I had to post this here so that i can remind myself of this everytime i visit this blog...
Lisa
Check out this support WLS site: http://www.nawls.com/public/333.cfm
The 10 Most Common Mistakes Weight Loss Surgery Patients Make
National Association for Weight Loss Surgery
While weight loss surgery (WLS) is considered the most successful treatment for morbid obesity, it is just the first step toward a fresh start. Weight regain is a common phenomenon, as is illness when weight loss surgery patients do not follow recommended guidelines.
Breaking old patterns, establishing an effective post-WLS lifestyle, and addressing the emotional issues that often complicate obesity takes more than commitment; it takes support, information, and resources.
The National Association for Weight Loss Surgery (NAWLS) helps WLS patients shape new lives. We teach people what they need to know and help them makes the changes they need to make to achieve long-term WLS success -- physically, mentally, and spiritually.
In a November 2005 poll conducted by NAWLS, the following were identified as the top 10 mistakes WLS patients make:
1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals
Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results.
Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include:
Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning.
Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible.
2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity
A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back.
A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery.
3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals
Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating.
4th Mistake: Not Eating Right
Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice.
And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you.
5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water
Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too.
6th Mistake: Grazing
Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing.
Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement.
7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly
Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest!
8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much)
Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies.
9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda
Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there.
10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol
If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it.
Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations.
If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
almost a month post op
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
uggghhh, i'm in a stall!
well i knew this would happen, and will continue to happen, but i'm in a stall and not feeling so good about it right now. peaks, valleys and plateaus, but i wasn't expecting it only 3 weeks after surgery. i've been reading around and it seems to be pretty normal, many other's have gone throught the same exact thing. but still i can't help but feel a little down about it. it also doesn't help when i compare myself to others who have lost more than i have, granted they are men and men tend to loose more and faster, but it still sucks. the doctor and dietician, and other's have said that i have to remember that every person is different and will loose weight differently. i just have to keep reminding myself of this so i don't feel so bad about it. also i need to up my daily exercise and cut back on my salt intake. i also feel guily about eating food that actually tastes good, it is all on my list of food that i'm allowed, but it just tastes so good i feel like i shouldn't be eating it LOL. ah well, i don't plan on weighing myself and doing 4 week post op pics until next Tuesday, i'll update then.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
some pictures
hubby & I Thanksgiving 2009
College Girls @ Tanay's Baby Shower Oct 2009
icky side view of me @ Tanya's Baby Shower 10/2009
Above: This is me in PreOp getting ready for surgery 12/08/09
This is me in recovery after surgery
And this is me 5 days post op pretending to jog, don't worry i was just walking. did 4 laps =o)This is me
i began my wls journey in Jan of 2009 when i attended a seminar on WLS. my initial appointment was Feb 13th for the consult with the doctor, behavior health people and dietician. my insurance required a 6 month diet period, i didn't have to lose weight but the big rule was not to gain any weight. i messed up on my 2nd diet appointment and gained 1 pound, one pound and i had to restart the diet visits because the insurance would not approve me since i had gained one pound. this put my potential surgery from September to end of Nov early Dec. i was devastated by this, i felt disappointed in myself for not taking the 6 month phase seriously, so i tried to be better. i won't lie here and say it was easy and that i stuck to eating better, believe me for the 2 weeks after my dietician visit i would eat like crap, eat everything i wanted to eat and more then the 2 weeks before i would cut down and eat healthy, one week before i would do adkins shakes and one meal a day. i know this isn't healthy, but it's what i knew to do. i also know its bad to do this to my body, but i also feel like i was able to eat what i enjoyed so that i wouldn't miss it so much after the surgery, i didn't want to feel like surgery was bad and depriving me of all those bad foods i love. i began at a weight of 344, gained the lb and went to 345, by my last diet visit i was at 329. it wasnt a huge weight loss but it was enough to be close to what the doctor wanted me to weigh. my insurance approval came in november 23rd and i scheduled surgery for dec 8th preoop appt for dec 3rd. i also began my liquid diet the day after thanksgiving so i could enjoy that day, i didn't gorge myself i served myself just enough to enjoy it. the liquid diet wasn't so bad, the doctor allowed for one small palm sized meal a day and 3 shakes or bars a day. he also said that if we wanted to get one last big meal in before surgery to do that at least 3 days before surgery, so i had my favorite food and that was that. surgery was dec 8th @3pm and aside from them having trouble getting my iv in, it was a uneventful surgery meaning nothing out of the ordinary occured and there were no complications. i was in the hospital for 2 days, was up and walking slowly that night, walking alot the next day. i was also off iv fluids and pain pump the next afternoon so it was easier to get up by myself and walk. i went home on dec 10th and it's been torture to see the scale not move and actually be a lb more than day of surgery. i know this is because of the whole your body retains water after surgery and it takes 4 to 7 days to go away. my 1st post op appointment is dec 21st and i look forward to it. i'm being realistic about how much weight i'll have lost, i've only had liquids and broth since surgery and plan on not transitioning to phase 2 mushy protein until after my 1st post op appointment. so i'm hoping it'll be at least 10 lbs lower than surgery day. i was surprised by the pain difference from the hospital and home stay. i forgot that i was also getting pain injection into my iv and the oral stuff when i needed, so i felt great in the hospital! at home it was a little different, but i also realized that i was using only 2 Tsp instead of 2 Tbsp for my pain meds. i'm now trying to ween my self off the meds so i can drive and get out on my own so i don't feel so isolated. i haven't hit the depression stage yet, and i hope not to but i'm prepared for it. i haven't really been alone since i've been home so i've been active, but tomorrow will be the 1st real day where i'm alone all day. been getting all my vitamins in, just hard keeping track of the day so i'm working on getting better at that, also fluid intake is okay but working on that too. so here i am, i've probably written a way too long intro to myself, but i'll post it as is any way. if you made it this far and have read everything i appreciate it!
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