Question:
Scheduled for Gastric bypass and scared of failing
I am scheduled for gastric bypass surgery the 30th of March. My biggest fear is that I will gain the weight back. Was anyone else afraid of this and what was your outcome? — ktb (posted on March 3, 2009)
March 3, 2009
Hi Kim...I too am afraid of failure. To go through all this and lose the
weight and then Poof! Gain it back. No way. I refuse. But I a, still
afraid. And that's ok. I have to have Faith or I am going to be as I am now
for the rest of my life and what kind of life is that going to be.? I'd
like to keep in touch with you to see how you come along and be here for
you to talk to if you'd like.E-mail me back if you like. Take care....Renee
— 1stReneeMarie
March 3, 2009
nope, never gave it a thought back then, because it still isn't an option i
would entertain. I decided to write myself a contract, something i had
seen on the Oprah show just prior to my surgery, I outlined my goals, dated
and signed it. It still stands important o me today- I lost 230 lbs, and
amd keeping it off, see, no option for me except to live by my protocol.
Decide whats important to you, and go out and live it. Good luck. Cindi
M/D. retired -230# 3.24.04
— DollyDoodles
March 3, 2009
I think most of us are afraid of that...I am 5 years out and I still wonder
if something could trigger bad habits to re-form or something medical or
whatever! Mostly I think I have a healthy fear...Just enough to keep me
from going too far off track and not enough to cripple me with fear. My
RNY is an awesome tool and I have much confidence in it and trust it...I
listen to it's warnings and signals and it guides me...But the brain has
other ideas often and you must get your head straight before you have
surgery. If you have issues that are not resolved ...they will still be
there after surgery...So if you are an emotional/stress/boredom
eater...those things will still trigger binges and comfort eating. We
still have our eating disorders...The WLS is only a tool to help you
control it...and the more in control of your head...the easier it is for
your tool to do it's work! Team work! The surgery alone will only go so
far...That's just the simple truth...
— .Anita R.
March 3, 2009
Fear can also be a positive motivator.Use this fear to your
advantage.Follow the program ,change your thoughts and actions and u will
be successful.We all have lapses at one time or another just pick u'r self
up and get back on track and be good to u'r self
— Bette Drecktrah
March 3, 2009
Fear of failure is natural. How many times have you failed on a diet, or
to keep weight off after you have lost it? We are just used to failing
when it comes to weight. Even after my surgery, I still fear failing, even
though I see the weight drop off. It is hard to get your head around that
fact that you will succeed at this. Just remember that the surgery is a
tool, not a miracle cure, and that if you choose to, you can fail. You
just need to know that even though the fear of failure is there, you are
strong enough to overcome your fears and you will succeed. Good Luck!
— Dawn A.
March 3, 2009
Kim -- what you're feeling is completely normal; after all, a lifetime of
dieting has CONDITIONED us for failure. After all, we went to Weight
Watchers five million times and it didn't work, and we spent five million
dollars on Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig and THAT didn't work, and we binged
and purged and took laxatives and ate grapefruit until our stomachs hurt
and gulped handfuls of diet pills and THAT didn't work, so why should we
expect THIS to be any different? One of the most profound things my
surgeon told me when I had my VBG in April 2000 was this: if you took 100
randomly-selected morbidly obese people and put them on a diet and exercise
program, ALL of them would lose weight; HOWEVER (and this remains, to me at
least, the mother of all howevers) if you went back a year after they
achieved their goal, only THREE would have kept the weight off -- which
means, when all's said and done, diet and exercise has a NINETY SEVEN
PERCENT FAILURE RATE for morbidly obese people. For most of us, surgery's
not the "easy" option, it's the ONLY option. Yes, you can
"eat your way" past your surgery -- there's a guy on the latest
round of "The Biggest Loser" that had an RNY when he weighed 500
pounds, lost a pile of weight and gained most of it back -- but I truly
believe you have to work at it diligently and have a high tolerance for
pain for that to happen. I'm almost nine years out and I STILL throw up,
and in a perverse way I'm grateful for that -- for that shows I haven't
stretched my pouch beyond all redemption. It's normal to be scared, and to
think you'll fail, but the vast odds are you WON'T. Listen to your doctor
and nutritionist, work your program, believe you can do it. I lost about
140 pounds and have kept it off for nine years -- and my pre-surgery record
for keeping weight off was about nine minutes. Courage, my dear, and best
of luck on the 30th --
— Cheryl Denomy
March 4, 2009
Hello,
I understand your feeling. I am having surgery the same day as you (March
30 2009 1:30 pm Holly Cross Hospital). Just pray on it. We both have come
a long way. No need to look backwards just forward. New Beginnings. God
Bless. Good Luck.
— randibabi
March 4, 2009
Hi Kim... I think that everyone going into this surgery has some
nervousness... just shows that you are realizing the enormity of it. The
thing to remember is that this is a permanent tool that you will be given.
You need to use it properly... and if you use it properly, as it was
designed, the weight loss and maintenance once you get there, are pretty
much guaranteed. Make a list of why you want to lose the weight... it can
be life altering reasons - to alleviate your high blood pressure, diabetes,
sleep apnea, be able to walk across a room without getting short of breath,
live longer, etc or small reasons which will be "Ah-Ha" moments
once you attain the weight loss... being able to sit at a restaurant
'booth' vs table and have space in front of you vs having your breasts
resting on the table. Being able to fit in regular sized movie theater
seats, airline seats, amusement ride seats and not spill over or have
people staring at you. Being able to cross your legs vs just your ankles.
Being able to get up from the floor without first getting on all 4s and
then finding something to lean on while you struggle up, that is if you
were brave enough to get on the floor to begin with. Keep these in a small
notebook and keep it in your purse... as you attain them, check them off.
Then when you are feeling weak, and we ALL have those moments... look back
at why you wanted to lose the weight and how many of the items that you
have crossed off. I think one of my funniest ones was finally being able
to fit into an amusement ride where the big bars come down over your head
and click into place. I was down about 70-80lbs when I did this. I was so
proud of myself, that I forgot that I was on a contraption that was going
to hurddle me 60ft into the air within seconds and then let me free-fall...
I was sitting there, listening to the suspenseful music build and started
thinking to myself... "what the hell am I doing on this" as I was
sitting next to a couple of college boys who were screaming and getting all
pumped up. I stopped and thought "Because I can... and had a huge
smile on my face as I was thrust like one of the Apollo rockets skyward.
Once I got my feet on the ground, I thought, I am glad that's over, but I
am also glad that I was ABLE to do it... it was a great Ah-ha moment... you
will have many. I am 2 1/2 years post op and still have moments.. enjoy
your journey.. good luck ...
— Kari_K
March 4, 2009
Fear is natural ....HOWEVER- YOU MUST be in a postive frame of mind and
YOU must take control and not let a say to yourself I WANT THIS CHANGE IN
MY LIFE and with this Tool All goods will happen. LIke not taking
EXPENSIVE MEDS- enjoying walking - being with the rest of the world again.
Buying new clothes- people not making fun of you. Tying your shoes.Your
back not hurting. Playing with your children or grandchildren. Think
Postive.. everyday.
— Eneleh
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