I have a tremendous fear of regaining the weight that I've lost. I was going through some recent pictures of the 3 family members of mine that have had WLS. Two had Gastric bypass and the (blonde pink shirt) had sleeve surgery 6 months before I did. All have regained weight, they don't look like they even had surgery. None of them ever reached any goal. These are current post (last week). The part that aggravates me is the excuses they come up with and the comments about how I'm just "lucky" that I lost so "easily". I see all the food post. It's not my place to call them out on the food they are eating. Seeing this can be discouraging at times but most of the time it makes me want to do anything possible NOT to end up like that. Maybe I'm wrong for using them as my motivation to succeed but it does scare me. I never know what to say when the remarks come in about how well I've done and all my so called "luck". What do you do?! I keep these pictures as my reminder of what can/will happen if I don't stick with my plan. Which just helped me stop at 6 1/2 Cheetos! Of course I've blocked all identity from the pictures for their privacy. Its not "luck" it's a constant "just say NO!" Attitude I have to food. It's not easy, it's never going to be easy. That's my reality. It's just a tool nothing more and nothing less.

@@*Lexie*

Great post.

I like to think of this whole process as kind of like having kids. Everyone *thinks* they know what it's going to be like. They imagine all the good parts....the cherubish faces, always well behaved, always willing to please us, always respectful, perfect children we are going to have. Then you actually have them, and realize although there are many, many good things, raising kids is one of the hardest but most rewarding things you're ever going to do if you are willing to put the work in. And most of the time, it's NOTHING like you expected

@@Nibbler Ghrelin is a hormone and it comes back!

Well, there's quite a bit of debate about that -- about whether ghrelin comes back (ghrelin is the hunger hormone that's produced almost solely by the fundus portion of the stomach, which is removed during VSG surgery), how fast it comes back, where else it gets manufactured -- or whether it really doesn't come back and we just get used to eating more because we can and imagine that it's because we feel "hungry."

But your point is taken -- most people immediately after VSG surgery don't feel hungry anymore and imagine that they will never feel hungry again.

To which I also say, Ha!

It's how we respond to that hunger that will make us a long-term WLS success -- or not.

I have to say one other thing: I am developing a big old respect for everyday HEALTHY HABITS. I am learning to be less impulsive, more scheduled, a better planner, and (ahem) more disciplined than I used to be. The more I practice healthy habits, the stronger my habits become.

At 70 years old, I'm still bending my twig in the way it should grow. We are never, ever too old to get better.

I'm still bending my twig in the way it should grow.

That's what HE said.

I'm still bending my twig in the way it should grow.

That's what HE said.

LOL.

This brings a whole new meaning to "exploring one's roots"!

Edited November 17, 201510 yr by 4MRB4PHOTO

Oh, you guize!

I'm still bending my twig in the way it should grow.

That's what HE said.

LOL.

This brings a whole new meaning to "exploring one's roots"!

And there it stood, like a mighty oak!

@@Babbs Great analogy, I laughed when I read that!!! Oh, I remember how I was never going to let my child watch television or have junk food and they would be perfect little specimens. Now I'm just happy if my son can manage to pick up his shoes... it's funny because it's true!

@@Nibbler I was a basket case at 6 weeks. It does get better.

Maybe I am just naive...one week post op, but this thread shocks me! How in the world can you have this done and then eat all that Red Lobster food? Fries, fried foods, dip, soda? I have had a pretty rough week of recovery and I do look forward to a day when food and drink does not consume my every thought, but I can't imagine just ignoring my health, throwing all that money down the drain and completely eating whatever I want. How is it physically possible? Thank you for posting this...it is definitely a little reality check for me! Congratulations on your weight loss...you aren't just 'lucky', I can tell you are a very strong, motivated woman. Good on you!!

We were what we ate pre-op. We are what we eat post-op. I can understand that fear of regain. I am slightly fearing I have reached the end of my honeymoon phase, as my loss has slowed so much all of a sudden. And I am working my tail off try to lose as much as possible.

I don't know you, personally, @@Elode, but you seem too motivated to let that happen to you. Its a psychological war, on the daily, to worry about things like this. I remember you saying that you are not the exercise type. But your journey, your decisions, have been successful, you have been successful for you. The fact that you even realize how the others have messed up their chance, shows you know better. Keep coming here to vent, or help, or get help. We all believe in you!

@ being just 5 weeks post op I can tell you in just a few more weeks you're going to feel better physically and you will begin to have some what of an appetite. I get hungry more frequently than i used to. Have to carry something with me at all times.

The dr. kept telling me "this is a tool not an answer" I'm starting to realize more and more each day what she meant.

We must keep this resolve we have now into the future because I agree with you....how could I go through this sort of life changing/damaging surgery and then start sucking down milkshakes & candy bars.

Dr. Phil has a saying "The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior"

We have a challenge ahead of us. I will rise up to meet it because if not.....i'm just going to die an early death. Not a lot of super obese old folks living is there??

I'm not even sure what's happening anymore!

I think we all decide if we want to go back and look the way we did at one time. I sure eat what I want but with moderation. I cannot over eat specially that picture with all that food lol I would feel sick! We all

Know it's a tool and does help out very much! I think that people were probably not really ready in having the surgery and they just go back to the way they once were. It's like why have surgery in the first place then? I know I wouldn't want to gain the weight I've lost because I feel great and proud of myself. Everyone is different and we are not "lucky"we are just doing what we need to ???? and working our butts off. Great post!

@@dlappjr Thank you and yes I'm the "exercise failure" I'm not perfect by any means. I do like to exercise (using "like" loosely here) once I get going but it's never been anything I have stuck with. Maybe someday it will just hit me!! Wishful thinking!

I am however motivated to exercise when I'm standing in front of a full length mirror naked. Maybe I should invest in one of those??! I'm still kind of fond of my soul though, so probably not.

I too have a huge fear of re gaining. I am very strict (some say I am too skinny). I am 5'9 and weigh 125. I do did into the "up underweight BMI category. But I didn't feel that skinny. I have a five pound bounce range that I allow myself. I have a friend that had the surgery a month ago and eats Cheetos and little Debbie chocolate wafers. It is scary. I have been maintaining for 6 months. Went from 289 to 125 in about 8 months. I know I can do it. I just wish I was a skinny person that could eat what I want and not gain like some people were born to do.

5'9" 125 is beyond thin, thats highly dangerous. i could go on, but its not neccessary.