Misconceptions

As I have stated before about the lack of weight loss these past months I went on a little search to find out how I can adjust my lifestyle. I don't feel like I am limited myself to what I eat. I read about eating less, drinking more thru the day, not drinking around meal times... things I am totally guilty of even if I hate to admit it. I have to take a few steps back and revert to my thoughts I had almost one year ago. I just wish I had that feeling when I first ate a bowl of soup after my month long liquid diet... I felt satisfaction - I felt full - I felt like I couldn't of ate anymore. Now today, I have just been eating way to much and not limiting myself to what goes into my mouth. I eat whatever looks good and that includes CARBS and SWEETS. I hate the fact that I finally got to 199 and now I am back up a few pounds. It took me so long to get to that number and now I have to push re-start.

One of the articles that I was reading stuck in my head and I wanted to re-post it for everyone to read. It just breaks down the simple facts and some things I have been feeling about my struggles. 

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"As weight loss surgery becomes an increasingly popular treatment for morbid obesity misconceptions abound. Patients who undergo gastric bypass or gastric banding surgeries are often depressed and disappointed after surgery because they believed the popular misconceptions.

Some common misconceptions about WLS: 

• Surgery brings joy and boundless energy instantaneously
• Laparoscopic surgery is painless
• WLS is an easy fix and permanent fix to obesity
• WLS guarantees happiness
• Others will support the WLS decision
• After reaching goal weight patients can go back to normal

Because patients read about the joy and boundless energy enjoyed by others after surgery they assume these feelings occur immediately. Joy is felt after massive weight loss, not after surgery. In fact, for many patients the first six weeks out of surgery are emotionally draining as they grieve for food and feel fatigued and disoriented.

We read the laparoscopic technique used for 85 percent of all WLS is minimally invasive requiring little recovery time. In truth this technique bruises the intestines, liver and ribs. The surgery is painful and recovery is not as rapid as most patients expect. Patients express feelings of failure when they are sore and exhausted from surgery.

For most patients weight loss happens quickly and easily. True to dieting tradition when patients reach goal weight they tend to go back to "normal" disregarding the high-protein low-volume diet. Weight gain results. Unless patients follow the strict WLS rules daily they regain weight.

WLS does not guarantee happiness. In fact, patients commonly describe feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, panic and self-loathing as they lose weight. They also express happiness, satisfaction, pleasure, delight and self-love. The pendulum of emotions swings wide.

Having WLS exposes one to attacks from others who feel entitled to criticize the gluttonous sloth that could not lose weight by eating less and exercising more. Not all people, including spouses, siblings, parents and friends will support the decision for WLS.

WLS is a lifetime commitment to an extremely restrictive lifestyle that if used successfully will enable a former morbidly obese person to maintain a healthy weight and diminish the co-morbidities of obesity. It should never be considered the "easy way out" or a "quick fix." It is a lifetime commitment with no returning to normal."

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Oh I wish it was as easy at it sounds. But banding isn't a quick fix. We all still struggle with our life long patterns and habits. I have new habits now but some days are harder than others. I lost weight every week and then BOOM nada, zero, no movement at all. What does a girl have to do to get re-charged? Do I need to go back onto my liquid diet? Set an alarm to remind myself its been 1 hour after I last ate so I don't drink until then? What has helped you re-charge yourselves!

I think the hardest part of not continually loosing weight is that the people who do know I was banded like to monitor me way too much and it forms judgement. They ask how much weight I have lost recently? ... Why I am still the same as months ago?... Why haven't I continued to loose?.... Why don't I get it tightened?... Aren't you only able to eat a cup of food at a time?

Trust me - I am askin' myself the same damn thing, folks!

Goal for this week: -RESTART-

Weight for today: 200.0 lbs.