love.star

I am two years post op and I feel a lot of shame when it comes to my weight gain since surgery. I feel like I have failed and that once again food is winning and my waist line is losing. After weight loss surgery gaining weight is quite terrifying. I feel like I am slipping down a rabbit whole and the other side is all too familiar. There isn’t a single person that has weight loss surgery that doesn’t promise themselves that this will NEVER happen again, and for some of us it does happen. I suppose for me the first thing I need to do is stop punishing myself because that has never helped me gain control of my eating, the second thing is to take stock of why it has happened. For me that is very simple, I didn’t work on my head, I only worked on my body, I didn’t unfriend my toxic friend food! We are still in a dysfunctional relationship. The surgery limited my food intake, but it didn’t equip me with new coping mechanisms and unfortunately food still plays an important role in helping me relax, sooths me when I’m down, occupies me when I’m bored and helps me hide from the world when I don’t want to be seen.
I have gained 15lbs since my surgery 2 years ago and some may even say that’s normal, but I know my eating is out of control.
I have gained 10 lbs. in the last two months. For those of you that have been post –surgery for a long time, and have successfully maintained, how did you fix your head and your relationship with food?

My Bariatric nurse is a bypass patient several years out from surgery. She does the three month checkups and discussion groups before we see the doctor. She admitted she fell off the wagon and gained 45 lbs last year. She described how she went back to the basics and started with the routine we all went through post op - liquids, puréed food, soft Protein, 4oz solid protein, 1/2 C veg, 1/2 C fruit, no Snacks, getting in her Water, eliminating caffeine and alcohol to reset her body and her mind. She admitted it was very difficult because the rest of the family was eating a typical diet and she had to adapt what they were eating to her own needs. I guess it might be helpful to get back into a support group or visit your nutritionist to help reset your motivation. We all know we have a tool for weight loss but we have to allow the tool to work and to get back on the plan for a healthy reset.

Amber,
I am 22 years old and I am having my surgery tomorrow morning (yea! .) This was a big decision for me but I knew that I had tried other ways to lose weight and couldnt. I am married, will be 3 year anniversary in 10days, and I have a 2 year old. I chose to get healthy for my daughter, my husband, and for myself. I am a student, and I do not drink or smoke. So if you dont have problems with those I think you will be fine. I chose to change my life right now. I have the rest of my life ahead of me and was tired of living an anti-social lifestyle. I was tired of avaoiding friends from high school and living in a bubble. I joined a gym and decided to exercise before WLS. Dont be desperate to want something so bad that you will do anything, especially if its not your only option. But if you've tried, and I mean REALLY tried to lose weight and you are ready to committ then I say you're not too young. We have our lives ahead of us at this young age..so lets make the most of it!