bypass and sweet tooth
Please, please, please no matter which surgerical alternative you select NOTHING will control your eating except for you. More often then not, dumping doens't occur and the further out you get from surgery, the easier it is to fall back into old habits. Surgery is a tool and that tool only works if you work it. You seem to understand that when you talk about determination.
I've had tiny bites of things with sugar in them. I definitely don't make a habit of and can count on one hand the things I've had since surgery nearly a year ago. If it weren't for the sheer willpower, I know without a doubt that I could eat more of those things or cheat all together and eat small quantities of them all day long. Either way would completely negate the point of WLS.
For me, once I decided and committed to having surgery I was ready that moment. If I could have walked into the hospital the same day, I would have. But the very best thing that ever happened to me was seeing a therapist about my food issues and addressing that first. It gave me the willpower and the dedication to actually see the surgery for what it was and what is wasn't going to be. I was terrified of sugar for several months and the first bite of something I tried was absolutely gross - so sweet I nearly gagged so the absintence did help. I'm happy with my decision but having seen others with RNY and the Sleeve - I can say neither will eliminate that.
I've had tiny bites of things with sugar in them. I definitely don't make a habit of and can count on one hand the things I've had since surgery nearly a year ago. If it weren't for the sheer willpower, I know without a doubt that I could eat more of those things or cheat all together and eat small quantities of them all day long. Either way would completely negate the point of WLS.
For me, once I decided and committed to having surgery I was ready that moment. If I could have walked into the hospital the same day, I would have. But the very best thing that ever happened to me was seeing a therapist about my food issues and addressing that first. It gave me the willpower and the dedication to actually see the surgery for what it was and what is wasn't going to be. I was terrified of sugar for several months and the first bite of something I tried was absolutely gross - so sweet I nearly gagged so the absintence did help. I'm happy with my decision but having seen others with RNY and the Sleeve - I can say neither will eliminate that.
Thanks, I am learning a lot from these boards. It sounded at first like dumping was very common and now I see it isn't. Don't know about everyone else but my dr (and the nutritionist) made it sound like all RNY patients would dump with excess sugar.
The only thing I am waiting for before my case gets turned into the insurance for approval is a cardiac/medical clearance. That's not for another 3-4 weeks because they are making me go out of state to an MTF for that (although the MTF refused me as a bariatric patient but that's another story)
The only thing I am waiting for before my case gets turned into the insurance for approval is a cardiac/medical clearance. That's not for another 3-4 weeks because they are making me go out of state to an MTF for that (although the MTF refused me as a bariatric patient but that's another story)
Do NOT count on ANY surgery changing your cravings, because it WON'T. Anyone who tells you that it will is not being honest (or is newly post-op and in no position to talk about life after the honeymoon period). As you have already been told, only 30% of peole with a RNY dump... so chances are that you will be one of the 7 out of the 10 people who can eat sugar with no problem. Avoiding unhealthy foods (simple carbs, sweets,etc.) after surgery will HELP, but eventually you WILL crave something sweet... and, ultimately, you have to control what you put in your mouth.
Although folks who are only a few weeks or months out of surgery are quick to say that they have not (and will not) eat anything sweet to even find out if they dum*****t (and will just live the rest of their lives as if they DO dump), the fact is that eventually real life will kick back in and most of them will. It is simply not realistic to think that you will go the rest of your life without ever eating anything less than healthy... and most people do not want to live such a deprived life, anyway. Regardless of which surgery you choose, I think you will benefits most from getting some counseling to try to find ways to deal with food in healthier, more moderate ways.
Lora
Although folks who are only a few weeks or months out of surgery are quick to say that they have not (and will not) eat anything sweet to even find out if they dum*****t (and will just live the rest of their lives as if they DO dump), the fact is that eventually real life will kick back in and most of them will. It is simply not realistic to think that you will go the rest of your life without ever eating anything less than healthy... and most people do not want to live such a deprived life, anyway. Regardless of which surgery you choose, I think you will benefits most from getting some counseling to try to find ways to deal with food in healthier, more moderate ways.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
I see you have been very successful with RNY and have remained so. Can I ask how you managed to succeed when reality kicked back in for you? What changed for you with the surgery that didn't before? Did you have regular counseling? It is something that I am considering, although my insurance won't cover it.
I have noticed before that when I stopped a certain food or drink for a while, I didn't want to go back to it. Case in point -I haven't put sugar in my coffee for about 25 years because I stopped for about a month and when I went back to it, it tasted horrible.
It was the same way for diet coke and it's not even real sugar! On the other hand I went back to chocolate bars after 6 months, but I was eating WW desserts during that time so my theory is that is why I went back eventually.
Anyway, I hope I am successful because my health is quite poor with "only" 100 extra pounds!
I have noticed before that when I stopped a certain food or drink for a while, I didn't want to go back to it. Case in point -I haven't put sugar in my coffee for about 25 years because I stopped for about a month and when I went back to it, it tasted horrible.
It was the same way for diet coke and it's not even real sugar! On the other hand I went back to chocolate bars after 6 months, but I was eating WW desserts during that time so my theory is that is why I went back eventually.
Anyway, I hope I am successful because my health is quite poor with "only" 100 extra pounds!
I think part of it for me was the realization that my weight was no longer about just being FAT (adn unhappy)... it was starting to become a matter of life and death. I was 45 years old (when I had surgery), over 300 pounds, and had blood sugar that was slowly rising year after year (and I watched my dad decline rapidly from uncontrolled diabetes) and a family history of heart trouble.
I knew that surgery was my only hope to get the weight off and that changing my MINDSET was the only way to KEEP it off. I was already seeing a counselor for PTSD, but she and I did talk on a number of occasions about food and food-related emotional and behavioral issues. I also knew myself well enough to know that I was going to HAVE to find a way -- whatever it took -- to be able to eat moderately, because deprivation and having "forbidden foods" would guarantee that I would fail (yet again) at keeping the weight off. I had to start looking at what was at the heart of WHY I would eat an ice cream sandwich or Drumstick (mmmm....) and then almost immediately go back for a second one. Why was ONE (or even HALF OF ONE?!?) not enough? What need was I trying to meet... what void was I trying to fill with the food? I have been able to change my relationship with food. I still have times when I get emotionally overwhelmed and my first impulse is to reach for food... this has been especially difficult the past month or so... but I am at least aware of what I am doing and can try to make better choices about how to cope without turning to food. I don't always win the battle, but I win more than I lose. It's a long process, but also filled with a huge sense of accomplishment. For the first time in my entire life, I can eat 6 M&Ms and put the bag away. (I still cannot have cookies in the house because I cannot trust myself with them, but maybe someday...)
Lora
I knew that surgery was my only hope to get the weight off and that changing my MINDSET was the only way to KEEP it off. I was already seeing a counselor for PTSD, but she and I did talk on a number of occasions about food and food-related emotional and behavioral issues. I also knew myself well enough to know that I was going to HAVE to find a way -- whatever it took -- to be able to eat moderately, because deprivation and having "forbidden foods" would guarantee that I would fail (yet again) at keeping the weight off. I had to start looking at what was at the heart of WHY I would eat an ice cream sandwich or Drumstick (mmmm....) and then almost immediately go back for a second one. Why was ONE (or even HALF OF ONE?!?) not enough? What need was I trying to meet... what void was I trying to fill with the food? I have been able to change my relationship with food. I still have times when I get emotionally overwhelmed and my first impulse is to reach for food... this has been especially difficult the past month or so... but I am at least aware of what I am doing and can try to make better choices about how to cope without turning to food. I don't always win the battle, but I win more than I lose. It's a long process, but also filled with a huge sense of accomplishment. For the first time in my entire life, I can eat 6 M&Ms and put the bag away. (I still cannot have cookies in the house because I cannot trust myself with them, but maybe someday...)
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
ahhh, I can relate to much of what you are saying. Like you, I don't have cookies in the house for the same reason. I have type II (runs on my dad's side who did from complications from it) stroke and hbp run on my mother's...oh well.
I'm 46 now and once I hit 40 was when weight became a health issue. I started having comorbidites at just 20-30 lbs overweight. At 100 + I now tick just about all the boxes - except gerd- for some reason that isn't an issue.
Anyway, thanks for your input. These boards are very helpful.
I'm 46 now and once I hit 40 was when weight became a health issue. I started having comorbidites at just 20-30 lbs overweight. At 100 + I now tick just about all the boxes - except gerd- for some reason that isn't an issue.
Anyway, thanks for your input. These boards are very helpful.