FishingNurse

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

@@Skywalker
As an RN that works with Psychologists and Dieticians everyday: I think your Psychologist has no business judging your "nutritional insight" He has a degree in Psychology not nutrition.
You will be required to see the Dietician before surgery and they will educate you. Problem solved! See the Psychologist that your Surgeon's use.

Thank you all for your input. I did not keep taking my supplements after 1.5 years probably cause I always ate 1500+ cals a day and focused on Protein, and all my labs post op were all normal at 6 months and a year, and at 2 years, I guess I was wrong! (silly I know I am a healthcare worker in an inatient facility for eating disorders) I am on ferrous gluconate 325mg twice daily with 1000mg of Vitamin C. And I am going for 100g of Protein a day now instead of 70. Its not easy!! All my B Vitamins are normal. I take a good Multivitamin now too.
I will keep everyone posted on the endoscopy results/ and labs in 6 weeks.

I was scared of the malabsorption with the gastric bypass, and I didn't want a foreign object in my body that could corrode my stomach like the band.
I think I would have definately lost more with the Gastric Bypass but over all I am very happy with my results. I am about 3 years out from VSG.

@@Skywalker
As an RN that works with Psychologists and Dieticians everyday: I think your Psychologist has no business judging your "nutritional insight" He has a degree in Psychology not nutrition.
You will be required to see the Dietician before surgery and they will educate you. Problem solved! See the Psychologist that your Surgeon's use.

Hi all - Just thought I would share my 9 month post op pics. I've lost 126 pounds so far with about 8 to go until goal. While the weight is still coming off, one of the most significant things I've started to do this month is begin to work through the emotional and compulsive eating issues that got me to nearly 300 pounds to begin with. It's been a really emotional month, but I am feeling really good about keeping the weight off long term because I am starting to deal with the core issues rather than the symptoms.
Anyway, here are my most recent pics.

@@Skywalker
As an RN that works with Psychologists and Dieticians everyday: I think your Psychologist has no business judging your "nutritional insight" He has a degree in Psychology not nutrition.
You will be required to see the Dietician before surgery and they will educate you. Problem solved! See the Psychologist that your Surgeon's use.

uh. i would go see whomever your surgeon's office uses for psych evals. this guy either doesnt know what he's looking for or he's just biased against wls. my psych never even mentioned actual food consumed. its the nuts job to evaluate my diet, not the psych. (hint, drink only Water at your psych eval and nut appt)

Naturally skinny people have all sorts of advice for us. It's simple they say. Eat less and exercise. Well yes it is easy to say but not to do. When you are obese and have no energy to exercise and have a food addiction. It's like telling smokers to just stop smoking.

One thing I hear and see often....EVEN on this site, is "weigh and measure" your portions. And "only eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food". Even directed to people who are longer term WLS patients. I hear it at "support" group meetings all the time...to people who have started regaining, fallen off the wagon, etc.
While I do think it's valuable to know and be mindful of what a normal sized portion is, IF I could have done this longterm....I wouldn't have needed surgery to prevent me from over eating. For me, I had/have no willpower to stop....thus the surgery to accomplish exactly that. Thank you adjustable lapband!

You are amazing! thanks for sharing

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

Today is my FOUR YEAR SURGIVERSARY! It's hard to believe how fast these years have gone by! I'm very thankful and grateful that I was able to have VSG and it completely resolved my weight and health issues including High Blood Pressure, sleep apnea and knee/joint pain.
I'm at my original goal 148-150 and even though I've hit a few "bumps" along the way (regain of 27 pounds in year 3), I've managed to get back up, figure out a way to succeed and continue on!
I'm at a stage now where, knowing me, I've got to continue to make wise food choices. I tend to do really well for a while and then slowly allow junk to sidetrack me. I know by the way I feel now (tired) I am eating too many carbs and sugar!
BUT - I am four years out, completely a new woman in MOST WAYS and so very thankful for this day!!!!!

Not eating at night is one key thing for me. I really have to watch what I eat. I regained 15 between year 3 and 4 and took it off with 5:2. I managed to keep it off for a year, but now I am struggling again. I find if I eat anything extra, I gain.
It's a constant battle. Once I get into fasting, it gets way easier, It's really hard at first though, but it definitely works and gets rid of carb cravings. When we say fasting, we aren't talking not eating anything. Fast days are very low calorie days though.

Well, there you go!

Congrats!
Lynda

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

I wish I could get a hold of some phentermine for some rocky situations. It would be nice to have something to lean on, ,when you know there are going to be goodies and temptations at a social engagement.
Without that, it's digging deep for willpower. Sometimes I have to make cards and look at them frequenly, encouraging myself. I put them in the car and on my mirror and carry some in my purse. I am so afraid of gaining and it's soooo easy!

everyone worries about "never having my favorite".... 95% people can tolerate anything they want post-op including myself. (I am nearly 3 years post-op) Mcdonalds is not my treat of choice... mine is Chic-fil-a or Cheezits.
You WILL be able to eat this DON'T WORRY. Just make this a treat. :-)

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

Regain how much is the question you want to ask. Once you get to maintanance phase you probably will regain some weight, but unless you really try you will never come close to your top weight. This is a big life style change, dont forget that. Your days of pigging out are over or should be. If you are not ready to make these changes then keep working on the diet only route. Many of us have BP and blood sugar issues that add extra drive to be sucessful.

The intermittent fasting seems to be the ticket for vets in a rut like myself. I gained 7-8 pounds back from my all time low over the last year. (I am 2.5 years out)
Unfortunately I am not able to only consume 500 calories or less per day. I wish I had the will power to do it!!!!
BUT I started a similar idea at the first of the year and I am down 3.5lbs!!!
It’s called the 8 hour diet. It’s simple. You eat 8 hours of the day only, the other 16 you fast. (you drink Water or other beverages with no calories.) Basically you can eat whatever in the 8 hours with in moderation, but no need to restrict calories significantly.
So far so good!!! It is surprisingly easy for me to follow. I have also been shooting for high Protein, lowerish carb, (but I am reasonable, I have still been getting my white chocolate iced espresso daily from Caribou coffee!!) and I have been at the gym which also helps.
I haven’t seen the scale move DOWN in more than a year I’d say!
I work 2nd shift as a nurse, so I have slightly different hours to eat then some of you might… but this is what I do:
I eat Breakfast at about 11:30am, and then I can eat a snack around 2 or 3 and have dinner at 7-7:30 then I don’t eat again until 11:30am the next day. I thought it would be hard but it’s not! Also the book I read regarding the plan does say even if you follow this 4-5 days a week you will still see results. (google 8 hour diet for more info)
This plan seems to give your body a chance to use stored fat for energy. I feel great! Also the plan recommends a brief 8 min “workout” just before you break the fast in the morning. (I will lift my 5 pound dumb bells and push-ups and go up and down the stairs a few times.
I am very optimistic, I know I have only been following the plan for 10 days but I am excited to be on the loser’s bench again. I will keep everyone posted, I can’t wait to weigh myself tomorrow!!

I do love San Francisco, but with all due respect, if I never go back to San Jose again, that would be fine with me. For us, living in Europe and particularly in Amsterdam is a dream, we don't have (or need) a car, we walk or bike or tram everywhere and the cultural charm of this city is beyond amazing. But I will admit, the Bay Area does have great weather!
Congratulations on keeping your weight in check. You have inspired me.