Gastric Bypass Surgery Update

by Karla Carrington (Subscribe to Karla Carrington's posts)
Jun 17th 2009 11:00AM

Categories: The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Diet & Weight Loss

Welcome to the Good, the Fat and the Hungry. I'm Karla and I have been -- or am -- all those things. Here, I will share with you my lifelong struggle with my weight, and I hope you'll follow along on with my determined attempt to lose the last 40 pounds. I promise to tell you every Wednesday about every win and setback along the way.

I can eat. Let me say that again. I can eat! Nearly four years after gastric bypass surgery -- and a thimbleful of food turned into a small plateful, which turned into a few extra pounds around my hips -- there's no doubt that I consider this surgery one of the best things I've ever done for myself. But I am only as successful as what I eat.

Granted, I am not able to eat anywhere near my former portions, but certainly more than I could when I first had the surgery. As the honeymoon period ended and the fat stopped melting away, the thrill was gone. I started falling back into old habits and making the rules as I go. After gaining my first four pounds, I realized I had a choice. Actually I had a lot of choices. I could do what it takes to go all the way to my goal, or I could falter and return to fat. I'm choosing to go all the way.

Karla Carrington

I can honestly say that the surgery worked, for me. Even though I can eat more, some things I once held sacred no longer appeal to me. For example, fried is no longer my middle name. I used to eat, live and breathe all things fried. Post gastric bypass surgery, it's completely lost its appeal. I eat it on occasion, but it is no longer a staple. In addition, I am happy to have a grease-free kitchen.

I am currently reading "The Expert's Guide to Weight-Loss Surgery" by Dr. Garth Davis of Big Medicine. His book gives an in-depth look at weight loss surgery from every stage. Dr. Davis speaks candidly about what to expect in the beginning and how to maintain long term. Reading his book was an eye-opening experience for me. It shined a bright light on the many fundamental issues about the surgery that I simply do not do. Reading this book has taken me back to the basics and has reminded me that because I can eat more doesn't mean that I should. I am sharing the basics of weight loss surgery but am certain that these things probably wouldn't hurt anyone trying to lose weight. Ask your own doctor to be sure.

I will eat three small meals a day, made up of high-quality, healthy foods and have one scheduled, healthy snack.
I will eat my protein first.
I will not graze or snack between meals.
I will drink 64 ounces of fluid a day.
I will not drink with my meals, or an hour afterward.
I will exercise every day.
I will take my supplements as prescribed.
I will get support when I am feeling challenged.

These basics are my new commandments. Having joined Weight Watchers to shed the freshmen 15, I will incorporate these into my everyday routine. Nobody said that losing weight would be easy, but no one ever said it had to be hard either. Keep the faith!

Comments (3)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ginger 6-24-2009 @ 12:37PM

I agree with everything you say. I am 8 years out from gastric bypass and as the years pass I can eat even more. I was 400 lbs. and now maintain 170 lbs. by eating healthy and exercise.....I AM NOT ON A DIET!!!! DIETS are temporary, I am on a lifestyle change...that I will be on the rest of my life.

I can tell you, I am almost 50 years old and feel better than I did when I was 20. Life in this body is sooooo GOOD! I feel like there is nothing I can not do physically in this body! I tell people this is a journey I will be on the rest of my life....not a destination to a particular weight.

If I can do it so can you!!!!!!

Leslie 6-30-2009 @ 10:00PM

Wow, thanks for your post. I am almost 2 years out and I hit my plateau at about 18 mos. I started down that road of reinstating bad habits too. Mostly, I stopped exercising. But I am happy to say that I am not doing that anymore and I am loosing the remaining 20 pounds I want to loose. I am commited to the lifestyle change.

Claire 8-27-2009 @ 7:20PM

Wow,,, I can relate to this as well. I had my surgery in 2004 and lost 125 lbs,,, even thoughI never reached my goal weight I was very happy with the results. BUT-- I am now able to eat alot more than before and had put on about 15 lbs... my clothes started to get tight & I began getting scared!! OMG-- I don't want to be fat again,,, I got my butt back to walking and trying to remember portion size,,I remember having a bite of something and thinking I'm full!! As much as it was not realistic,,, it kept you in check... I will never be on a diet again, I have changed the way I look at food and when I have a bad day, I remind myself, that nothing tastes as good as thin feels!! Keep the faith,, this is a never ending battle,,, but we will be much healthier in the long run!