Nancy, that was soo nice!
It's true, we all need a reminder sometimes that not only are we not perfect, neither is anybody else.
For most of us, it's a struggle.
This is the stuff that character is made of!
Here's hoping that we all live to tell about it!

I remember Oprah saying that you have to get to the root of why your overeating/compulsive eating. I think a person who has WLS and eats Wendys compulsively afterwards needs therapy.

The psychological visit prior to surgery will only uncover what the patient discloses.

Shy moment - i think your post is absolutely on target. in fact, i might print it out and post it by my desk at work! WLS is a TOOl, and one that works very well for people who understand that and work WITH it instead of trying to outsmart it.

and i'm saying this while i'm eating my breakfast - 3/4 c nonfat yogurt mixed with 1/4 c low-sugar granola and a little less than 1/2 cup homemade applesauce [with lots of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a little molasses]. i had my 20 gram protein shake about 3 hours ago.

Shy,

I also think you hit on one very important point is that it does take time to take the weight off. It isn't a race. It is one important lesson I've learned throughout the nearly 4 years of my weight loss. I will eventually get to my goal but it won't be tomorrow, it won't be next month and it may not even be next year but I'll get there.

I've actually only known one person who had WLS and she lost a lot of weight to regain most of it. I do know that she had a major eating problem going into the surgery and hadn't really tried to work out her issues prior to the surgery. That is really the important thing though that no matter how someone decides to lose weight, they need to keep vigilant and work on their issues daily. We can have minor slip ups but we just can't let them turn into long term slipups.

I am not trying to be rude so please dont take it that way, but just because you can eat a 6 inch or a single with fries...does that mean you should? The surgery was meant to be a TOOL not an answer...period. I am 6 years out and I have been very successful. I started at 312lbs, I am now 142lbs. I had reconstructive surgery several years ago too. Yes, I have to work to keep my weight under control. I too can gain weight if I am not careful. I crept up 20 pounds about 4 months ago, but I also cracked down on my eating and lost it. It is not the answer to all your prayers. There is no easy way out, the surgery is nothing more than a tool. Oh, and if you were to follow up with a gastroenterologist and had your pouch evaluated, I bet it has not stretched out as much as you think. I thought mine had too cause I CAN eat more than I should, but I dont just because I can. Anyway, my eval showed that my pouch size is max 8oz. That is only 1 cup. First of all, why were you eating white bread so early out of WLS anyway? I was not allowed white bread until 1 year out. Anything bleached and processed was not allowed. I was to follow a diet of lean proteins, complex carbs, no sugars, low fat diet. If I had bread or rice, it was to be ONLY whole wheat bread and brown rice. By the way, subways whole wheat is not REAL whole wheat. It does not contain any of the whole grains that would help to fill you up and keep you full. If you stay away from breads and starchy foods, eat whole foods, lean proteins, you will see a difference. Protein is always first. You can have up to 4 ounces of lean protein. Complex carbs is next, Lots of fresh or flash cooked veggies, if you overcook veggies, they lose the vitamin content that would help to keep you feeling full longer. Fresh fruit is next. You can have a peice of fruit with every meal. Again, at least 4 ounces meat, up to 4 ounces total of complex carbs, veggies. If you are still hungry, have a peice of fruit. Eat snacks through the day, high protein snacks of cheeses, meats and nuts. Be sure you are getting at least 72 grams of protein a day and lots and lots of water. Again, just because you can eat more than you should does not mean you should

Interesting thing I see is the psychological aspect of Why we eat rather then the How much we eat being the key to weight loss no matter which way you choose to attack the problem. Finding the outside source of blame really needs to be set aside and focus on the inside reasons.

I found my years in Overeaters Anonymous really helped me see things in a different way. Even changed how I view myself...I'm not a victim nor am I a perpetrator, just a human that makes mistakes. It got me into counseling because some of the problems in my history were not correctable with 12 Step work and I began a whole new journey to help me find the Why's.

I feel I have nearly reached the top of a very big mountain and now just need the physiological push over the summit to start my ski vacation!

Take good care of the person that will be there for you through everything, knows you better then anyone else, YOU! You can be your best friend if you allow the good things in your life to flourish and the negative things to roll off your back like water off a duck!

Thanks

Angela

Goincrazyinky,

I am in the boat with you, my friend. Four and a half years ago, at age 27, I underwent LAP RNY and went from 355 to 239-1/2. I was so much happier with myself, so much more confident. However, over time (2-3 years), my old habits crept back in, I could hold more food, and certain "bad" foods didn't make me sick like they were supposed to. A week ago this past Saturday, I weighed in at my first visit to Weight Watchers at 358-1/2. (I lost 1-1/2 this past week, yay!) It's heartbreaking, and it was so hard to get back on the wagon. But, I'm getting married on April 5, and my dress is a little tight in spots, so my goal is to lose 15 lbs by that time, so it will fit smoother.

I am trying my best to stay on track this time, I finally want to do it for me, for my health. I'm in fairly good health, but at times, my knees and back hurt, and I easily get short of breath. My fiance' is in the 300's as well, and he has high blood pressure and alot of back and joint pain. We are doing water aerobics twice a week now, and that seems to help.

Hang in there, everyone!

Char

I am 2 1/2 years post-op. My "re-birth"day is July 18!
On my 5-foot frame, I have gone from a hefty 270 pounds down to a much leaner and healthier 150. I am still not "thin", and actually, I am still considered "overweight" but losing 120 pounds has drastically improved my health and my whole life.

However, it was not the SURGERY that did this for me. *I* did this for MYSELF. The surgery helped me...it was a tool. But a tool doesn't work if you don't know how to use it, or if you choose to use it the wrong way.

Yes, I DO eat at fast food places sometimes. I work full time as a teacher, and I am in grad school some evenings--sometimes, it is a necessity. And I do go to Wendy's. However, I know what my limits are.

Here's what I *ORDER* at Wendy's:
A junior cheeseburger deluxe
Small order of fries

Here's what I actually *EAT* :
The meat and cheese off of the burger
about 25% of the fries
....sometimes I don't even eat all of the meat from the burger

And I'm very satisfied after eating that.

My husband went to subway the other day and got some kind of deal with two footlongs for $10. He got me two 6-inch tuna wraps, rather than a footlong, because he knows I limit my carbs. It took me FOUR days to finish eating it, because I only eat three inches of the wrap in a meal. So that was four lunches for me.

I workout regularly. I went from being very sedentary to becoming a RUNNER. I'm no "marathoner" by any means, but I can do a 3 mile run/walk with relative ease.

I have to WORK at it. I can't just expect the surgery to work like magic, I have to work and FIGHT to keep it off. And thank God, I have not gained any back. I was on some steroid medication for my asthma for over a month and I put on 5 pounds, but that's the only weight I gained in 2 1/2 years, and that 5 pounds came right back off!

The bottom line is, we KNOW what is healthy and what is not.
We KNOW that it's not good to eat a huge slice of chocolate cake, even if it doesn't make us sick! We KNOW it's not healthy to eat half a container of Pringles, even if we don't feel "full". So why do it?

I, for one, do not want to be back at 270 pounds EVER AGAIN.
I *WON'T* be back at 270 pounds. Or even 200. It just WON'T happen.

My willpower is too strong to let that happen.
That's what it comes down to.
We have to settle it in our hearts and minds that being healthy is WORTH letting go of food addictions. Being healthy is WORTH passing up a huge plate of fries, or a footlong sub. Being healthy is WORTH whatever it is you have to do to take off the weight and keep it off.

YOU are worth it.
YOU can do it.
YOU are the ONLY one who can do it. Nobody--and NOTHING--can do it for you.

I hope you'll use us as a resource and source of inspiration on your *new* weight loss journey. I hope the best for you!

Good luck as you start your journey again! You situation sounds exactly my co-workers (she had the surgery when she was 260, 5'11 and only lost 40 lbs) and she mentioned that her appetite never left her as well.

As with any journey it doesn't matter where you start.....just as long as you get going!!! :~)

I'm sorry it didn't work for you, but just remember that every day is a new day. Pick yourself up and start over again from where you are, right now, today. Take little tiny baby steps on whatever path you choose and sooner or later it will all come together for you. We are here to support you - please keep coming back! HANG IN THERE! Love, Carol
(the power of will is a great one!!)

I will be 6 years post op on Feb 22nd. I started at 368 and lost down to 247 in 8 months and not a lb since then. Regain and lose about 20 lbs over and over again, with any good effort that I put into it. But I know this is mostly my own fault. I have really huge issues with stress and eating for comfort. I do still consider my surgery a success, because before I would lose 60 lbs and regain 75. I have successfully kept off at least 100 of what I lost for 6 whole years, better blood sugars, controlled hypertension. Not too bad, just never achieved super model status...lol.

I do keep trying though. Just got a new treadmill today. and if I paid megabucks for it that suckers gonna get used...lol.

Rosemary