Anyone here have gastric bypass?

[Cosmogal]

Just checking cause I have had one 3 yrs ago and I lost 140 pounds. Then I had a hysterectomy one year ago and put on 15 and now I am getting scared that I will continue to gain. One of my problems though is dealing with hypoglycemia and I snack all day cause I worry it will drop again. I am beginning to go back to old habits. I would love to just be able to get some advice on eating healthy snacks. I joined a gym but haven't gone that often which ticks me off.  Which brings me back to my other bad habit which is feeling like a failure and getting angry at myself. Anyway I am very happy with my decision to have had the surgery. I haven't had any regrets. First year was tough but then it got easier and easier. Now I just don't feel like I had anything done. I can eat pretty normal. Now the harder part is keeping it off. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Paula

[Cosmogal]

Thank you so much! That was very sweet of you to say. I used to be the one who was never above a size 9. I really missed that. I am still not there yet as I have alot of skin now that needs to be removed. I am sure once that is done I will be! Yes it was hard but now is the harder part cause I can eat more and I have to be really careful.  I am 3 years out this month and I feel great. My hysterectomy last march was harder on me than the surgery for gastric bypass. I have more control over how much I eat but less control on what I eat. So that is the key to success it controling what I eat not how much. Thanks again!
Paula

[suzi-q]

FYI....I give you a lot of credit.  A friend of mine has gone through gastric bypass and by no means is that an "easy way out".  It takes very strong convicitions to follow through with something as serious as that.  It is no way a walk in the park.  Those who have commented are just uneducation morons who should keep their mouths shut.  

BTW I am 5'1" and have never been above a size 9.  And I know how hard it is just to take off 20.  KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TO LOSE!  As I have said, your strength is admired by me.

[Cosmogal]

Wow I am sorry that you have been through so much. I have been lucky and haven't had any issues. I know how you feel as well about being on both sides of the fence. People can just be so rude and obnoxious. Its so not fair either cause your judged as being dumb and lazy. Its just like in any race as well though cause you always have those who do give the others a bad name. If a black man is a hood, then they all must be right? How stupid is that!!!! Or how about a gay man who molests a child, well then they all must be molesters right? Stupid as well. Well all fat people are not dumb and lazy but well some are and that is true. So why would anyone just judge a whole by a few. Its such a shame thats the way society is. I know plenty of gay men who are not child molesters and I know plenty of wonderful african american men who are great family men. For me to judge someone by the actions of someone else would be wrong. But for some reason they find nothing wrong in doing it to fat people. I got it all the time. Anyway, I am trying. Yeah its hard but I don't regret it. I wish I could have dieted it away but I needed this to give me the boost. The hard work is now. It wasn't easy ever. I love how people say it was the easy way out. No one says that when someone uses the patch to quit smoking or enters rehab. No medical intervention is easy. It is there to help you conguer habits that are difficult to break in order to save your life. Well I have said alot! LOL Best of luck!
Paula

[jerri2136]

i had the surgery in 2001 have been thru hell and back since then.  i had every complication except for death, but i came very close to that one too.  people ask would you do it again, believe it or not i havent got the answer to  i find that friends family acquantances say that i took the easy way out...all i have to say is there is no easy way when the world shuns overweight people.  talk about prejidices,  i have been both thin fat and thin.  and know how people react both in my personal life and workplace.  i just wish everyone could just see people for what they are, not what they look like.  i feel for everyone who has weight to lose, i have alot of respect for those who are strong enough to diet and exercise, if possible that is the way to do it...i have friends who have had the gastric bypass surgery and have gained alot of weight back, so nothing is a for sure thing .  we just hang in watch our food intake exercise and pray...because there are alot of people out there who do want to see us fail...i guess there is no way to fix the whole human race

[Cosmogal]

LOL I love that club! Sounds like fun~hehe. I am watching the biggest loser! It gives me motivation.
If you have any ideas for great snacks I will take all I can!
Thanks!

[peekawho]

Good for you for having the courage to look at what the issues are!  

The trouble with gastric bypass is that often times, the pouch can be stretched again until the person can easily resume old eating habits.  

You should be able to do ok on 3 meals and 3 small snacks with hypoglycemia issues.  Include a protein and whole grain at each meal, and try to get a minimum of 5 fruits/veggies a day, and 2 lowfat or nonfat dairy servings a day.  If you stick to that, watching portion sizes carefully, you should be able to maintain your weight without any difficulty.

Keep at it!  You'll have to join our SB (Skinny Beotch's) club!

[Cosmogal]

Thanks so much I need that little pep talk about negativity. My issue is that I got used to all those little meals but now I can eat more in one sitting than I could before. So I was used to eating all the time but now I like have no control of when to stop. I can eat veggies and whole grains no problem. I think I will make more of an effort to carry these things with me. They always push protien but its not like I can carry a block of cheese with me especially here in Florida! LOL I asked today at my doctors to see how much I have gained. I was expecting alot but it was only 14 pound difference from a year and a half ago. So its better than 140! That is what I lost. I found out today I have asthma so that stinks, but now I know why I am so stuffy and can't breath! It will make exercising much easier. Anyway, thanks for that great advice cause I really needed it.
Paula

[Happy2girls]

Welcome.  I don't know much about Gastric Bypass but from what I understand it is important to eat several small meals a day as opposed to the 3 squares and that coupled with your hypoglycemia makes it a necessity to eat the way you do.  I guess you really need to look at the choices you are making in terms of those snacks.  Does your surgery prevent you from eating whole grains or veggies?  If not then you want to incorporate them into your diet and limit (not eliminate) your goodies.  Try keeping a food journal for a day or two and post the results.  Peek is very good at identifying problems and making suggestions on substitutions.  Also, it's my own personal policy to never drink my calories and even to limit the diet sodas.  In terms of the gym I hear where you are coming from.  I am there myself, perhaps we could promise each other to make exercise a prioty.  I think the thing I want most to tell you is that you need to banish all of the negative talk, remember...If you believe you CAN or you believe you CAN'T, you are RIGHT!    There is no room for self-hatred here, we are all doing our best.  If you have a bad meal, don't throw up your hands, just pledge to make the very next meal better.  Good luck to you....please don't get sucked into believing you are a failure...you can do this!