Question:
Calories in vs calories out---what's the rush?
This may not make it to the board. I read the questions every day. I see lots of people asking how soon they can eat more and different foods. We all had WLS for similar reasons. Why push the issue to expand your diet to include high fat/high carb foods? Weight loss becomes weight gain. We need to follow the rules. Protein first, adequate fluid intake and a balanced diet.Accept resonsibility for your actions. It makes me angry when people ask for help and they have strayed far from the established guidelines. This surgery is a tool to help you, but you must use it correctly. 19 months post op. 350-146 and size 12. — dianne E. (posted on June 24, 2004)
June 24, 2004
Just because people have had a surgery to change their stomach doesn't mean
that it also changes the way we think and perceive food and eating. Many
need additional support and encouragement to change their eating habits.
It's hard after years and years of unhealthy eating to instantly change
without any slipups. Just because someone "falls off the wagon"
for a while doesn't mean that they can't eventually be successful. It does
mean that they need to realize the mistakes they have made regarding their
eating habits, and change the behaviors themselves, or seek help from a
professional to do so. This site is a source of encouragement and support,
so if it angers you to see people asking for help when they have strayed,
then don't read the Q&A.
— raye
June 24, 2004
im a success story if i do say so myself... 19 months out, opeb rny
389/165.5/145 and im glad to say i am normal in all aspects...just like a
reg person, if i want dessert, i have it, people ask questions because they
dont know, its normal to want to push the limits every once in a while.. to
not do so isnt human..
— Erinn M.
June 24, 2004
Hey dude! God bless you if you have never strayed! Most of us here have a
lot of issues when it comes to food and just knowing the right way to do
things does not mean that we always will otherwise who would need surgery.
That first diet would have worked for all of us, yourself included. I was a
VERY compliant and cocky post op for the first year plus but recently have
had trouble with old habits creeping up. (i.e. night eating)(It happens to
the best of us!!!) I think that sharing our errors in judgement IS
accepting responsibility for our actions. I am 17+ months post op and a
size 6/8 and I still struggle with the food demons. The only way that I can
keep control is to share my woes with my peers and professionals alike. I
do agree though that this was a last chance for me and that screwing this
up would be the most foolish thing I could do but I am not perfect nor is
anyone else. When they come up with the follow-up brain surgery will
someone please let me know. Hee hee. (sorry, that was cheeky) (NO but
seriously let me know!)
— Carol S.
June 25, 2004
— kultgirl
June 25, 2004
Well put to the above responses to Dianne’s question or should I
say statement. We defiantly don't need negativity. We all come here for
information and input from each other. This is a support system for us.
Obesity is a disease and it just doesn’t go away. We only go into
recovery with the hard work to maintain are lifestyle and eating habits. We
are humans with faults and yes the occasional slip up. So when we do this
we look to our peers for support and education related to life experiences
not biased non-circumstantial opinions and statements. So, Dianne if you
are not here to offer positive, helpful advice and feedback please
don’t bother reading our questions and answer that disturb you so
much and keep your opinions to yourself. Thanks :)
— imgabbie
June 25, 2004
Everybody has to find their own path. Most surgeons have a good program
but sadly, many don't, so encourage those that need encourgement and thank
God you can stick to your program so well. We all have issues with food
and knowing what is right doesn't mean everyone always does it. I'm one of
the lucky ones. I've done very well and stuck to my program pretty well,
but I can encourage those that may not be as fortunate.
— Cathy S.
June 25, 2004
17 months ago I could have written this comment although I would hope it
would have been a little less abrasive. I was the poster child for protein
focused and followed the rules to the max. My body cooperated and I
reached goal at a little over 12 months with a 242 lb loss. However, my
strict focus for at least 9 months has made it more difficult for me to
find that balance in what I eat.
<p>I lost steadily and never slowed way down or plateaued out before
my 1st PS in Feb at 12-3/4 months PO. My PS took me below goal weight. I
have lost another 8 lbs, on a good day, since that PS. Because I did not
desire to keep losing after my PS I found myself eating a ton of carbs. I
needed to stop the weight loss train somehow - yet I still kept losing.
But finally it ended and I gained 6 lbs and was totally miserable. I am
cut 360 degrees and as tight as everything is there isn't room for an extra
6 lbs. I had managed to take 4 of them back off before my 2nd PS 2-1/2
weeks ago. I still find some days I do way more carbs and then I get
refocused and get back on the protein train. I also find that I am using
food as a comfort more now than before WLS. I've had a horrible head and
chest cold this past week on top of trying to recover from the significant
pain and swelling from this PS and when I went grocery shopping the crap
food I came home with was unbelievable. Talk about no willpower. I sure
had none that day. Do I want to sabotage my success - absolutely not.
Will I always struggle some with food and the choices I make - absolutely.
<p>The scary part to me is that I can eat way more food than I ever
imagined and not gain. It worries me that this will not be the case
forever and then what do I do. So I keep trying to find that balance and
not the extremes I've been doing. I will not live on a diet nor live on
diet food, unless I like it. I eat more sweets than I know I ideally
should and it has paid me back twice in the past 3 weeks. I have had 2
cases of dumping. Mind you I have only dumped 4 times total in 17 months
and 2 of them very recently. In both cases though I dumped on foods and
quantites I have eaten before. The last was on licorice. I haven't even
opened the drawer it is in since the dumping last week. Sometimes we have
to learn the hard way. I am confident that the tool is there if I chose to
use it and better than 50% of the time I do. I know my body and if I
followed my doctor's orders to the T I would keep losing and that is not
what I want.
<p>At 9 months PO I was freaking out as I was approaching goal way
faster than I ever thought I would and was scared to death at the thought
of ever having to eat more carbs than protein. While it doesn't scare me
now I wish it did. Yet if it did, I would have a way worse problem of
getting too thin. So I struggle to find the balance. My metabolism must
be kicked way up as I need about 1500-1800 calories most days. Less than
that I lose and even more than that does not mean I gain, unless it's total
crap food and even then it's slow to come.
<p>I am not intentionally trying to sabotage my body but I am trying
to figure out what I need to do for the long haul - to tame the beast
called maintenance! I would not have done my journey any different because
for me getting the weight off quickly was a major boost and I know in time
I will conquer the food tiger and we will make peace. We will manage to
co-exist peacefully for the rest of my life and keep me in all the new
clothes I have bought. That alone will be my motivation to lose anything I
gain. I cannot afford to buy another new wardrobe and I have some really
cool things now that I could have never worn before WLS or for that matter
ever in my life. I am not willing to give that up, so I will do what is
necessary. But to live a super strict life everyday and deprive myself of
everything is not how I choose to live my PO life. We each need to figure
out what works for us because the further out you get the more
individualized it will become!
— zoedogcbr
June 25, 2004
OK, i will harp on the bandwagon and add my 2 cents. First of all I totaly
agree with what you said. Although in my opinion you have no tact. We must
put protein first, then fluids and a balanced diet. You forgot to mention
in your venting post that EXERCISE is very important also. We don't know if
all post ops have even been given a guideline for being a success. Some may
be asking can they eat more because they are afraid of gaining and they are
eating too little. I am 27 months post op and I still push the button with
starbucks (my new demon) most of us are/were obese because we are emotional
eaters. Anyone who is one will let you know that wls is a tool but it does
not stop the mind from wanting it. Let me congratulate you with your
success. Can you honestly say in your journey that you ALWAYS followed the
established guidelines. In my opinion there are none every doctor has his
or her own protocol for a patient to follow. Granted i am sure there are
some people who even i hae ve to say are you sure you made the correct
decision in having wls. But from a person who cant seem to shake the evil
demon starbucks and who have gained 8 lbs, i know i will not judge. lets
try to be more helpful to each other and not judge because in my opinon if
you are perfectly you would have never weighed 350 lbs and i would have
never weighed 409. 27 months post op -215 weight now 195 size 12 also btw i
am 6 feet tall
— tameaka S.
June 25, 2004
Good advice Diane, to keep eating right, protein first, fluids, and
balanced diets. However, how many people do you know that are rigid and
never stray? Not many.... While we should all strive to eat right, and
follow the rules, and use our tools correctly, we are all human. I think
balance is the key. Truthfully, after 2 years and 5 months, I am at
maintenance and I eat small amounts of carbs and sugars daily. Why? I
like the taste and variety!! How boring life would be if I had to give it
all up FOREVER....I have learned to eat good meals, get in my water and
exercise, watch that scale, and still have my carbs and am able to
maintain. What we need to be doing is providing support and advise to those
who ask questions here and not get angry. Its OK to tell a new post-op to
wait awhile before testing the waters or to remind them that you can regain
your lost weight if you stray too far. You are entitled to your opinion but
instead of letting it get you angry, use it as an educational opportunity
to share your success story with them. BTW, 350 to 146..good job!
— Cindy R.
June 26, 2004
original poster...additional information about me...I never said that I was
perfect..I have made bad food choices from time to time, but I limit
those...EVERYONE falls off the wagon at times...My concern is about those
who wait till they have regained 20 pounds or more before seeking help...I
participate in support group in my program and help a lot of people...those
who have had WLS need to help others become a success....many insurance
companies are making their WLS qualifications more strict...I have had
several friends at insurance companies site regain of weight as their
primary reason for tightening qualifications..These are nurses that review
cases...As I said, I was surprised that my comments made it to the board..I
think we need to support each other, but we can not make choices for other
people...At some point, everyone MUST take control of their program in
order to be successful.
— dianne E.
June 26, 2004
AMOS MOD CHIMES IN. I approved the original post and although very busy
have monitored this discussion closely. I try to approve nearly everything.
The way I look at such comments come from folks who dont understand and
most likely need support. The poster may well be struggling with the very
question they ask. I myself at 3 years out make some destructive food
choices from time to time. last summer it was oreo cookie bars. I knew that
eating 6 or 12 a day was stupid but had trouble controlling it. Went cold
turkey on them. Many gain weight, some a large amount over time. Theres
more to food choices the concious ones. It irritates me I have trouble
controlling bad choices, and take one day at a time. . Oddly enough this
question applied to me about MYSELF:( I want to thank everyone who helped
keep this topic civil and helpful.
— bob-haller
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