#1 I've been lax with updates, and I'm sorry!
#2 I do, in fact, have a case of the Monday's, so this morning is the perfect time to rant a little about something that has been bugging me for a week.
I'm sick of reading about "critics'" unhappiness with model Crystal Renn's weight loss. For those who aren't familiar, Crystal battled anorexia for years as a model before deciding to learn to have a healthier relationship with food and her body. She gained weight and experienced success as a gorgeous plus size model, fluctuating between size 10 and 14. After reintroducing exercise into her life, Renn started to shed some weight, and is now comfortable and healthy at a size 8.
Apparently she's receiving a lot of criticism for no longer being "curvy" and representative of plus size women.
My question is, who says size 8 women aren't curvy? She looks amazing, and is happy and healthy. Why do we feel we need a champion for overweight women? I'm all for acceptance of people's varying body types, but does that mean we need people to live up to our expectations of being fat? Why isn't someone allowed to lose weight just because they want to? What if Crystal didn't WANT to be a plus size model anymore? Maybe she WANTED to get into better shape and slim down. Is that wrong? And wouldn't she be classified as having an unhealthy relationship with food and her body if she remained plus size because it makes some less secure people feel more comfortable?
This country's preoccupation with weight is startling. You're a leper if you're fat. I've actually heard someone say it's "OK" to make fun of fat people because "they can change it." But let an overweight person famous for their curves decide to slim down, and as a nation, we're unwilling to accept it. We seem to be under the collective misconception that those in the public eye need to remain a certain way for our benefit. It's really sick, if you think about it.
That's really all I have to say about that. Less annoyed posts to come!!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Proof that WLS is not the "easy way out."
http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/22/10799250-trying-to-hold-on-to-weight-loss-carnie-wilson-discusses-second-surgery
That's a link to an article about Carnie Wilson's recent admission that she's undergone a second weight loss surgery. Carnie's first attempt at weight loss through surgery was 12 years ago, when she underwent a gastric bypass. Since then, she's gained back 66% of her weight and decided the "best fix" was a gastric banding procedure.
Gastric banding and gastric bypass are two very different procedures. Gastric bypass works on two levels: restricting the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, and preventing some of the food that is eaten from being absorbed. Gastric banding is a purely restrictive treatment. Clearly, bypass is the more severe, and therefore theoretically more effective, of the two. Which leads one to question the source of Carnie's "failure" at maintaining her weight loss through bypass.
It also proves a point I recently made: WLS is not the "easy way out." in fact, it's extremely easy to gain back the weight lost through surgery, and many people do. Why? Because as this article suggests, permanent weight loss through surgery requires a complete lifestyle overhaul: portion control, foods eaten, physical exercise, the works. Many times this includes counseling as well, to help cope with the addict's predilection towards falling into old behaviors.
Weight loss surgery is never touted by any responsible medical professional as a "cure-all" or a "quick fix." In fact, it's meant to be a last resort.
To me, this begs a big question: who approved Carnie Wilson's second weight loss surgery? How was it decided that another medical intervention was preferable to other means of treatment for her disease? Obviously there is an underlying cause for Carnie's regain that has yet to be addressed. Until that happens, and a full lifestyle change occurs, WLS just won't be permanently effective.
That's a link to an article about Carnie Wilson's recent admission that she's undergone a second weight loss surgery. Carnie's first attempt at weight loss through surgery was 12 years ago, when she underwent a gastric bypass. Since then, she's gained back 66% of her weight and decided the "best fix" was a gastric banding procedure.
Gastric banding and gastric bypass are two very different procedures. Gastric bypass works on two levels: restricting the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, and preventing some of the food that is eaten from being absorbed. Gastric banding is a purely restrictive treatment. Clearly, bypass is the more severe, and therefore theoretically more effective, of the two. Which leads one to question the source of Carnie's "failure" at maintaining her weight loss through bypass.
It also proves a point I recently made: WLS is not the "easy way out." in fact, it's extremely easy to gain back the weight lost through surgery, and many people do. Why? Because as this article suggests, permanent weight loss through surgery requires a complete lifestyle overhaul: portion control, foods eaten, physical exercise, the works. Many times this includes counseling as well, to help cope with the addict's predilection towards falling into old behaviors.
Weight loss surgery is never touted by any responsible medical professional as a "cure-all" or a "quick fix." In fact, it's meant to be a last resort.
To me, this begs a big question: who approved Carnie Wilson's second weight loss surgery? How was it decided that another medical intervention was preferable to other means of treatment for her disease? Obviously there is an underlying cause for Carnie's regain that has yet to be addressed. Until that happens, and a full lifestyle change occurs, WLS just won't be permanently effective.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Top 5 Most Annoying Things I've Heard After WLS (from those who haven't had it)
Even as WLS becomes a more accepted and respected way to achieve long-term weight loss and healthy living, it's undeniable: ignorance still abounds. There are misconceptions, misnomers, and general misguidance about the post-op and pre-op lifestyle of a WLS patient. Be it from friends, family, coworkers, or veritable strangers, there are several things a WLS patient is going to hear again and again from people who simply cannot grasp the gravity of our lifestyle change. Allow me to ennumerate the five that I find most annoying.
5. You can have a little bit/just one
This is typically something your well-meaning Aunt Melba will guilt you with in the first couple of monthsafter surgery. She just wants you to enjoy your favorite foods, after all! She knows how much you love those tempting tastykakes! For those of us who view our obesity as the result of a disease triggered by an addiction, no. We cannot have a little bit, we cannot have just one. Have you ever really had a "little bit" or "just one" anyway? No, you haven't. Neither have I. A little bit turns into a little bit more, and then just a little more, and then a few more, until we've completely filled our pouch with crap and gone back to the same maladaptive behavior we worked so hard to reverse. The most dangerous part is that, particularly a year or more after surgery, you may find that that crap doesn't make you uncomfortable or irritate your pouch at all. Boom, green light to abuse yourself all over again. If you've not yet taken time to identify your trigger foods, do it as soon as possible, preferably even before your surgery. Trigger foods are those foods you know you cannot stop eating, or other items you know will cause you to overeat. For me, it's Doritos, beer, and soda. There's a saying in Narcotics Anonymous: 1 is too many, and 1000 is never enough. It applies to food addiction too.
4. Are you sick?
Expect to hear this as your weight loss speeds up. Expect to hear it from the most random sources. Ahem, cashier at WaWa. In truth, you might actually be just a little ill. If you're not regularly taking your vitamins, getting enough protein, and drinking enough water, you are still harming your body, which desperately needs all of those things right now. Also, you're probably bonier, and maybe some of your hair has started to fall out. There's really nothing you can do when someone says something along these lines to you, though it can be pretty hurtful. I like to leave it at, "No, actually, I'm healthier than I've ever been."
3. So you just eat whatever you want, but less.
Well, you certainly shouldn't be. This is a surefire way to undo all of the positives you've experienced as a result of your weight loss surgery. When we start eating whatever we want, and ignoring our rules about how we should be eating, we begin to think we're indestructible. Especially after a significant amount of weight loss. The thinking is something like, "I can eat this. I've lost so much weight already, my pouch will keep me from gaining it back." The problem with this is that your pouch will not keep you from gaining back weight; that's your job. Eating whatever leads us into a false sense of security that we are equipped to handle eating the way we did before, and that's just no longer the case. It's actually really funny to respond to someone who says this with a list of the foods you no longer eat, and it really aids in clearing up other misconceptions of WLS, particularly the #1 most annoying thing I've ever heard after WLS.
2. Why couldn't you just eat less and exercise more?
Why can't an alcoholic just have a couple of drinks and stop? This one is especially hurtful, mostly
because many of us have tried this. I've been successful on several occasions, losing 15-20lbs by eating less, eating healthier, and exercising. But as with all addictions, the second you stop chasing your recovery, you lose it. For me, WLS was kind of like setting the clock back to 0. I got to start all over again with my new body and my new lifestyle. Now I eat less (waaaay less) and exercise more, because I'm so happy with the changes I'm seeing. When you're morbidly obese, losing 20 pounds is barely noticeable. Eating less and exercising more only works when you're seeing results great enough to sustain your motivation, and results like that for a morbidly obese person are a long time coming.
Which brings me to the #1 Most Annoying Thing I've Heart After Weight Loss Surgery, from someone who has not had it...
Drumroll, please.....
1. You took the easy way out.
Oh man, if I had a dollar for everytime, right? Ignorance like this makes me wonder how our species has survived. This is probably the comment we hear most frequently, and nothing could be further from the truth. Staying fat and unhealthy, that's taking the easy way out. Refusing to acknowledge that I have an addiction, and that I need help with that addiction- that's taking the easy way out. Not taking the extra time and spending the extra money to buy and prepare special bariatric-friendly meals, that's taking the easy way out. What we as WLS patients undertake is a lifestyle change, and it is anything but easy. We literally have to relearn how to live our lives. It is hard when my family enjoys pasta on Sundays, and I have to have a special meal. It is complicated to go out for St. Patricks Day and not be able to have a beer with everyone else. It's hard not to do what I did countless times before surgery: rely on food to be my friend. Losing the weight might initially be easy, but it's the committment to a ifestyle change that makes WLS anything but.
If you've recently had, or are planning to have, WLS, take heart: you will hear these comments a million times. Understand that nine times out of ten, remarks like these are based in ignorance, not malice. Oftentimes, a simple and truthful explanation is enough to make someone think more purposefully about the new life you've chosen for yourself. Some people are more comfortable discussing something as personal as WLS than others. Whatever you choose to share is your prerogative. If keeping your choice private feels more comfortable, don't feel obligated to explain yourself to anyone. If you are inclined to share your experience, be aware you will encounter a spectrum of reactions, from empathy to condescension to downright nastiness. It's never to late to brainstorm some one-liners to use on nay-sayers. If you have any that worked well for you, I'd love to hear them, because I need a few of my own.
I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend, and cheers to a purposeful new week!
5. You can have a little bit/just one
This is typically something your well-meaning Aunt Melba will guilt you with in the first couple of monthsafter surgery. She just wants you to enjoy your favorite foods, after all! She knows how much you love those tempting tastykakes! For those of us who view our obesity as the result of a disease triggered by an addiction, no. We cannot have a little bit, we cannot have just one. Have you ever really had a "little bit" or "just one" anyway? No, you haven't. Neither have I. A little bit turns into a little bit more, and then just a little more, and then a few more, until we've completely filled our pouch with crap and gone back to the same maladaptive behavior we worked so hard to reverse. The most dangerous part is that, particularly a year or more after surgery, you may find that that crap doesn't make you uncomfortable or irritate your pouch at all. Boom, green light to abuse yourself all over again. If you've not yet taken time to identify your trigger foods, do it as soon as possible, preferably even before your surgery. Trigger foods are those foods you know you cannot stop eating, or other items you know will cause you to overeat. For me, it's Doritos, beer, and soda. There's a saying in Narcotics Anonymous: 1 is too many, and 1000 is never enough. It applies to food addiction too.
4. Are you sick?
Expect to hear this as your weight loss speeds up. Expect to hear it from the most random sources. Ahem, cashier at WaWa. In truth, you might actually be just a little ill. If you're not regularly taking your vitamins, getting enough protein, and drinking enough water, you are still harming your body, which desperately needs all of those things right now. Also, you're probably bonier, and maybe some of your hair has started to fall out. There's really nothing you can do when someone says something along these lines to you, though it can be pretty hurtful. I like to leave it at, "No, actually, I'm healthier than I've ever been."
3. So you just eat whatever you want, but less.
Well, you certainly shouldn't be. This is a surefire way to undo all of the positives you've experienced as a result of your weight loss surgery. When we start eating whatever we want, and ignoring our rules about how we should be eating, we begin to think we're indestructible. Especially after a significant amount of weight loss. The thinking is something like, "I can eat this. I've lost so much weight already, my pouch will keep me from gaining it back." The problem with this is that your pouch will not keep you from gaining back weight; that's your job. Eating whatever leads us into a false sense of security that we are equipped to handle eating the way we did before, and that's just no longer the case. It's actually really funny to respond to someone who says this with a list of the foods you no longer eat, and it really aids in clearing up other misconceptions of WLS, particularly the #1 most annoying thing I've ever heard after WLS.
2. Why couldn't you just eat less and exercise more?
Why can't an alcoholic just have a couple of drinks and stop? This one is especially hurtful, mostly
because many of us have tried this. I've been successful on several occasions, losing 15-20lbs by eating less, eating healthier, and exercising. But as with all addictions, the second you stop chasing your recovery, you lose it. For me, WLS was kind of like setting the clock back to 0. I got to start all over again with my new body and my new lifestyle. Now I eat less (waaaay less) and exercise more, because I'm so happy with the changes I'm seeing. When you're morbidly obese, losing 20 pounds is barely noticeable. Eating less and exercising more only works when you're seeing results great enough to sustain your motivation, and results like that for a morbidly obese person are a long time coming.
Which brings me to the #1 Most Annoying Thing I've Heart After Weight Loss Surgery, from someone who has not had it...
Drumroll, please.....
1. You took the easy way out.
Oh man, if I had a dollar for everytime, right? Ignorance like this makes me wonder how our species has survived. This is probably the comment we hear most frequently, and nothing could be further from the truth. Staying fat and unhealthy, that's taking the easy way out. Refusing to acknowledge that I have an addiction, and that I need help with that addiction- that's taking the easy way out. Not taking the extra time and spending the extra money to buy and prepare special bariatric-friendly meals, that's taking the easy way out. What we as WLS patients undertake is a lifestyle change, and it is anything but easy. We literally have to relearn how to live our lives. It is hard when my family enjoys pasta on Sundays, and I have to have a special meal. It is complicated to go out for St. Patricks Day and not be able to have a beer with everyone else. It's hard not to do what I did countless times before surgery: rely on food to be my friend. Losing the weight might initially be easy, but it's the committment to a ifestyle change that makes WLS anything but.
If you've recently had, or are planning to have, WLS, take heart: you will hear these comments a million times. Understand that nine times out of ten, remarks like these are based in ignorance, not malice. Oftentimes, a simple and truthful explanation is enough to make someone think more purposefully about the new life you've chosen for yourself. Some people are more comfortable discussing something as personal as WLS than others. Whatever you choose to share is your prerogative. If keeping your choice private feels more comfortable, don't feel obligated to explain yourself to anyone. If you are inclined to share your experience, be aware you will encounter a spectrum of reactions, from empathy to condescension to downright nastiness. It's never to late to brainstorm some one-liners to use on nay-sayers. If you have any that worked well for you, I'd love to hear them, because I need a few of my own.
I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend, and cheers to a purposeful new week!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Favorite Post-op Foods
Sushi!!! It's one of the only things that always sits well in my pouch, which is a hugely awesome benefit. I tend not to eat much of the rice--usually I'll have a piece or two and bring the rest for leftovers. Then when I eat it next, I peel the rice off. Do yourself that favor! Day-old rice is NOT going to feel good in your pouch. The consistency is way too hard and starchy after being refrigerated. As far as nutrition, you really can't go wrong. Sashimi and sushi pack powerful proteins, and many sushi rolls also contain vegetables. My go-tos are yellowtail sashimi, salmon sashimi, spicy tuna rolls, and any roll that combines tuna, salmon, and avocado. If you've never been a sushi fan before, try it again post-op, when you're at about Week 5, depending on what your surgeon advises you. You'll be surprised how much your tastebuds have changed, and you might just find a new favorite food!
This is salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi, and a Philly roll from one of my favorite South Jersey spots for sushi--Hime in Egg Harbor City!
Friday, March 23, 2012
In The Beginning
I hate the word "fat." It's ugly to look at. The word itself is uglier than the people we use it to describe. Having been a target of derision for years, I can pretty succinctly communicate the physiological response of someone being called "fat": churning stomach; hot, flushed face; stinging tear ducts. "Fat" is something I've wrestled with my entire life.
Which is exactly why "fat" deserves to be the title of this blog. I think it's time we reclaim this word for ourselves and strip it of its power to harm. African Americans did it with you-know-what-word. The gay community did it with "queer." Let's do it with "fat."
I started taking "fat" back on July 5, 2011, when I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. For those not familiar with WLS terminology (that's weight loss surgery), a VSG is similar to a gastric bypass. A surgeon removes 80-85% of the stomach, leaving a small banana-shaped "pouch" in its place. That's an extremely crude and insufficient description of the process, but it's the gist of what happens. The ability to consume large amounts of food at one time is significantly decreased, and the patient's chance at living a healthy and fulfilling life is significantly increased.
I can tell you that I need this blog as much as the people I'm hoping to reach out to with it. I want it to be an outlet, a resource, and fun. Fat@Heart isn't about pushing my opinions on anyone; it's about exchanging information, stories, things that make us happy, things that make us angry, and things common to our collective experiences. Most specifically, the experience of being "fat."
Fat@Heart isn't about being obese, or wishing to overconsume. It's not about seeking solace from the food I eat now, or about lamenting the foods I don't. Fat@Heart is about enjoying food, and enjoying the people with whom we eat food. Having WLS doesn't mean I don't like food anymore; in fact, I appreciate it so much more now, because I rely on it to keep me healthy.
The number on the scale may have gone down, but make no mistake about it...I'll always be Fat@Heart. Buon Appetito!
Which is exactly why "fat" deserves to be the title of this blog. I think it's time we reclaim this word for ourselves and strip it of its power to harm. African Americans did it with you-know-what-word. The gay community did it with "queer." Let's do it with "fat."
I started taking "fat" back on July 5, 2011, when I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. For those not familiar with WLS terminology (that's weight loss surgery), a VSG is similar to a gastric bypass. A surgeon removes 80-85% of the stomach, leaving a small banana-shaped "pouch" in its place. That's an extremely crude and insufficient description of the process, but it's the gist of what happens. The ability to consume large amounts of food at one time is significantly decreased, and the patient's chance at living a healthy and fulfilling life is significantly increased.
I can tell you that I need this blog as much as the people I'm hoping to reach out to with it. I want it to be an outlet, a resource, and fun. Fat@Heart isn't about pushing my opinions on anyone; it's about exchanging information, stories, things that make us happy, things that make us angry, and things common to our collective experiences. Most specifically, the experience of being "fat."
Fat@Heart isn't about being obese, or wishing to overconsume. It's not about seeking solace from the food I eat now, or about lamenting the foods I don't. Fat@Heart is about enjoying food, and enjoying the people with whom we eat food. Having WLS doesn't mean I don't like food anymore; in fact, I appreciate it so much more now, because I rely on it to keep me healthy.
The number on the scale may have gone down, but make no mistake about it...I'll always be Fat@Heart. Buon Appetito!
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