Restriction and Undereating

Did your doctor tell you that you couldn't lose enough weight with the sleeve?  If so, I'd be a bit concerned because many people DO lose that much weight and more with a sleeve, and if HIS patients aren't succeeding, I'd be inclined to ask questions.

But honestly, I may be making it too easy to blame on the "magic surgery" that will change your life. The fact is that whether or not he has a high success rate with the sleeve is much more likely to be based on what kind of counseling/support/advice his office and nutritionist gives than the surgery itself.

When I read about support groups where only a few weeks post-surgery people are talking about going to McDonald's and eating all sorts of bad stuff and NOBODY is getting real with these people and saying, "You just cut 85% of your stomach out and you're not even TRYING to make it work???"

My surgeon is an excellent surgeon. He has been tremendously supportive as has his staff. But the advice that has helped me most has been what I've read on this site from the vets who preach "high protein" + "low calorie" and "drink enough water." Reading this board almost daily and seeing the people who are slipping get "tough love" has been what I needed.

 

You can succeed or fail at whatever surgery you choose. You have to look at the two surgeries and decide what you can live with for the rest of your life.

All WLS take vitamins. All have "diet" plans. All have to deal with *why* (the head **** we all have) they ate or drank themselves to obesity. All WLS have a long journey in front of them.

IMO, none are easier or harder.

Try to look 5 years down the road with the DS. What does it look like? Now do the same thing with the Sleeve.

Do the thing that makes you the most healthy.

Good luck.

I am 57 years old, 5'4".  Had the sleeve 1/23/12 and have lost 112 lbs.  Now weigh 132.  Lost all the weight I wanted to PLUS some.  I have been extremely happy with the sleeve!  Do some more research!

Your stats are VERY similar to mine, and my dr. did not recommend the DS because of malabsorption issues.  I am 38, 5'3", and my high weight was 265 (253 on the day of my vsg). 

I would say "hard" depends on your definition (and note I am still pretty early out).  No wls will fix whatever food issues are in your brain, and that is where I struggle the most. 

For me, I decided to start with the VSG.  I can revise to a DS if needed (though there are some studies indicating it works "better" when you do it at the same time).  But since I had to change my diet no matter which surgery I chose, I figured I'd give myself a chance to avoid osteoporosis and other issues as I get older.

My stats tell it all. I am 2+ years post op, size 4 from a size 30. I'm 45.

That's the same size as my sleeve 4.5 years out not 98% of the time undereating my sleeve. 

Personally, I think the big benefit of the "undereating" approach is avoiding the foamies and also retraining your brain to go for satiety over fullness. I am not sold on the "it will keep your restriction good" benefit, because my own experience is that it's hard to break your restriction. It's not hard to get the foamies though! And anything that makes you re-evaluate your relationship with food is good.

And I have never had the foamies, not once, and I have never thrown up, not once, and I have eaten too much until it was very uncomfortable.

I've never gotten the foamies or thrown up either. And I have indeed overeaten plenty of times but I never got sick from it. Now I find that I really really hate that over full feeling so I rarely do it anymore. I've become very good at realizing when I'm reaching that point. It just takes some practice.

Laura

Thanks for sharing...I have a goal to go for 'satisfied' and stop there!

I must agree that "full" feels different post-op. it is one of the great revelations to me, actually. Even if you take away all the psychological issues and the concept that satisfied is better for you - bottom line is - full feels very different physically post op.

Pre- op there was a positive feeling to it (as well as several negative feelings such as pain and guilt) but now that feeling no longer exists.

Frisco, I am sure you are well aware of this, but your presentation style is so powerful. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with words. We aren't always aware of that fact until your crisp, cool logic hits the eye - and then clarity speaks.

Thanks for being here.

Annie