The Backhoe

I have forgotten to mention my little analogy of what weight loss surgery is to me.  

Let's say I want to dig a hole for a pool in my backyard.  In my hand right now is a garden trowel.  Sure, I could dig a hole for the pool with that trowel and eventually, the pool's hole would be dug out.  That trowel represents all the weight loss programs I have been on and have had some success with in the looooong run.


Here is a list of some of the programs I have tried to lose weight with: 

1. Weight Watchers™ - this program gave me the greatest success as long as I stayed on the program.  After losing between 20 and 30lbs, I thought I had the situation handled and could do it alone. That was always a failure.  I would regain and then some.  I would re-join, time and time again.  It is a great program and many, many people have lost weight and even as much as over 100lbs.  It is very good at teaching correct and healthy eating with proper portion control and a balanced and healthy diet.
2. Jenny Craig™ - this was very expensive and the food you buy is horrible.  If you look at most of the spokes-persons for this program, they have regained the weight.  Who can stay on that with processed food in a box?
3. Atkins™ - this was a craze of the mid-90's for me and since I love meat, it was great and I lost weight and quickly.  But, I really missed bread, pasta and tortillas.  Weight went right back on.
4. Jorge Cruise "3-Hour Diet"™ - sounded reasonable: eat meals every three hours.  Three large meals, and 3 snacks per day.  Again, couldn't stay with it.
5. South Beach Diet™ - again, I missed the carbs too much
6. Michael Thurmond Body Shape Plan™: had me eating too much fish for my body type and  at the time, I didn't like fish.
7. Cambridge Die™t - this was the precursor to Slim Fast and other meal substitute diets; could end up causing gall stones.
8. Over-the-counter diet pills - I did these in the 70's and I lost a lot of weight very quickly. I also was in my 20's and going out dancing several times a week and working hard and for the only time in my life I can remember, forgetting to eat!
9. I tried psychological approaches to weight loss, too.  Those were the kind of things like:
1. eating only at the table
2. putting my fork down in between bites. This could work, if I wasn't such a fast eater (a habit that needs to change once I have the bypass)
3. drinking a hot drink before a meal
4. brushing my teeth after eating
5. listening to tapes and meditating
6. etc, etc, etc....

They were all tools.  They just weren't the right tool for me.


Now, back to digging the hole for my pool: 


So, I've been digging and digging and there's a small hole there, but I have become worn out over the sheer enormity of the task. 
I stand up, wipe my sweaty brow and I look around and there is a big backhoe sitting there with the keys in the ignition.

Gastric Bypass and weight loss surgery is the backhoe and just another tool, albeit a BIG tool for weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.  It's just a matter of choice. 
As my nutritionist says: it's also learning how to drive the backhoe.  I have to learn how to eat  with a stomach pouch the size of a golf ball (my husband asked if it's an European golf ball, or American golf ball; apparently one is bigger than the other; lol)
I have to learn to eat slooooowly, not drink while I eat and eat very small portions and chew, chew, chew after I can have regular food.
It's going to be a big change in my habits, but I never thought I could quit smoking and I did, so I can adapt to my new eating, too.


Happy Labor Day, everyone!