I know someone who regained all the weight after gastric bypass and worried that I will be the same

[SmeoneSpcl]

I loved reading this thread! So many reminders that the VSG is a tool and that the choice to be healthy starts with me. I struggle sometimes (who doesnt) but I don't restrict myself - I let myself have a few bites of cake one day, and then I remember to log it in my food journal and be accountable for it. I don't have a goal/dream weight - I have a dream lifestyle! Posts like this make me remember why I had the surgery - and that was to enjoy my life and all of the wonderful activities out there.

[GSBarbee]

I only know of failures, except for everyone on this site who has been successful. It's sad really, but it is a good reminder to me that you have to be diligent about diet and exercise.

A girl I work with had the Lap Band two weeks before I had my surgery and has not lost 1 pound. She has not changed her eating habits or exercised at all. In fact she s getting a "Swallow test," to see what is wrong...I can tell you, she eats bad food, carbonated beverages and alcohol all the time.
Another lady I work with had a version of a gastric bypass that was experimental. She lost100 lbs fast. It's been 7 years now and she has gained all the weight back plus some. She drinks ALOT of alcohol and grazes all day, lots of that is carbs.
My husband's uncle is bigger now than he was before the lap band, because he keeps getting the band loosened.

Good luck and ask for support when you are having a down day!!

[Munchkin]

That is scary. I just don't want to be obese anymore. I don't need to be skinny.

[connie]

Wow- thank you every one for your sharing. I too have heard the same stories and have the same friends that you all do (imagine that). For me this is a TOTAL life change, not just food. EVERYTHING is different---for me it was a choice of do or die---I watched my father slowly kill himself---I make a decision every day to follow healthy habits. Blessings- Connie

[stephintexas]

I went through a total roller coaster of excitement, anticipation and hysterical emotional cry babying before and after the sleeve surgery. I allowed myself to feel the insane emotions of no longer bingeing and purging or binging at all anymore. I had stopped starving myself but never got the binging under control. To me, this was a permanent change. I've had to adjust and readjust several times since surgery. I fall off the horse and get back on. I don't follow the plan perfect and I miss exercise sometimes. But, my goal is to consistently and persistently chug away to 135. Then at 135, my goal is to chug away at maintaining. It's not a plan of losing then going buck wild and eating my heart out again. The intensity of the emotion during this process for some of us is that letting of the food. It was either this or a week at Shades of Hope giving up the food addiction.

The sleeve is like a forced withdrawal from heroin. I could choose to hog out like before and my stomach would let me. I could drink Starbucks and milk shakes and eat greasy food and get right back to 260. The sleeve is simply a forced withdrawal of the bad foods. Then after you heal, you have to choose to continue the good habits. The sleeve is really the beginning of the journey up the mountain, not the cresting of the mountain. For me, I don't just lose by eating less of the bad food. I have to eat healthy and exercise. I am doing the same exact things to lose weight that I would have without the sleeve. The sleeve just gave me a bit of a push to get started. I still have to make some major changes and learn how to eat like a skinny person. I don't think total deprivation, even possible with the sleeve, is wise for me because that's the whole binge/purge/starve cycle that got me here. I eat healthy and not radical and know that this is a life long journey. I struggle with the logic behind 600-800 cals for that very reason.

[MaryFromTheD]

If you don't change your lifestyle and your eating habits how can you not expect to gain weight?? The people that do things like that amaze me when they say " it didn't work for me". NO, you didn't do the work!!!!

Well said Amy!

[Cjaqtt]

I don't know about anyone else here, but most food taste different to me now. So I'm not attracted to near as many things as I used to be. Ive done weight watchers and was successful with it, then quit. This surgery is permanent. Unless you truly like being sick your going to change your behavior towards food. The fact that it takes at least 6-9 months for your stomach to heal will make sure your new behaviors become habit. Yes we can all fall back into bad habits, but it takes repetition and a lot of it. Hopefully with this tool in place we catch ourselves before our bad habits come back to haunt us. My mom is 10 years out from bypass an has kept the 80 pounds she lost off. Over the last year she has lost another 20. We can do this! Just keep believing that you can an the sleeve will make sure you don't sabotage yourself the first year!

[Jeni]

I love this topic. It is so relavent to all of us who have had or will have bariatric surgery. I personally have done very well with VSG, but the past week or so I've gained a little bit and it frustrates me! I am so scared I'll gain it back. I know I need to make life changes and keep them a top priority. Keep this discussion going. We all need these reminders and helps to keep us on track! Thanks!

[ExGorda]

With the tool the sleeve provides (smaller stomach) and a bit of an effort on our part (not eating crap) I really don't see how we could ever regain the weight.
If we can't maintain our weight for life with the sleeve then we for sure were not going to do it with any other way either. We have it pretty easy.

[slim&proud]

If someone has weightloss surgery and than eats chocolate, and i'm guessing not small amounts, than well duh of course they're gonna put their weight back on. I've never heard of a chocolate diet...

Any weightloss surgery is a tool to lose weight not a magic fix all. If someone doesn't have the will power to make right food choices than it's a shame as they probabably aren't gonna do so well.

[connie]

OK, I have a story---this is a little long---but because of each and everyone of you I was able to react with grace and dignity in the situation.

Friday I went to lunch with 6 other ladies at the Olive Garden. I ordered soup and salad. Had about a tablespoon of salad and because it took us so long (2 hours you know how lunch with the girls can be) I was able to get my soup in---yes, cold soup is ok in my book today. Anyway---one of the people that I do not know very well looked at me and said---so Connie how much weight have you lost? (now, that seems like a pretty normal question, but when she asked I could feel the little hairs on the back of my neck sticking up--kinda like a built in warning sign we all have.) I looked at her and said, well, since I started counting I have lost 63 pounds. She said---Really??? I lost 63 pounds a few years ago---but I did it the hard way. (It was obvious this lady had gained the 63 plus back). Of course my first thought was----Gosh---you certainly must have been big. (I forgot to add that she was on her 3rd salad and 3rd bowl of soup and I was not even paying attention to the bread sticks) I then thought---ok, this was talked about on the forum---how can I address this in a kind and loving way. So I was able to say, "Gosh---I am sorry that you feel major surgery is the easy way out it has proven quite difficult for me at times." Now, I wanted to say a whole bunch more, and I remembered the most important thing, THIS IS MY LIFE---I CHOSE THIS PATH I DO NOT HAVE TO JUSTIFY OR RATIONALIZE ANYTHING---THERE IS NO PILL FOR STUPID AND LADY YOU ARE STUPID!!! I just wanted to share that little incident---Hugs and Blessings to all- Connie

[Cattitude]

Oh Connie what a moron that woman was! I was just thinking that if surgery is such an "easy fix" than how come every overweight person isn't doing it? Oh yes, because it is TOUGH. People like to say things like that when they are uninformed. Anyone that really knows what bariatric surgery entails knows it is hard work.

[stephintexas]

You know, we don't have to defend this decision. It dawned on me the other day. We don't have to defend, justify or explain it. It's our bodies and I went through a lot of the same over cosmetic surgery. I finally just stopped explaining myself and trying to defend it. We can waste our time explaining it to people but we can never understand it for them.

Maybe I'm just getting jaded as i near 40 but this is me, like it or lump it then take it down the street and dump it. (We used to say that in elementary lol it seems to apply)

[Evie Sleevie]

Maybe I'm just getting jaded as i near 40 but this is me, like it or lump it then take it down the street and dump it. (We used to say that in elementary lol it seems to apply)[/QUOTE]

I love that! Someone needs to embroider that on a pillow or put it on a bumper sticker!!

Connie, that woman was JEALOUS of you. That green-eyed monster makes people say the rudest things! She is miserable for herself, and felt the need to shoot you down in the process. Which, as we all know, does not work with Ms. Smart n' Sassy Connie!

[csmith2884]

I love this thread there are some great points made. I have my best friend, my fiancee doing it with me. We have both decided that our Dr is right. He says there is no one that followed his pre- and post op guidelines that didn't lose a lot of weight. That is good enough for us.