Ugghhh...REALLY???

Let me just start out by saying that I don't venture onto the MB all that often.  Sometimes I go read some stuff because I'm bored, or I feel like being entertained.  Tonight's one of those nights.  So, I come across this post:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4283809/Weigh****che rs-revamped-program-0-points-all-fruit/.

And all I can do is shake my head in disbelief.  How is it that people can have WLS and then still have to diet?  I mean, I get it - people choose other surgery types, and then are stuck with the consequences of not being able to lose all of their weight, or have significant regain.  And I guess, if I had to choose a diet again, I would probably go with the WW program, simply because I always found it the most "liveable" longterm than any other program I tried.  But REALLY????  I shake my head in disbelief because people have a better option than putting themselves through having a major surgery and STILL having to diet.  Why don't more people recognize that?  It truly blows my mind that people would rather live like that than have the "big, bad DS."  Well, MY "big, bad DS" got me to goal in 9 months, without counting points or dieting.  I count grams of protein and watch my carbs, and swallow a bunch of vitamins every day....oooohhhh, hard, isn't it?

I've never been one to criticize others' surgery choices.  One of my good friends had the band a few years ago and has done remarkably well with it.  However, she has said to me that she really wishes she would have researched better because she is so scared that she's going to face regain and complications further down the road.  She's pretty darn impressed that I got the DS and wishes she had, too.  I'm pretty much of the philosophy "To each his own."  But this dieting mentality and lifestyle has really gotta suck, and it just makes me really grateful (AGAIN) that I got the DS.

Well, then -- preach it on the MB, especially during the next few weeks.  It's the "most wonderful time of the year," when newbies flock to OH trying to figure out what to do, because they can't fit into their party clothes or their holiday outfits, or because they KNOW they have to lose weight and can't do it alone anymore.  And New Year's Resolutions.

They will be hitting the main board, looking for information.  And many of them STILL won't get info about the DS from their surgeons or friends.

It's funny that you bring this up - I just had someone message me on FB who is going through the same surgical practice that I did.  Two of the three surgeons in the practice do the DS.  She STILL got crap information about the DS at their "orientation seminar" (of course, the surgeon who did her seminar is the one who DOESN'T do the DS...but still!).  It just makes me mad that medical professionals are spewing out misinformation, because the common person relies on them to be medical experts.

And you're right...I need to be more active in spreading the message.  I just get so pissed off at some of the responses people make on the MB to any posts about/promoting the DS.  How do you do it?  I mean, I know you've been doing it for years, and that's pretty impressive to me.

Thick skin, and the determination to honor the people who paid it forward to ME.

I have to admit I saw that, shook my head and just didn't even feel like posting.

I'm going over there now to see if you posted and I'll either post in response to your post or just do one of my own.

I started a thread if you want to comment on it.

I'd like to know what part of "fruit has zero points" fits with a RNY diet.

Keeping on track with the appropriate style for your surgery SHOULD be what WLS support groups are about.

Happy Sunday...

I know my response probably wont be popular but I also know I am not alone.  I typed this without a b*tchy undertone so hopefully it wont come across that way.  Its just how I feel  :)

I'm sorry, but I have a DS and I have had to diet.  First, I followed all the rules, and still can't get my weight to budge past 188.  I tried every carb amount combination trying  to get it to move.  More carbs, less carbs, more exercise, less.  More shakes, less shakes, all shakes, more water, etc.  That's dieting to me.  My surgeon also did some testing to see if he could figure it out.  Nothing really worked/works.  

I now walk 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (yeah, that's not a typo), as well as a lot of other physical activity during those 8 hours, heavy lifting, etc.  I get plenty of exercise.  Prior to all the walking, I went to Jazzercise about 5 days a week.  My weight doesnt budge.   If nothing else, I am FIT. 

I still eat low carb and/or I am very carb conscious, and always high protein and water, but really, for me, it doesnt make a difference for losing.  I've tried to be hopeful, but I am almost 3 years out.. now I should probably be hopeful there's no or not much regain.  The DS has its own diet, we have to eat high protein, (and high fat if you ever want to move your bowels .. and yeah, I know some have issues even with this).  Eating high protein was my CHOICE as a diet that came with my DS.    I'm ok with that, I like high protein, high fat dieting. 

So yes, people can have WLS and still have to diet.. I am one of them.  I didnt/dont have a free ride, I couldnt eat anything I wanted, still cant, and I havent made it to goal.  Just MAYBE if I did a strict Atkins induction again, I could drop a few pounds.. thats a big maybe since that was one of the things I've tried. Again, a diet... and along with it comes the diet drama, which I had hoped I'd never have again.  The WW low fat requirements wouldnt work out too well with my DS, but I can see where it might work for someone who is weight loss resistant with a RNY and has to diet... I feel their pain, and wish they didn't have to diet again, too.  It sucks.

With all that said, I am thankful for the 107 pounds I have lost.   I knew pre-op that I could be one of the ones that would have issues, whether life threatening or diet related.  Maybe one of these days I'll do the Atkins thing AGAIN, and maybe Ill lose a few more.  Maybe.

I wish everyone much success and Happy Holidays   :)

Teri


 

Teri, I understand exactly where you're coming from. I never made it to goal either (YET!) and have had to come to terms with the idea of dieting, myself. I know that if I'm ever going to get to a normal BMI, or at least avoid regain, I'm going to have to deny myself certain foods that I love. And that sucks. And you are so right, it is NOT just something that RNY'ers have to do. The DS does not treat everyone the same. 

The great difference is that you and I had the foresight to choose the surgery that is most likely to help us maintain the loss that we have had. And I'm like the OP where that's concerned. It is just beyond me how most people could have possibly chosen another surgery. Most of us have spent all of our lives dieting, and losing, and regaining, and losing again and I wanted the surgery that would take me off that roller coaster. I'm so grateful, every day, for that miracle. Even if I have to "diet" to get to where I really would like to be, I know that even if I don't diet, it's very unlikely for me to end up back where I was before. I feel pretty sure that given my history, the RNY would have had me back over 300 pounds in 5 years or so.

So, some of us may never see "normal". Who cares? Apparently, we were just meant to be voluptuous beauties.

Thanks Anna - you got what I meant!  I wasn't trying to brag about my WL or anything like that, and I do know that are lots of people who get the DS and never reach goal weight.  But I guess my point was that, all things being equal, why wouldn't someone choose the surgery that gave them the greatest chance of success?  That was what I was really commenting on, I guess.