How did your surgery go?

Thank you SO MUCH for your post. I really needed to see that revision can be a success.

Please accept congratulations for your weight loss. It's not easy for any of us and I know that even though we

need to do it, so many don't...but YOU did!! Keep keeping on!

I understand your frustration and actually agree. In my world, a bypass or sleeve person should be made to explain back to the surgeon exactly what they think the surgery would do, exactly how their anatomy was going to be altered, and the life-long consequences of their choices.

You did mention you were successful. I brought up regain only because it seems to be a factor in many revisions, even those pursued primarily for other reasons.

Good luck. Whatever helps - I hope you find that.

I apologize. Yes. I did have great weight loss success. My surgery was in 2005. I went from roughly 275 to 150. I?ve done ok with keeping the weight off. I?ve had times where it?s gone back up, but never even to 200. Right now I?m in the middle of a gain cycle. About 185 or so right now. I generally manage to stay around 145-150. But it?s because I?ve had a few years dealing with another health issue that?s just been one complication after another. My weight will come off again once I?m able to get back to my routine of exercise. I don?t really eat bad things, but any calorie will stick when you can?t get out and do anything to work it off. I think I said earlier that for years I never had any trouble with my surgery. I would?ve recommended it to anyone. Now I don?t think that, nor would I recommend it. For several years it?s just been one thing after another with my digestive system. All attributed to my RnY. So a revision of that is not something I?m looking forward to doing. But at least I now understand what the surgery actually did. I now know I was completely uninformed about what it entailed. I thought I knew. I knew what the surgeon told me. Which wasn?t everything. But, in 2005 they didn?t know what long-term complications were going to be. The surgery was too new then.

Hi Tiffany,

Don't be embarrassed, your not the first and won't be the last. You know what is best for you, but if there is not a medical reason for the regain you might want to try to get back on track again by getting back to the basics. It won't be easy, but you may want to try.

You have already taken the hardest step by saying enough is enough and now I want to get back on track. I maintained 118-125 for over 10 years after losing 200 pounds. Due to a personal tragedy I gained and hit the 190 mark a year ago. After several starts it finally clicked and I am back to goal losing 70 pounds of regain. Here are some steps that helped me and I hope they will help you too! You may have several starts and stops but don't give up, don't beat yourself up. IT WILL CLICK!!! Our tool works if we work the tool and get back to the basics.

Planning/Preparing

Remember when we were preparing for surgery? How many meetings, classes and such did we attend? We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success. And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods. Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every bad carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies, grains and fruits.

Journaling

Get back to journaling. This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life. Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating. It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband. It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food. Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL

Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health Tracker. Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.

Goals/Rewards

Make a list of goals for yourself. Make them realistic and small. Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein. If you didn't make a Weight Loss Surgery bucket list when you first had surgery do it now. GREAT reminder of all the things you can enjoy in life after losing weight.

Food

In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat?, calories, and sugar. Important, vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan).

Water

Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea? I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass. I found once I started carrying one of the metal bottles of water to keep it cold I drank water all day.

MOVE!

I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what, I kept moving. If I could not go to the gym I would walk. Grab a cart and walk all the isles at your local box store. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lifting weights. When I stopped, the weight started coming back. So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV. Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.

Support

If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group. Come here on OH daily for support and participate in one of the food threads. It helps you be accountable and also great ideas for food prep.

Keep me posted on how you are doing.