ObesityHelp

With this wls process, I have become more and more convinced of our need to educate ourselves about how our own bodies work and respond to nutrients.  In trying to do so, I've hit wall after wall due to lack of information.  I understand the challenges of creating general studies for such an individual issue, but that doesn't mean I still don't want answers!  There was a great article in the NYTImes about nutrition science I could send you if you are interested.   I do take my supplements, but I will always believe food is better for you than pills.  I have become a huge fan of the "local" foods movement.  I do pay more, but I get food that I know meets my criteria for production.  I may not get to eat a lot of variety of fruits and veggies since I don't eat many out of season products, but I do appreciate them all the more when they are available.   Here's to healthy eating not just dieting! Sally

I have never been able to tolerate the protein drinks--tried a variety--so I do occasionally supplement with a protein bar.  But some of those have so many calories and/or high sugar content!  One definitely needs to read labels.  Thank goodness I can drink skim milk. I have developed a couple of quarter sized spots that my dermotologist thinks may be caused by one or more of my supplements.  He wants me off the stool softeners (here come the prunes) and then off the B12 and multiples.  I am just not ready to risk the lack of vitamins for some skin spots.  I'll be talking to my wl surgeon next month, so I'll see what he says.  But the point is that doctors specialize in one area--dermotology, surgery, etc.--and then see all problems through that lense.  It makes holistic treatment very challenging.  And for those of us who live in, shall we say less than progressive areas, it can be really tough to have access to very informed medical professionals. Good luck with your research and I'd love to read your findings. Sally

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes.  Tears of gratitude for the all of the posts to this discussion.  These posts have been so well voiced, so deeply thought out, that I can't begin to thank you all enough.  I know this discussion has helped me, and I believe others as well. I would love to be able to summarize all I have read here.  However, I am a scientist by background, not a writer.  There have been posts by individuals who have reached their goal and maintained it through time, those *****ached their goal and regained, and some who never reached their goal. First, the issue of "goal" is still here.  It seems that what your goal is can only be defined by you.  It is not the scale number your doctor sets, the BMI that is normal, nor the dress size your friend wears.  It is whatever you determine it to be.  It can be any, or a combination of these things, or none of them.  For many of us, it is simply health, however you define that:  no longer needing medications, returned or increased mobility, etc.  We are talking quality of life as our goal.  You are the one who has to determine not only what your goal is, but how you measure it, i.e. scale weight, dress size, or simply how you feel.  You must be sure that this goal was realistic for your age, height, bone structure, underlying medical conditions. Secondly, if  you never reached your goal, again, however you define it, was there a medical issue involved  that prevented it, such as a thyroid condition or insufficient pouch/stoma size?  Maybe further medical testing or intervention is needed. Lastly, it comes down to personal behavior and responsibilty for our health.  Exercise still seems to be a common thread running through this.  The nutrition discussion here has provided some excellent information.  I think it clarified for many the need in our daily food plan for complex carbohydrates versus simple carbohydrates, and what those are. I am appalled at the lack of research that is being done on WLS patients.  Our numbers are rising, yet how and what we eat does not seem to be getting the study it deserves.  We are all frustrated by the conflicting information being given by the different surgeons and nutritionists across the country.  There are so many different protocols on WLS diet, for example, protein supplementation, should we do it, how much should we supplement, how much is absorbed at one time, etc.  Even the type of vitamins recommended is not consistent, i.e. an over the counter children's chewable as opposed to a chelated vitamin developed for bariatric patients. What I wanted to achieve with this discussion was this: why.  We know the what: weight loss and maintainance. We know the how: reducing calories and increasing exercise. You have to know the why.  If you never reached your goal, or didn't maintain it, you need to figure out why.  Then you can begin to do something about it. Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my questions, and thank you to all who have read through all these posts.  I hope it has helped you. Debra M.

Debra, I have to say that this has been the absolute BEST discussion I have seen on this entire site!!  Thanks for starting it. XOXOXO, Sharyn

I also wanted to say thank you - I left the US for Singapore 6 months after WLS and have pretty much coped on my own since then.  RNY is unheard of in Singapore except as a treatment for stomach cancer so no chance of any support groups here ...  I did cause a bit of a stir in the Radiology Department of my local hospital here when I had to have a barium x-ray though - I felt like a rock star!!!!!  Anyway, I use OH as my support group and its so good to realise that I am not alone in this struggle to maintain my weight.  I have always (post op) exercised religiously, but have had to really step it up recently as the pounds have crept on (#7 so far).  I don't want to eat any less than I do now as I do actually enjoy my food and believe that by and large I make good choices. I take my multivitamin, double iron (hope that's better this month) and B12 shots but have never taken any protein supplements, preferring to eat my way through mine!!!! Myrtle's post was particularly helpful (as they always are) - I was NOT overweight until an adult and not obese until my late 30's.  For this reason, I also believe that RNY has allowed me to become the person I always thought I was - not the one I hated to see in the mirror - who didn't look like me.  Hope that makes sense.  It was like I was in someone else's body and it hurt, both physically and mentally.  All of those physical woes have disappeared and I feel like the old Kim - not a new one!   Anyway, forgive my ramblings - just wanted to contribute! Kim xxx

My RNY was 9/17/03. The only goal I ever set for myself was a size 18 because It was my size when I was 11 and its the only true measurment I had except for weighing 250 freshman highschool yeah and I was hoping I wouldnt stop at 250. Today 3  1/2 years later I weight 200 and am a size 12. I am also 5'11" tall. My Doctors goal for me was to lose & maintain the 70%, which I have done easily. about a year ago I decided I should weight 180 and started working hard towards that goal. I exercise everyday, take all my vitamins & suppliments, drink yucky water 100 ounces a day, never drink with meals and never consume for than 1300 calories daily ( even if some days 800 are from chocolate) and I am STILL maintaining 200 pounds. Not Up not down and sometimes it feels like thats where I will be no matter what beacause even when I have completly stopped exercising I maintain 200. I have become obsessed with that damned number 180 and I will say that when I read that you are now 135 I was jealous. why not me? I dont believe anyone tries as hard as I and before I get jumped let me add that the days of chocolate in my daily life are long gone and I suffer because of it.  My honey made me stand in front of the mirror Easter and take a good look. My face is way boney, my rib cage & shoulder bone (across chest under neck) all stick out like I am anorexic but all I can see is the skin & folds hanging on my legs & hips and I feel like a fat cow! That is where my jealousy lies. I try so hard and I am still large...200 is large...some of you would "die" if you still weighed that. to get back to your post a little better I will add that I have never had a real gain...since 18months postop been playing with the same 4 pounds up & down....I just dont know why I can lose anymore..OK this totally frustrating post has been made by a woman who has not had one single piece of easter candy, has walked 60 miles so far this month, has drank 1000 ounces of nasty water, is 3 1/2 years postop and still FAT!!!   sorry if I went off topic. Diana RNY 9/17/03 260/200/still aiming at 180

What a great discussion. Thank you so much for all of your candor. I hope to be as successful as all of you. I am hesitant to set a goal and am unsure as to why. I am 5'7" and my Dr's goal is 141 (I think that is based on my original height - 5'6", yes I grew an inch). 159 puts me in a healthy weight, which would be nice but seems so arbitrary. I feel really goos now at 170. I wear mostly size 12 pants and large tops. I have never been a size 12 before. It's kind of nice.

I am disappointed, it says there are 51 replies but I can only see a few of them...I was anxious to read what everyone wrote. Anyway I am only 19 months post op so I probably don't have any great advice or thoughts on this but I'll share my theories. I think in general people who either don't reach their goal or don't maintain their goal weight do so because they don't get their brains in the right place. I think the first 6 months are crucial for retraining your brain entirely as far as how you think about food....what you eat, why, where, how, etc and also in regards to exercise. If you have emotional reasons for your eating they have to be dealt with or the problem will be there later regardless of the size of your stomach. I did not have any deep rooted issues I just ate crap and way too much of it. I realize that now and it is my goal to never go back to that again. I also never moved and now I exercise regularly and I'm even training to do a marathon, I love to be active now. Like you mentioned I also weigh myself every single day and I do not let my weight go up. I know 1-2 lbs fluctuations can happen but if my weight is consistently up for more than 3-4 days I do something about it and I never allow it to go over 130lbs. I think if you stay consistent and diligent about your new lifestyle you can keep the weight off long term. As several people mentioned I'm sure it is common after a certain amount of time to start to feel invincable, I will make sure I remember not to do that!! I have worked to hard to get here.

First, I cant read all the posts and i am very disapointed in that.  maybe someone will come to my rescue.  I can only read the first 4.  Any way, I was the one who posted "I AM OUT OF CONTROL" Before my surgery, my surgen said.  "Gina, this is only a reset button, it will bring you down to normal, but you have to keep it there" Yeah, yeah, i thought.  Now, I am panicking.  The goal that i set was 170, (by scale standards it was to be 150, but i look GOOD at 170)  However, I never reached that my lowest was 179, i think.   Close, but no cigar.  and now i am 210.   I know its my own fault.  I dont exercise, eat right, blah blah blah.  I am no longer on the honeymoon.  After a long time of eating how i wanted and never gaining, i thought I would NEVER  gain again.  You know, there are some WLS people out there struggling to maintain their weight.  I thought I was one of those.  Until...... my pants started to get tight.  No i didnt weigh myself.  I went by how my clothes fit.  And now they were and are getting snug.  thats when i got on the scale and just about had a heart attack.  then the guilt and fear hit me right in the face.  I was out of control.   But since than, I gave up diet coke, and all the crap i have been shoving down my throat.  Its very very hard.  I WANT TO EAT and I WANT IT NOW.  But I'm not gonna do it.  I need to do some walking even if its 10 min.  hell thats better than nothing.   Well, I just wanted to respond to the group.  Hopefully someone will tell me how to see the rest of the posts. God Bless you all Gina

Hi Debra, I had my 5 year anniversary in February.  I had no problems keeping my weight off during the first 3 years.  In the 4th year, I gained about 20lbs which I attribute to stress triggering old poor eating habits (This was our Katrina Year).  During the 5th year, I gained another 15lbs.  I can't say exactly what was happening with me other than simply losing focus on myself.  During the few years post-op everything revolved around my surgery, weight-loss or recovery.  My health was a priority to my hubby and myself.  As time went by, I started into the old habits of taking care of everyone else before I took care of myself.  The excitement and drama began to fade.  The gym was no longer a priority; I became tired of making two meals and started eating what my family liked more often.  I also noticed that we were eating out more often. I stopped coming to the boards because I no longer felt I had anything to offer.  I am back now and on track.  I've lost 3 lbs this week and I'm choosing to focus on me again.  I hope this helps you gain perspective, it has helped me to write it.  Here comes the last part of my repentance process... pre-288lbs/ current-201.8lbs/ former-165lbs; (also my new goal)  pre-op size 24, former 10, now 14 snug Whew, that was rough! Elesha