Question:
Is this all I can lose from surgery?
I had RNY on July 5th 2000 in UK(I live in Ireland and we don't have this op over here yet) I was 373lbs and I reached about 247lbs at the end of Dec 2000. I haven't budged at all in the 6 months since. I had to pay private for this op, no ins company here will cover it, I had a very good surgeon do this in England, but now I don't know what I should do now. Should I be looking into a revised surgery or different diet or what?? The surgeon concerned doesn't want to know full stop. I was very sick for a couple of months following this surgery and I'll be the first to admit that the time that should have been my re-educating my eating habits time, was not spent so wisely. I know where I've made mistakes but I'm sure I'm not the first to go this way, nor will I be the last, I'm not looking to have my butt kicked here, I do plenty of that to myself already, mentally that is!! If there is anyone out there who's been through this and come good, or otherwise, I'd love to hear from you. At the moment I'm feeling why the hell did I have this surgery? It may just be the day thats in it, I don't know. Please email any info you can, [email protected] Many thanks and best wishes to all, love helen xxx — Helen B. (posted on July 10, 2001)
July 10, 2001
Congratulations on losing well over 100lbs....you must have been
doing something right; so, stop beating yourself up. That's quite an
achievement...you should feel good about that.
There are no guarantees with wls and we can't compare ourselves to
others. A great many of us lose a lot of weight; but, remain overweight.
Like me. I had my rny three years ago and I went from 347 to 210.
I stabilized at 220. A year ago, I got real complacent and started
eating everything and anything. The result was a twenty pound weight
gain. That really scared me. I realized that from day one I had only
been only about 50% compliant....yet.....I still lost over 100lbs.
I went back to basics....100% this time....and I'm losing weight rather
rapidly. I guess I just want to say that you aren't the only one who
hasn't
lost as much as she/he had hoped and CERTAINLY aren't the only one who
whose made "mistakes". We might be the only ones who ADMIT
it...but....
there are others out there. The great thing about it is that it's never
too
late to get back to basics. Go back to your nutritionist for dietary
support
and counselling, start working out, drink plenty of water and you'll start
losing again. But, do remember, we can't compare ourselves to other
people.
We're all individuals. Some will lose more....some will lose less. But if
we follow
"the rules" we can each maximize our weight loss.
gain!!!
— [Anonymous]
July 10, 2001
Once everyone realizes this surgery in any form is a tool NOT the answer
to obesity..then you will succeed if and when you learn from the post-op
eating the first 12 months.. Go back to the basics.. Three meals a day
(PROTEIN) lots of WATER, WATER. WATER, no grazing or continual snacking..
No HIGH calorie drinks and food that are all readily ABSORBED.. To
continue to lose weight you MUST expend the amount of calories you take in
with exercise.. It's that simple.. here are some tips on breaking a
plateau.. Good Luck and try to start fresh with a new outlook it's not
why did I have this surgery it's WHAT CAN I DO to improve the outcome..
You can do it I know you can... If I can anyone can...
<p>
Lot's of things to do to break a plateau...
<p>
1. Look at what you're eating... are you eating lots of breads, rolls,,
buns, baked goods? Starches? Carbs? Switch some Carbs for Protein
foods.. Baked goods & excessive carbs will stop weight loss in it's
tracks...
2. Watch those starches..they turn to sugar... i.e. Corn, potatoes..
3. Are you getting in 64 oz of WATER or better a day..
4. Don't drink directly after eating a meal wait at least an hour.
5. Switch up exercise routines.. Walk one day, jog (if you're able) one
day.. light hands weights for arms and use on ankles for leg lifts. Ride
a bike, step aerobics, when you walk swing those arms and hips (fast
walk). Increase the length of time you exercise ..
Walk a little further than you normally do... Key is working on different
parts of the body... Variety in types of exercise is great..
6. Reward the body give it what it craves (NOT HIGH CALORIE OR SUGAR
SNACKS) example: I don't eat potatoes as a rule or corn (starch) But
if I'm stuck bouncing a few pounds back and forth I'll add a baked potato
on one meal then increase the exercise ( boom ) works every time for
me.. Giving the body that fuel it needs will kick start weigh loss again.
It's like treating it for a job well done then it can resume the weigh
loss pattern again.
7. Use DietWatch http://www.dietwatch.com every day to record
EVERYTHING you eat.. It's free online program..You might be surprised..
8. If you're drinking a lot of juices look at the sugar
content ..learn to read labels.
9. Watch your sodium use a salt substitute
10. Plan three meals a day try to stay at set times.. snacks should be low
calorie with some protein content if you can..
<p>
Plateau's we will all have from time to time it's inevitable these ten
tips just might help though.. If I have been on a plateau I sure didn't
know about it my monthly weight drops consistently ..
I'm not hung up on weighing daily that's a no no.... No more than once
every other week.. once a month might be even better at the doctor's
office..
<p>
More information on my webpage and profile
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen
— Victoria B.
July 10, 2001
According to my surgeon, the surgery alone will help you lose 40% of your
preoperative weight. You've already done better than that!
Congratulations! The rest of the good news is that NOW you can lose weight
much easier than before the surgery by 'dieting'. I know, its a bad word,
but you must take responsibility for your weight now without relying on the
surgical reworking of your insides. Victoria offered excellent ideas.
— Cindy H.
July 10, 2001
Helen, I also want to say "Congratulations" on your success.
And I'm in a daze when you state you feel you wish you had never had the
surgery. HOLY COW !!!! Girl, you lost 125 lbs in 6 months, and have kept
it off for 6 additional months !!!!! I don't know about you, but I call
that "Kickin' Butt". Do you think (for a second) that, through
any other means, that you could have done so remarkably well ??? Try to
remember back to how you looked and felt prior to surgery. Now compare
"that" to today. Has your health improved ??? Do you feel
better ?? Are you capable of doing more things ?? Look, I'm not saying
that you shouldn't strive to lose more weight - we will all be pulling for
your continuing success. And with the advice of previous (and hopefully
following) responders, maybe you can jump-start your loss. I just feel
that we need to pat ourselves on the back sometimes. Particularly when it
is as well-deserved as what you have accomplished so far. Beyond that, I'm
afraid I don't have any advice other than what everyone already knows. I
can only wish you the best in your continuing struggle for whatever you are
hoping to achieve... Kevin
— meilankev
August 31, 2001
Hi Helen-If you are not eating a lot of high calorie easy to eat things and
are getting moderate exercise, then you should break that plateau at some
point. Your body is in a state of "shock" and does not want you
to starve to death. I myself am in the middle of a plateau of 3 weeks and
am only 5 weeks post op. I know from the past diets I was on, I would lose
to point and then completely stop. I would make the mistake of getting
disgusted and gain it all back. Make a slight change...maybe go to skim
milk from 2% or drop something that you have been eating....maybe one slice
of bread or such. Boast your exercise up a notch. I will bet that you
will break that plateau. Congradulations on your tremendous success.
Remember that your weight did not come on in 6-12 months and it will take
longer for it to come off. Your body just is trying to keep you from
"starving" to death. Remember too that muscle weighs more than
fat so even though you have not lost any weight, it may be that your fat is
being replaced with muscle. Good luck to you and I hope you don't get too
frustrated...for heaven sake stay off the scale and concentrate on the
water, exercise and the healthy eating and you will be happy with the
results...this is what others have told me.
— Marie K.
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