Is Your WLS Just Another Fad Diet?

[Shirl]

I found this article thought provoking: Are you secretly fad dieting? One question reveals all.
https://blog.loseit.com/are-you-secr...n-reveals-all/ via @loseit

I have to admit, I may be guilty as charged... A few weeks post op, while I was still in the restrictive liquid/soft food phase and battling head hunger, I'd ask myself "how long do I do have to..."! After tweaking my food and adding fiber, I was able to think a little clearer, recognizing head hunger (cravings, thirst, emotionally triggered... etc) over real hunger (feeling weak, nausea, headaches, hangry... checking time since last meal/drink). Last November I made a conscious and informed decision to change my life which eventually lead me to seeking weightloss surgery advice and consultation and the gastric sleeve on May 17th this year.

I am the first to admit I am not 100% compliant, 100% of the time, but I'm giving it all I have. I test the limits, I sipped on wine a few weeks ago, I steal a fry or two from my kid's plate, I have eaten ice cream at least once a week. I started exercising excessively until one morning I just couldn't get out of bed, exhausted from a culmination of life. I have had to put my scale away and out of sight because I became obsessed with weightloss. I wanted the weight gone yesterday.

Anywhoo... I am going to stop here, and I hope you enjoy this article.


Are you secretly fad dieting? One question reveals all.

We hear the buzzphrase of “make a lifestyle change” all the time in our success stories, but what does it really feel like to make that change? There’s only one surefire way to tell if you’re on track for years of success. Here’s the big question:

Could I eat this way for the rest of my life and feel okay?

The concept is so simple, but the practice can get muddled by plenty of factors: mental, social, and environmental to name a few. In this post, we’ll tackle the mental portion to help identify what might be holding you back from a lifetime of healthy living.

Unsustainable thought patterns to watch out for:

You have thoughts of “just one more week!”

The language you use is “I HAVE to eat this way.”

You think, “I have to be perfect in my diet or it won’t work.”

You tell yourself, “If I don’t lose weight every week, I’m failing.”

If you find yourself in these patterns, don’t fret! There is a way out, and it takes a little flip of the mind to get there.

Helpful thought patterns to practice:

“I’m building healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”

“As I find foods I enjoy, it becomes easier and easier to eat a nutritious diet.”

“It’s okay to slip up, because I know I’m getting better every day.”

“I may not have lost weight this week, but I did make better choices and can reflect on my behavior and logs to learn from it.”

Forcing your beautiful, unique self into a square peg of a short term diet plan is no way to live. Every day you learn a little bit more about what works for you, and no one can ever take that knowledge away.

Take it one day at a time, building up on healthy habits so they become second nature. Every little positive change you make is preparing your mind and body for a lifetime of health and happiness. Celebrate your health successes as you start to realize: you ARE making a lifestyle change.

[Ann2]

Good article.

It's absolutely true that no one is "perfect" or 100% consistent.

However, during the last two years post-op this has been *my* observation and *my* experience:

The things I do most consistently define my lifestyle.

Everything else is just me bullshitting myself.

As always, others' mileage may vary!

[Shirl]

Right on!

Staying consistent is definitely key!

Hope I'm as successful in two years as you have been.

✨Hugs!✨

[Mbenson5]

Personally, I don't give a **** about what anyone says about the GS. It has been the key to totally transforming my life. I am going to read the article before I make other comments, but you always have to consider the source. Logical people looking for advice on how to raise their children don't take advice from people who have never had them, so why would we listen to those who have never had the sleeve or struggled with their weight? Lol, just read it! It is pretty benign, with good patterns to recognize and watch out for. I like that is capitalizes on the fact that this is a PROCESS, no matter what stage you are in. A lot of us tend to be perfectionists, so well said!

[Kindle]

Good article. The "sustainability" of the changes we make I think are the key to long term success. I never followed certain rules of WLS because I knew I could not/would not do them forever. Customizing the necessary lifestyle changes to match both my weight loss goals and my psychological/emotional happiness is the only way this has worked for me. There's no one, simple answer that fits everyone, but getting out of the diet mindset is definitely important.

[Munecagirl85]

All i know is so my sleeve i wouldnt have changed my lifestyle. Its still so so hard and i have to fight it every single dAy to make the healthy choice. As time goes on i can eat more so its more harder...... But its a tool you have to litterly work it ... Iam extremley happy i have my sleeve best decision i ever made in my life