summerset

People leave out of various reasons. Some don't leave entirely but read and/or post only occasionally. "Selfishness" might be one reason (in the sense of getting out what you can and then leave). However, there are various threads about veterans leaving and the reasons for leaving or posting only occasionally are very different.

She left? Bummer.

I have to think what I posted about the mother of all system-of-rules-monsters in another thread. I have to think of Karl Valentin.

Don't count on dumping as your punishing tool. You might not experience it. (It always makes me sad to hear that people really hope they will dump like hell after bypass). I can eat sugar and sweet things in I guess what's called "moderation" without having early or late dumping. Interestingly enough the amount not only of sugar but of food in general I can eat without feeling uncomfortable depends a lot on physical activity. I came home from a 52 km road bike ride today and feel like a bottomless pit tonight, lol.

Of course I had it . I don't really see a psychological problem with it when you have your food funeral before starting the pre-op diet if there is one required. Say goodbye if you need it. People say goodbye to a lot of things and it might actually be a ritual that can help you. However, if I would have known that I can almost eat anything I like (there are a few things that make my stomach queasy after my revision) I guess I wouldn't have had it though.

After being on this board since a whole while I can't help but getting the impression that a good portion of this "being overwhelmed" feeling is self-inflicted. People start with the best intentions ("some rules") to "get everything the best way that is out there" but they end up creating something in their minds that seems more like the big mother of all bureaucratic system-of-rules-monsters.

I never counted carbs so far and don't plan on doing so. I watch the kind of carbs I eat, depending on the level of activity (it's still biking season after all).

IMO this is true. However, lots of people seem to live in deep fear of this striving for balance, not believing they can ever achieve it because they're absolutely convinced they can't trust their bodies - ever. Given the fact that so-called experts, Aunt Fanny, the media, various people who think they know what they're talking about etc. fed us their "truth" about obesity, eating disorders, losing weight etc. for so long that it's hard to shed all that "knowledge" and all these "truths" that worsened our problems instead of solving them, this is probably not very surprising. There are different approaches out there that don't focus on something that feels more like punishment than anything else (I know I'm recommending the books of e. g. Karen Koenig not for the first time here) but fear and maybe other things are holding people back to try something different than "being strict". But then again - I guess it took a long time as well to convince people that the earth is not flat and that the sun is not moving around the earth...

Revision to bypass was one of the best decisions ever. My GERD is not gone but way better.

Just like it was with all these diets and "lifestyle changes" we were on before WLS.

Yeah, better not. However, I can feel her frustration growing.

rotflmao

What?

Since all this diet and exercise stuff has to rely on self-reporting I doubt we will ever know for sure.

My shoe size didn't change and why should it? My feet are still the same length they were before surgery. I can see though that the size may change when it comes to certain shoe designs, e. g. narrower cuts etc.

Being thin feels better. I dare to say it not only feels better but it is better. I don't think there are any downsides. I still obsess about nutrition and exercise but I also did when I was heavier. I seriously doubt that it will ever be different. I view sports and nutrition as some kind of hobby though in the sense that I also read books about exercise and nutrition, injury rehab and prevention etc. - however, that's nothing new as well. When it comes to physical ailments and everyday life: everyday life is still stressful. A 24-h-shift is still a 24-h-shift, idiots are still idiots and in general I still wear the same kind of clothing, only several sizes smaller. I still have physical ailments, some are even worse than before because after all not everything is weight related (yeah, that shoulder injury seems to get more and more nagging). _____ In sum I'd say life is better - being of what is viewed as "normal size" seems to take a certain edge off everyday hassles for me but it certainly didn't make me bullet proof.

Hence you can see a lot of regain posts with the tenor "Heeeeeelp!!!! I used to be so good with weight loss and following the rules but I fell off the wagon!!!!" _____ I don't know if it's really "all in your hands". I doubt it. WLS is a (surgical) therapy. Like all therapies it doesn't have a 100% success rate. There will always be people who have better outcomes or worse outcomes than others. I know people don't like to hear this: but as with any other therapy there is quite a bit of luck involved how your body and mind react to this surgical therapy. There is work to do of course and how good your are at doing this work, depends on a lot things. And some people simply don't need to work as hard as others. Remember high school or college? I bet anyone on this board here had a classmate who didn't have to study hard to get good grades while others had to struggle hard to get even decent grades. Same with WLS. Some have to work harder to get the same results while others just fly by on less effort.

Dr. Weiner is the one to go to if you tend to eat mostly plant based or want to start eating mostly plant based. Ah ok, I see.

Indeed. However, given the fact how many different "programs" or "rules" or "guidelines" are out there - is it really surprising? A "program" needs to fit the patient and given the fact that there doesn't seem to be a gold standard it's legitimate to ask around for alternatives. One size fits them all simply doesn't work in the long run. People are too different with too many different needs and different strengths and weaknesses. Eating and drinking are very important when it comes to quality of life (not only for the obese person, but for every person, so please don't dish out these "food for fuel only" or "eating only to live" speeches now) so it's legitimate to get the best out of eating and drinking in the long run and that might mean looking beyond the edge of the plate your nutritionist has given you. Given the fact that you don't know if the program you're on is "the best" out there or that you don't even know if the advise your nutritionist gives you is the best for your own situation (there are good and bad nutritionists out there after all with different levels of educarion) I don't think it's a real problem to shop around for different views and opinions, especially if you're struggling. In fact I think it's a "must" to look for alternatives to get you the best quality of life in the long run so you can life the best life possible. I did this "shopping around" myself when it came to plant based nutrition. That's when I stumbled on Dr. Weiner and his approach. Does the majority of surgeons and nutritionists agree with his mostly plant based approach? I doubt it, but yet - it seems to work for his patients!

When it comes to these "programs" I sometimes wonder if there are more differences or more commonalities.

You could start a thread in the technical assistance board. Maybe Alex will create a section for this kind of stuff? I think the idea is quite interesting.

I don't know. Truth is, I don't think I would have that much to say about regain and getting rid of the weight again. I had some regain when I stopped smoking - that's when I got seriously into the strategies of "normal eating". No diet, no exercise program, no being-harder-on-myself. I got rid of the weight again without struggle. Reactions I've got? "Oh, but we can't ever trust ourselves with food!!!" Hm.

Maybe because all people on here want to hear on subjects like "losing weight" and "maintaining" and "regain" are variations of the following standard phrases: - follow your program - do the five day pouch test - drink only plain water - don't eat carbs - eat "lean protein" with every meal - go to the gym five days a week - you just have to try harder Write anything that's not in line with this and you can see a lot of people going very wild. Why should anyone be keen on writing about the "real scoop" the way they experienced it when the reactions they'll be getting will be most likely far from positive?

Of course someone who had surgery not even three months ago is still talking down from this special high horse. @Creekimp13: discussions like these are one of the reasons I'm not keen on posting (or even reading) more. Three likes at least for your original post. (and of course people won't really take you seriously until you're prancing around the board with a BMI of 21.00231 or so on your profile so don't even try )