MHO on post-WLS LD's -- LONG.....

FIRST OFF -- THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR! AND NOT JUST ON THIS BOARD EITHER!!  But if the shoe fits, do you throw the shoe at the salesperson???  It is just my thoughts to help express my perception on LD's for those using them for weight loss.  To use them for a sore pouch from being ill, or for a reason outside of weight loss, is not what I'm talking about in this post.  But if you are doing it because you want to lose weight......ARGGGGG!!!!  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna **** someone off, but I can't take it any more.  And with newbies and lurkers who use us for questions and opinions, it think it is important to say..... If you can get permission from your surgeon to do a LD to jump start your weight loss after having WLS surgery, more power to you.  But I'll bet not one of them is going to say "Good Idea"!!!!  I don't see it in my manual for my surgery nor do I remember that being part of the nutrition program with my nutritionist or nurse practioner.  Did I miss something?  The little guy with the blinders on smiling is how I feel people are handling the LD's when they use them for weight loss. That being said, many have been doing the LD during the past 3 months purely for additional weight loss and I have held my tongue -- but it has been getting ridiculous lately with how many people are doing them purely because they aren't where they want to be.  FOR THE LOVE ---- time to see a therapist, and time to go back to why you had this surgery to begin with.  I remember all the people who have fits when something negative is put into an article about they easy way out -- but here you are -- doing just that.  You are acting like "I had the surgery, now I'm going to abuse that because I'm doing what the article people said would happen (eat the same crap and gain it back)".  WAKE UP!!!!  The best shot for losing a lot of weight is the first year, and if you are stalling or gaining within the first year (barring a physical problem which in itself should prohibit any LD), you are either eating wrong, not exercising, are in a NORMAL stall which is part of the process, or just plain done.  If you eat your protein first, eat the protein you are supposed to, and do it when you are suppose to, along with the proper fluids and exercise, I guessing you are probably done with the loss part.  I think the stage you are then in is called "maintaining" and this doesn't change the rules for eating.  The rules are the same for maintaining too.  But you pushed the limits and now you are panicking.  So you just do a quick fix instead of dealing with the underlying problem -- fixing the head!!! The LD is just another diet to do a quick flush so you can not admit you are eating crap you are not suppose to.  Starving or liquifying yourself with yet another yo-yo bounce down isn't the answer.  Isn't the diet circle of weight loss and then back up with even more gain the reason most of use got the way we were?  Now the LD seems to be the WLS diet backup plan like Weigh****chers and LA Weight Loss program before surgery.  Why not just take the new diet pill thingy out there -- can't remember the name -- starts with an A......Eat what you want, take the pill and crap it all out.  Or you could just put your finger down your throat and puke it up.  Either way, you are not going to take responsibility for what you put in your mouth. The pouch works when you use it even 25 years after surgery or everyone would gain it all back.  Being obsessed with being a certain weight or size would have disqualified people for the psychology part of the screening process.  I guarantee if you would have said you wanted the surgery so you look good when you look in the mirror, you would have been sidelined immediately.  This is supposed to be for our health overall -- not just for our eyes to look at. Don't you remember fighting to even get into the program , wanting the comorbidities to be gone, be around for your kids, etc.  I think if the doctors could look at those who are not following the rules and were able to put you back to the way you were, you'd follow the rules.  Kind of like the commercial on tv right now that "if you aren't planning on quitting smoking, what are you planning" should be a good question to yourself ~~ "if you aren't planning on following the rules to keep the weight off, what are you planning?"  If your answer is to purge with LD's I would hope you would seek some help. Okay -- I'm done --- let the feedback begin (I can hear the finger clicking in pm's to your buds about what a b**ch I am any way).  WTF -- I'm in a fiesty mood today --  XXOO

I'll be first to say.  THANK YOU!  You said everything I would have said so the only other thing I'll add is....I am a 5 year post-op and have NEVER been on a liquid diet.  Have I maintained every pound I lost initially?  No.  Why not?  Because I ate stupid and had to pay the piper.  I agree too if you need to give your pouch a rest because it's sick or irritated, that's one thing.  But we have to fix our heads first...and I am still doing that 5 years later.  I refuse to do a liquid diet just like I refuse to go back to Weigh****chers and pay someone to tell me what I already know. I had WLS - I have a new lifestyle and I'm DONE DIETING!!!

Thanks for your support to my comments.  I've already had one pm not liking my post.  I don't recall saying anything in my post about 5 day pouch tests but apparently there is one person doing one of those that felt I was including them -- even though I wasn't......Again, if the shoe fits, the salesperson better run..... XXOO

Barb, I understand what you are saying, will you be my therapist?        Thanks for the wake up call. 

You are soooo cute -- your therapist -- ha ha!!!  I'm too blunt to be anyone's therapist!!!  They'd leave my office and be worse off!!!  There is a reason I work with numbers.......

XXOO

I am glad you posted your feelings.  My biggest concern is that people who are recent post-ops are doing this and I wonder if that is the intention of the program.  More power to you if this helps you or solves your problems, but I wish there was a, in my opinion, better way for you to do it.

Thanks.  I too wish there were other ways for problem solving the LD's.  Maybe this will help people come up with one -- or already have one that they can share. XXOO

Barb, I agree with you for the most part here!  The only thing that I disagree with is the fact that if you stall, you aren't following the rules.  I think stalls/plateaus are a natural part of this because of how rapid the weight comes off.  The body has to catch up! 

Otherwise, bravo my friend, this is something that has should have been said a long time ago.  You are a gutsy girl...and I applaud you! Jeanne

CRAP!!!  I didn't mean stalls themselves meant a person wasn't following the rules-- stalling is a very big natural part of the process.  It causes lots of fustration. But when this happens, LD's are not the answer -- increasing protein or exercise is the answer.  Mostly, you just have to ride them out -- because you are correct -- the body is catching up. Thanks for pointing that out -- I edited that sentence immediately...... XXOO

To the person who wanted to remain nameless in the supporting pm they sent me......I'm still laughing!!!!  You should have been a comedian!!!  Love ya!!! XXOO