Four Year Surgiversary

Today marks 4 years since my VSG. I am constantly thankful that I had the surgery. I know I could eat around it and gain a lot by eating high calorie, high carbohydrate foods. However if I mostly avoid them it still functions as an incredibly useful tool and has taught me much better eating habits, including healthy snacks vs carbs.

Last year as my DH was sinking deeply and quickly into the final stages of dementia, I regained about 20 pounds most of which I have lost over the last 3.5 months. I did choose to rejoin WW after a 15 year hiatus mostly for the accountability but my tiny tummy still functions great at restricting how much I can eat as long as I eat high protein meals.

The most important things which support my weight control/loss are:

• I go on OH every day. I post on the RNY menu thread and in a VSG Maintenance group. Even when I was gaining, I stayed active in the VSG group.
• I weigh every morning - this is one of the things I didn't do during the regain
• I track what I eat - previously via calories in MFP, but now via points in WW
• I plan my meals and always have a mid-afternoon and evening snack. I try for 5 small meals a day. This keeps me from getting overly hungry which is a dangerous feeling for me.
• I eat a lot of protein at every meal as it fills me up and stays with me longer than any other foods
• I don't drink during meals or for 30 minutes afterwards (though I do drink up to the point of eating)
• I do my best to have a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day
• I take my vitamins every day
• I restrict the times when I drink wine as I find myself wanting to eat when I do
• I avoid breads, cakes, cookies and other similar carbs as much as possible. WW has helped in providing recipes for substitutes that I really enjoy.
• I exercise by doing a lot of walking and some yoga

Though I skipped a few things during my regain, primarily weighing and tracking, I did still try to follow the other rules as much as possible each day. That is why I only regained 20 pounds, not 50 or more.

Thank you everyone on OH for being here and thank you to my surgeon and insurance for making WLS available to me!

You are a rock star!! Thanks for sharing your story.

People need to realize surgery is NOT magic. We can never let our guard down.

Thank you! You are right on - we will always have to work at it, but we can do it!

LIZ - Congrats!!! You are so inspiring!!!

Thank you, for sticking around, to help ALL OF US

Thanks Gina! I don't know about inspiring. I sure am glad to have everyone here as friends and support!

I love seeing your pictures and hearing from you. You look fantastic. I wish everyone who has weight loss surgery the success you have had.

Congratulations on losing the weight and keeping it off. Your much better at sticking to the plan than I have been at 5+ years out. I also weigh myself everyday and will continue to do so. It's probably my biggest guideline for keeping myself accountable.

Congratulations Liz. You've worked really hard, and done an amazing job. Your list above should be printed and handed out to everyone having surgery. It's a great recipe for success.

I love all of these notes! Always best to remind ourselves of things that are so easy to forget since old habits try to creep in ALL THE TIME!!!

Congratulations on your success! Very inspiring!