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So glad I came here

M

Melissa Traylor

Member
Hi all!
I have to say that I am SO grateful that I decided to join here. I thought I was doing well mentally for my surgery, and I am. However, I'm glad I still have one more month to really prepare myself even better for surgery and the LIFE-CHANGES I need to make. I've been reading pretty much everythng and I see some flaws in my thinking that I need to change even now in order to be successful afterwards.

One question, using wls as a tool for weight loss rather than just sticking to a diet works, How? is it just that you don't get hungry anymore? or that you can't put that much in, or what? I hope these don't sound like dumb questions! but I need to understand this apparently better than I thought. See, I truly thought that you couldn't gain back your wieght until a few weeks ago. It wasn't in the course I had to take and the dietician didn't mention it to me. It was my therapist. I've known several people who have had wls surgery and none of them gained the weight back after years. But I'm not really around them on a daily or even monthly basis. I just see them from time to time.

I appreciate all the advice and even the virtual butt kicking from Letrell, I think it is? lol
Melissa
 
Well for me I just wasn't hungry for the first year and I was able to retrain my brain on portion size and I had dumping syndrom (throwing up) when I ate pastas and high surgar content foods so I stay away from them now. I also started loooking at my eating habits and now eat 5 to six small meals a day and I try never to refer to what I do as a diet but rather a meal plan, aftyer so many years of dieting I don't much care for the term. So the size of your pouch or stmach will greatly affect how much you eat and your appatite for a while but the danger comes in when you get a year or two out from surgery and if you haven't retrained your brain on getting rid of old habits they will return along with the weight, it may come on gradually so continue to weigh and portion your food and keep track of your weight so if the scale does start nudging back up you can nip it in the bud right away. Those are all good questions and Letrell has a way with words that gets right to the point, I think it's great. :cool: Tom
 
Melissa-To answer your questions..."is it just that you don't get hungry anymore? or that you can't put that much in, or what? " The short answer is yes. It's a hard concept to grasp until after surgery but it's true. You probably will not want anything to do with food for a short while after surgery. During this timeframe you will get used to the idea that you will need to follow the meal plan phases to eat healthier. Between this and a new "mindset" the rest will fall nicely into place.
 
Thanks Tom! Maybe I am worrying too much about the future and should just focus on the here and now. I've made many mind chaning adjustments in the last 6 months. But I will def heed your advice!
Melissa
 
Melissa, there are a lot of people who gain the weight back after WLS. I think the most dangerous time is when you get a few years out and start adding back "forbidden" foods to your meal plan. Because face it-- the reason most diets fail is because you just get so bored with denying yourself everything.
My fantasy is to get to goal weight and then occasionnaly take a bite of something-- like a chocolate brownie, and then stop. Many people have said that they can take a bite or two of things they like and feel satisfied. For me, if a bite or two doesn't work, I plan to not eat it at all. Especially if the item is in my house-- I will eat it until it's gone.
I also believe the gastric sleeve is different from bypass. There is no dumping syndrome, so there may be ways to eat forbidden foods without getting sick. "Clumping" is possible if you eat too fast, and that is said to be as uncomfortable as dumping. My surgeon says with the sleeve it is indeed possible to graze all day and gain the weight back, so he has suggested 3 meals a day that take about 20 minutes to consume, and to avoid snacking.
 
I am coming up on 11 weeks post op and I stick to 3 meals a day. If I don't get enough protein, I will have an extra protein drink. At first it was hard for me to get all my protein, water and vitamins down. Things got better. I prepare ahead of time for work, by bringing lunch and my vitamins. I started feeling hunger again about the 8th week. Not the hunger I want something that is not on my food plan, but real hunger like it's time to eat. That is something that is different as I always thought I was hungry, but of course it was not for food. I just used food. At first it took me 30 minutes to get down a 4 oz. shake. I could do it faster now, but still try and take about 20 minutes. When I got on real food, I got full very quickly and most times could not finish my 4 oz. meal. I am completely satisfied with this amount of food. You do have to chew well and eat slow as food can get stuck going into the stomach. Also warm in the beginning goes down easier then cold. I leave my water on the counter. Take one step at a time and ask any questions you have. I think there are more bypass than sleeve people here. But we are all here to help each other.
 
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