DianaP

Baritastic!

I use Baritastic and like it very much. I used to use fit bit before surgery but haven't in a while. I noticed for myfitnesspal they asked to upgrade to premium for some of the features so I decided not to use it.

Me too.

I love love love Baritastic. Geared for wls.

I prefer MyFitnessPal

I'm preparing myself for admission to a 45-day rehab for alcohol addiction post RNY gastric bypass. This is not the first round of treatment. I had my gatric bypass 10/1999 in San Diego CA at the facility operated by Drs Clark and Wittgrove. By nine months post op I lost 106 pounds and maintained that loss through 2008. However, during that time I also began experiencing and struggling with a dependence on alcohol.

Dr Clark explained that once I physically adapted to my new physiology, I could re-introduce various other foods and drinks, determining whether they would compel the infamous "dumping syndrome". Sugar was a definite "no consume", but when I went to my family's traditional Sunday brunch several months post op and slaked my thirst with a flute of champagne, I did not experience dumping syndrome. All I felt was a "super high" from the sip I took. After that, the game was on. My addiction began in earnest. Dumping Syndrome I was warned about. There were no flags waved before me about the possibilities of alcoholism and alcohol addiction. I am waving those flags now!

I first went into treatment April of 2008. I did not complete the relapse segment of treatment because I had scheduled reconstructive surgery for a work related injury. The surgery schedule overlapped that final stage of rehab. I think God walked with me through those years because I remained sober until my mother began dying in late 2016. It was then I began drinking volumes of wine that increased to the equivalent, on average, of 4 bottles of wine a day. Occasionally, I thought drinking vodka a better alternative than drinking wine. Don't ask me why. The mind of an addict. I returned to wine. Drug of choice. Drug of self-destruction.

One day I decided to try and find out why and and how my "take it or leave it " attitude toward alcohol became a "can't live without it " condition. On the internet, I discovered that, as gastric bypass patients, we are unique. In the same way that we each do not necessarily experience dumping syndrome, we do not experience the effects of alcohol the same.

Post gastric bypass, my physiology became hyper receptive to the effects of alcohol, particularly the initial high produced from its consumption. I believe there is no way on this planet that I am unique in this experience. I want others to know, as I now seek treatment a second time on June 13, 2019, that if this is happening to you, don't wait, don't blame yourself, it's your body reacting to the changes made. Be totally honest with those treating you. Only then, hopefully armed with what I'm writing here, can you get the medical help, psychological treatment and ongoing care that will make you whole.

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm going in on July 1st too!! One week from today!! I'm 3 days into my required 10 day liquid diet; feeling a little bit in a "fog", but not as hungry or cranky as I expected to be. I had a couple "food funerals", but didn't go overboard with quantities when I did. I gave up caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation just a couple weeks ago, and have been cutting back on sugar but didn't fully cut it until I started the pre-surgery diet.
Good luck to you! I'm feeling very nervous and hopeful too.

I'm going in on July 1st too!! One week from today!! I'm 3 days into my required 10 day liquid diet; feeling a little bit in a "fog", but not as hungry or cranky as I expected to be. I had a couple "food funerals", but didn't go overboard with quantities when I did. I gave up caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation just a couple weeks ago, and have been cutting back on sugar but didn't fully cut it until I started the pre-surgery diet.
Good luck to you! I'm feeling very nervous and hopeful too.

I'm going in on July 1st too!! One week from today!! I'm 3 days into my required 10 day liquid diet; feeling a little bit in a "fog", but not as hungry or cranky as I expected to be. I had a couple "food funerals", but didn't go overboard with quantities when I did. I gave up caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation just a couple weeks ago, and have been cutting back on sugar but didn't fully cut it until I started the pre-surgery diet.
Good luck to you! I'm feeling very nervous and hopeful too.

And a Big Thumb-up👍for HIM, he is obviously the" Best of Breed" in the In Law Family. My late husband's family their pet phrase was " _____is so pretty in the face" like the rest of their body was a big black trash bag and not to be thought of.. Always bummed me out, I was close to 200 when I married into that family, got to a high of 365+ but after 9 months I'm back down below 200, they cannot see ME now because I outlived THEM ALL!✌😝

There is a big difference between a secret and something that is simply private. Secret frequently involved shame whereas if something is private it’s personal

It's a choice everyone makes for themselves there is no right or wrong here.I told a handful of people. Today, almost 21 months out those same few people are the only ones who know. My main reason for not telling everyone, I was afraid that I would lose the weight and regain it. I didn't want everyone to see that I failed at weight loss surgery. I had lost weight in the past only to go back to my old obsessions and regain it and then some. I really didn't know if I would be a long term success. Today, I struggle everyday to maintain the weight loss. I'm grateful for the surgery and the health benefits that I reap from the surgery. I've witnessed both the failures of those who didn't keep the weight off and more importantly those who are maintaining the weight loss. For me, losing the weight was the easy part, the surgery did it's job. Maintaining the weight loss is my job and as I said, it's a struggle each day. I take it one day at a time and if I'm successful today, then I build on that success the next day. If I fail by eating something that's not in my food plan, I regroup and redouble my efforts the next day. On day at a time.Those I have told have kept my "secret" and three have followed me by having WLS. Of the three one has told everyone that he had the surgery. As I said at the beginning of this response, It's a choice everyone makes for themselves there is no right or wrong here. Good luck and I wish you success and great health.

I'm scheduled for July 1st! It's coming up SO soon; I'm feeling all the emotions right now! Thankful I found this group.

I'm scheduled for July 1st! It's coming up SO soon; I'm feeling all the emotions right now! Thankful I found this group.

I'm scheduled for July 1st! It's coming up SO soon; I'm feeling all the emotions right now! Thankful I found this group.

My surgery is scheduled for July 1. I was initially planning on telling just my husband and some of my immediate family who I hoped could come help care for my two young sons during recovery.
Then I came across THIS blog post, and it really changed my stance. I decided that even if some people shame or embarrass me, if I feel shame because of my choice to live a healthier life in a way that I will be able to succeed, then that might say something about my own need to work on self love and acceptance. Also, being secretive about it may delay other people's health journeys too; I know I personally gave weight loss surgery another look because of a friend who shared her experience, even after I'd dismissed it previously.
For myself, I have a very supportive community of other moms, so I decided that the problem was rooted in my own doubt and shame if I feared sharing with them. So though I'm certainly not broadcasting it, I have shared with maybe 8 people in that community, and probably will share with more. Mostly I have been blown away by their positive, affirming responses, and it has even helped me with my own process of mentally and emotionally preparing for all the changes. I also have told all of my immediate family, but don't plan on telling my husband's family, as they have a history of saying incredibly hurtful and ignorant things in regards to my body.
So, all that to say, you should feel free to share however much you feel comfortable with about your medical and bodily issues, but sometimes people surprise you and really show up with support and love if you give them that opportunity, and even just the act of sharing may help you work through some emotional things personally. Best of luck! ❤️

I'm scheduled for July 1st! It's coming up SO soon; I'm feeling all the emotions right now! Thankful I found this group.

My waist is now smaller than my right thigh was 7 months ago.

Nice! Congrats!

I started off only telling those I felt needed to know, which at that time was my husband and a couple of my close friends. There are members of my immediate family who still don't know. For me, I didn't handle it like this to avoid judgment or fear of failure, I just figured that the world didn't need to be included in decisions I make about my personal health. I am a rather private person anyway, so handling it this way didn't feel like a deviation from how I handle anything in my life.
My weight loss has been slow enough that I haven't gotten a lot of questions about "how". I don't feel the need to advertise that I had WLS, but I don't hide it. If someone has the guts to ask if I had surgery, I'll tell them. Otherwise, if they do ask how I'm losing, I can honestly answer that it's because I'm eating healthier and exercising.
At over the 1-year mark, I have been able to remain relatively private about my surgery. Most people are very positive and complimentary about my weight loss and don't really question it. If I had it to do again, I'd do it the same way.
Since you mentioned being afraid of being judged in a social setting, I'll tell you that my biggest challenge has been in restaurants. I seem to get questions when eating out. I've had family/friends think I either didn't like my food or was sick, but the biggest problem has been the wait staff. The servers notice when you don't eat much of your food, and depending on your setting, they may take offense and think that you didn't like the food. EX: I went on a cruise recently (and you know what kind of eat-fest THOSE are). Every meal the wait staff were VERY concerned that I hadn't eaten a lot of my food. I did my best to reassure them that I liked it, I just couldn't eat it. It was a little annoying, but a nice problem to have. I actually LOST weight on a cruise!

Oh I like that quote!