Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Two Years out: LISTEN UP NOOBS AND SEEKERS! *warning-harsh*



Recommended Posts

Elsewhere today, I saw a post by a WLS patient who, two weeks post-op, has discovered cheez-it crackers to munch with her babybel cheese. She's very happy.

I can just imagine how happy she'll be when she discovers other slider foods.

S.M.H.

Edited by VSGAnn2014

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well said, thanks for the topic, Dooter.

It's my worst nightmare, indeed. I know 2 friends who had by passed a few years ago, both are big bone women and they lost 35 and 52 lbs and stopped losing a while ago. One gained back quite a lot, the other stay the same but both of them never reached their goal weight as they had the by pass, they told me they can eat "normally" just like pre-op. When I got nervous about the food choices, excercise or stalls, one of them would say, no worry it's not easily gainning back! Jeez, that stressed me even more.

I'm not even 3 months out and scared of the last day of the honeymoon period already.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wish I had heard this before. I became pregnant last sept and let all of those cravings in. I've gained 45 lbs, down 25. I still have 50 to my goal. It seems harder than ever now and I'm back to hating my body, feeling hopeless and ashamed of what I've done to myself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was happy to happen upon this thread. I am banded and having a revision to the sleeve. What you are speaking about is the same thing that happens with the band. I feel like a band failure although there are also mechanical issues that can happen. It makes me scared to move forward to the sleeve as I am well aware of head hunger etc and how it can take over. I am going to do all that I can during the honeymoon period to get myself ready for when it's over. I hope that by being aware will be part of the battle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am using this post op time to really evaluate my food choices and what I am putting in my mouth. I hope it continues for years down the road! My family has a long history of obesity, and I want to be a good example if I am lucky enough to be blessed with children. I had the sleeve to lose weight and start a family. I'm 33 and I have said every year for the past ten years that I will lose the weight on my own, but I haven't.

I want kids so bad, but as most girls who are overweight know, obesity wreaks have on your cycle and can cause secondary infertility.

I pray that in 18 months when I can start trying that I am blessed with a baby.

I think we have to keep our goals in mind everyday. I know if I sit down one day to eat at a picnic, I will be able to eat a few chips and not the entire bag.

On my pre op diet I was lucky to be able to eat whatever I wanted as long as I remained under 40 carbs a day. I literally counted everything I ate. I had taco salad one night and had 10 bite size tortilla chips crunched on top of the salad. 20 chips had 20 carbs, so if I had 10 carbs from that, I was happy. I didn't feel deprived and was able to still eat normally. I will continue to count carbs as it is the only way I lose weight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What begins to happen as one moves out of the honeymoon phase? What are the signs that the honeymoon phase is ending?

I am wondering if it's an overwhelming urge to eat that comes one day and is really hard to stop or if it's a more subtle breakdown toward more and more bad habits from our past?

I'm wondering if it's a drive to eat stronger than anything we have ever had before the surgery?

What have people found helps the most to deal with it?

Thank you for any thoughts or insight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow I so needed this thread! Thanks so much for posting. This is exactly what is causing me fear and anxiety about the surgery. I'm not too worried about the actual surgery anymore, but I am getting more and more worried as my surgery date approaches in less than four weeks. I am prone to binging and am addicted to carbs. I'm starting to have serious doubts about my ability to keep weight off after the honeymoon period is over. I feel very confused right now. Should I work on controlling the binging and food addiction first before even getting the surgery? Or can I use the honeymoon period to get those issues under control. I only have one shot at surgery and I want it to be successful.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To anyone who will listen: You can lose weight, stall, gain some weight back, gain all of your weight back, eat slider foods, eat junk foods, or you can work your tool - with ANY WLS. No one surgery is better than another to prevent this, sorry to say.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There is an initial time period in which you lose the most weight. The sign that it is over is that you stop losing weight with the diet and exercise you've been doing. You start to feel like you're beating your head on the wall to no avail. That is where i became discouraged and turned to old comforts. I also had a very stressful time in my life right then, and I did not exercise the amount of self control i needed to. I continued to exercise, but the cravings were kicking in, and I was GIVing in. Then i started on the tasty alcoholic drinks. Don't drink your calories. The Grehlin figures out a way to start producing again, and the hunger pangs return. HOWEVER- you DO still have a smaller stomach, so like Diva said, you can still work your tool. Stay with Protein and veg first. I strayed from that rule. Still struggling.

When I get hungry, I get almost manic. I suddenly feel like I have no ability to make rational choices. So I was giving in to sugar cravings, and started that ugly cycle. Trying to break that yet again. I AM thankful to still have a small stomach, or i'd weigh 500 lbs by now. So... there's that...

What begins to happen as one moves out of the honeymoon phase? What are the signs that the honeymoon phase is ending?

I am wondering if it's an overwhelming urge to eat that comes one day and is really hard to stop or if it's a more subtle breakdown toward more and more bad habits from our past?

I'm wondering if it's a drive to eat stronger than anything we have ever had before the surgery?

What have people found helps the most to deal with it?

Thank you for any thoughts or insight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow I so needed this thread! Thanks so much for posting. This is exactly what is causing me fear and anxiety about the surgery. I'm not too worried about the actual surgery anymore, but I am getting more and more worried as my surgery date approaches in less than four weeks. I am prone to binging and am addicted to carbs. I'm starting to have serious doubts about my ability to keep weight off after the honeymoon period is over. I feel very confused right now. Should I work on controlling the binging and food addiction first before even getting the surgery? Or can I use the honeymoon period to get those issues under control. I only have one shot at surgery and I want it to be successful.

The issues come back. You must be prepared for that. Like I posted earlier, you WILL still have a smaller stomach, so that's a help, but empty carbs and sugar slide down with no problem and weight gain is EASY if you're eating the wrong foods.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was happy to happen upon this thread. I am banded and having a revision to the sleeve. What you are speaking about is the same thing that happens with the band. I feel like a band failure although there are also mechanical issues that can happen. It makes me scared to move forward to the sleeve as I am well aware of head hunger etc and how it can take over. I am going to do all that I can during the honeymoon period to get myself ready for when it's over. I hope that by being aware will be part of the battle.

I am very happy that I got the sleeve done and would do it again in a heartbeat. It is a GREAT tool that I have at my disposal, but I have to use it. I will always have food issues, as will most of us on here, so we have to stay on top of it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well said, thanks for the topic, Dooter.

It's my worst nightmare, indeed. I know 2 friends who had by passed a few years ago, both are big bone women and they lost 35 and 52 lbs and stopped losing a while ago. One gained back quite a lot, the other stay the same but both of them never reached their goal weight as they had the by pass, they told me they can eat "normally" just like pre-op. When I got nervous about the food choices, excercise or stalls, one of them would say, no worry it's not easily gainning back! Jeez, that stressed me even more.

I'm not even 3 months out and scared of the last day of the honeymoon period already.

That's the proper attitude. Never let your guard down.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Dooter – You totally rock! This is EXACTLY the reason I came to BaritricPal. Like so many others, since the day I decided to have surgery, I've been terrified of what would happen down the line when it gets hard. I'm only 3 months out and still basking in the glow of my honeymoon period, but I know that the wolf is lurking out there. So I'm working now to get my head right for when it knocks on my door. Now here's a delicate question... Can you advise us as to what are the behaviors that lead to "cheating" our sleeves? I know that ice cream and fruit juices are the quickest path to weight gain. But what are some of the other types of eating that we should watch out for? What sneaks in unnoticed over time until it becomes difficult to stop? Is is starches? pizza? Junk food? candy? Desserts? In other words, are there some foods that would be best left permanently in the past? I worry a lot about my slippery slope, so for now I make choices to avoid all of the "bad foods". But at some point, we're all going to have to increase our calories from 700 to 1200. What are the safe and unsafe ways to do that? Since planning for meals is a strategy for not making bad choices when eating out or at events, I figure that planning for "normal eating", whenever that comes, should also be a good strategy. Thanks to all who had the courage to share their struggles. I wish you nothing but success in regaining control of your journey!!!

Thanks! LOL

Yes, it IS a slippery slope. Here's my advice: If it tastes good, spit it out!! Ok, not quite that bad, but close. food is no longer a tool of soothing the psyche and de-stressing. It's fuel for the body. I have trouble looking at it that way. I get a craving for something with frosting and LOOK OUT. I'll mow ya down. That's my battle right now. The stinking cravings. If you increase your calories, do it with Proteins, veg, fruit and quality carbs. (brown rice, whole oats, quinoa, etc). Preaching to myself. God help me.

As far as foods being left permanently in the past? In theory, yes, all the "bad" food should be left behind, but I tell you, as soon as you tell me I can't have something- that's all I want. SO- I have to learn to have an altered relationship with these foods. Maybe...get to "x" weight and you can have such and such small treat. I don't know. I'm still learning dude. i'm 45 and still learning to live with food. It's not like crack or booze, you can't just walk away. We have to eat. It will be a life long battle and lesson. I pray you have great success.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am only 42 days / 6 weeks post-op. So I'm a WLS newb.

But I see so many newly sleeved people -- on this and other forums -- who (as soon as they recover from surgery) start strutting around, pontificating how this surgery is the EASY way to deal with weight problems, proclaiming that they now have this baby licked, swearing they will never gain another pound ever like those weak people who don't keep their weight off.

Obviously, some of these folks are losing significant weight for the first time in their lives and think they've died and gone to heaven. Some of them are just young and stupid (sorry, kids). Some of them of them are on an emotional high from the no-ghrelin/no-appetite phenomenon, which they assume will continue forever.

Not me. I've been up and down the scales via serious diets 30-40 times in my life. Each time I've lost 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, nearly 70 pounds. I've done everything you've ever heard of. And now I've paid someone to cut out 85% of my stomach.

When you have that kind of lifelong dieting history, having dared to hope each time that it was the miracle cure, you develop a healthy skepticism and, of course, start to see patterns in what sent your weight right back up the scale:

* Personal, family and job stresses

* Physical disabilities (which increase as you age)

* The idiotic idea that you're doing this to "reach goal" -- when there actually is no finish line

* The idiotic idea that when you "reach goal" you now deserve a prize (usually one with calories)

* The sugar and carb and fat addictions that were non-existent while you abstained, but become roaring monsters after you eat the first Pasta dinner, ice cream, hamburger with fries, etc.

* The feelings that spur your compulsions to soothe those feelings with food (usually carbs)

* The shame and the disappointment that you've regained (so quickly!) 5 pounds, which sends you another 5 and then 10, then 20, then more.

Anyone who imagines that WLS will hold at bay the effects on us that future illness and death and bitchy people and rainy weather and financial problems and bad haircuts and the election of idiots and terrors on the evening news is due for disappointment.

So the only things I'm really counting on WLS to do for me is to give me (I'm guessing) close to one year to practice eating less than I used to eat; eating Protein first, veggies second, and (if there's room left) some more highly processed, but still healthy carbs; drinking at least 64 ounces of liquids every day; taking my vitamins/minerals; moving my ass significantly most days, and one more thing: learning to recognize what makes me reach compulsively for food to soothe myself and learn some new ways to soothe myself without food.

I wasn't this smart over 60 years ago. But I'm smarter now.

Edited by VSGAnn2014

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×