[Butterfly312]

Ok, although I haven't had my surgery yet, I'm trying to understand things as I read through all the advice, pros/cons, stalls, and achievements. To my understanding, and how I have programmed my mind, is that WLS is not supposed to be a quick fix to being thin. It's supposed to help you learn boundaries by placing restrictions. Help you out with a new way of eating and helping you learn the importance of excersice. The new person we are after surgery should not be the same person we were before surgery.

I read alot about stalls and how people aren't losing weight as fast as they expected, but isn't it supposed to be more about being healthy and doing things right the second time around? To me after my surgery if I lose weight fast, I will see it as the cherry on top. I know that the weight loss will come once I change my eating habits and reduce my consumption of food considerably.

I'm sorry, since I haven't had my surgery yet maybe I don't understand, I'm just trying to get a feel of what to expect during my journey. I am at an impressionable position at the moment so I'm trying not to be discouraged by how upset people who have had surgery are losing weight so slowly. I try to focus on the advice and triumph of the seasoned veterans here.

So I guess to sum it up, WLS is a new way of living life after the many failures of past diets. If I reprogram my mind, my body will also be reprogrammed and I should focus on my accomplishments and not on my past failures or the scale for that matter because it's all a numbers game...right?

[not quite Barbie]

You've got the right attitude! People post about stalls because they are following all the rules, eating very little and mostly protein, exercising, etc. and then they weight loss stalls and they get frustrated. It's hard not to feel that way and it helps to come here and blow off some steam. Those same people will tell you that they don't regret getting the surgery for a minute.

[panurse15748]

You are so correct in many ways. I have TOTALLY changed my lifestyle. From what I eat..to a completely more positive outlook on life in general. WLS DOES teach you how to eat correctly and your new "tool" will help to keep you in line when you start to think to yourself with that "this little bit wont hurt me" attitude that I think we have all come to see at one time or another after our surgery. I love my "tool". There will be times that I am not feeling "full" but my tool has several different ways to tell me if I dont notice it on my own. One of the funnier ways it tells me is with either huccups...or sudden sneezing...of all things. LOL Never thought sneezing would be a sign to stop eating.

As you begin to lose your weight, it will be even more fun. You will starting to notice even the slightest things about your weight loss that you know you could have never accomplished before. It will AMAZE you at times. I know I was. Makes you stop and say WOW!! PLUS...all the WOW's gives you even more incentive to do everything by the book. So, dont fret the "stall" periods. Most of us have dealt with it. Some more than others...some not at all. But it is a common thing. You may not see the scale move..but you may notice your clothing becoming looser. And try not to weigh your self every day. It will drive you crazy!!! LOL It will come off faster than you know it. Its all about following the rules..everyday. Have fun with it. Another thing to think about....dont try to compare your weight loss with those of others. Everyone loses at different levels. Once you have lost weight...dont worry how much it is...but just the fact that you ARE losing weight. Set yourself some "mini" goals like I did...with dates to reach each of those goals. If you dont meet them on time...so what!! Just keep going. It is just so much fun setting each goal and then cross it off your list as you meet them. Or...buy a new outfit in a size alot smaller than you are in right now. Try it on once in a while and you will soon see how close you are to fitting into that outfit...and then when you can...OH MY!!! You will be thrilled. There are just so many things you can do and have fun with this.

Everyone in this forum will be happy to give you pointers on how they did all of this. It is so informative and everyone is so supportive.

[Butterfly312]

Thanks for the input..exactly, WLS is a tool...a hammer is a tool as well, but it won't complete the project for you on it's own. It's a tool, but oh what an important tool it is...thanks again. Can't wait till I begin using my tool!!

[BettyBoop2]

Originally Posted by not quite Barbie

You've got the right attitude! People post about stalls because they are following all the rules, eating very little and mostly protein, exercising, etc. and then they weight loss stalls and they get frustrated. It's hard not to feel that way and it helps to come here and blow off some steam. Those same people will tell you that they don't regret getting the surgery for a minute.

Exactly!!

I have changed my lifestyle dramatically. The only food going into my mouth is healthy foods. And I exercise 6 days a week. ( When I'm not in a RA flare). I get 400-900 calories a day.
I am only 6 weeks out from my surgery. And before surgery I lost 53 pounds by exercising and eating healthy and under 1300 calories a day.

However, SO FAR, I've only lost 11 pounds since my surgery. I AM frustrated.

That said, I know I will lose more. I just have to figure out the rhythm my body is going to take with losing the rest of my weight. I don't regret for one second my surgery. I am glad I did it and would do it again!

But this WLS journey is a bit of a roller coaster. But that is life isn't it?

Good Luck with yours.....

[Perfesser]

Butterfly, you have captured the essence of this journey!! It may be called "weight loss" surgery, but that's only because calling it what it really is, "health restoring, life extending, joy inducing and total transformation" (HELEJITTS?) surgery is a little awkward.

I never really focused on the weight loss. I focused on following the rules, trusting that good things would happen when I did. I may have had stalls, but I don't remember them. I just remember periodically taking progress photos and seeing huge changes (you can see them in my album). The weight loss is nice, but that's just a great side effect of getting your health back! And all you have to do is follow the rules - every day - for the rest of your life!!

CT

[Perfesser]

Uhh, Betty, this may seem bizarrely counter-intuitive, but 400-900 calories may not be enough to kick off weight loss. At those levels, your body may go into "starvation mode", where it hangs onto everything it's got. Many here have found that increasing their daily intake got them losing again. When your body is comfortable that it's got another meal coming on a regular basis, it will feel safe in tossing out the excess baggage.

CT

[Butterfly312]

Thanks Perfesser...before when I dieted, it was just that..a diet. However, now it's so different. Difference being that when I used to just diet, I fought my urges for sweets..now since my dieting, it's been like the down payment for my surgery, everything has begun to fall in it's place. I don't crave sweets anymore, and I am so grateful for that. As far as eating, I don't gorge like I used to, I know my limits and have decreased my portions considerably. I haven't had surgery yet, but this pre diet has definitely opened my eyes and trained me to a new way of eating. I am so ready. I guess having something so important to look forward to makes all the difference in the world.

[BettyBoop2]

Originally Posted by Perfesser

Uhh, Betty, this may seem bizarrely counter-intuitive, but 400-900 calories may not be enough to kick off weight loss. At those levels, your body may go into "starvation mode", where it hangs onto everything it's got. Many here have found that increasing their daily intake got them losing again. When your body is comfortable that it's got another meal coming on a regular basis, it will feel safe in tossing out the excess baggage.

CT

Thanks Perfesser,

I've been wondering that as well! But right now getting in over 900 calories a day is really hard for me. I do try tho...

Thank so much for your input..

[MotoCO]

I like the way you think! For me it was about being healthy. The "skinny" thing is a bonus. I needed to feel better and be able to get around better. Don't get me wrong. I like my pants are all lose and the scale is much much less. But getting up the stairs for me feel almost like I am floating. I could bound right up them and the treadmill I just go to town. Literally it is like a load has been taken from my shoulders.

Stalls do frustrate me still. They happen. But I have learned from other wise people on this site not to get down by them. I just live through them and learn. This is my life and my body just needs to readjust. And that is okay. Maybe it will be better because my skin might not be so flappy. At least that is what I tell myself. The slower the more my body has a chance to recover. I am right at 55 lb lost. I feel so much free'r. (I did not know how to spell that)

Even if I did not lose 1 more pound I would be happy. I will, of course, but I am so happy now. It just feels good to feel good.

Best of luck.