How well are you following your surgeon's guidelines?

Hello WLS Graduates,

 I have beeing reading alot of post from members who are gaining weight at 1, 2, 3 years after having WLS. So I have been wondering how well are members following their surgeon's guidelines? Do you remember why you had WLS? My surgeon stated in the seminar that the WLS patients that are successful are those who do not eat sugar,fried foods, drink soda, watch calories intake, and exercise on a daily basis. I follow those guidelines daily and don't worry about gaining weight. I have WLS friends who are gaining weight because there is  limited or no exercise rountine, eating wrong.

Look forward to hearing from WLS graduates,

Tammie

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I have not gained weight but I'm not loosing that last 24 lbs. I'm not eating bad but I'm not doing as well as I could.

I does get harder the farther out you go. For me not because of the fact I'm hungry or just craving the food. I don't have the things in order in my kitchen. When you first have surgery you have everything prepared. Stocks of protein drinks trips to Trader Joes are scheduled. Everything is ready for your success. I just had surgery for crying out loud, so I came first, even my family put me first. As time goes on other things come back into the schedule. Now its harder to put me first.

This is true for every diet I went on. As long and I was focused and making my eating plan a priority I could stick with it. As soon and I got busy I would not have a planned meal, get hungry and then eat something I shouldn't have.

Time to reprioritise. I'm going to the store tonight and getting all the right things. Chicken for grilling, cottage cheese, ff milk and etc. Check for some good recipes from egg face and others.

Do we have to be honest? I'm really doing OK, except my surgeon/nut said to eat 3 meals and 1 snack a day, and I eat more like 9 times a day, just little bits at a time. It seems to be working so far. I'm holding steady at about 130, and I hope it stays that way without too much adjustment. I do work out about an hour a day, and I think that is really helping. I'm sorta good with vitamins and B12, but will just start on calcium this week. I'll be 2 years post-op next week, no spring chicken, and that's just pure stupidity that I haven't started before now. Other than that, I guess I'm doing pretty good though.

I just noticed we have the same doctor, and we must be neighbors!!! Do you live in fabulous Rome, GA or somewhere close?

Hi Wanda,
I live in Euharlee and I work in the Rome Area. When I read your post I notice we had the same wonderful surgeon. Best wishes

Tammie

If your surgeon didnt mention it I feel another reason people regain is they start drinking with their meals (if they had RNY)... eating a drinking will stretch the stoma as well as allow you to eat more and be ready to eat again much sooner than if you followed the no eating/drinking rule.
I am over 2 years out and pretty compliant - I do not eat and drink, I do not drink regular soda but do drink diet soda on occasion (my surgeon doesnt disallow carbonation), I do occasionally eat fried food and have a sweet treat - but I keep it as a treat... I am a person of balance and that works for *me* for some it does not. I do not food log but I do keep track in my head of what I eat for the day, I pretty much rotate the same foods so I have a good idea of my calories/carbs/fat I do also pre-measure out my meals/snacks when I can. I work 2 jobs and am on my feet at my 2nd job constantly moving and exercise when I can... exercise is *very* important IMO and people need to get up and get moving as much as possible.

Jennifer,
Congrads on your weight loss. Thanks for sharing your information.

Best Wishes,

Tammie

Oh dear I'm a bad girl according to my surgens standerds.  He was VERY big on the - no drinking until 30+ min after a meal, not even a sip. He also was an advocate of ABSOLUTLY no carbonated beverages.  Due to having a tight stoma the only way I can make Heavy foods palatable is with small (NEVER a whole glass) sips of liquid during my meal. Otherwise after one bite I'm super full- even now 2 years out.  I've also drank diet sodas. I won't touch full sugar colas- but on occasion I indulge in a diet soda. Not every day or even every other day but I DO have them.  I'm at a standstill right below my goal weight. I'm waiting to consult a doctor to see if this is a good weight for me or if I should continue to work on loosing. I'm eating small portions of carbs right now to maintain.  I'm big on no icecream, few liquid type fats. Because slider foods WERE a big NONO on my surgens list, and that suits my chosen lifestyle. I generally follow his guidelines, but I also do what feels right by my body. I've come to an understanding with myself, and I know I'm on the right track.  So.. I personally feel that it's okay to stray just not okay to take the oppisite route.. you know?

If I had a weight gain problem, then I would worry about my food selection more.  How I manage my weight is a day to day issue.  I haven't "failed" so far; that is all I know.  I agree that calorie intake and excercise are important.  NEVER eating sugar and fried foods I won't agree with.  The trick is in learning how to eat these foods and not make them staples of your diet.

I was at a family gathering and people were asking me about WLS: what can you eat, do you have any problems, etc.  Unfortunately they see that I have some cake and some pie and think, HEY I can have surgery and eat all my favorite foods.  What they don't see is the 5K I ran that morning, the smallest of breakfasts I ate in preparation for the extra calories, or even the fact that my dinner plate had 1/2 of a sandwich and (literally) tablespoons of the other pot luck items.  Compare that with the cousin to took 4 burgers, scoops of potato salad and begins to think that he and I are eating in the same way and deserts will be OK.

I can anything i want, just never all that I want.

 NEVER eating sugar and fried foods I won't agree with.  The trick is in learning how to eat these foods and not make them staples of your diet.
I can anything i want, just never all that I want.


I am with JL.  For the first 2 years I stayed away from all sugar and fried foods.  As time went on and I became comfortable with my new lifestyle I will on occasion have something "forbidden."  The plan with my WLS was to learn to eat as a normal person and normal people eat fried foods and sweets on occasion. Normal people learn moderation.  I was not normal in that I could not stop myself from abusing these foods.  Now, with the help of my tool, and a new mindset, I can treat myself to a BITE of cake as opposed to say half the cake.  There are a few foods I do stay away from because I will indeed eat until I am sick.  The surgery adjusted my guts, not my mind.  I know my limits now, and what I can and can't do.  Interesting to see all the answers here.

Traci
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