Painter Girl

I will start off by saying to each his/her own. I work with 2 women who choose not to tell anyone they had WLS. One of our coworkers ( they are all supervisors) came to my office and asked me about my surgery, to which I am very open about. She spilled the Beans about the other 2 women who have had it and are keeping it a secret. Even one who is my supervisor with whom we have discussed on several occasions WLS and how she said she was going to Mexico to get it done one day. She keeps it a secret as well. I could care less if she or anyone wants to share. I can say that I feel that I find it deceitful to want people to think you did this without our new "tool". All of a sudden your workout and eating habits that were never successful before all of a sudden are working great. Some fear that they will be judged for having surgery, others really want people to think that their miracle diet is working. Its bull in a handbasket, and I am proud that i had WLS. It saved my life. Lies are hard to keep up with. No thanks.

This is a very Hot topic, and everyone is different. I am very open with everyone, my philosophy is this, if you are comfortable with the decision you made it doesn't matter what others thing about WLS. If you feel like you want to keep it to yourself then that is who you are. My family and friends all know and so do my coworkers, and I am okay with that. If they look at me funny, I just remind them I am human and I am going to have set backs, I am no different than anyone else.
This was a decision we all made to get healthier then we were before, we are all going to have our ups and downs trust me I have in the last 5 months, but I don't let that hold me back. and I am a stress eater and know that, so I have fallen off and started going back to my old habits, but I figured it out.
I am for the first time in 14 years under 200 lbs as of today. I know I would not have been able to do this with out WLS and my family they are my biggest support. I my kids help me stay on track they can see when I am full and remind me of that at dinner time.
If you don't have this support we are all here for you as well. I find this place a very conforting place to come when I am down or when I have a success.

What in the world is sex-positive?

Wow, superinteresting question! I don't have a surgery date yet, but I've been doing a lot of medical stuff, and for two months, I've been on a mostly liquid diet (shakes, with one small Protein only meal a day). This has caused a fair amount of attention, because I spend a lot of time in spaces where there aren't healthy food options for me, and where my dietary habits have been really noticeable. (Lots of Jewish retreats and events, where I can't bring in food and the food is all "dairy", which means mostly carbs.
And what I say when someone pokes at it a lot is, "My doctor and I are trying to get to the root of a digestive problem I have." :-) If they push me, I say, "I am trying to finally resolve a problem that's been bothering me since I had my gallbladder out."
And after that, I don't discuss it. If someone says, "Oh, so you eat Atkins? " or "Oh, are you gluten free?" I just smile and say, "Oh, right now, I'm eating what's healthy for me, until we work out what works better. You don't don't want to hear the details!" And then I make a little face, that ever so slightly suggests it would be TMI.
This, is, in fact, mostly true. I have had a problem since I had my gall bladder out after acute pancreatitis over 10 years ago -- I have "bile salt diarrhea." And you know what? My BSD is completely gone when I just eat Protein. :-) I'm not interested in discussing my weight.
But other than that -- I am basically surrounded by fat-positive and sex-positive friends, and I am more concerned that one of them will get upset and feel a need to tell me I'm being a "traitor" or something else for having WLS. I also don't want to hurt the feelings of people I know who are too sweet to ever say that, but who are at my weight or higher. So, I have told 3 friends I'm doing this -- the ones I will probably need support from when first have surgery. I've told my children. But other than that, I am just "working on a health issue."
I know at some point, I will have lost enough weight that someone will be like, "Whaaat has happened?" in which case, I'll just say I finally addressed a health problem that was bothering me. I don't want to hear "you're looking better" and stuff like that. I look great now. I will look great then. I am more than the number of pounds I'm carrying. :-)

At first I was planning on keeping my surgery a secret but then one night, I decided that I wanted the world to know that I was taking my life back. I was completely overwhelmed by all of the love and support that I was given by everyone. I did not have one negative comment. In fact, many had questions and were very curious about the process. I am tired of feeling ashamed. I am proud of my decision and I am proud of the 70 pounds I have lost over the 4 months since my surgery.

My co worker is 3 years out and she is still at a weight she is comfortable you just have to be very diligent in your weight loss and your excercise like you are now. You see the people who are in shape? they eat however they want but then take their happy butts to the gym, If your not a avid gym rat then maybe consider a different activity like a zumba, spin, yoga or dance class. Hell start hiking places you will keep the weight off.

Yes, at some point, the honeymoon will be over and restriction seems less and the cravings and hunger may return.
That's why it's so important to cement healthy eating habits during the all important honeymoon period when restriction is great and hunger is at a minimum.

I'm a bander, but yes, hunger returns. However the satiety with smaller amounts is still there. It's up to me to still stop. We formerly fat humans tend to push the boundaries after the initial high of extreme weight loss is behind us.
They tell us over and over and over again that this is only a tool.
Well it's true. And that's what it means. Keeping it off is up to us. It IS easier than it was without surgery, but it is not without sacrifice.
You can do it. I can do it.
So let's do it!

Yes your hunger returns. Mine came back right around 6 months post op. You have to remember that this is a tool. If you rely on your new stomach to control you, you will be one of those people who gain their weight back.
You also have to remember that it only takes a small amount of food to get full and the right foods to stay full longer. Dense Proteins and good carbs should be your focus. During the pre op and early post op phases you teach yourself how to behave differently. You eat healthier foods, stay away from refined sugars and foods that don't add nutritional value. You exercise, get your Protein in and drink plenty of non sweetened liquids.
You also learn to eat slower so your brain registers that you are full.
I have continued to lose significant weight following the return of actual hunger. The important thing is to recognize the difference between head hunger and real hunger. Try some Water because it could be you are dehydrated. If after you determine you really are hungry then you have a meal or an appropriate snack.
Also, this is where grazing can get you into trouble. You should be eating 3 Protein rich meals per day. If you need a snack try skim milk, cheese, lunch meat, nuts or seeds. They all have good nutritional value.

I am in the 3 months post bypass no hunger zone, just working on the daily rhythm of water/80% protein; 20% good veges and fruit which will comprise my life time of eating. As much as I value the gift of no hunger and chance to drop lots of weight quickly, I will be glad to see hunger return. Hunger can be a friend, and helped me savor the good food I get to eat. Right now I am working on lots of variation of Protein foods, constantly trying to change it up. At 3 mos. I have learned my pouch and how much to eat. I have not had any discomfort or nausea for 9 weeks.

Hi All, I watched on a video, that said, after the surgery and your intial weight loss, your metabolism changes..... Your hunger returns...
HOLY CRAP BAT MAN !!
So is this true? There is supposedly some sort of rebound effect. You loose a bunch, gain "some" back then your new normal weight is set. This is really confusing.. I am still researching and am concerned about years from now...... Oh I can't imagine how happy I will be at a 100 lbs of weight loss, but if my body doesn't want to stay that size, and hormones and metabolism start sabotaging me...
What am I doing....I just WHACKED OFF 85% OF MY STOMACH - FOREVER !!!
Please help me understand..

@@glitterpockets
Look, I am not one to tell people to disregard the instructions of their medical team. But the truth is that you can get perfectly good, inexpensive Protein powder at Wal-Mart and Target. Look for the brands Body Fortress and Pure Protein. Check out places like Trader Joe's, costco (if you are a member), Sam's Club (ditto), . Some big grocery stores (Kroger in my area, not sure what you have where you are) sell cheap protein powders, too. Everyone deserves to be healthy and happy and I promise you this surgery is not just for rich people.
You can also swing by GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and ask what low calorie, low carb whey protein powders they have on sale. They do have good sales sometimes. Good luck!
eta: most of these protein powders are going to be "whey concentrate" rather than "whey isolate." It is true that you absorb protein more efficiently from whey isolate - but that doesn't mean you will fail with whey concentrate! I used mostly whey concentrate throughout weight loss and have lost almost 200 lbs and have been perfectly healthy throughout. You don't need "whey isolate" -- which is more expensive -- to succeed.

Hey Y'all! So I have been looking around on this site(and more) for 3 years. Looking at all these successful stories and think, yep its time, I can do this. Minutes, hours or days later I lack the confidence. I scary myself out of it. I convience myself that anything and everything that can go bad will go bad. Seriously wish I had the strength that everyone has had to move forward with his life changing procedure. I am my worst enemy at this point. Any of you had this problem and how did you overcome the fear?

I'm almost 3 months out. 51lbs down. I get asked all the time how am I losing weight so fast. Simple say diet and exercise. People also ask how much weight have you lost. I just say I lost a few pounds.

Some friends know and few family members because I rather it be like that. Yes we don't need people's approval but people can be rude about surgery. I think if people ask you can tell them the truth only if you feel comfortable telling them. That's how I feel.

I'm still doing great! I was released a day early and got home yesterday evening. I spent the night in my recliner, slept pretty well, and sipped on Water every time I woke up. Today (Wednesday, surgery was Monday) I had 3 shakes throughout the day and got in 58 grams of protein! I thought that was pretty awesome for my first day home. I did overdo a bit when I took my 3 kids to the dentist, which was a 20-minute drive away. I needed to take an oxycodone and collapsed in my chair when we got home.
And my husband surprised me with a Fitbit Charge today.
So far, so good!

I haven't told people anything other than that I am watching what I eat. As far as cake, I avoid it. I have however been in one awkward situation where I took a bite and then acted really full. Everyone knows I love(d) cake and packed it for me to take home. Once home it hit the trash. At least no ones feelings were hurt.

If you have made the decision NOT to tell you had WLS, what do you do when you are among friends/family eating? ... Mom makes you a bday cake?
What do I say? There are some family members (Mother-in-Law) that just feel " you just don't try", to take care of your weight.
I know when I start loosing, people are going to want to know "how are you doing it ?"

Morning.
Yes, you can gain it back and plus more.
Reasoning: You were given a second chance. This means that you now have a "Baby's" tummy.
Think of this, when your new baby starts life, you feed it every two hours of liquids to fill their "tiny" tummies. Well, this is you. As your child gets more months older, you start feeding it more softer type foods, but still every two hours. Again, this is you. Now your child is 6 months old and you start feeding him/her the stage 2 foods, which have some texture into it. This is when your child starts to really grow, their stomach stretch so that you do not have to feed them every 2 hours, maybe every 4. This is you.
Right now I still after 6 months, eat every two hours so my stomach does not stretch. I still eat healthy, every now and then, yes I will have an ice-cream or something sweet. But not as much as I did. Reason why, I do not want to be 310 pounds every again. Right now I am 222 and enjoying the weight loss and more energy I have.
I always say: My surgeon performed surgery on my stomach, not my brain. My brain is mine to teach to eat right.
If those demons are in your brain telling you to eat the way you did, then it is YOUR job to get rid of them. Drink more Water, eat a small snack. It is just your body telling you that something is needed. Don't give into that feeling, channel it to something better. Go for a walk, this helps me a lot.
Hope this helps. This is a tool, it is your responsibility to keep yourself healthy and work towards your goals.
HAVE A SPARKLING DAY
Annamarie.........

Great comments. I think the advice to seek couceling is a great idea. I know for me my biggest worry is gaining weight back. I think that is normal considering I have done so many diets and not been successful keeping weight off. I also know this process to get surgery is a lot to go through. Especially the expense. I would never want to go back or regress.

I'm two and a half years post op, lost more than 140 pounds in 14 months, and have kept it off since. I watch what eat every day, all day. I can eat a lot more than I could in the beginning, and more than I wish I could. I don't think I did anything to stretch my sleeve, but I do think it's bigger than lots of people's.
I know that I could easily gain every pound back, and it would not be hard to do. I can eat a lot of calories without realizing it by grazing and making high caloric choices. I could easily drink 3-4 thousand calories a day. It would be easy. When I first had the surgery, I thought I was cured. I was elated at how little I could eat, how little I felt like eating, and at the lack of hunger. Now I know that was temporary. Hunger gradually returned, and so did the desire to eat. It's nothing like pre-op even now, but it's enough that if I don't watch it, I gain. I always say I'm one cookie away from 300 pounds - in other words - I can never let my guard down.

So glad you posted this. It's one of the things I'm most curious and concerned about! Following!

My nutritionist recommends Quest bars. I've never had a Protein bar even after 9 months pre-op because I've tried to focus on foods that won't cause carb or sugar cravings.
However, I am going to attempt making my own. The "Good Eats" collection on Netflix (episode 2) has many recipes for great all-natural Protein Bars. The quirky host (Alton Brown?) is entertaining to watch and models the cooking procedure in a way to make it easy to duplicate yourself.

To start I've told a few friends and coworkers, plus half of DHs office knows as well. Everyone else can wait and learn on a need to know basis.
I work as an academic advisor at a 4 year university, and this is our busy time of the Summer due to new student registration. Yesterday advisors in other departments began asking DH where I've been as they hadn't seen me in a week. Someone from his office (thinking of my privacy and gossip spreading) quickly said that I had the flu. As anticipated the flu story spread like wildfire across the university advising community. Meanwhile DH kept busy to not get involved in the discussion.
Me, I figure there'll be some interesting conversation when I get back.

I basically don't GAF what others think about surgery. I tried for years the traditional way and just got fatter and more unhealthy. Those that think I "took the easy way out" don't know jack about this process. I figure they're just a bit jealous.