I know I'm not the best at updating, and I promise I will get better! I hear many people say that WLS is taking the "easy way out". I beg to differ! I have been to counselors, sat in group lifestyle changes classes, worked with nutritionists, and exercise physiologists, been part of so many different diet program including medically supervised ones all in the name of trying to lose weight. I diligently track what I eat, measuring and weighing out my food. I exercise daily, usually walking with a friend, but also lifting light weights, and the pounds just DO NOT COME OFF!
Right now, I am involved in what I lovingly refer to as "The Process". In order to be eligible for WLS through my insurance, I need to meet certain criteria. I have to be either over a BMI of 30 but less than 40 with a few known comorbidities or have a BMI of at least 40.
Well folks, let's just say that I would qualify either way. My BMI is 54, and I have PCOS, and Diabetes. Plus, it hurts to move and I don't think my knees can take much more of this. Since I know that I qualify, there are several requirements that I need to fulfill. All summer, I have been seeing doctors, working on losing weight and trying to meet the clinic requirements. The ONLY thing left on my "TO Do" list is to lose the 30 pounds I need to lose before surgery. I'm required to lose 10% of my starting body weight to show my commitment to the program.
SIGH! If I could lose 30 pounds on my own, I wouldn't be here in the first place! So I am trucking along, at 1200 cal a day trying to drop the pounds. While some would argue that it's not enough to eat 1200 calories per day, at my size, with my activity level, it should be enough to at least drop some weight. It's more than I was eating on my medically supervised diet. So over the next few weeks, as I struggle to lose the final 20 pounds I need to go, think of me and remember why I chose to do this. I know it might seem extreme, and it is a tough and very personal decision, but I believe that if I don't do something now, while I am still relatively young, I might not have much time to truly enjoy my life when I'm older.
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This is my journey through bariatric surgery. Follow along as I share my experience with gastric bypass.
2 comments:
Hi Lauren! I’m so glad you’ve decided to take the path towards becoming healthier, because you deserve it. I know you’ve said you looked into bariatric surgery, which can be an option, but it’s not a magic fix. It’s pretty common for people to get the surgery, lose a ton of weight, and over the next few years slowly creep back up to where they were before. It’s really unfortunate, but not surprising.
They never addressed the underlying causes of their weight gain to begin with. I’m not talking about a “they needed to do some special exercise” or “they weren’t eating the right foods” or any of the other excuses people will throw out.
I’m talking about addressing why you eat.
We all have these core human needs in our lives, from significance to love to certainty, and they dictate our actions, because we need to feel them all. That’s why someone can commit to a weight loss plan, then totally fall off the wagon when they have a couple of bad days: the stress eating gives us a feeling of control and comfort, which we need at that time.
I’d really like you to watch this short video of Beverly in my link, who lost 230 lbs. without any surgery–it goes over her story, but mostly it just explains our different human needs and how we can address them in healthier ways over the long term.
I’m not trying to talk you out of your surgery. I’m sure you’ve done your research and feel this is the best thing for you. However, I want to make sure that no matter what you do, you wind up achieving your goals, because as you matter, and if nothing else you might get some good information out of the video.
If you have any questions or just want to talk, just reply to this comment and I’d be more than happy to chat.
Courtney,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, but you should that it was on the suggestion of an emotional eating counselor that I have been seeing for over 2 years that I even took a look at WLS. She is the one who encouraged me after we have done the work since I'm not an binge eater, nor do I eat due to stress. I'm not compulsive when it comes to food, and I don't really have trigger foods. I did have a few foods that I called"comfort" foods, but after working with her for a long time now I don't even eat those foods, or if I do, they no longer hold emotional triggers.
I do thank for for bringing up the issue since for many people bariatric surgery is NOT a good option if they have not addressed the issues you raised.
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