavor and is sublingual. It
dissolves in about a minute or so. Without B12 supplements you can suffer
irreversible brain and nerve damage.
You don't want that to happen, hon! I take slow-fe iron tablets. They are
white, not green, and are time-released. They are the only kind of iron
pill my stomach can tolerate.
I take Calcium Citrate from Twin Labs - they are chewable and taste like
sweet tarts. I line my vitamins in front of me at work on my desk. Two
jelly beans, and four sweet tarts. What could be yummier?
As for protein, eat things that you like. Nuts, maybe some pork rinds,
hard boiled eggs, bits of cheese and ham, chicken cubed up, thrown into a
ziplop bag, to go. I buy exotic videotapes to exercise to, like African
dance music, middle eastern belly dancing, or I take my dog for a run in
the park because she is fat [not me, hee hee].
I do everything I can to "trick" myself into healthy habits.
Even if you just change one thing a day, keep an honest food diary and
chart down everything you eat, but make just one change that day. Promise
yourself "today I will take my iron pills" and write it down.
Forget about the rest. When it becomes an ingrained habit, add another
thing for your food diary.
Today I will drink tea, sugar free Tang, or diet Snapple [in lieu of water,
if you hate water] and I will drink four cups.
Aim for small steps, like 3-4 cups instead of 8-10.
Even if you do just a few changes, you will feel motivated to make even
more changes. Hope this helps.
Smiles.
— C. C.
October 29, 2002
Karen, I know it is important to be consistent with your anti-depressants.
You may be depressed because the medicine is not working correctly if you
are not taking it. If you can get control of your anti-depressants, I'll
bet you'll feel alot better. One poster had a great suggestion, to try
taking it during your meal. You can do the same thing for vitamins. I
actually take my chewable vitamins right before I go to bed, so if it did
upset my tummy, I wouldn't know as I am asleep! Protein foods are
essential, so just find some that you like-it doesn't have to be meat, it
could be cheeses, or eggs or nuts. Have you tried protein bars? There are
a few yummy ones out there. I love the Balance Gold (not regular Balance,
but the GOLD). They taste like candy bars to me and there are 15 grams of
protein per bar.
Do you remember being told that this surgery is just a tool? That is the
truth. You are not even 1/2 way thru your window of opportunity. Give
yourself a kick in the butt and get motivated again. 55 pounds is great,
but if you try harder, you can double that # easily. And you gotta drink.
Remember the Nike logo, "Just do it". I love that one. Thats
the bottom line. When your feeling lazy or like you don't want to drink
or eat protein, just think of that logo and "just do it". No
excuses-period. Good luck.
— Cindy R.
October 30, 2002
Original poster here... Thank you so much for all of the suggestions --
the ideas were great, the support was extremely beneficial. PCP today gave
me Zantac to help with my meds. After taking ALL of my medicines
(antidepressants and vitamins...) exactly as prescribed for four weeks, I
am to go back to confirm I am "fixed". Ironic that the more
depressed you are, the harder it is to take antidepressants...? Thanks for
the support and ideas!
— Karen F.
Click Here to Return