Question:
if you can't follow a plan pre-op, how do you do it after?

I have failed to lose weight time and time and time again because I am completely incapable of following a weight loss plan. I quickly lose motivation. How to people cope with following a post-op diet plan? Do you suddenly get motivated because the surgery gives you results?    — blank first name B. (posted on June 17, 1999)

June 17, 1999
First, you can't overeat as you will have so much pain if you do. I was only able to eat about 1/2 cup at a time. However, if you want to eat HOHO's then you could I suppose you could gain. You must focus on what you want from this surgery. Seeing the results helps too. I would suggest counseling along with the surgery. It helped me.
   — Diana S.

June 17, 1999
Good ? I had the same one pre-op. I had RNY and now I have no choice. I'm 6 weeks post -op and yesterday I tried to cheat, a little by eating something I shouldn't, too fast and too much.( I can only have 4 tbls at a time) Today I paid and paid. SO today I am very careful what and when and how much I eat. I had felt great until I tried to do it my way. Best of Luck
   — jiggers

June 17, 1999
Well, that's part of it ... but for me, I'd been through years of eating disorder counselling, and I also was easily discouraged at 1 or 2 lb weight loss. 1) the surgery causes rapid weight loss usually, especially at first. 2) You have to make up your mind that being healthy is more important to you than not, or even the surgery won't help you long term. But for me once the weight loss began to happen, all the things I'd learned in counselling started clicking in and I no longer ate for the sake of eating, or for boredom or to stuff feelings, a lot of people found out I suddenly had an opinion and I voiced it instead of stuffing it away with food. The surgery will cause you not to be able to eat volumns of food any longer. However it won't change your desire to do so, and if you try to eat a huge amount of food, you'll bring it back up as fast as you ate it. If you have a RNY you won't be able to tolerate high sugar or high fat foods, the dumping syndrom as Dr. Goodman on here very wonderfully stated, is a "behaviour mod" that is a result of the surgery. The side effects of Dumping Syndrom alone should deter you from eating icecream or chocolates or cakes or anything sugary you used to binge on. I hope this helps ... the surgery is only a tool, not a cure all.
   — Sherrie G.

June 17, 1999
I had the gastric bypass surgery, my stomach was cut and reformed to the size of a golf ball. For the most part, your stomach is just too small to hold excess food. You WILL vomit if you over eat, or generally eat fatty foods (this isn't a big deal, you get used to it and it's more like the way babies spit up). Also, generally if you eat sweets you get what they call "dumping syndrome". You get cramps and food just "runs right through you". After this a few times, you really stop craving sweets. Also, I noticed right after surgery that things tasted different, sweet juices are too sweet. There's also a psychological change -- for me anyway -- I'm not starved or even hungry anymore. Your stomach is so much smaller, you can easily tell when you're full. For me, this is the greatest gift I've ever given myself!
   — Edna H.

June 18, 1999
Yours is a good question. In my case, I lost the weight because of the surgery. Simply because my body had no choice since it had been surgically altered. That was in 1995. Now, 1999, I am ever fearful like most of us about re-gaining the weight. I see this surgery as a tool to work with now that I have the weight off. It has given me a different perspective on dieting. Much more determination now. Good luck to you. Keep us posted.
   — Peggy W.

June 18, 1999
First of all, did you never diet in your life? Of course not, you dieted over and over and over. You know the right foods to eat and the wrong foods. You must be willing to make the commitment to only eat healthy food for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! If you are willing to do that, the surgery will take away the HUNGER PANGS. You don't need 1800 calories a day to survive and thrive. If you are morbidly obese, you probably only need 1200 calories a day to survive. This surgery allows you to be full and satisfied with a small amount of food. You must still make the choice to put protein into your stomach instead of sugar. For me, I am willing to diet and I look as this surgery as a tool. As I type this I sit here feeling uncomfortable as I ate 2 bites more than I should have and even though I only ate about 160 calories, I feel a little uncomfortable.
   — Deborah L.

June 20, 1999
With a stomach that will only hold about 1/2 to 1 cup of food, it makes it allot easier to follow a food plan.
   — Donna D.

June 23, 1999
My surgeon always says, "I operate on your stomach, NOT your head." And that's true but in having WLS, you are doing something important and radical (although not foolhardy). It's a big step and it does carry you along some. Right after surgery it's impossible to eat (first four days for me was ice chips and water and a bit of broth, then a week of "shakes" or tea and vitamins). Then baby food type consistency food, then slowly add food you can chew. By this time you've already lost between 20 and 50 pounds... in about a month or so. That's impressive and encouraging. Also, by having wls, you join a sisterhood/brotherhood of people, esp. online, who share problems and bolster each other. After surgery it's a misnomer to say "diet" plan. it's a new way of eating and new reasons for eating: getting in the protein you need, drinking the water you need for hydration; taking vitamins and supplements. All the while, you're losing weight faster than you ever have before. In six months I've lost about 115 pounds. Each week brings new motivation; post op support groups in person and online help. New clothes help. Less pain in your body helps. A new respect for yourself helps. I've never been on a program before that I didn't try to actively or passively defeat. This time is different. Not perfect. And sometimes those missteps can make you very sick (an ice cream soda gave me the runs for 3 days and cured me of my desire for ice cream for a while). Also I find that now I eat more food: more kinds of food. Previously, I guess I ate pretty much the same things for comfort or out of habit. Now I eat a lot of stuff I never tried before and It's really nice. small portions but a wide variety. Good luck. it's really worth it. I think it's the best thing I've ever done in my life Susan [email protected]
   — Susan C.

February 14, 2001
I myself will never "diet" again. That is what made me 450lbs to start with. Now there is no such thing as a bad food. I eat anything. The only difference is I eat very small amounts of it. I truly believe if you don't deprive yourself you won't crave and will be satisfied. I do eat as healthy as I can but if I have a piece of bacon once in awhile or a few chips I don't think anymore "oh my god I cheated." I am 4months post op and down 100lbs so my new attitude is working for me.
   — Laurie W.

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