Why do individuals typically struggle post Bariatric Surgery of the Gastric Band, Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass?
After working in the area of weight loss surgery since the year 2000, I have counselled thousands of individuals using various methods. I do see a trend of people fitting into two categories. Those who work with their weight loss surgery from the beginning to modify their lifestyle contributing to their weight loss, this is group A. The second group, group B, as a generalization tend to wait for their bariatric surgery. You may have been told one thing about what to expect, but they deeply hope that this surgery will do everything for them. And I understand it; I get it. Because we can be so desperate, so frustrated, and deflated that nothing else has worked, even if we've had previous bariatric surgery, there may have been complications that have resulted in the need for revisional surgery. And that is okay. It's part of the journey.
I want you to work out which group you fall into. Where do you see yourself? Which category do you fit into? Group A or B? If you would like to book a complimentary support call with me, as part of the process you would complete a pre call questionnaire. This will help you self assess and verify what is holding you back and which group you fit into also.
There could also be a few combinations and movements between Group A and Group B. When you first had surgery, you could have started in Group A. That is, you worked in partnership with your weight loss surgery, but as time passed, you moved into Group B and waited for the surgery to do most of the work. Initially, this can happen because often, weight loss can occur quite easy initially. Little effort is required, so we start in Group A but migrate slowly to Group B unintendedly.
Alternatively, we can start in Group B, where we wait for the surgery to do everything; you can experience a reality check of, “ok, the weight is falling off slowly, I better adjust a few of my habits,” and as a result, you migrate intro Group A
Alternatively, you may have started in Group B and remained in Group B, it is never too late to adjust. However, you must be seeking more weight loss because you have landed on my website with a special interest in post bariatric surgery. Congratulations, you have connected to the need for taking ownership to work with your weight loss surgery for your results. No one else can do that for you. But, I am here to support and coach you.
Another option is that if you started in Group A and have remained in Group A, but are struggling to reach your potential, congratulations on seeking more advice and support to adjust what you are currently doing. You require more, different or new information.
You can read about your peers experience, by clicking here
GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY CHALLENGES
It is normal about the 7 to 10month mark post the gastric sleeve surgery, the weight loss slows down, people tend to begin feeling hungrier and can eat more. My clients concerns absolutely begin to increase at this point. There is an explanation. Once the swelling settles post surgery, the muscle of the tube becomes less stiff, it no longer forces you to stop on the smaller amounts of food consumed initially. This is normal. It can be interpreted as feeling hungrier, but it is not necessarily actual hunger. This is when I discuss this in more detail and coach my clients through the new feeling of what hunger or time to eat again.
GASTRIC BAND SURGERY CHALLENGES
Often the Gastric Band, gets a bad name of individuals finding it too hard to lose weight with. The feedback I often hear is, it worked initially but then it was just not the same and that they could not get the ideal amount of fluid in the band. They found the band was either too tight or too loose and that they just gave up on the Gastric Band.
When the position of the band is correct, 99% of the time I find the reason for these challenges is that the individual is seeking restriction from the Gastric Band. That is they are seeking for the Gastric Band to stop them on a small amount of food, such as 1/2 a cup in total and not be able to eat more. As a result, the Gastric Band is made too tight, that is too much fluid in the band. This renders the band an absolute pain "in you know what". To me this demonstrates a misunderstanding of the band, once this is addressed, my clients can eat pain free of normal healthy food.
GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY CHALLENGES
I have coached so many clients post their roux-en-y or mini bypass, surprised as how much food they can actually eat. Once you understand my very practical explanation of each surgery, the "no bottom door" concept will make more sense. Bypass surgery has a flow through of the food immediately into the intestine. Eating slowly over a longer time frame, will allow an increased volume of food consumed. Also looking forward to the possibility of dumping after eating fatty and sugary foods, settles after about 12 to 18months. So often the fear of a dumping episode no longer controls the portions of these types of foods. With old habits of non-hungry eating possibly sneaking back in, can cause weight regain.
I am confident that you can see a trend, that all weight loss surgery types have limitations and sitting in Group A, most of the time is key. If we don't, then our frustrations, self confidence can cause a spiral effect of losing control and eating around our weight loss surgery. I am personally so passionate in helping people avoid this situation, by learning to eat a little of everything guilt free, by making food your friend, so you control it and it not control you. Losing weight without needing to be perfect all the time, helps you drop your frustrations and enjoy your journey to successful weight loss long term. You can read about your peers experience, by clicking here
To help you begin gaining control, there are a few starting points for you:
- Book a complimentary support call with myself, Helen Bauzon
- Download your FREE E-book support package
- View the Bariatric Support Programs
