teachkdz0507

Hi Kara-
I do understand what you mean. I have shrugged it off to eating things that were "gassy" which gave me the full feeling. No science behind my response just wondering about why it seems that way as well. I think my new tummy (9 years old now) is one big chemistry experiment. Foods change how they react with me. I have also noticed that slider foods tend to go down easier and I can tolerate more.
Sound reasonable. Maybe someone will have a science based reply.

You are doing awesome!! I can see a difference in your pictures. I agree with other members on this forum. Many of us (myself included) have not been kind to ourselves. We have allowed our psyche to believe we aren't worthy of the kind comments and positive feedback. Try to embrace the success. You look awesome! I predict that you will all of the sudden find a point when you have one extra ounce of energy and you will start exercising. It is addictive once you get started. Keep looking for the right exercise. It took me 50 years but I found tennis and I am loving it! You will find the right fit when you least expect it.

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Hi Everyone-
I am trying to find myself once again after completely losing myself post goal. I had the surgery in December 2011 and honestly it was too easy. The weight just came off and I had to remind myself to eat. I actually got "too" ambitious and made myself gain weight to a place that felt healthier to me. I did really well for the first 3 years. I had some weight creep on but these past 3 years I became full on menopause and it has not been pretty. The hot flashes and the metabolism changes were rough. I was so religious about the food intake and I think that is when my small caloric intake had a huge collision with menopause. My metabolism was non-existent. I played tennis 4 times a week for 90 minute sessions and the weight started creeping up. Long story short, between not making myself a priority (zero self care) and no metabolism and allowing sugar back into my life (never again! I was like a druggie when I detoxed this time) I was a wreck and 45 pounds over goal.
I tried to find support groups but the 30-somethings didn't have the same problems that I did in the face to face meetings. I was too far away from my original surgeon to talk to him and my new surgeon just said to stop eating and move more. That was so unhelpful. It actually gave me a sense of shame that I just felt was failure and it caused me to curl up in a ball and I didn't try to do anything else.
Still not sure if I have done the right thing but I have a new ob/gyn that is marvelous. He didn't say "just deal with it" when I talked about what seemed like never ending hot flashes. He actually took a look at me as a whole person-not just a pair of ovaries. We did gallons of blood work but he was able to get me on a hormone regimen where I don't live in a perpetual sweat. Then I asked him about the weight gain and metabolism issue post menopause AND the fact that I was post-WLS. He stuck with me and is helping me find the answer.
I am his first WLS patient on this serotonin weight program that a colleague came up with and it appears to be doing the trick. While others on this program have a hard time with the Protein and veggies ONLY diet, it was easy because it was like remembering what it was like post-surgery all those years ago. It is easy to follow. It does have a phentermine component but he explained the chemistry between the serotonin and phentermine and how it helps boost my metabolism. I did have to face the sugar and wheat demon...I am winning the fight so far but it is a big demon so I am on high alert. 10 pounds down after 2 weeks and 35 to go until goal. The number is so much smaller than before surgery but I imagine it will be just as hard to reach. Those last 10 are nasty boogers.
So my question is...I needed a RX to wake up my metabolism. Is this going to a chronic issue because we can only eat small amounts of food? My doc has composed a suggestion of food pairings that I alternate every 2 weeks to keep the metabolism going now that is has woke up. I play tennis at least 4 times per week for 90 minutes at a time. I am not a sedentary person and yet my whole body turned on itself at menopause.
Anyone else have issues with weight regain after full onset of menopause? Did you struggle with your body thinking it was in starvation mode all the time? What did you do? I might be crazy for going to this extent, but the weight gain was bringing previously extinguished co-morbidities back. I had to do something to get my health back. This was my answer.
Would love to hear if you are in the same boat. I like the scale going down again but i have to admit that I was more than a little sad that I had to find a way to give my Gastric Sleeve a boost to start the train rolling down the track again. I thought it would be a lifetime tool and it needed a boost for sure.
Thanks!
Teachkdz0507

Hi Everyone-
I am trying to find myself once again after completely losing myself post goal. I had the surgery in December 2011 and honestly it was too easy. The weight just came off and I had to remind myself to eat. I actually got "too" ambitious and made myself gain weight to a place that felt healthier to me. I did really well for the first 3 years. I had some weight creep on but these past 3 years I became full on menopause and it has not been pretty. The hot flashes and the metabolism changes were rough. I was so religious about the food intake and I think that is when my small caloric intake had a huge collision with menopause. My metabolism was non-existent. I played tennis 4 times a week for 90 minute sessions and the weight started creeping up. Long story short, between not making myself a priority (zero self care) and no metabolism and allowing sugar back into my life (never again! I was like a druggie when I detoxed this time) I was a wreck and 45 pounds over goal.
I tried to find support groups but the 30-somethings didn't have the same problems that I did in the face to face meetings. I was too far away from my original surgeon to talk to him and my new surgeon just said to stop eating and move more. That was so unhelpful. It actually gave me a sense of shame that I just felt was failure and it caused me to curl up in a ball and I didn't try to do anything else.
Still not sure if I have done the right thing but I have a new ob/gyn that is marvelous. He didn't say "just deal with it" when I talked about what seemed like never ending hot flashes. He actually took a look at me as a whole person-not just a pair of ovaries. We did gallons of blood work but he was able to get me on a hormone regimen where I don't live in a perpetual sweat. Then I asked him about the weight gain and metabolism issue post menopause AND the fact that I was post-WLS. He stuck with me and is helping me find the answer.
I am his first WLS patient on this serotonin weight program that a colleague came up with and it appears to be doing the trick. While others on this program have a hard time with the Protein and veggies ONLY diet, it was easy because it was like remembering what it was like post-surgery all those years ago. It is easy to follow. It does have a phentermine component but he explained the chemistry between the serotonin and phentermine and how it helps boost my metabolism. I did have to face the sugar and wheat demon...I am winning the fight so far but it is a big demon so I am on high alert. 10 pounds down after 2 weeks and 35 to go until goal. The number is so much smaller than before surgery but I imagine it will be just as hard to reach. Those last 10 are nasty boogers.
So my question is...I needed a RX to wake up my metabolism. Is this going to a chronic issue because we can only eat small amounts of food? My doc has composed a suggestion of food pairings that I alternate every 2 weeks to keep the metabolism going now that is has woke up. I play tennis at least 4 times per week for 90 minutes at a time. I am not a sedentary person and yet my whole body turned on itself at menopause.
Anyone else have issues with weight regain after full onset of menopause? Did you struggle with your body thinking it was in starvation mode all the time? What did you do? I might be crazy for going to this extent, but the weight gain was bringing previously extinguished co-morbidities back. I had to do something to get my health back. This was my answer.
Would love to hear if you are in the same boat. I like the scale going down again but i have to admit that I was more than a little sad that I had to find a way to give my Gastric Sleeve a boost to start the train rolling down the track again. I thought it would be a lifetime tool and it needed a boost for sure.
Thanks!
Teachkdz0507

Hi Everyone-
I am trying to find myself once again after completely losing myself post goal. I had the surgery in December 2011 and honestly it was too easy. The weight just came off and I had to remind myself to eat. I actually got "too" ambitious and made myself gain weight to a place that felt healthier to me. I did really well for the first 3 years. I had some weight creep on but these past 3 years I became full on menopause and it has not been pretty. The hot flashes and the metabolism changes were rough. I was so religious about the food intake and I think that is when my small caloric intake had a huge collision with menopause. My metabolism was non-existent. I played tennis 4 times a week for 90 minute sessions and the weight started creeping up. Long story short, between not making myself a priority (zero self care) and no metabolism and allowing sugar back into my life (never again! I was like a druggie when I detoxed this time) I was a wreck and 45 pounds over goal.
I tried to find support groups but the 30-somethings didn't have the same problems that I did in the face to face meetings. I was too far away from my original surgeon to talk to him and my new surgeon just said to stop eating and move more. That was so unhelpful. It actually gave me a sense of shame that I just felt was failure and it caused me to curl up in a ball and I didn't try to do anything else.
Still not sure if I have done the right thing but I have a new ob/gyn that is marvelous. He didn't say "just deal with it" when I talked about what seemed like never ending hot flashes. He actually took a look at me as a whole person-not just a pair of ovaries. We did gallons of blood work but he was able to get me on a hormone regimen where I don't live in a perpetual sweat. Then I asked him about the weight gain and metabolism issue post menopause AND the fact that I was post-WLS. He stuck with me and is helping me find the answer.
I am his first WLS patient on this serotonin weight program that a colleague came up with and it appears to be doing the trick. While others on this program have a hard time with the Protein and veggies ONLY diet, it was easy because it was like remembering what it was like post-surgery all those years ago. It is easy to follow. It does have a phentermine component but he explained the chemistry between the serotonin and phentermine and how it helps boost my metabolism. I did have to face the sugar and wheat demon...I am winning the fight so far but it is a big demon so I am on high alert. 10 pounds down after 2 weeks and 35 to go until goal. The number is so much smaller than before surgery but I imagine it will be just as hard to reach. Those last 10 are nasty boogers.
So my question is...I needed a RX to wake up my metabolism. Is this going to a chronic issue because we can only eat small amounts of food? My doc has composed a suggestion of food pairings that I alternate every 2 weeks to keep the metabolism going now that is has woke up. I play tennis at least 4 times per week for 90 minutes at a time. I am not a sedentary person and yet my whole body turned on itself at menopause.
Anyone else have issues with weight regain after full onset of menopause? Did you struggle with your body thinking it was in starvation mode all the time? What did you do? I might be crazy for going to this extent, but the weight gain was bringing previously extinguished co-morbidities back. I had to do something to get my health back. This was my answer.
Would love to hear if you are in the same boat. I like the scale going down again but i have to admit that I was more than a little sad that I had to find a way to give my Gastric Sleeve a boost to start the train rolling down the track again. I thought it would be a lifetime tool and it needed a boost for sure.
Thanks!
Teachkdz0507

@Introversion I guess I don't want to hide the fact that I'm doing it. I want people to stop shaming for people for using WLS as a tool for success rather than continuing to call it the easy way out.

Jeaniered-
I agree...check with your bariatric surgeon to find out his or her thoughts. You will hurt like crazy (Charlie Horse spasms) if you don't have a potassium supplement. Your doc might see another reason for the ankles swelling. Best to be overcautious!
Good luck!

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Hi NolzGirl-
I did my revision back in 2012 so it has been awhile. I remember thinking that the recovery took slightly longer than the LapBand. I did not experience pain as much as I was simply tired and I wanted to jump right back into life. I should have been kind to myself and taken the suggested time off to recover fully. You are doing this for yourself so be kind to yourself. REST AND RELAX. It feels self-indulgent but ENJOY!
What was bizarre is how eerie it felt not to want to eat. I never imagined that I would have to force myself to eat- but I did. Setting an alarm to remind yourself to eat was such a foreign concept and yet it was necessary in the beginning. Drinking liquids was hard to do, too! Crazy to think but its true. It took almost a year before I truly felt bariatric "normal" meaning I was able to eat small portions and I experienced the feeling of hunger. That part of normalcy made me feel right again.
I did AMAZING with the sleeve. The weight just fell off me because I didn't have to fight hunger or the need to eat. I wish I could return to that point again. It was kind of like a forced fasting. Unfortunately, over the past 6 years I have let sugar back into my life (I SO regret this!) as well as diet coke. My head hunger is a savage again and emotional eating is back as well-with a vengeance. Add in full menopause PLUS life stress and I am not in a good place. Enter guilt and ugly self-loathing feelings inside about how I squandered a gift.
My advice is to continue to tell yourself you have a gift. Embrace the absent feeling of hunger while you have it. Embrace being able to eat small amounts. Ignore people that make comments about your small portions and insist you are going to be sick. Leave the sugar and diet soda out as well. If you have de-toxed from them then stay that way.
I finally found an ob/gyn that has helped me get my hormones under control and that in itself has been a lifesaver. I had no idea menopause could make you feel as awful as it did. My body was not meant to run on a level of .0001 of estrogen and a lack of progesterone. Despite extreme exercise (I play tennis at least 3 times each week) I was packing the weight back on. Next week I am starting on a physician supervised weight loss program to the tune of $1300. Not cheap after all I paid for bariatric surgery (band and revision). I am going to have to face detox of sugar and carbonated sodas ALL OVER AGAIN. I know it is coming and it isn't going to be pretty. No one wants to be near me on DAY 1-Sept 13. LOL! Please just trust me that once it is gone-keep it out of your life.
Here is to your success with the revision surgery. I hope that I can also log on again and say that we got my body out of starvation mode and back on the road to true health. I was at goal once upon a time and it feels great! Be vigilant and don't let the good habits slip. Your tool will be there for life if you treat it properly.
Best,
Teachkdz0507