Inspiration for a Gastric By-Pass Diser

[californiadopeyfreak]

Hi All!!

I rarely post..but wanted to get some ideas/help from fellow Disney friends! I had gastric by-pass surgery In August of this year. I have lost 54 pounds since the surgery and 30 before that so..84 all together! I am at a point now where I can eat/tolerate stuff that I should not have..Blah!! I have not been exercising as much as I should also! If there are people out there that have had weight loss surgery, can you give me some tips to stay motivated? Motivation enough should be the smaller clothes sizes..but that doesn't help when there is a chocolate sundae staring at you!!! Thanks in Advance!!

Jill

 

[Rose&Mike]

Hi Jill. Congrats on the 84 pounds.

I haven't had gastric bypass, but I did lose 50 pounds and along the way discovered I have a gluten problem. So I really understand wanting something that is not good for you.

My suggestion for you, if you are not doing it now is to track your food. Every day. Myfitnesspal is a really good place to start. You can track your exercise and food.

The weight loss is great, but you need to learn how to eat as healthy as you can so that you can maintain the loss and stay healthy. When I lost my weight, I only occasionally tracked, but since going gluten free I have had to start tracking, if for no other reason than I just don't have a good handle of how many calories I am consuming.

I don't know a lot about gastric bypass, but I do know that one of the keys to weight loss is learning to balance every day nutrition with occasional treats. Tracking really helps with this. It really helps you to understand what a portion is and how much is a reasonable amount.

Anyhow, hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[pjlla]

Well, 84 pounds so far is terrific. You are doing really well. I haven't had GBP surgery, but I lost 90 pounds using WW. I don't think that there are any real "tricks". We all know the rules of eating well/eating less and exercise. But applying that knowledge is tricky sometimes.

In your case, with the bypass surgery, you need to be doubly sure that you are getting the nutrition, not just the calories! Every bit of "non-nutritious" calorie you put in your body is taking the space for a more nutritious item. You CAN be eating plenty and still be mal-nourished.

When it comes to temptations like the chocolate sundaes, you need to start thinking about what you want MORE.... do you want to be slim and healthy, or have 5 minutes of satisfaction with the ice cream?? Think back over the past few months when you've been eating healthy.... how many things that you DIDN'T EAT can you remember? Or do you remember the GREAT FEELING you have when you hit that scale every week and the number keeps dropping!??

Try to keep reminding yourself and remembering those GOOD FEELINGS! That feeling of excitement on the scale during a good weigh-in, the excitement of fitting into new, smaller clothes, the happy feeling of getting a compliment. Isn't that a BETTER FEELING (and a longer lasting feeling) than the few minutes of eating something that you probably shouldn't??

All of that said, be sure to work to incorporate some goodies into your diet on a regular basis. If you give up EVERYTHING, you will eventually binge. Plan for a fun splurge after dinner one night, or for a fancy cocktail one weekend. Plan for it, count it, journal it, and move on to the next healthy meal.

A few other items that I think have been KEY to my weight loss....

journaling EVERY BITE, in writing, every day (been doing it DAILY for nearly 4 years).

exercise AT LEAST 3 days a week.... and real heart-pumping, sweaty exercise.... not just a leisurely walk with the dog.

Keep healthy foods in the house and leave the junk at the grocery store.

Surround yourself with reminders of your healthy journey. Read about weight loss and exercise, subscribe to magazines related to healthy living (WW magazine, Fitness, Shape, Prevention, Women's Health), blog or journal about your healthy journey, join a weight loss group (IRL or online). Post before and after pictures in your office/house/fridge. Google healthy recipes and exercise tips.

Good luck with your continued journey........................P

 

[andee515]

You are doing great!
I had gastric bypass Feb 23 and have lost #129 so far. I can unfortunately tolerate a lot of stuff, as well. Ice cream and stuff really sweet I can only eat a couple bites of without dumping ( but believe me, that still doesnt always stop me), but chips and cookies I can eat quiet a bit of without getting sick especially if I'm grazing. Exercising will save ya friend. It took me till the end of May to start working out, nothing amazing, but 30 minutes on treadmill when I got home from work everday no matter what! In Aug the weight loss was slowing again so I started in the morning 30 minutes as well, before I got ready for work repeat when I get home. It is sooooo hard to start, but if you do it everyday within a week or 2 you'll fell guilty and silly trying to talk yourself out of it and will do it almost compulsively ( and I'm not one of these people that learn to love exercise, I hate it, but it really is no big deal, just watch a show on dvr and walk) I really see a big difference in weight loss with 30 min twice a day and don't have to beat myself up if I have some chips or animal crackers. Another thing, I know you have been told, but can't be stressed enough Protein, Vitamins and Water. You will feel so much better when you are getting those in!

 

[californiadopeyfreak]

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! I am doing a little better, thanks for the advice everyone. I actually lost during the Thanksgiving holiday! I want to join a gym..but don't want to waste my money either! Let's all try our best to be good during this holiday season!

Jill

 

[curious3069]

I had RNY in April 2011 and have lost 112 lbs!!! My biggest tip is to track every single bite of food that you eat. There is nothing saying that you can't have anything you can tolerate, in moderation, as long as you stay within your nutrition goals. I aim for 80-100 grams of protein each day and try to hit between 1000-1200 calories a day. (your goals might be different, follow your surgeon's guidelines) Lots of water, take your vitamins and exercise. Doesn't have to be some sort of hard core workout either-walk, dance, anything that gets you moving. Don't forget some strength training too!

Oooh, don't hesitate to call your Dr's office and request a meeting with your nutritionist, they can really help. You've got a great tool and it can really help!!!

And you are doing great!!!!! Better to guide yourself back to where you want to be now than later on....

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Get to a local support group! The doctor that did your surgery should be able to stear you towards a local support group. It WILL help!!!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

My suggestion for you, if you are not doing it now is to track your food. Every day. Myfitnesspal is a really good place to start. You can track your exercise and food.

This is a great tool. I have it on my phone.

 

[FireDancer]

Get to a local support group! The doctor that did your surgery should be able to stear you towards a local support group. It WILL help!!!

This.

I think one of the things that is often missed when someone has weight loss surgery is dealing with the mental and emotional aspects of food and eating. The surgery deals with the physical aspect but not these and a support group of counselor can get you help in those areas.

I've read a lot of articles and papers about people who have surgery (weather it is a bypass, band or whatever) and do great in the short term but eventually fall back to where they were before because they don't deal with issues like emotional eating. The conclusion in the vast majority of the articles is that some mechanism is needed for dealing with the non-physical aspects of weight loss.

Congratulations on what you have done so far and please don't think this is slagging off people who have surgery or criticizing it, it isn't. I just think this is an aspect of the process that gets skipped far too often and I think it has to be addressed for anyone to have long term success with losing weight and keeping it off whether they do it via surgery or diet and exercise alone.

 

[disneyfan551]

I had VSG in May, and would love to add you guys as friends on MFP. Post or pm your MFP name if you would like some support! My name is SparkleTime, would love to have more friends...