what do you say???

[Lea]

I need wls to lose weight and keep it off...I know that....I need a tool...some help on this difficult journey of mine. They say if you have lost weight and gained it back, who is to say this operation will work for you....since you have not changed your mindset, your habits....the difference is....this drastic tool I will be given to assist me , to help and remind me to eat small portions....I do realize this is not the easy way out...if it was, I would have made this choice 15 years ago when a friend first had gastric bypass and successfully lost weight and kept it off to this day....so just wondering what members of this forum have said when asked this question...if you have not been able to keep the weight off before wls, what makes you think this surgery will work for you?

[brendadenton64]

great question

[N2DVN]

Here's what I tell people who ask or question it:

You MUST change your habits and mindset or else you will FAIL! It is a tool to help you do that but you must be willing to abide by the restrictions and follow the guidelines provided to you. If you don't change your mindset or habits, you will stretch out your stomach.

I have chosen to exercise, make better choices, eat smaller portions, drink more water, increased my protein intake, take vitamins, and give up soft drinks (still working on that one) - all of these for the rest of my life, even pre-op.

The people around me, even the ones that don't know that I am having the surgery, have noticed a change in my behavior and eating habits. Now, I say "NO, thank you!" to the countless sweets, Krispy Kreme donuts, and candy that are brought into my office. When my company brings in our weekly lunch, my portions are much smaller. I don't go back for seconds, even at home. I have decided to skip dessert, cook smaller meals, and pass on the Sunday morning sweets that are brought to church for SS. No more empty calories. If it doesn't provide nutritional value, it's not going into my mouth. Everything adds up.

You will do fine, if you make changes in your life! This is not a quick fix. I know people who had the bypass and did not make the necessary changes. Guess what! They gained their weight back. I am NOT going thru this surgery and it not work. Therefore, I have decided to make these lifestyle changes permanently.

Hope this helps, Lea! Best Wishes to you!

[DestinyDeb]

Here's what I tell people who ask or question it:

You MUST change your habits and mindset or else you will FAIL! It is a tool to help you do that but you must be willing to abide by the restrictions and follow the guidelines provided to you. If you don't change your mindset or habits, you will stretch out your stomach.

I have chosen to exercise, make better choices, eat smaller portions, drink more water, increased my protein intake, take vitamins, and give up soft drinks (still working on that one) - all of these for the rest of my life, even pre-op.

The people around me, even the ones that don't know that I am having the surgery, have noticed a change in my behavior and eating habits. Now, I say "NO, thank you!" to the countless sweets, Krispy Kreme donuts, and candy that are brought into my office. When my company brings in our weekly lunch, my portions are much smaller. I don't go back for seconds, even at home. I have decided to skip dessert, cook smaller meals, and pass on the Sunday morning sweets that are brought to church for SS. No more empty calories. If it doesn't provide nutritional value, it's not going into my mouth. Everything adds up.

You will do fine, if you make changes in your life! This is not a quick fix. I know people who had the bypass and did not make the necessary changes. Guess what! They gained their weight back. I am NOT going thru this surgery and it not work. Therefore, I have decided to make these lifestyle changes permanently.

Hope this helps, Lea! Best Wishes to you!

The perfect answer to this question... That is the attitude it takes to rock this thing. The surgery is just a tool... a tool is only useful when used as a tool. it is not the answer, it helps with the answer, It helps get the job done, but it takes more then having the tool to actually get the job done.

[lynnden]

I agree the sleeve is a tool but for me it is a powerful tool. I get full so quickly, sometime after just a few bites. I agree with not eating empty calories, but I also feel we should not deny ourselves on OCCASION. Yesterday I made chocolate chip cookies and I wanted one so I split a cookie with my hubby and I was satisfied with that. The rest went into the freezer for Thanksgiving. I will occasionaly have a glass of wine. I want to be successful at this for the rest of my life and I don't believe I will if I feel like I am denying myself. Gaining weight is a possibility later so it is ALL ABOUT learning to eat smaller portions...retraining the way I think. Before I had the surg I took a picture of my dinner plate with the amount of food I would normally eat. Now I just look at that pic and think it was a ridiculously huge amount of food. Keeping that in mind, I pay close attention to when I am satisfied vs stuffed. Good luck on this wonderful new way of life.

[Lea]

thanks for all your replies...I agree and have decided to have wls as Lynnden says...a "powerful tool" I saw my new primary yesterday...I say new because I have been seeing diff. docs of recent because I havent found one that fits or they have moved their practices...the one before did not support wls at all...and is the reason I have put this off once again since last Winter...I like my new pc...she supports my decision, understands it...and is on board...I would have gone to another if she was not. I know this is what I need to do ...case closed...I think that my prior experience in losing weight...large quantities is on my side...and the smaller stomach will help me achieve lifelong results...of course with my experience with weightloss I understand this is just a tool...but again...an amazing one....

[Shugaplum]

I agree with all of the above. I also am a believer in not denying myself anything. I have found int he past that if I totally stop eating something I like, I will end up bingeing on it. I'm sure there are a few out there who can relate. I'm looking to incorporate ALL foods into my new plan in a healthy manner, and be successful.

[cruzn2lose]

I dont know about you, but where I am having my surgery, we are required to go through 5 classes to learn new behaviors, find out why we eat what we eat, etc...etc... - I have only been to 2 of the 5, but I have to tell you, It's starting to all make sense and what I am putting in my mouth I am thinking about a lot more than I used to....I was literally on Auto-Pilot with food....didn't want to have to think about it. After the surgery, you are just simply not going to be able to eat much....so you better make what you eat good for your body....and occasionally have a treat. You can do it.

[Jersey John]

There are many reasons people over eat and make bad food choices....I have many myself. I ate out of depression, frustration, to feel in control, celebration, and boredom. I frequently made poor choices and binged. This tool does not allow binging as you cannot physically fit a binge, and very poor choices result in pain and or vomiting in the initial weeks after surgery.

In this way, we are forced to adjust our food mentality and our relationships with food. At the same time, we are rapidly losing weight which has all kinds of physical benefits from improved health to improved comfort, improved self esteem and improvement of obesity related conditions or illnesses. Now you combine the forced limitation, especially initially, with the experience and benefits of initial rapid weightloss and your body and mind start to embrace the new eating lifestyle.

Not to mention the added bonus with the sleeve that the hormone that stimulates hunger is removed at its source. Thats what makes this tool work for me.

[Susie]

First of all the sleeve is a tool and like any tool if you miss use it or put it way it is not useful ! When and of you get sleeved you will have to change BUT before you make that desicion you better have made a change in your lifestlyle eatting habits , Yes it limits your in take but if you graze if you nibble nibble JUNK then you will GAIN , you have finally answer to yourself do I want to remain FAT or do i want to be thin and healthy ! you have serious life lessons with this tool , vitamans and schedules on when to eat and above all WATER and NO drinking coke or fuzzy diet drinks they are reall hazards to your new tummy ! If your not mind ready then do not walk forward , Myself I was mind ready and happy to say goodbye to over 100 pounds , I eat 5-6 times a day and drink AAAAAAAALLLLLLL day . I put protien first in my mouth ... As the hoildays get here think this one thought you can taste but not eat ! I had my self sleeved in DECEMBER 2010 and to be honest I do not miss the food because now I am living the life I myself took from myself by bad food choices and over eatting .

[Evie Sleevie]

I dont know about you, but where I am having my surgery, we are required to go through 5 classes to learn new behaviors, find out why we eat what we eat, etc...etc... - I have only been to 2 of the 5, but I have to tell you, It's starting to all make sense and what I am putting in my mouth I am thinking about a lot more than I used to....I was literally on Auto-Pilot with food....didn't want to have to think about it. After the surgery, you are just simply not going to be able to eat much....so you better make what you eat good for your body....and occasionally have a treat. You can do it.

Wendy, do you think you could summarize those 5 classes on here when you get a chance?? It sounds like valuable information for all of us! Thanks!

[Lea]

@ john......so have you noticed a difference with the hunger hormone part of your stomach removed?
@susie...i am glad to hear you don't miss food...part of me is like...oh no....my comfort.....my fave. friend...will be gone
@wendy....i plan to go to lots of support meetings....i would love to peel back my layers like an onion and figure out why the hell i like to eat so damn much.and ps....as the holidays approach and i see so many of you getting "sleeved" right before thanksgiving or xmas...i am like...no, wait, till the holiday is over ...thats the procrastinator in me...and hey, i am just being 100% honest...but i am also 100% ready to make this change...and will follow docs. orders!!!.

[Jersey John]

Yes Lea, I don't get hunger rumbles ever....for some they still kinda do, but I actually have to remember to eat most days...lol

[Lea]

omg ...love it....i always wondered about those people who forget to eat......lol

[brendadenton64]

Wow I just saw your awesome weight loss in such a short time, That's awesome