Question:
why am I such a failure
I had weight loss surgery oct 2, 2002 I went from 350 to 220 and was feeling great not that I wished I had not lost more but I felt so much better. Now I have gained almost 30 pounds within the last 8 months Im feeling like a total pig, had a upper Gi which came back tottaly normal. they said my stomach was very small, ok I will asmit i did not play by the pouch rules I did drink while eating and I also tested the waters by eating the wrong foods which did not make me sick. I dont need anyone to tell me I failed the diet becasue i already know this, what I would like to know if there are others like me that finally got thier act together and started to lose weight again and if so HELP — Schatzie1 (posted on February 16, 2005)
February 15, 2005
Rose: I think you probably already know the answers about the re-gain, and
why it happened, most likely. I cannot answer you about losing again, as I
have not experienced this up to now. I'm about 17 months out from my
surgery. I just have a question for you, and please don't think I'm being
a smart-ass by asking. How often did you weigh yourself after you reached
220? I feel that weighing every day is my primary tool in maintenance.
There have been a couple of times that I went up 2 or 3 pounds, and in my
mind, I have an upper limit of where I will allow myself to go. When I
went over that "mental limit" I cut way down on junk, tried to
drink more water, and increased my protein consumption. So far, that has
worked every time to get those couple pounds back off. I wish you the best
in getting back on track, and please don't forget the weigh-ins. It's a
tremendous help!
— Carlita
February 16, 2005
Hi. First off your not a failure!! You have to stop the negative thinking.
If you think you are then..... You have to be positive. So you gained
some weight back, there is always a new start in any situation. Yes you can
get back on track and re lose the weight and more. The window of
opportunity is never closed in my opinion. The "tool" is always
available to be used to lose, you just have to use it. I'm not sure of
what eating plan you were given when you were discharged, or what your dr.
said to eat, but you need to tell yourself you will succeed and restart.
You can't beat yourself up over 30 lbs. Restart, get back on track, and
think about where you will be in 30 days, if you stay on track. For
anyone else reading this post that has had the same problem. You guys are
not failures. We all had food problems before surgery, a couple of snips
and stiches aren't going to make that go away! We are humans, and some of
us will fall back to old ways, it's our nature, but we can change. It may
take us gaining weight after surgery to see that we really have to be
willing to change, not expect the surgery to do it all. I wish you the
best.
— Carey N.
February 16, 2005
I can't believe people use the word failure when it comes to weightloss. It
is a life long war. There will always be wins and losses.
I lost from 350 to 220. I don't know how much more I will lose considering
I was 220 at the age of 12.
I think you can only truly have a failure of the surgery if you are doing
everything right (3-5 hours of exercise per week, eating right, water, etc)
and still not losing.
If you are not doing those things, you are not even trying so you can't
really have failed.
I speak from experience as I haven't been trying in the past few mos.
Mainly because I've been trying my whole life and am just enjoying being a
slightly overweight normal person.
My boyfriend bought me an iPod for Valentine's Day and I made an EXERCISE
MUSIC playlist. It's great and very motivating. I think I just lost the
focus and motivation. MO people are very black and white about things.
They are only a success or a failure. Real people are both.
— mrsmyranow
February 16, 2005
I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL. I had surgery in 3/02 and lost 150 lbs. and
have gained back about 50. I am depressed. I keep telling myself that I'm
still better off than before, but I'm sad over the gain. I haven't been to
a support group meeting in a long long time and haven't seen my surgeon for
a yr and a half. I keep putting off going back to either until I lose the
weight again. But instead I gained more. I called the dietician yesterday
and talked to her. Out of the 4 pouch rules I only follow 1 or 2. I don't
drink caloric drinks and I eat protein. But I do drink with meals and
graze. I don't drink enough water (some days none). I also don't keep a
food journal or watch what I eat any more. I have recently started going
to Curves again to exercise. As of today, I'm writing down what I eat,
watching what I eat, drinking my water and not drinking with my meals. I'm
going to try and stick to about 1200 calories a day. I'm going to avoid
potaotes, rice, and bread. I lost all my good habits that I made when I
was losing. I pushed the bar and tried to see how far I could go with what
I was eating. I pushed it to far. I also am going to start weighling
myself more regularly--not every day. I don't want to feel bad if it takes
a week to lose some. I hope that this works. I'm hoping that my pouch
will still work with me if I start following the rules we were given in the
beginning. I still eat when stressed and have to get a grip on it. Try to
keep positive, even if you have to talk yourself into it. I'm also going
to make an appt to see my surgeon and start going to support meetings
again. Maybe I'll reward myself like I did before--when I lose 10 lbs do
something for myself. Good luck on getting back on track. It is hard, but
I know I looked better and felt better before I regained. I want that
again.
— jan M.
February 16, 2005
First off i want to say there is no perfect wls patient out there and if
someone states they are, they are only fooling themselves. 2nd, we all
make the wrong or forbidden food choices at some point in our journey, we
are human its just that we have to be strong enough to limit those bad
choices. I drink water while eating but i sip I have always done this and
had no problem losing. I am not a big drinker so every little bit i take
in is much needed...Your not a failure but you do want to make changes now
so you do not gain all that weight you lost. We all have different views
on what not to do and to do but what it boils down to is you need to find
out what worked for you in the beginning and perhaps go back to that. I
eat what i want when i want but I also limit my intakes..I watch the scale
and if i go over even 2 pnds i am very strict with myself. Set some small
goals and go for it. Do your best but dont deprive yourself either.
remember the important rules and go with it...dont give up on yourself. be
proud of the weight you did lose. good luck
— Deanna Wise
February 16, 2005
— Kasey
February 16, 2005
As far as I know, no one is perfect. EVen if they were, that's perfect by
whose standards? Some people are appalled by the formula I follow, while I
am appalled at others. The main thing is to get with other long termers
and be encouraged to see others who have had regain, did a bunch of dumb
stuff and still got it together again. One of the most recent is 5 yrs out,
had regained almost 80#. A year ago, she had a lil chat with herself, gave
herself a formula she can live with and has lost over 90 of those 80!
Amazing, huh? She's on the Grad list. As are others who've either been
revised OR gotten a better formula OR just hanging out with others who've
had regain or non-loss and are working with it.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
— vitalady
February 16, 2005
Never refer to yourself as a failure! I am 14 months post-op, 335/195,
have lost 140lbs but have been struggling to lose for the last 6 months! I
keep reminding myself that the surgery is just a "tool" and if
used properly along w/ diet and exercise (yes...we still have to watch our
diet and exercise)will help us to lose the weight. I average about 5lbs
loss per month, pretty slow compared to a normal dieter. I often get
discouraged because I will see myself gain 7lbs in less than two days and
it will take 6 weeks to take it back off. Sounds like you already know
what you need to do, you just need the support. I found some pretty good
tasting, high protein supplements (bars/shakes)that have helped me drop
12lbs and get below 200 last month but I'm plateauing again and am bouncing
back and forth between 192 & 196. Email me if you are interested in
those supplements or just need a "diet buddy", I don't want to be
accused of advertising on here. Hope to hear from you soon & you are
doing great! - Nicole ([email protected])
— boonikki29
February 17, 2005
Obesity is a disease. I believe food addiction is too. We know we
shouldn't eat "insert food of choice here", but we are compelled
to anyway. It's not just in our heads, it's a physical addictive response
many of us have to carbs. WLS does not cure our disease, it just gives us
a tool to get it in remission. Read the South Beach Diet book. It has
great info on carb addiction, how it affects us, and how to control it. It
also give a healthy eating plan... Phase I continues for 2 weeks to kick
the addiction, Phase II for active weight loss, and Phase III for
maintenance. I've found that if I fill up on protein, I have less room to
eat stuff I shouldn't. You just have to find what works for you. Read the
pouch rules for dummies article too for some good principles on controlling
your hunger.
— mom2jtx3
February 17, 2005
Rose, I have felt the same way... that I have been putting bad choices into
my mouth. I recently got onto fitday.com and that has helped me watch
exactly what i am eating. Try it out, we can't lose if we don't try.
Pam
— pam06611
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