Danny Paul

Mahalo Fluffy. Glad to see that you are doing well despite all of your set backs.

Mahalo for your kind thoughts.

OA isn't a diet group. It doesn't have a specific diet. No one knows that I had WLS except one person. She shared with the group that she had WLS. We text each other daily to offer support for our special needs. Nobody looks into your business. They know only what you tell them. It is a 12 step program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. If you go online, find a meeting near you and attend. You will find everyone helpful and supportive right out of the gate. Working the steps has also had positive affects in other facets of my life. Overall, a very positive experience.

It was seven months post op. I was on vacation and there are these pastries that I can only get there. I told my wife that I would only eat one. I ended eating one each day and with a cup of coffee. Usually I would rationalize my behavior by saying I deserve to cheat while on vacation and I did lose a lot of weight. Instead, I felt that there was something wrong. Why am I acting like this? Didn't I go through WLS to get healthier? Why am I sabotaging my new found health? When I got back home, I sought a therapist who diagnosed me as a compulsive over eater. She also advised that I try Overeaters Anonymous. Today, with the help of my sponsor and others in my OA group I'm coping and working on my compulsion. It's a struggle everyday because I as a compulsive over eater can't eat like a regular person and I need to be mindful of it. I just celebrated my one year anniversary and realizing that my restriction isn't as restrictive as it was. I do have restriction but I cannot rely solely on it to maintain my weight loss. Luckily I have the support and tools OA gives me. I work my steps and take each day one day at a time. Don't be afraid to seek help if you feel you need it. Look up OA on the web for a meeting near you.

Today makes one year since my Gastric Sleeve. I lost 60 lbs and made my goal weight. I've learned a lot about myself and my eating habits. I also realize that each day has to be taken one day at a time as far as food is concerned. One bad day doesn't ruin all of the next days as one successful day doesn't guarantee future success. My WLS has been a great tool for rapidly loosing the weight and giving me that weigh loss success. The hard part started when I reached goal and that is to maintain the weight loss and continue to be healthy. One year ago I was a type 2 diabetic, had high BP, gout, Gerd and was in a continual downward spiral as far as health was concerned. Today my diabetes is in remission, BP normal, gout and Gerd both gone. Also gone are all the medications I needed to take daily in order to keep these diseases under control. I know now that I am a compulsive eater. The WLS didn't cure me of that. Through therapy and Over Eaters Anonymous (OA), I'm working on it daily. Each day, I try my best to keep to my meal plan which was devised by my nutritionist, surgeon and Internist. Each day away from surgery I can feel my restriction loosen and I can't rely on it solely to keep my weight off. I do have restriction and it is very helpful but I can see that I can eat more. I have to work hard at not eating more and thus getting back into my old eating habits. The WLS has helped out tremendously but now it's up to me to build on the successes. I know that I can slip up and get back to where I was before WLS. With the help of my therapist and OA I think I have a fighting chance. Time will tell but at least I know that I have a problem and I'm trying my best to meet it head on. I wish each of you continued weight loss success and good health and most of all if you think you need help don't be ashamed or afraid to get it.

To keep regular I put four scoops of the Costco brand Benefiber in my daily protein water. That seems to keep me regular. At the beginning, with eating less and mostly proteins I was constipated. I did start out with dried plums which I also got at Costco but I find the fiber powder to be much better. As for that feeling in your stomach that's probably you eating too fast. I had that same feeling until I started to eat slower. It takes awhile to learn how to eat slower.

No truer words were written.

Eat at Buffets

Unfortunately this whole WLS thing doesn't follow a set script. The pounds don't continue to fall off at a steady pace and you won't be happy every time you step on the scale. There will be stalls, I've experienced a few and there will be times when I step on the scale and the number wasn't what I expected. The truth is, if you stick to your eating plan, proteins first, at least 64 ounces of water, get your vitamins and get some type of exercise you'll be good. Trust yourself and trust the program.

Told the people at work that me and 4 others in my building put $1,000 each into a pot and the person who lost the most weight by years end wins.(Dec 31, 2017) I told everyone I came in a distant second. Now, I tell everyone we have a second bet, who can keep the most weight off by years end. (Dec 31, 2018) In the building I tell people , it's a bet with 4 others at work. So far so good. BTW, I'm winning the bet for the most weight lost being kept off.

By mid morning I have 46 grams of the 80 grams of protein I need for the day. For breakfast I eat One hard boiled egg (6grams) One Oikos Triple Yogurt (15 grams) and 30 minutes later I start drinking 32 ounces of water with one scoop of Isopure "unflavored" protein powder (25grams) with crystal light and Optifiber. The rest of the day I'm eating mostly fish, beans, nuts or other seafood. I stopped drinking protein shakes when I found "unflavored" protein powder. I get a twofer, protein and my water. Note: The Isopure "unflavored" protein powder has it's own taste and I had to get use to it. The better tasting "unflavored" protein powder is Unjury (21grams) but it does cost more.

I'm a Compulsive Overeater and went through a similar situation that you went through. The surgery fixed my ability to not over eat but it didn't fix my will to eat the things that I shouldn't eat. To be honest, there are a great many people on this message board that want and will offer you advice to succeed but if you don't make the changes needed all the advice in the world will not help. If you can eat those Cheez Its in moderation then there is really no harm but if you gobble them down and buy more you're setting yourself up for failure. I can't eat in moderation, that's a big part of my problem being a Compulsive Overeater. That's why I sought outside help, with a therapist. My therapist went one step further and recommended that I join Overeaters Anonymous. (OA) Between them both I'm starting to work through my problem and I hope and pray that I have long term success with my WLS. We have been given a great tool to be healthy what we do with it is up to us. I wish you success and good health.

Congrats, like to see those who succeed over the long haul.

I wasn't allowed eggs until my fifth week post op and I did not have the yolk restriction.

Once a week at the same time each week.

Went to a group session and the topic of alcohol consumption came up. Group leader (nurse in the program) said 12 months before you drink alcohol but, we're happy if you make it to six months. When I went for my psyche consult psychiatrist said alcoholism disqualifies a person for being approved because drinking alcohol post op will make you gain weight. I don't drink but I hope others at least wait until the one year mark in order to try to get the full benefit of your surgery.