Always SHOCKED at how uninformed people are :-( (and a thank you!)

I was a speaker at a pre-op support group for my surgeons team.  It was interesting to see how popular the sleeve is becoming... 6 months ago only 2 people raised there hand for it when I was at one of these groups... this time well over half did.

Anyway, it was me and two folks who had RNY... One girl is 6 weeks out and eating part of a "smart one" (microwave meal from a box) for lunch each day, and even though she has PCOS and insulin resistance she is a "carb girl" and rattled off the carbs that she enjoys already... sigh.

The gentleman who spoke talked about how he doesn't eat carbs... but he has a couple of SF puddings or fudgicles a day, usually takes apples and bananas in his lunch. etc.  I KNOW he means no bread or rice, but he truly thinks he is avoiding all carbs.  He is 8 months out.

I know carbs are not evil, and there are many ways to approach this, they are not wrong... but so many things these speakers said were so off base... it was kind of frustrating.

Oh, and I never realized how much an RNY patient can eat... she, at 6 weeks, said she could eat 3 oz of protein, some vegetables, and maybe a little carbs.  I couldn't do that if you put a gun to my head at 10 weeks... it would come up!

Also, neither of them tracked calories or carbs or anything.  When I talked about the behavioral aspect, accepting/struggling with emotional eating, they both went back to the
'underlying medical conditions caused it" thing.  The Psychologist who co runs the meetings was tickled with me though... I said that it took me a long time to admit it, and while I did have contributing medical factors for sure, I was a big part of the reason that I got to 315lbs and that admitting that to myself and dealing with it has helped me to be successful so far... and it will always be a fight for me... this is just a tool.  He said that is true for everyone one and it is a matter of learning about yourself and dealing with all of the issues.

I think that people going into WLS NEED to hear that... I know that I got a lot of those reality checks right HERE and I would like to (again) thank you all!!!!

Congratulations being pick to be a speaker.......
Its a true honor in doing so.  Its also wonderful to hear
what you dont want to do or all the things you have learned
for yourself. Keep up the good work! 

You brought up valid points. I'm sure the people in attendance benefited from your talk.

Congratulations!

Kanga,
I thought about you last night and thought happy thoughts for you!! I'm glad you enjoyed your experience!

I have the same frustration as you do. I'm not perfect and I never claim to be, but for the most part, I'm very cautious about what I eat. I'm taking size 10's now, and I make sure I dress nicely when I do speak, since I want to represent VSG well. We each have picture books we pass around with before and progress pics. I speak with some folks who've had the band and the RnY. The 2 people who've had RnY look great and have done well in maintenance. The women who speak about the band are still very very heavy. They come to speak in ratty t-shirts and they always tease me about being a fashion model. If a pair of jeans and a nice fitting top or a dress is a fashion model...bleh...LOL! They are vets at 3 and 4 years. They are at "goal".

My question is...and I'm trying hard to not be judgemental...why is their goal set so obviously high?? I know our journey's are our own, but some of the things they say and do just shock me. If you have a tool, wouldn't you want to get to your utmost best?? It's not like I'll know the answer, but I guess I'm just venting! Sorry!

I love speaking to the folks who are looking at WLS. I look at them and know how much their lives are going to change! I hope you love it, too!

Warm regards,
Heidi

I wi**** shocked me but it doesnt.

Unfortunately, weight loss surgery has become another "fad diet" to some people where they believe they can wake up, go get surgery, and be cured. They never stop to think about things like nutrition, emotional eating, and quite frankly, surgeons who are in this to make money have no incentive to require patients to consider those aspects before cutting them open.

While I think WLS is a great tool, and a lot of people need it, I don't think it should be so readily available and easy to obtain (relatively speaking - i know some insurance companys complicate things)- it should come as a package with nutritional and emotional counseling. I applaud the surgeons who encompass those into their practices, but I see too many that do not, and even go as far as telling patients to resume drinking soda immediately post op.

  Couldn't agree with you more! I've  heard and read so much recently of people who turn to surgery as a 'cure all.'  They think they will have the surgery and it will do all the work. They believe that they can continue to eat virtually the same foods but the surgery will keep them from eating the amounts that will result in significant regain. Many of them view themselves as victims of some underlying medical condition that resulted in their obesity. 
  I absolutely agree that surgeons who have a great program...ones that involve not only the surgery but a lot of preop and post op nutritional and psychological counseling for their patients are greatly needed. So many people are having wls and have very little knowledge of dietary changes they need to make postop. The ones drinking soda early post op shock me. I honestly never just listened to my surgeon or his nutritionist. I came to this forum and compared what I was told by his practice to what SUCCESSFUL wls veterans were advising and had been advised to do by their own surgeons and nutritionists. 
   As you posted, personal accountability is key to success. For long term maintenance, it's vital to take an honest look at what we have done to ourselves that resulted in our obesity...lifestyle and dietary choices. We need to make the effort to continue educating ourselves about nutrition and health.
 

EXACTLY!

It's hard to not roll my eyes when I hear these people who say they've 'researched for years' and blah blah blah and then absolutely BLOW at following directions and advice!

I don't follow my program 100% of every day, but most days I do. I'm pretty sure it's why I'm back up 10 lbs from my lowest weight (but at least I've held it there for almost a year) and I know how to bust my ass to get it back down, and perhaps even lose more. Do I know this is only a tool?  YOU BET YOUR ASS! I could eat my way around it all day long if I chose to eat sliders. Thank god I really paid some attention along the way.

I'm not saying that attending all the counseling and support group meetings changes your mind but it SHOULD change something, either perspective or thought process????? And at the other end of the spectrum, I'm sure it's better for the guy who packs apples and bananas is still a mile away from what he USED to pack, know what I mean? These people are clearly not on the right path, and they might lose all they want anyway (grrrrrr).

I feel especially blessed that I didn't have to travel out of state (barely out of town as the surgeon is just in the next suburb!) and that our clinic REQUIRES counseling and support and psych and nut and follow-ups! Granted, it wasn't out of my way to attend meetings for almost a year, once a week so I knew I was getting my money's worth AND help from the people who know!! The surgeons readily admit they don't have first hand experience of the surgery themselves, they only perform it. They don't make you speak unless you want to, ask any questions you want, take notes, ask for more supplemental information, anything you want. PLEASE!

I find it mind boggling that so many other surgeons don't require squat except for your hard earned cash or insurance. Really, really wrong. If you were a 30 year heroin addict and there was some surgical intervention would any Dr worth a buck simply do the surgery and pat you on the back and say "good luck"?????? 

Sometimes I think and believe that the obese (and I was one of them) are as sick as any drug addict. Most simply don't admit any guilt or bad habits or situations that might have caused or generated any poor eating habits. Most of the people that have surgery (I HOPE) have admitted that this truly is just a tool as well as their last chance, and use all the other tools they have in order to combat this--yet there will always be people on the fence and in denial--FOREVER. I'm just glad it's not me.