Quote:
Originally Posted by nelie
I would just hate to see someone think that if they can't get WLS that they shouldn't keep trying to find the right combination. I know its frustrating and for myself, I even gave up trying for years at a time because I thought it was a hopeless cause.
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I'd like to echo this, because in researching wls, I've found that I am not a good candidate for wls surgery, either bypass or lapband. I have health issues that would drastically increase my risk of severe and possibly even life-threatening complications such as vitamin deficiencies, anemia, bacterial infections, and severe scarring/inflammation/necrosis. I have an autoimmune connective tissue disorder (which the lapband manufacturer says the surgery shouldn't be used with this disease as it increases the risk of severe, even deadly complications).
My primary doctor agrees that I'm not a good wls candidate, but a rheumatologist I was referred to for my fibromyalgia told me at my first meeting with him that I would never lose weight without wls, and despite my increased risks, wls was the "only option," for me. He in essence refused to treat me until after I had the surgery, and dismissed my concerns.
I've chosen not to pursue wls at this time, and I don't feel that my efforts are doomed to failure. I've made many changes, and I'm making progress. It's been slow progress, but it's progress nonetheless.
I know you mentioned in another thread wanting a jumpstart to your weight loss efforts. For me the psychological need for a "jumpstart" did me a lot of harm, and I'd encourage you to ask youself if it's really in your best interest. It was motivating to see a quick loss, but it was a temporary high because nothing after the jumpstart had as exciting a payback. It would inspire me to want fast results more than permanent results, and made crash dieting methods very tempting. If that's not true for you, carry on, but at lest consider it.
There are a lot of dieting "facts" and advice that I took for granted, because it was how I was taught to think about weight loss. I've had to unlearn a lot of that.
I think you may have also mentioned being insulin resistant - sometimes jumpstarts just don't happen for insulin resistant folks. I've never lost weight so slowly in my life, as after being diagnosed IR, no matter how drastic my measures, jump starts just don't happen. I had to really take my doctor's advice to heart when he said that even losing 1/4 lb a week, if done consistently, after only a few weeks, no matter what my starting weight, would put me ahead of almost every one who tries to lose weight, because most people give up after only a few weeks.
It's taken me four years to lose 63 lbs. I lost 20 lbs initially without trying because of some lifestyle changes. I did no better than maintain those 20 lbs for three of those four years. It's only been in the last year that I've found my "formula" for weight loss, and it's taken me a year to lose 43 lbs. The old me would have seen that as no success at all, and I would have given up because the slow progress wouldn't have been seen as progress at all. I would have given up seeing only failure, not the amazing success of 63 lbs. The new me, is very proud of those 63 lbs, especially since I have not regained during that time (except for small gains every year around Christmas - Christmas traditions are still my downfall). I've never in my life had four years of weight stability, let alone four years of declining weight. It's been a very gradual downward trend, but it's downward.
I'm not saying your weight loss would be nearly as slow as mine has been. I am hoping myself, for a bit more rapid success now that I've deciphered my recipe for success (low carb, low grain), but regardless of how successful I am at that, I'm refusing to allow backsliding as an option. If it takes me 20 years to lose all of my weight, so be it.
It's taken me nearly four decades of trial and error to find what works for me. A lot of that was working in circles because I was working harder, not smarter. I attempted and reattempted diets that weren't right for me. I didn't give low carb eating much of a chance, because I didn't think it could be a healthy plan. After two doctors recommended it for the insulin resistance, I learned a lot more about how to do a low carb diet in a healthy manner.
You can do it, you really can - but you've got to abandom some very ingrained dieting "traditions" that many people don't even realize they were participating in. I mean, it's "traditional" after all to binge after abandoning a particular diet. There's no law that says that you must go on an eating "vacation" before trying a new WOE, but that's often happens, and I think the only adequate explanation is "tradition."
It's dieting tradition to become frustrated and discouraged after a few weeks (or sometimes even a few days) without a loss. It's dieting tradition to see a gain, even a small water weight gain as a sign of failure. It's dieting tradition to see even a small variation from the food plan as not just a mistake, but as a complete FAILURE. It's tradition to decide that you can't swim, bicycle, or in anyway be active in public unless you're a certain weight. It's tradition to see a weight loss food plan as inherently unpleasant and depriving. Fatty, sugary foods are traditionally seen as indulgences. Fresh, beautiful fruits and vegetables traditionally, are not.
Weight loss isn't hopeless, but I think it means unlearning man of our weight loss tradiotions as much as it means learning new traditions.
I'm sorry, I'm starting to rant. Bottom line, please don't give up, this isn't easy, but it's not hopeless either.
Every Dr says have WLS but I cant
