Travelher

1 year
1 month
10 days
And I hit my goal!
Sept 21/15 - Oct 31/16
Lots of hard work.
Many sacrifices.
Lots of self talk.
Much dedication and self motivation.
But it was all worth it!
The time flew by and I can't believe I am where I am just 13 short months after my Gastric Bypass surgery.
I saved my own life and will thank myself everyday.
I wasted too much of my precious life and now I'm gonna make up for it!
Turning 41 in a couple days and I've never felt better, happier, healthier and of course lighter!!!
Thanks for all that have traveled along this journey with me!

Heather
Sent from my SM-G920W8 using the BariatricPal App

Nope, not tempted too much by candy...on the other hand my hubby is sitting across from me eating a huge bag of freshly popped buttery popcorn. I'm staring daggers right now. Popcorn is my kryptonite. I could live on popcorn alone. Oh I could seriously kill him right now....then take his popcorn...

I had a roommate when I was in the clinic. We both went into surgery at roughly the same time 7:30am. His wife was waiting for him in our room and was getting increasingly worried as time passed. I was out by 9:30...at noon he was still not down. His wife told me he did not follow his pre-op diet. He was supposed to do 3 weeks, he did 3 days...because he didn't like the shakes...neither did I so I consulted with the dietician and switched to something I did like. At noon the surgeons came down and said that his liver was fused to his stomach...they had to spend hours separating them. My surgeon had to go in and help his doctor complete the surgery because of the complications. He didn't come down from recovery until about 7pm and I'm sure was in the hospital longer than I was. He really looked like he was struggling. I'm very happy about following the pre-op plan..frankly I lost more weight in those 2 weeks than I have post-op..Go figure...

I also chose RNY because it is the gold standard and proven results for decades. I also have problems for acid reflux. am on a PPI but I understand that is not unusual because sometimes it takes a while for your stomach to realize it doesn't need to produce at much acid because it is smaller.
thanks,

First and foremost, I strongly believe in the idea that we are what we think we are, so the negative self talk has GOT to go. You are a successful WLS patient who has fallen off the wagon a bit.
A failure is someone who quits, refusing to try again. You regained only 20 pounds and you are back. You could have waited until you had regained 40, 60, 100, or 100+ or you could have thrown in the towel all together.
YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.
Go back to your surgeon and see what he/she recommends. Go back to your pre-op diet for a week or two. Go back to liquids for a week or two. Start weighing/measuring/tracking your food and move your ass a little more than normal. You can totally do this.
You are not a failure until you stop trying. You don't sound like a failure to me at all.

I hope that you're calmer today. It's your disappointment that I can relate to, having lost 115 lbs from the time of my surgery and then, about 45 lbs from the loose goal I had in mind, beginning to regain about 75 lbs. It's "failure" and "failing" that I don't feel (not all the time, at any rate), as I know exactly what set me in reverse. It's all the other, original-equipment crap that kept me regaining.
@@Bufflehead and @@KristenLe have offered perfect suggestions. Bufflehead's tip to turn to healthy, real foood stands out. Forget the proteen (deliberate misspellings) powwders. Real foood is so much more satisfying and, well, real. It's also a pointer to more smart foood choices. Shaakes, not. KristenLe homed in on your weight loss and what you've kept off. Take a look at that and take ownership of its significance.
Say some kind things to yourself. Your own thought process is a far greater obstacle than are sugar and carbs.
There's some magical thinking in the mix. Your stomach wasn't removed and, if you knew at the start that you had to acquire new eating habits, knowing that regain and no loss were possibilities were part of the package.

We are all the sum of our minds, bodies, emotions, experiences and more. By viewing your mind as a separate entity, you're putting up road blocks. If it isn't part of you, of course you have no control over it.

"Vicious." "Addict." "Sick addict." "Super jealous (of which there is no good kind)." Negative to the max.
It's possible that you will reach your goal by your birthday, but it makes no sense to put a deadline on yourself. What if you're three lbs short on the day? The way you're speaking suggests that you may wail that you're a failure over three lbs. "Losing weight" as a goal, period, makes sense. Losing weight is good.
It's not sugar that derailed you. It's all the stuff that took you to it. Working with a therapist isn't at all a bad idea. A cognitive behaviorist can be a great help in sorting things out and reclaiming the power.

The only way for most of us to stop craving high carb or high sugar foods is to stop eating them. It's hard to do! Here is what I do when I find myself going off the rails with high carb or high sugar foods:
1. Get all of those "off plan" foods out of the house. You can't be tempted by them if they aren't there. If there are other people you live with, well, no one *needs* crackers or frozen waffles or chips or Cookies. If they want to eat that crap, they can do it outside the house at least for a little while.
2. For five days, eat nothing but unprocessed meats (no deli/lunch meat, bacon, sausage, or jerky), green veggies, healthy fats (olive oil, grass fed butter), eggs, herbs and spices. No sauces, no cheese, nothing like that. But for those five days, you get to eat as much as you want, whenever you want! That way there is no way you can experience actual hunger. This will help you re-learn the difference between hunger and cravings, and it will also help you re-establish your restriction.
3. For those five days, no liquid calories and especially no artificial sweeteners. This will help banish your cravings for sweets and carbs.
4. At the end of the five days, commit to logging all of my food intake on myfitnesspal. Set a calorie goal that will keep me in a caloric deficit.
5. Plan my food intake at the beginning of each day and pre-log it in myfitnesspal. This helps when I get hungry in between meals or Snacks. I can remind myself: "yes, I am hungry now, it is no fun to be hungry, but I am not going to starve. I will eat an apple and some turkey Jerky in a couple of hours and I can wait until then."
Yes, this involves some planning, work, and change. But unfortunately at least for me there are no shortcuts or magic potions or tricks. If I stick it out, it works. Good luck!

liquid is not going to stretch your pouch.
Yes, you will be able to drink normal again. The biggest issue is gulping can be very painful. I know even now after two years, I will drink a whole bottle of Water very quickly but if i accidentally gulp it causes a nasty pain in your chest.
For now....sip every few seconds and that thirst will go away.

I also have the cards from my surgeon asking that I be allowed to order from the child's menu, but I have yet to use them because nothing on the child's menu looks very appetizing. I order a normal entrée and ask for a 'to go' box when I order. Knowing that I will sometimes get 3-4 meals from one entrée is this bargain shopper's delight! And sometimes I just order a bowl of Soup. I feel no need to explain myself to my server. I pay for the meal and I tip. If I have a complaint about something I will speak up. I am always a pleasant customer and try to leave with a smile on my face.

I just had my band revised to rny. The lapbad is a piece of equipment and will eventually age and fail. My bet is that everyone with one will eventually need a revision. Mine lasted 11 years, but I've heard many fail at 5. My surgeon went as far as saying anyone still putting them in now should be sued for malpractice, they just don't work long term...10+ years and many people have issues with them and they have the data to support that.

I agree with everyone who has been a server if you are in that industry you want your customers happy and sure you want great tips but bottom line is customer service comes first.
You don't have to tell your history but just like many people have said order a to go box when you order.Its not uncommon to do that.
Allie
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I got a card when I left the hospital that explains I had weight loss surgery please allow me to order from the smaller portion menu (kids, seniors, early diner, lunch sized) this has made life easier for me. I have not had any issues with it.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using the BariatricPal App

@@LisaMergs I could not agree more with ^ statements. I also waited tables for 20 years. I treated everyone the same if they order a small something or a full meal. I was not there to tell people what to eat, only to take the order and serve them what they ordered and give the best service to everyone.
I only order a full meal if i know my son at home is going to want the left overs. I don't eat leftovers that often. They don't agree with me.
I have no problem going sit in a restaurant and ordering a bowl of Soup and nothing to drink...... or i may just order a few cocktails... Depends on my mood

Harsh.
There is no rule that says you need to spend "x" dollars just because you are sitting in a restaurant seat. It's a service industry. And yes, they're there to make money. I put myself through college waiting tables and bar tending. Never once was I pissed that one person in a party ordered less, or ordered a soda instead of a mixed drink. Never crossed my mind. It all evens out through the course of a shift.
And lest you be further mistaken, most servers DO care and will go over board to make certain you are given exactly what you need to have an enjoyable experience and eat on plan. And then, because service was exemplary, they are tipped accordingly. I've NEVER tipped 20% on a $3 bowl of soup...ever... They'll usually a minimum of 50% or more from me in gratuity.
People should NOT feel like they need to spend exorbitantly just to occupy a chair.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know, right? I'm traveling for work in a couple of weeks. I'll be going out with colleagues, most of whom know about the surgery, so It won't be so awkward. It is annoying though. Usually with large groups someone orders appetizers for the table. That leaves an opening for the old "oh I'm stuffed, I filled up on appetizers"

I am traveling for business now for two months. I have an apartment with a kitchen but eat out maybe once a week with work colleagues. The waiter always asking if I didn't like my food annoys the hell out of me.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I use the patch Vitamins so no pills or chewables. For liquids phase I pinned a ton of Soup recipes and pretty much tried to make my own. I added an unflavored Protein powder to them to up the Protein content. I'm now on purees/soft. I like cottage cheese and I've pureed frozen mixed fruit to add to it to sweeten them up. a lot of people do yogurt (I don't like it so i've avoided it). on my plan you can do runny cereals (like cream of wheat) or baby food cereals on full liquids but it didn't appeal to me so i stuck to Soups. i find eggs are good at this stage and Beans. I'm loving hummus right now.

I went out for dinner for the first time with my husband last night. I ordered Soup and ate about 3/4 cup. The server asked me if everything was ok? With concern. I assured him it was delicious and prayed the owner did not also come and do the same. It was a flashback to 10 years ago when I was first dating my husband and I had a lap band and waiters would do the same thing. It was embarrassing because it happened on almost every date. My husband would probably have never noticed it had everyone else not kept pointing it out.
How do you handle this?

I just had my band revised to rny. The lapbad is a piece of equipment and will eventually age and fail. My bet is that everyone with one will eventually need a revision. Mine lasted 11 years, but I've heard many fail at 5. My surgeon went as far as saying anyone still putting them in now should be sued for malpractice, they just don't work long term...10+ years and many people have issues with them and they have the data to support that.

The canadian system is certainly not perfect (none are) but it is what I would call good. If I need to see a doctor I can get in same day and pay nothing, if I break my leg, I get seen same day and pay nothing. I recently had an ultrasound which found a tumour on my kidney, I had a ct scan scheduled within a week. (I think reasonable). Where I have experienced delays are in non-life threatening type things that require a specialist. I asked for an MRI on my knee...(I have a lot issues with my acl). That could take months because they put emergent cases ahead of you...but if I want to skip the line I can pay for an MRI at a private clinic (for significantly less than in the us). Bypass surgery is also covered here, depending on where you live the wait times are anywhere from 8 months to 18months...sometime requires up to 6months medically supervised diet. I didn't want to wait after my band failed so I went to a clinic and did self pay.
Frankly my work has asked me to move to the US, the biggest reason I won't is the Heath Care system. My husband has crohns and I worry if we were to move there it could threaten us financially...it just is not even something people think about here. I'm hoping Canada expands our system to include drugs as well, like many countries in Europe so the drug costs would come down as well.

The canadian system is certainly not perfect (none are) but it is what I would call good. If I need to see a doctor I can get in same day and pay nothing, if I break my leg, I get seen same day and pay nothing. I recently had an ultrasound which found a tumour on my kidney, I had a ct scan scheduled within a week. (I think reasonable). Where I have experienced delays are in non-life threatening type things that require a specialist. I asked for an MRI on my knee...(I have a lot issues with my acl). That could take months because they put emergent cases ahead of you...but if I want to skip the line I can pay for an MRI at a private clinic (for significantly less than in the us). Bypass surgery is also covered here, depending on where you live the wait times are anywhere from 8 months to 18months...sometime requires up to 6months medically supervised diet. I didn't want to wait after my band failed so I went to a clinic and did self pay.
Frankly my work has asked me to move to the US, the biggest reason I won't is the Heath Care system. My husband has crohns and I worry if we were to move there it could threaten us financially...it just is not even something people think about here. I'm hoping Canada expands our system to include drugs as well, like many countries in Europe so the drug costs would come down as well.

The canadian system is certainly not perfect (none are) but it is what I would call good. If I need to see a doctor I can get in same day and pay nothing, if I break my leg, I get seen same day and pay nothing. I recently had an ultrasound which found a tumour on my kidney, I had a ct scan scheduled within a week. (I think reasonable). Where I have experienced delays are in non-life threatening type things that require a specialist. I asked for an MRI on my knee...(I have a lot issues with my acl). That could take months because they put emergent cases ahead of you...but if I want to skip the line I can pay for an MRI at a private clinic (for significantly less than in the us). Bypass surgery is also covered here, depending on where you live the wait times are anywhere from 8 months to 18months...sometime requires up to 6months medically supervised diet. I didn't want to wait after my band failed so I went to a clinic and did self pay.
Frankly my work has asked me to move to the US, the biggest reason I won't is the Heath Care system. My husband has crohns and I worry if we were to move there it could threaten us financially...it just is not even something people think about here. I'm hoping Canada expands our system to include drugs as well, like many countries in Europe so the drug costs would come down as well.

The canadian system is certainly not perfect (none are) but it is what I would call good. If I need to see a doctor I can get in same day and pay nothing, if I break my leg, I get seen same day and pay nothing. I recently had an ultrasound which found a tumour on my kidney, I had a ct scan scheduled within a week. (I think reasonable). Where I have experienced delays are in non-life threatening type things that require a specialist. I asked for an MRI on my knee...(I have a lot issues with my acl). That could take months because they put emergent cases ahead of you...but if I want to skip the line I can pay for an MRI at a private clinic (for significantly less than in the us). Bypass surgery is also covered here, depending on where you live the wait times are anywhere from 8 months to 18months...sometime requires up to 6months medically supervised diet. I didn't want to wait after my band failed so I went to a clinic and did self pay.
Frankly my work has asked me to move to the US, the biggest reason I won't is the Heath Care system. My husband has crohns and I worry if we were to move there it could threaten us financially...it just is not even something people think about here. I'm hoping Canada expands our system to include drugs as well, like many countries in Europe so the drug costs would come down as well.

Mexico has many skilled and experienced surgeons as well as world class facilities. It is ignorant to say that "going to Mexico for surgery is like going to Iraq". I can't speak to the conditions in Iraq nor the quality of medical care available there, but I can attest that I received excellent care in Mexico both times I've been there for surgery (once for plastics and once for VSG). For my plastics I can promise I received MUCH better care than I would have in the US. I had nurses tending to me 24/7 for two full weeks post-op. In the US, I would have been sent home a day or two post-op and left to fend for myself or had to depend on loved ones for embarrassing tasks like using the toilet and showering.
Are there hacks performing surgeries in Mexico? Of course there are. Just like there are here in the US. But if one does their research and due diligence, it's not hard to find well qualified surgeons and to go to Mexico for surgery with full peace of mind.

Would an american hospital not treat a patient with complications post surgery, regardless of where the original surgery is done? that seems strange to me.