Re: 3yr post op inspirational encouragement story

[Guest guest]

Kimmi--this is GREAT advice.

I'm only 13 months post-op and I feel myself slipping. I get sleepy

easily, hungry too. I find myself snacking because I think that

might help wake myself up. My brain realizes that my body is trying

to not loose any more weight, but my body is fighting.

OK, I know I've done well so far; lost a total of 140 pounds, 63 of

it since surgery June 2004, but I need to loose another 40 to 50

pounds in order to have the surgery to get rid of my hanging tummy.

That should put me at 130 to 140 pounds on my 5 ft 1 inch frame.

I'm pretty good at not gaining more than a pound or two, then I can

get it back off, but like I said, I need to get off that additional

40+ pounds.

I'm so disgusted with the tummy hanging down so it doesn't fit inside

my panties!

I hope that once I can get the rest off and I get " reconstructive

surgery " , that will provide enough inspiration so I don't try to

stretch my new body out like it was before.

Anyways, I'm rambling. Time to drink more water and go for another

walk; I'm starting to get sleepy again.

--Sandi

> " I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients recently

> and we all have one thing in common: About the third year after

> gastric bypass we get hungry. And we eat more. And weight starts to

> creep back on. In the worst case a patient regains so much weight a

> revision surgery is required to again reduce the stomach size and

> facilitate weight loss. In the best case, the patient catches the

> problem early and reverses the trend.

>

> In my third year out when this happened to me and I saw the scale

> jump ten pounds I called my counselor at my bariatric center. She

> told me " Get Back-to-Basics immediately. " She recommended that for

> ten days I eat like a post-op newbie. Jell-o, chicken broth, soft-

> cooked eggs. No solids. Lots of liquids. No snacking. Take my

> vitamins. Drink lots of water.

>

> I was so terrified of regaining the weight that I followed her

> directions exactly. She told me, " You have already done this once

> when you had surgery. You certainly can do it again, and this time

> you are much healthier. " She was right!

>

> The first day was hell. I was hungry and crabby. The second day was

> not as painful. By the third day Back-to-Basics was routine. By the

> tenth day my weight was down 7 pounds, my body felt lighter and

> happier. I felt unpolluted. Best of all, my tiny pouch seemed to be

> tighter and less tolerant of over-filling and that's a very good

> thing! I was eating like a newbie again, recommitted to following

> the four rules and succeeding after weight loss surgery.

>

> Now, to be honest, I've had to employ this technique more than once

> to get myself back on track and avoid weight regain. Sometimes I'll

> go Back-to-Basics for a long weekend, just to refresh and rejuvenate

> my body. I like the power the mindfulness of Back-to-Basics gives

> me, the complete awareness of my body and it's needs. I like being

> able to remind my mind and body of this powerful bariatric tool. I

> like that when I do see a weight gain I can quickly get it under

> control by employing past practice that I know works. "

>

> Kimmij (sweet post/thank you Kimmi)