Weight Tickers

[actiongirl]

I am still in the fact-gathering stage and am reading posts chronicling struggles and victories and my eyes drift down to the weight tickers in the signature lines. "Only 13lbs until goal", "at goal", "80lbs lost" -- and I wonder, "Could this really happen to me? If I follow every guideline to the letter, could my siggie match that?"

It's frightening to be at this hopeful place again. Every diet, every workout regimen launch, every new weight spa med / new workout dvd / new fridge & pantry flush and restock leaves me out of money, out of breath, and maybe 16lbs lighter. I am the Grandmaster Flash of losing 16lbs and nothing more. I am worth more than this. I want my life back, the life I never had where I'm healthy enough to play with my kids. Where I'm eating fuel, not regrettable foods. I want to be instrumental in the success of ME, not passively existing and beginning to wonder, "What's the point in even trying to lose weight, anymore?"

So, pardon my nervousness about weightloss surgery. I've just walked these steps so many times before and I'm so worried that I'm going to be struggling the last few steps alone with nothing to show for my trouble except a loss of 16lbs. I have to find a solution to my weight problem. It's only going to get worse and it's dangerous for my health. Is this the answer? It seems like it. I really hope it is.

[Sandra C.]

Hi Actiongirl,
You sound like me pre surgery. After reading and researching all the possible weight loss surgeries, and talking to nurse coordinators from 2 hospitals where I was considering the various surgeries, I began to believe there was hope for major weight loss!! The D.S. is the most" sure thing" for steady weight loss, with the most ability not to regain , and no dumping syndrome, most normal eating, and normal foods to choose from. I really can't believe its only been 4 months since my surgery, Aug 29,11. 81 lbs is gone!! I am sure my success is partly due to my ability to follow the D.S. diet and advice from my surgeon, nutritionist, PAs and exercise physiologist. I chose the D.S for its malabsorbtion qualities to guarantee my diet efforts would be rewarded finally, since in the past, with a lifetime of attempted diets from age 8 on,I couldn't drop more than 20 lbs, then would gain it all back and then some. After my hysterectomy even more weight quickly added on to my scale, daily. It was scary to think what weight I may have had to go through life with if I didn't take drastic measures, with medical help.

At the start of my weight loss inquiries, my PCP was no help, gave me no direction for any kind of weight management. I looked to the local hospital for ideas. On line they offered WLS, and managed weight loss programs. I called, only to be told surgery is the only way to drop the amount of weight I wanted to, and keep it off, for health reasons. Next I went to the local surgeons informational meeting. He offered many of the surgeries, but not the D.S. since I had completed Hysterectomy surgery a few months prior to this, I looked into St. Mary' weight loss options, linked to their site was an informative site of Grand Health Partners, with Dr. Kemmeter, and the D.S., a new surgery I had not heard of before. Further on line research, and chat groups such as this one convinced me the D.S. was the best surgery for the most normal living style, with monitoring of nutrition, vitamins and supplements necessary for all of us with or without surgery. Preventative measures to help me avoid hip and knee replacements fueled my fire not to delay in having this surgery. The surgeons office took care of all my needs pre and post surgery. All i had to do to get started was to attend their informational meeting, and make my first appointment with the doctor. I have had such individualized care from everyone at their facility. Never once did I regret having the surgery, or choosing them to work with me to recover my life from its downward spiral of inactivity and pain I had with every step on an arthritic hip and knee.

The D.S. is a tool, they will tell you, to be used in conjunction with exercise, beginning with walking, and exercises that can be done at home. Pre and post surgery meal plans and foods will help you start dropping the lbs right away. I was able to lose 25 lbs before surgery. Really, the recovery with the laproscopic method they were able to use for me, was not as much pain as I expected with what their goals were with the D.S., only 2 tiny slits on my tummy hurt. The pain meds in the hospital and at home allowed me to begin walking the night of surgery.

If you read the accounting from the D.S. people here on this site, you will find so many who are happy to have chosen the D.S. initially, and many who have had revisions from other surgeries to the D.S. for improvement of their lifestyles. I can't believe what a difference in my physical abilities this surgery has allowed me to be able to do, in such a short time. I wish I had known about years ago. I would have had a real life, not just sat on the sidelines watching the world go by. I waisted over 10 years of painful steps un necessarily. I am here on this site to help guide people about making decisions concerning their health that will open doors for them to live again. Its a wonderful journey to be able to have healthy years ahead of me with my children and future grandchildren. Don't hesitate to ask questions of all who cross your path along the way, about the D.S. We all love to share our experiences!!

In closing, I want you to know this protein D.S. diet is for life. If I am ever hungry, I can eat or drink any kind of protein. It is most like the Atkins diet, but the stomach is much smaller than pre surgery, and the portion that is removed is gone for good, and with it, the hormones that make you hungry.The stomach still has digestive abilities, unlike most of the other surgeries, a big plus for avoiding dumping syndrome of other surgeries. Study on line, go to many surgeons lectures and you will find your direction through knowledge.
the best of luck to you!! ;-)
Sandra

[keliblue]

you must be my evil twin.. we are so much alike I was sure "I" was going to be the one to brake the DS.. why not, I screwed up EVERY SINGLE weight loss attempt.. Guess what I'm still trying to brake the damn thing and am still loosing weight ;D. For the first time in my life, I don't focus on my weight or hate myself the minute I get out of bed. "naked" is not scary anymore...lol. So get ready for the best ride of your life...

You and I have/had the same starting weight...look at me now.. that's you really soon



TA DA....

[actiongirl]

Sandra & keliblu - Thank you both so much for the encouragement!