Bob_350lbs

Chancie, I love your NSV #4 wearing a summer dress and feeling like a lady. I haven't been able to do that in sooo long. I am hoping for that next summer. How wonderful for you, it's inspiring me. I love that feeling too, and sure do miss wearing summer dresses.
Maybe we should all write these victories down on paper and post above the scale, so when we have a stall, we can look at all our victories, and keep on going.
God bless you guys, you're great!

Well, depression after WLS looks like it might be a common, expected phase for us, during our weight journey.
But clinical depression, I feel, needs treatment just like high blood pressure. For some, it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. There is still a stigma society has about depression, and treatment. But, no one should feel bad about having it and seeking help. We wouldn't hold it against someone if they took high blood pressure medication, we would think they were very, very smart.
The other depression after WLS, may need treatment if it doesn't subside.
I feel better now, accepting of how much (little) my tummy can hold. It's really hard to use food like I did before, which is a good thing..

From the LapSF newsletter.
********
Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include:

- Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult.

- Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants.

- Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment.

- Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear.

- Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings.

- Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you.

The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.

Find a therapist you can talk to, and one that has experience dealing with bariatric patients. Talk to several before you decide.
Here are some additional resources that might help:
The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric Surgery
* RECOMMENDED
by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD
Dr. Alexander discusses many of the difficulties a bariatric patient is likely to encounter and some realistic and practical
strategies for dealing with them. Most people go into bariatric surgery full of motivation and hope, only to find day-to-day
postoperative existence more stressful than they imagined. Here are the psychological tricks of the trade to help make
your own journey a successful one.
Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success after Weight Loss Surgery
* RECOMMENDED
by Paula F. Peck, RN
Paula Peck provides the information, encouragement and guidelines for maintaining long-term success after weight loss
surgery. Ms. Peck has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and personally has experienced a weight loss of more
than 175 pounds twice in her life: Once unsuccessfully from "white-knuckle" dieting, and once successfully from weight
loss surgery 5 years ago. Ms. Peck interweaves intelligent discussion with humorous stories about herself and individuals
that have faced diet after diet and ultimately chose the gastric bypass procedure.
The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen M. Cook
Colleen Cook, a weight-loss surgery patient since 1995, has taken the real-world experiences of thousands of weight-
loss surgery patients and condensed them into the principles you'll find in this book. These time and people tested
principles are the results of years of research of long-term weight loss surgery patients. They work regardless of the
particular type of weight-loss surgery you may have had.
Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies by Marina S. Kurian, Barbara Thompson, Brian K. Davidson
A guide to weight loss surgery – before, during, and after. This compassionate guide helps you determine whether you
qualify and gives you the scoop on selecting the best center and surgical team, understanding today's different
procedures, and achieving the best results. You also get tips on eating properly post-op and preparing appetizing meals,
as well as easing back into your day-to-day life.
Before and After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach
In addition to more than 100 recipes in this book, there are ideas to help a post-op cook stay on the path and adapt
his/her own recipes. Includes tips for eating out and cooking during the holidays. There is an introduction to Protein,
sugar, and carbohydrates for those who are post gastric bypass surgery, as well as a list of sources for special foods and
ingredients.
Eating Well After Weight Reduction Surgery by Patt Levine
The author has created 125 recipes that contain no added sugar, are very low in fat, and get their carbohydrates almost
exclusively from fruits and vegetables. Each recipe includes specific guidelines for preparation of the dish for every stage
of the eating programs for Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and Duodenal Switch patients, as well as suggestions for sharing
meals with those who have not gone through gastric surgery.
Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You
by Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LD/N, and Lynette Schultz, Chef, LCRP, RT
Margaret Furtado and Lynette Schultz have a combination of almost 40 years experience in clinical nutrition and the
culinary arts. Together, they will help you navigate your way through the sometimes turbulent waters after your weight
loss surgery, and will provide you with general clinical guidelines after your procedure, as well as helpful hints for easing
your transition from surgery to your new, healthy lifestyle. With sections on home entertaining and eating-on-the-run.
Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LapSF):
WLS Lifestyles Magazine:
http://www.wlslifestyles.com
American Society of Bariatric Surgeons:
www.asbs.org

From the LapSF newsletter.
********
Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include:

- Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult.

- Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants.

- Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment.

- Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear.

- Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings.

- Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you.

The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.