So Now What?

 So I've lost 20+ lbs and thought I'd have surgery in Feb.  Now it looks like April or May.  I must maintain my loss or my surgeon won't give me surgery.  Well that's not true I must maintain at least 10lbs of the loss.  If I could easily maintain my weight over long times I wouldn't be having this surgery.  I'm already seeing a therapist, a nutritionist and I exercise regularly.  My old habits are starting to come back and the contstant hunger is there and I am finding it more and more difficult to say no.  

I'm feeling like maybe this surgery just wasn't meant to be.  maybe I'm just meant to be this fat lady.  Should all of life really be this much of a struggle, at least with my donuts I'm not down all the time.  I know there are bad parts of being fat, but I'm still fat right now and I'm miserable and there isn't an end in sight to this hunger so really what is the point?

Oh gosh, my heart goes out to you. I know how hard it is to maintain a weight loss. That's why we're all in the boat we're in. If it were easy we wouldn't want surgery. Please don't give up hope on yourself. You're facing the holidays with no date in sight and that's going to be hard. It may be hard to maintain the full weight loss, but you know you can keep some of it off and then pick back up after the holidays. I just had my VSG on Wednesday. I'm a little sore, but it's so worth it - I have no hunger - seriously none. I don't know if it'll last, but I'm going with it and so thankful for it. As hard as it may be to do today, look at your ultimate goal. Is it worth waiting 2 extra months for? I bet you know the answer!

Be positive. If you tell yourself you can do it, then you will. I'm sure you have it in you for a few months. Just take it 1 day at a time. Try to eat healthy and if you get on the scale and have gained a few pounds, maybe you could put yourself on a very strict diet for a few days. (maybe a slimfast high protein diet). That should get you back on track.

Good Luck and don't give up. Even though it seems like forever, a few months isn't really that long when you think of the rest of your life.

 I don't understand why you must hold the weight loss or your surgeon won't perform surgery.  I have never heard of that before.  My first thought is to find another surgeon.  You must be an advocate for yourself.  Good luck.

It sucks but several insurances require weightloss of a certain percentage or poundage and it must be lost prior to surgery. Mine was 10%, I had to lose 32 pounds prior. Not easy.

I took that time to tell myself if I can't do it now, why do I think I can do it after? I had to turn in food logs every visit and those helped a great deal, seeing what I was really eating, seeing the true calories and learning to change my eating.

So for me I had to wait 10 months. I started my journey in October 2009. I am not allowed extended PTO from Jan-May of every year. It was scary. I had a period between Feb and April where I not only stalled but gained a little. As my next appointment approached I panicked. My surgeon said "ok, we're in the finish line, you've only lost 20, you have to lose a minimum of 10 more or I won't do this". It was tough love but it worked. I did what he said, I replaced two meals with protein drinks (yep, for 2 months), I ate a dinner under 500 calories and if I did eat a snack at night it was not some 400 calorie laden cookies, cake or candy. It was popcorn, dry cereal, cheese, etc.

It really taught me I can do this, I got to fail a little and I got to pull through. In the end when I got on the scale at the hospital the day of my surgery, I'd lost another 25 pounds!

So take this time to focus, fight and learn. You may slip, you may struggle, you might fail a few times. Get back up because almost 5 months post op you know what? I've slipped a couple of times and failed a couple of times and had to get back up.

The problem is still here post op - only we can change it.

I have been maintaining my weight since March of this year. I have not had surgery yet, but I refused to gain any weight. I started my 6 months supervised diet in July and I can't lose any weight or I will not qualify for surgery. I have been eating whatever I want but within reason. I get on the scale everyday to be sure not to get out of control. If the scale goes up, I slow it down.

I say eat whatever it is you are craving to get it out of your system, but eat a small portion and jus****ch the scale for the next few months.

No, this is by no means going to be easy.  On the other hand, it is so very worth it.  Knowing what I know now, I would do almost anything to have this feeling.  You can do this, it is just a few months.  We can do anything for a few months, it's the long term that's so very hard.  Hang in there, post often, weight yourself and do not become an ostrich.  I am pulling for you and will fight this with you if you would like.  Fight for yourself with all you have in you.

It might help to practice as many good VSG habits as possible now. When you get your sleeve (and YOU WILL GET IT) you'll be glad for the practice. I've followed your struggles to date and have been so inspired that you never gave up. You will continue to be challenged after your surgery by doubts, the past and present frustrations. Continue to persist, feel free to vent and know we are here for you. Getting the sleeve is soooo
worth it!! Take care.

Oh please don't give up.  I hear loud and clear your frustration and understand it.  We all understand it.  There will be an end to the hunger but it will take time.  The holidays are ahead of you and temptations will abound but if you eat off the diet just try and take a taste. I know easier said than done.  Like others have suggested I am not sure about the surgeon not performing your procedure if you can't "maintain" your loss.  Does he expect the scale to never rise or just wants some off so the liver will be softer?  Anyway hang in there girl!  I have been following you and rooting for you.