Just a Glorified Diet

Having been "stuck" latley I have been extreemly frustrated with myslef and the choices I make.  I just cant seem to get over this head hunger!  I have been stuck since the end of May and Im so sure that I am headed to failure.  So I was talking to my mom and she said that this gastric bypass was the hardest most strict diet I have ever been on.  At first I disagreed, but now that I am thinking about it I have almost come to the conclusion that she is right, This gastric bypass is just a glorified diet.  You have to watch what you eat very closely, just like a diet.  You dont lose as effeciently if you dont exercise.  I dont  get sick hardly ever, like with dumping as described like I would, of course, I dont eat sweets or bread and stuff that could make me dump.  I still have the head hunger and I find myself snacking all the time and obsessing with food, Just like a diet.  I have been afraid to keep count of my calories like I used to- but Im sure they are adding up.  I can eat pretty big portions, no where as much as I used to eat- but bigger then Im sure I should be eating.  I am just so frustrated that I am failing at this "diet" too.  This was not supposed to happen.  Its all about lifestyle changes, and I realize that, but if I could not make those changes before GB, then how am I supposed to do it now?  GB isnt a magical button, but a tool to help you make these changes, the docs say you get really sick if you over eat or eat the wrong things and that will deter you from doing it again.  But I havent been sick, none to speak of- so where is my deterent?  I just dont have the strength to do it alone, I dont think I have changed, at first I did- but everyday I find myself slipping back into my old lifestyles.  How do you people that have been successful with your GB (I mean psychologically- obviously we all have a problem with food, or we wouldnt be here) make those changes needed to lose weight and keep it off?  How do you stop the food obsession and head hunger?  How do I stop this cycle?  I dont even feel like I have had surgury, sure I feel better from the weight I have lost so far, so I have benefitted from this surg initially, but I see myself headed for ultimate destruction of this too, just like a diet- I do wonderfully for a while, then failure.  Help- I need help!  What in the world do I do????   I am sorry for being such a downer and negative in this post- but I am at the end of my rope here and so incredibly frustrated, why why why am I such a failure at everything I do?  I thought for sure I could do this- but its like something in me is just hellbent on sabatouging any success.  How do you beat your mind?  How do you have the strength to overcome your mind?  Has anyone else been here where I am, and what did you do?  I just absolutly dont know what to do.  I am so angry at myself!

I went thru a stall and felt scared that I may fail at this as well. It's normal. I had my surgery the day before you and have now lost 80lbs.so you are ahead of me ! I had to go back to pushing the protien and water and then my head hunger went away. I found a protien shake I really like -NECTAR iced tea and I mix it with Crystal light rasberry .It's so much better than those chocolate or vanilla thick yucky ones.They have a lot of flavors too.Go back to the basics. WATER AND PROTIEN. The head hunger passed for me and I'm sure it will for you too. You can do this ! I'll do it with you. We can be weight loss buddies . Let me know what your days are like and I'll update you on mine and we'll be in this together!  Check out the Feb 07 board too .It really helped me see that I was in line wit others at my stage. Keep in touch and I'll pray for you. Dannielle

I know you are frustrated.  Have you considered counseling.  It sounds as if you are really making sure you don't succeed.  Is there an Overeaters Anonymous in your area.  You need support more than your mom saying you're on a strict "diet".  I don't dump either but I try to limit portions and I do watch what I eat.  I will always have to.  I think Dr. Hornbostel told you this wasn't magic and you seem to realize that.  Try to drink instead of eat and try to make good choices in portion sizes.  That is really the whole secret of weight loss.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  You lost alot really quickly and now your body is sort of rebelling.  Don't give up,  You can do this.  You won't fail.  You just need support - can you come to Springfield for our Circle of Friends meetings - Anything like that would be helpful to you. Hugs and love and I'll pray for your head hunger.  It seems to me you have a really good grasp of what you're doing wrong so you can change these behaviours.  Go for it, girl. Lana

I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately.  I keep hearing (on TV, from friends, from relatives) that if they'd get the gastric bypass, then everything would be different....that they'd stick to the plan, that they'd lose weight super-fast, etc. It doesn't work that way.  At first, weight DOES  come off much more quickly than with traditional dieting.  After a while, though, you need to start paying closer attention to your habits.  Surgery is merely a tool to get the ball rolling.  Eventually, you become like everyone else.    I'm so sick of those shows that never delve into these issues...the only thing they want to discuss is a) how risky the surgery is and b) how it's a miracle. As of today, I'm 3 years out.  I started at 352, lost 137, and have gained 9 back.  I've (re)joined Weigh****chers, and it's work.  HARD work.  I'm a compulsive overeater/binger, and highly addicted to food.  Surgery only guarantees that I'll throw up if I go overboard, but it has not stopped the binges from happening.  Most likely, I'll need therapy to truly overcome my addiction to food. Don't beat yourself up for not losing as fast as you'd like or for falling victim to those food obsessions that you have.  It happens.  What I've learned with Weigh****chers is that you take each moment at a time.  A failure at noon does not still need to be a disaster at noon-fifteen.  A binge on Tuesday does not mean that the rest of the week is a free-for-all.  Re-wiring your insides doesn't change your head, and it doesn't mean that you'll reach your goal weight.  You need to stop considering yourself a failure.  The only failure at weight loss that I know of is one who never tries.  You're trying, and that's what counts.  If you keep trying, you're going to get there. Pamela 352/224/150 saw 215 for about a day

Pamela, What a great, thoughtful reply.  You are so wise to realize that your unhealthy relationship with food is not going to stop just because you had surgery.  I think too many people aren't prepared properly for the fact that it is hard work after surgery.  There have been folks at our support group who were angry because they didn't realize that they would have to make a real effort to lose and keep weight off after the first six months.  I am six months out and find that I can eat more and know that this last weight is not going to fall off like the first pounds did.   Thanks for your time and inspiration.  You are the kind of "old-timer" we need to hear from on the site.  We all need to remember that no one said it would be easy all the time and that we have a responsibility to ourselves to make good choices at all times.  It is so easy to slip back into our old habits - we have to constantly be striving for good decisions. Thanks, thanks, thanks, Hugs, Lana