20 months postop experience

[Guest guest]

Here's my experience at 20+ months postop and down to within 20 lbs

of an ideal weight.

Focus on eating protein, protein, protein!!!!! If there is any

room left in your pouch, then add a little vegetable or fruit.

That's the key to making the most of your first 6-9 months weight

loss and developing a NEW healthy eating life style. Some bariatric

programs don't even allow sugar or starchy foods until after 6 months

BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR PATIENTS DEVELOPING GOOD POST BYPASS EATING

BEHAVIOR, since most of us overate on the starchy and sugary foods,

NOT so much because their new pouch couldn't handle it (although

that's important also). Remember, we have to RE-LEARN (or perhaps

learn for the first time in our life) to feed our body HEALTHY FOOD.

AT first we receive negative physical reinforcement from our body

when we eat too much, too fast, or wrong choices. After awhile,

though, most of us can eat just about anything so it is CRITICAL that

we develope early healthy habits early on.

As for me, my postop weight loss slowed and eventually stopped

when I started dabbling at about 6 months postop in foods that I use

to overeat on, which made me morbidly obese in the first place, ie.

sweets, popcorn, crackers, etc. At first, I seemed to be able to

handle small amounts of these previously addictive items and thought,

wow, now I can eat " MODERATELY " like a " NORMAL " eater. But it didn't

take long before I became more obsessed and compulsive with the

sugary items (life long past history for me). At about 14 months

postop it got worse and I gained 10 lbs. over the next 4-5 months and

felt despair, depressed, and " out of control " with sugar and

snacking. I found myself eating less and less protein also. About 6

wks ago I hit a new " low " emotionally and feared that I'd continue

the regaining cycle. I came to grips with the fact that, FOR ME, the

sugary crap had to be eliminated from my eating plan along with

snacking! By only having to face food 3 times a day, it eliminated

the insane thinking about whether or not to eat something at that

moment. Getting rid of the sugar DRASTICALLY decreased my cravings

after about 4 or 5 days. For me it is true that high starchy, sugar,

high carbohydrate foods tend to set off HUNGER and CRAVINGS in me,

just like prior to surgery. I wish that I could be like those of you

LONG TERM POSTOPS that seem to be able to be satisfied with small

amounts of these foods. BUT I AM NOT!...AND I'M FINALLY LETTING GO

OF THE THOUGHT THAT I CAN HANDLE " A LITTLE ICECREAM, ETC, " One Day at

a Time " . For today, sweets are not part of my food plan. By no

means do I always make healthy food choices, but mostly I do.

Consequently, I'm back down to within 1 pound of my previous lowest

weight and am maintaining. Yes, I'd like to lose another 15-20 lbs.

but I don't know if that will ever happen and am not concerned about

it. I look nice in clothes. Mostly, I just want to have FREEDOM FROM

THE OBSESSION with sweets which is what I have at this moment in

time. Consistant aerobic exercise is what I need most and have had

the least success doing since surgery. I have felt a lot of guilt

regarding this since I know that it is critical to long term

success. I am much more active than preop though thank goodness. I

walk up more stairs instead of using elevators, and park further away

from stores in the parking lot, mini lifestyle changes that add up.

Sooooooo, the biggest advice that I can offer to early postops

based on my own experience is: Develope good eating habits early

on...Avoid foods which use to be binge foods for you...Don't eat

between planned meals and eat only at a table (not in the car, bed,

or in front of a TV)..... and exercise regularly. This is my goal

each day. AND, some days are better than others. For today, I

choose to praise myself for " what I'm doing right " instead

of " critisizing myself for my weaknesses " . That's my 2 cents worth

this morning! Hugs, Suzanne

lap RNY 1-29-02

within 20 lbs. of goal weight