Changing your brain....as well as your body

I have realized this through my own journey and losing 180 lbs---we need to change our brains.  Surgery takes care of our stomachs with a great weight loss surgery tool (I had RNY 2 1/2 years ago) but its up to us to change our relationship with food.  

After I tell people that I have had wls that they know someone who also had the surgery but gained all the weight back.  This post, I hope, will help a pre-op in their journey, by sharing my experiences.
If you don't change the way you think about food and use food, you will gain weight back. 

I lost 100 lbs in this first six months.  After that, I didn't lose anything for the next six months.  I had a 25 lb gain because I started eating badly (junk food, sweets) and using food again for comfort.  I used food my entire life the wrong way.  I used food to bury feelings, as a 'drug' if you will.  Food was my best friend, always there and readily available.  It was the only thing in my life that I could always count on.  So I slipped back into old habbits and had a gain.

I got serious again and changed my mindset once again.  Thankfully, my pouch didn't stretch and I still have great restriction.  I buckled down and started eating right again.  I reached out to my surgical team and went back at 1 year postop, embarrassed with my gain, but desperate to lose the weight.  I had many appointments with my nutritionist to help me get back on track.  I went back to seeing my therapist regularly to help me with my relationship with food.  I lost the 25 lbs I gained back and continued to lose in the next year (very slowly) and reached my surgeon's goal weight of 180 and then lost another 25 lbs and am holding steady between 155-160 today.

I eat well now, a varied diet of all 5 food groups, always eating protein and veggies first, then a bite or two of carbs.  I listen to my body for full ques, and when I'm full, I stop.  My nutritionist and PA at my surgeon's office helped me learn to do this and I'm forever greatful for the additional tools they gave me.

My job is very physical and an 8 hr workout so I don't go to the gym anymore.  I lost weight by walking and going to the gym for 1.5 hrs a day.  I built up to be able to do that much time because I was always sedentary prior to wls.  

I hope I was able to help the preops and postops by sharing my experiences.  Everyone needs to follow their own journey, and their own doctor's medical recommendations.  I hope by sharing my journey other will benefit.

Mallisa

 Thanks for sharing Mal !   U're a wonderful example because  as the loving ( AND working ! ) Mom of many ... U certainly don't lead the stress-free life many of us IMAGINE  as the requirement for losing weight lol ....

U're doing it ANYWAY ... no excuses ... and  looking fantastic as you balance your family , your future  and your personal space.  

You truly are an inspiration to me ... 

Great post!  Thanks for being REAL and reminding us that WLS is not the cure, just a step in the right direction.

Blessings,
Brenda

Great post and great reminder...even for us not so newbee's.  I too go to support groups and have gone to therapy.  I was a comfort eater and a feelings eater.  Some days are still a struggle but I remind myself that it will NOT fill the emptiness i feel.  That the emptiness is another feeling I need to identify and deal with in a healthy way.  That i am worth the extra few minutes it will take to sort out what's REALLY going on.  It is a learning process to be sure but most changes are. 

 Thank you and congratulations on your success!  You inspire me