WLS Re: Ann

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----- Original Message -----

From: Kathey

> How are you feeling?

Remarkably good. I can't wait for my doc appointment tomorrow to get the

drain out, be cleared for full liquids and be cleared for driving.

> Can I ask how much weight you have to loose?

You can ask me anything. I'm 5'2 " . My pre-op weight was 284. I would

like to get to about 150 but I'll worry about that later. My goal size is

12 right now. I'm short but not particularly petite.

> I have thought about WLS but have decided that for me, it wont change

> anything if I cant get it figured out before hand....I have to get my

> eating under control before I would do the wls because too many people

> think the wls is the answer and it IS, to a point.

Yup. It's a lot to wrap your head around. My hospital has e-mail and

twice monthly in person support groups. It has been stressed over and over

that the surgery is a tool. It is not magic. Almost everyone loses weight

but it takes some work to keep it off. If you suck down shakes and ice

cream every day you can gain the weight back. If you eat foods and wash

them down with liquids so you can eat more then you can gain the weight

back. If you use the tool then you can keep most of the weight off. My

overall impression is that you have a 12-18 month honeymoon window then you

are a normal person and you have to watch what you eat like a normal person.

Even if you can't control your eating it doesn't mean you're not a good

candidate for surgery. Just being aware that this is a life long commitment

is half the battle. Last week I could eat a huge volume of food. This week

I haven't eaten a bite since Thurs. evening and I haven't been hungry at

all. I'm ready for some variety but I haven't been hungry. I've done

Weight Watchers over and over and over again. Sugar Busters, South Beach,

etc. I know what to do but I don't have that full switch that most normal

people have. This surgery provided me with that. If you are a grazer that

eats all day the surgery is less effective. If you are a big volume eater

it is more effective.

> Hope you are enjoying your broth

Chicken broth is fine. Beef broth I couldn't take. I can suck down a 20

oz. bottle of Gatorade without much problem. The liquid just gurgles

through the pouch. Yes, the pouch is about an ounce. Tomorrow I'll be

cleared for full liquids at my check up. Yippee! I'm looking forward to

New England Clam Chowder (a brand with minimal chunks). I have 20 different

kinds of soup on hand and I'll pick up a variety of yogurt drinks and

whatever I can think of to provide variety. 5 weeks of full liquids then I

can have soft foods for 6 weeks. Anything mushy is fine including soft

veggies, tuna, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. After a totaly of 3 months I

can try anything as long as I take tiny bites and go slowly.

My surgeon is much more conservative than most so this isn't the norm.

Ann