1 Year Out And More

[june13sleever 223]

I was looking up long term results on the computer. As with any of the these surgeries it is possible to gain the weight back. I am struggling with this currently. I hit my goal and gained some of it back. I am going to make my threshold 165 pounds. Once I hit 165 it is 2 days of intense working out and liquids to get back down. THIS IS SERIOUS. There aren't alot of long timers on here. My June 2011 category is practically non-existent. Surprisingly I feel I will need more support long term then I did in the short term. I am pasting something I just read on another page. Take what you want from it.

Subject: The Sleeve long term - "Not making goal" and regain study 22/11/10, 09:30 pm

First topic message reminder :

Last week I attended the NZ Weight Loss Convention. One of the key speakers was a NZ surgeon working on regain issues for weight loss surgery patients. He sadly has many sleeve patients up to 5 years out who have suffered from regain.

One of the strongest things he said was that there are no rules for surgery results. Surgery is like a shotgun bullet. The surgeon fires the gun but will have no idea why for some it works and some it does not.

PREDICTORS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS

There are predictors for long term success. He has studied and had follow up with patients and those that beat regain or not making goal share several things in common. The biggest message is that if you are unlucky and surgery does not work out of the box the biggest thing you MUST tackle is eliminating carbs viscously.

Quote: The goal is a small meal 4-5 hours apart with no Snacks and you not being hungry. If that is not working reduce carbs until it does.

This was scary for me struggling to cope after one hour. No rice, potatoes, bread. Nothing made of flour even wholemeal.

Results do not come down to surgery type (he has band patients who lost over 100kg in a year and Bypass ones under 5). There are several factors that people who succeed share

• Weigh regularly - daily recommended
  
• Set upper weight limit - if you go over react immediately and go back to liquid only to get back under goal
  
• Exercise regularly - there is no choice on this one
  
• Plan for events - take your own food if need be, ring restaurant in advance, there are NO special days.
  
• Daily gratitude for new life - photos in your bag to remind you of how far you have come. Continue to dream as goals are important.
  
• Be mindful of "the now" and worry less about future. If we spend too much time worrying we miss all we have gained so far.
  
• Get help, be vulnerable together - support groups are a vital key to success
  
  

There was also a diet session which really was so different from what I am doing now it was scary. I have currently high fibre, lots of veges, meat first, max 1200 calories. Some notes from that were

[*] 50% of the meal by volume as Protein

[*] Maximum of one piece of fruit per day

[*] One small meal every 4-5 hours

[*] No carbs - no potatoes, bread, rice, etc

[*] No snacks

[*] No need to calorie count, count carbs instead

The low carb (and strict low carb at that) for life was interesting. The implication was that for some people surgery will not solve as much as hoped and the only way they have found that works after that is low carb.

KATY JAY SESSION

The next part was sadly cut short and we only got half before time ran out. I was gutted. here is what I did get and you will see why. They are trying to get permission to send out to people the remaining slides.

There are stages to weight loss transformation that we will all follow

[*] Decision point - realizing we need help, coping with "easy way out" comments

[*] Shock and awe - buyers remorse, time of drastic change, of adjustment, of joy and awe (for some)

Quote: Note - he made a special note at this point how important it is that we don't compare ourselves with others at this point. We are all different and our journeys will be different.

[*] The miracle - honeymoon period, can eat stuff was once or should be guilty eating and still loose, feel cured, for some fear of failure & fear will regain starts

[*] Grief and loss - many will experience losses other than weight including friends turning against you, sadness and change in us resulting in the desire for change in our world around us

[*] Testing limits - this is gradual and food as well as emotional, taste trigger foods, loss of dumping, relationships change, transfer of addictions (30% of weight loss patients will become alcoholics), feel or are self sabotaging

[*] End of invincible - weight loss rapid or at all is over, eating impacts weight with regain, struggle to lose, feel a slave to food, drive to eat is back, fear of regain intensifies, hunger comes back, surgeon may feel helpless while you feel they are dismissive,

Quote: Note - Regain is not a character flaw. You do not have to feel shame

[*] Give up or change - MUST make a new decision point or most likely will continue to regain, shame can feel overwhelming, don't know what to do, surgeon can feel baffled by this stage and use communication that is perceived as shaming or judgmental, working together is better but need to understand that few surgeons have skills to deal with this stage

Quote: Note - Must understand that this is the normal "next bit", many people will just drift away

[*] Learning- Keep open mind for new ideas. Learn the regain causes, learn solutions and influences be they psychological social mental and emotional. Keep a log. Reference materials from many sources.

You can see why I was gutted when it had to end here. There is more on the pamphlet we were given and I will type this up later but since there seems to be a few threads on these issues I have posted up my notes.

[920amy 409]

This is really informative, I would love to see the rest of the info. Thank you for sharing.

[favoredone 590]

WOW!! Thanks so much.. I really needed to read this... I didn't go back to my support group for several reasons... but I found lots of support here... Now, I will recommit to getting support and actually allowing my sleeve to do what it was made to do w/o me stressing and beating myself up!!... Thanks again for sharing..

[RedCardinal 13]

I'm still pre-op, and had a good q&a with the nutritionist yesterday. She said, in her experience, that she has only had one patient be successful adding carbs (grains, starchy vegs) back into their diet. She really believes that for long term success, the diet is the same 5 years out as 6 months out. The reasoning is that the carb meals don't satisfy you enough, so you eat more. (in a nutshell).

This is very discouraging to hear. As someone at the beginning of the process, I like to think that I'll be the exception, that I can control things, have the occasional mashed potatoes, and not have a problem. I suspect this is a pipe dream. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this and get used to the idea.

One good/bad thing about the sleeve, is that it doesn't have the same food restrictions as other WLS procedures. It's incumbent upon us to enforce the right choices.

Good luck.

[icon23 273]

Thanks for sharing this. It's good to be informed/forewarned.

[june13sleever 223]

I'm still pre-op, and had a good q&a with the nutritionist yesterday. She said, in her experience, that she has only had one patient be successful adding carbs (grains, starchy vegs) back into their diet. She really believes that for long term success, the diet is the same 5 years out as 6 months out. The reasoning is that the carb meals don't satisfy you enough, so you eat more. (in a nutshell).

This is very discouraging to hear. As someone at the beginning of the process, I like to think that I'll be the exception, that I can control things, have the occasional mashed potatoes, and not have a problem. I suspect this is a pipe dream. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this and get used to the idea.

One good/bad thing about the sleeve, is that it doesn't have the same food restrictions as other WLS procedures. It's incumbent upon us to enforce the right choices.

Good luck.

This is probably true. I do eat cards, but I am still in the honey moon phase. It looks like now I will really have to give them up! I gained a little back! I am fortunate that there is a lunch place that makes really good Protein drinks. meat is just alot of work to cook and keep.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Thank you for sharing this....

I am looking forward to hearing about the other part too.....

I will be focusing on eating Proteins from here on out to avoid regaining some of my weight.....

I know that I am addicted to sugar so this info just reaffirms that avoiding all the foods like breads, pastas, rice, and sugars will help with keeping the weight off....... HUGS to you for sharing!

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

The more I think about this, the I get..... Mourning the loss of carbs.......but I still love my body....