3yr post op inspirational encouragement story

[Guest guest]

" 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)