One night, as I was watching a show I used to love (but have lost all respect for), "The Biggest Loser," I heard one of the trainers praise a contestant for losing weight the honest way and for not breaking down, giving up and going under the knife for weight loss surgery (WLS). The way she spoke about the procedure made it seem as if weight loss surgery was admitting defeat. It's actually quite the opposite -- and here are 11 things weight loss surgery patients want you to know.
1. We can't eat whatever we want.
I wish this one was true, though. I wish I could still eat the way I did before surgery and keep the weight off. We still have to swap out our unhealthy preferences for more nutritious options like anyone else trying to lose weight. If we ate hamburgers, fries, and finished it off with a milkshake, all the weight we'd lost would pile right back on.
2. We still have to exercise.
WLS patients still have to follow the fundamental rules of losing weight. Hitting up the gym becomes a regular occurrence after the procedure. Good nutrition and physical activity are still important parts of weight loss as a WLS patient.
3. Dumping syndrome episodes are the actual worst.
Every time I eat something I'm not supposed to like greasy french fries or any type of dessert, within a few minutes I get sick enough to question why I decided to have Roux enY Gastric Bypass in the first place. I feel light-headed, extremely nauseous, weak, and all I want to do in that moment is lie down. Not a fun experience.
4. It becomes an integral part of who you are.
In high school, I won a superlative for most changed after I lost 100 pounds during my junior and senior years. Now that I've graduated, my brother tells me I'm remembered by some as the girl who lost a lot of weight. I'm not ashamed of it and I never try to hide the fact I have undergone WLS, but it does become a defining characteristic. It's something to be proud of -- a badge of dedication and hard work.
5. You don't always recognize what you see in the mirror.
Sometimes I'm confident in my new body, sometimes I see that 285-pound girl staring back at me. There's always a piece of you that is the person you were before surgery and sometimes it takes a while for your mind to catch up and recognize who it's seeing in the mirror.
6. You have to learn -- a lot.
WLS is such a learning process. From learning how to eat, how to follow requirements, and how to deal with people treating you and your new lean, mean body differently it's a huge learning curve.
7. The post-surgery requirements are hard to follow.
On average WLS patients are required to drink 64 ounces of water, eat 40+ grams of protein, and take multivitamins daily. We also have to meet with our bariatric surgeons at least once a year for the rest of our lives. Each of these requirements is vital to staying healthy because of the fact our bodies process food so differently post-surgery. It can be difficult to go through with these chores each and every day.
8. The process to even be considered to go under the knife is tedious.
Since I was 16 years old and underage when I started the process, it was even more tedious for me. After a year of monthly appointments with a licensed clinical social worker, a nutritionist and a physician, I was finally able to be considered for surgery. Before they cut you open, they want to make sure you're dedicated and ready for what is about to happen. When you finally get a surgery date, it's a celebration.
9. Holidays are forever changed.
Used to being able to indulge on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day? Used to stuffing your face until you're about to burst? WLS patients can't truly indulge on holidays anymore because the structures of our stomachs are so drastically changed. Although we still get to enjoy these holiday foods, we just get to enjoy them on a much smaller scale.
10. The way you connect with food is brought to your attention.
I never realized how much I, and the society around me, interacts with food on a daily basis. We use it to celebrate, we use it to cheer ourselves up, and we use it to connect. When your entire relationship with food is compromised it not only changes how you eat =- it changes how you connect with the world around you. You can't always eat what everyone else is consuming around you and it's a huge adjustment.
11. It helps you physiologically but not always psychologically.
Physiologically, due to the dumping syndrome, I know I can't eat ice cream unless I want to be down for the count for 20 to 30 minutes. Psychologically, I've managed to get through my tests, assignments and meetings for the week so I want to reward myself. It is a constant battle.
And just for good measure...
12. Every sacrifice is worth it.
Nothing compares to the confidence and pride you feel after losing weight through weight loss surgery. You know, even if the world thinks you took the easy way out, you have given up so much to be successful -- and it's all worth it.
Weight loss surgery is a tool. A hammer, if left on a table, is never going to be able to hang a picture on the wall. We have to use our tool every day to upkeep the healthy lifestyle we've dedicated ourselves to. Overall, WLS is a blessing for any and everyone who has it. It's an amazing tool to be offered, but it can often be misunderstood in our society. This article is to bring awareness to said misunderstanding and to promote an appreciation for the hard work and dedication both WLS patients, and those who lose weight through other facets, put into living a healthy lifestyle.
