"When you want it the most, there's no easy way out..."



muhealth.org


Several years ago, I had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.  Surgery was a last-ditch effort to provide me a tool that, if used properly, would result in lifetime weight control.   July 11, 2003 (my surgery date) was one of the most important days of my life.  It marked the beginning of a kind of rebirth and renewed hope that I would finally live in a healthy body.  One year later, the results were better than I had dreamed of.

That said, bariatric surgery is not for everyone.  Really.  It is not a magic bullet, nor is it the "easy way out."   Contrary to naysayers, being a WLS (weight loss surgery) patient takes a considerable amount of personal effort, diligence and commitment to "work the program" for the rest of one's life.  It's work.  Damn hard work.  And it often fails.

fredbowen.com

It's important to know that WLS is a tool and only a tool.  Just as you would use a hammer to drive in a nail, the smaller pouch needs to be used properly in order to get the job done.  Eat 6 small meals a day and no grazing.   Protein, protein, protein (eat it first).  64 ounces of water every day.  Multivitamin, calcium citrate, and B-12.  No sugar, but a substitute like Splenda is allowed.  No processed food.  No simple carbs; complex carbs like fresh or frozen fruit and veggies are required.  No alcohol.  At least 30 minutes of exercise daily.  Stop eating when full.  Meet with nutritionist or dietician every six months.  Blood work every six months.  Bone scan once a year.


If one doesn't follow this program at least 95% of the time (after all, we are human), old eating habits will creep back in and weight gain is inevitable.  It's possible for someone with a stomach pouch the size of a golf ball to gain all of their weight back, and then some.  I've seen it happen to a lot of people, and my heart goes out to them because that could certainly be me.

There's a saying in the WLS community that goes, "The surgeon operated on your gut, not on your brain."  Successful, lifetime weight loss maintenance happens only when one's mind, behaviors and emotions are reprogrammed for healthy self-esteem, knowing one deserves a healthy body and life, and where food is used only for nourishing the body.  Getting this right is a lifelong process, too.  I work at it every.single.day, sometimes a minute at a time.



(A gold star for anyone who can name the song that the quote in the title is from!)

QUESTION:  Have you had WLS or are you considering it?

(c) Robyn M. Posson 2012.  All Rights Reserved.