DLCoggin

I have a list almost 100 healthy quick items that I have had and liked. It's an Excel file and forum rules don't allow me to post it but I'd be glad to email it to you if you post or PM me your email address. I've sent it to dozens of folks here on the forum. You might find some good ideas and I add to it almost every day! Congratulations on your fabulous success! Love your excitement!!

I was in and out in two days. Very, very little pain, quick recovery, no complications, lost 117 lbs in eight months - best decision of my life and I'd do it again in a second. According to a July 31, 2012 report from Healthgrades, the complication rate for U.S. RNY patients is 5.87%. They analyzed the number of procedures, procedure types, and complication rates from bariatric procedures performed at 478 hospitals in 19 states from 2008 to 2010. There were 201,821 bariatric surgeries performed over that three year period. While I understand and respect the fact that folks are frightened by surgery and no responsible person can deny that there are risks, "a lot of stories of people getting moved to icu after the rny" and "alot of people have to get put on feeding tubes" are subjective statements that are not supported by facts from any number of very reputable sources. Based on the report cited above (and there are many others with very similar results), approximately one person in 20 has some complication. Did all of those folks wind up in ICU? Not likely. Did all of those folks require a feeding tube? Very doubtful. There are risks. There are no guarantees. There simply are no absolutes. Do the research. Choose your sources very carefully - there is a lot of hype and utter nonsense out there. And then make your decision. More than 200,000 folks made the decision that the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor of having a successful, life changing surgery that was free of complications. I'm just one of them but I have to tell you, I love the new me.

Many surgeons will remove the gall bladder at the same time they do the rny. Gall stones are a very common occurence following rny and requires that the gall bladder be removed. By doing it at the same time, you avoid a second surgery, second anasthesia, second hospital stay, etc. Removing the gall bladder usually only extends the rny surgery by about 15 minutes. If your surgeon doesn't indicate they will remove it, I'd ask about it. Why go through two surgeries? You won't miss the gall bladder!

Just emailed!!

Well done! And you're just getting warmed up!!

If a history of failed diets was an accurate predictor of the success of rny, I don't think there would be any successes! LOL. I doubt that there are many on this forum who cannot relate. But reality is that the surgery can be defeated. When all is said and done, it really is about life style changes. The surgery does not make those changes "easy", but it does make them "easier" and that makes all the difference in the world. You might find some useful idea about life style changes in my post The Prime Directive - http://www.rnytalk.com/topic/2477-the-prime-directive/ Welcome to the family! There are so many great folks on this forum! You're gonna love the new you!!

Headache is also one of the very first symptoms of dehydration. Try drinking as much water as you can hold. If the problem is dehydration, the heacache should disappear within 15 to 30 minutes. I enjoy fishing and have seen this work like a charm many times. Easy to test.

I forgot to say that you can use the same recipe for almost any kind of fish. We've done it with fresh trout and tilapia and both are excellent. I think it would be quite good with scallops, shrimp, cod or tuna. It might even be interesting to try it with chicken and turkey. LOL

You might like to try this salmon recipe! Put the salmon on a sheet of heavy duty foil. Pour a liberal amount of your favorite salsa over it (we like to make our own but Pace is quite good in a pinch as well). Add some thin sliced lemon slices and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle a generous amount of fresh cilantro on top. Bring the long sides of the foil together and fold them together two or three times - you're making a "tent" to steam the salmon. Make similar folds on one end - your tent has to be air tight. Now add a splash of beer to the other end - the cheaper the better, it's only for moisture. And then seal the second end. Put it in an oven at 400 degrees and bake it for 20 to 30 minutes depending on how thick the salmon is. When it's done, open it carefully and put the salmon and the "sauce" in a bowl. Low cal, low fat, low carbs, super high in Protein and absolutely delicious!!

It wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of “managing hunger” had simply never crossed my mind. Manage hunger? You get hungry, you eat. Simple. Who the heck “manages” hunger? The answer is anyone who has made the life-changing commitment to achieving and then maintaining a healthy weight. Managing hunger is a skill. And just like any other skill, it can be mastered with a little knowledge, a little practice, and a pinch of patience. Here are some ideas to help with the knowledge part of the equation. · Never eat less than two hours or more than four hours apart. Less than two hours and you’re probably not physically hungry. More than four hours and you run the risk of getting overly hungry increasing the likelihood that when you do eat, you’ll overeat. · Thirst is not hunger - but the signals from your body are similar and are often confused. If you're not sure, try drinking something first. · Eat small but frequent meals. Remember the goal - never get overly hungry. · Do not skip meals. Always carry one or more healthy Snacks with you in the event you need to eat while on the go. Nuts, turkey Jerky, rice cakes (they now come in a wide variety of sweet and savory flavors), fruit, cheese and some trail mixes are all good choices. · Eat your veggies. Very rich in Fiber which is very filling and takes a long time to digest so you feel full longer. · Eat s l o w l y. You’ve heard it before and it is true – it takes 15-20 minutes for “full” to get to your brain. · Get plenty of sleep. Research has shown that folks who only get five hours of sleep a night are 50% more likely to be (or become) obese than those who get seven to eight hours of sleep. · Drink (or “eat”) more Water. A fruit cup with watermelon, strawberries and orange slices is a watery, hunger satisfying snack. Salads made with lettuce, celery, cucumbers, and/or tomatoes are also excellent. · Eat more whole grains. Healthier and higher in fiber. More filling and more satisfying. · Eat Protein. More filling and like fiber, fullness lasts longer because it takes longer to digest. “Solid” Proteins are the most effective at curbing hunger. · Drink coffee, tea, Crystal Light, Moi, soy milk or almond milk. liquids will not keep you full as long as solids will but they are a great way to satisfy your hunger for shorter periods. For example, until your next meal. Here’s a tip - Try unsweetened almond milk (it comes in a number of flavors including vanilla and chocolate) and add Splenda to sweeten it. Delicious, thick, creamy, 40 calories per 8 oz. serving, 50% more Calcium than cow’s milk, and very filling! Give these ideas a try. You just might discover how easy it is to manage your hunger!

Just emailed!!

Just emailed!!

Wow - great job! It's possible the extra protein and calories would increase your metabolism and your body would respond by burning more stored fuel. I wouldn't worry too much about the extra calories. My surgeon requires all of her patients to have 100g of protein a day and I've averaged just under that (95g) for eight months. You really are doing a terrific job. Just keep doing what you're doing and the weight will start dropping like a rock. Congratulations!!

Welcome back! You've definitely been missed. And congratulations on the Member Spotlight!!

I lost 35 lbs pre-op. My surgery date was Oct. 20th of last year and on April 23rd of this year I had lost an additional 68 lbs. Weight this morning was 166 for a total loss of 119 lbs since May 10th of last year. Trying my best to maintain 170 lbs per the surgeon's orders - surprisingly tough but I'm getting there!

There are a number of very good products on the market that contain protein blends. I have no idea why anyone would be against whey protein but that said, whey, soy and milk proteins are all excellent and all have the highest possible 1.0 PDCAAS digestability score. Casein protein is also very high quality but not recommended for bypass patients because it's a "slow release" protein - exactly the opposite of what you want following gastric bypass. Stay away from collagen (aka "gelatin") protein. PDCAAS score is 0.08 which makes it pretty much worthless. You'll often find collagen protein in the products marketed as "shots" or "bullets". Very high protein numbers but it's useless if you can't digest it. If you can get the product name that the guy is recommending and post it here, it should be easy to get the nutrition information and the type of protein it contains. Some suggest that there is a limit to the amount of protein that your body can absorb from one "meal" - usually stating 30g to 40g but I have yet to find a reputable source to confirm that. Virtually all doctors recommend high protein intake for bypass patients so I wouldn't worry too much about your body not being able to utilize it.

Are you on regular food yet? How many calories are getting on average every day? It sounds like you're doing everything exactly right and I wouldn't worry too much about the weight loss. Five weeks probably seems like a long time but your body is doing a lot of healing and a lot of adjusting. Try to be patient and give your body time to find its own way and in its own time. Great job on the protein and keep it up - protein is really very important. Try to get as much of your daily protein from real food (as opposed to shakes or bars) as you can. Turkey, fish and chicken will all give you big protein. Going back to work will likely increase your metabolism and probably jump start your weight loss. How frequently are you walking and for how long? I'd say give it another couple of weeks and if your energy level isn't coming back, you'll probably want to discuss it with our doctor. You're gonna love the new you!!

I walked for a couple of months on the treadmill and then switched to walking in a park near my home. From an exercise standpoint, I think both are equal. I prefer walking outside because I can take my black lab and she loves it, I enjoy being outside, I love the trees, birds, wildlife, and people that the park offers. I soon grew bored on the treadmill. Every day is different in the park. So it really comes down mostly to personal preference.

Just emailed!

Just emailed!!

Shrimp is an outstanding source of protein as is turkey, chicken and even extra lean ground beef. There are a lot of tasty variations on turkey and chicken - turkey or chicken sausage, turkey bacon, turkey jerky, turkey chili (if you add beans that's another source of protein), turkey or chicken burgers, turkey or chicken meatballs, etc. Hard to beat eggs and egg whites are practically pure protein. And you could add practically anything that swims to your list - crab, cod, scallops, trout, salmon, tuna - if it lives in water I eat it!

Is it selfish to want to live a happy, healthy life? If so, then everyone is selfish. Is it selfish to want to feel good about yourself? If so, then everyone is selfish. Is it selfish to want to enjoy a long life of sharing, laughing, and loving with friends and loved ones? If so, then everyone is selfish. Is it selfish to accept a minimal degree of risk in exchange for an undeniably life changing option? Or is it just being an intelligent, courageous, rational human being? Selfish? Not from where I'm sitting. Scared? 99% of folks contemplating surgery are scared and the other 1% are liars. Courage is not about never taking a risk. Courage is not about never being afraid. Courage is about doing what you believe to be right and for all the right reasons - in spite of being afraid. You're gonna love the new you!!

WOW! You are one amazing testimonial to the power of making a commitment and staying focused.Thank you so much for sharing your story. The word is ever so slowly getting out to young people that there is an answer and it is truly a life changing experience beyond anything they can imagine. Well done!!

Very common and of the two options, burping might be the better end! LOL

It was hard for me in the beginning as well. But after a couple of months you actually start to look forward to it. And shortly after that, you discover that it's actually quite addictive. If I don't exercise for a couple of days, I can feel it physically and mentally. Can't explain it, don't care, it's great! Absolutely no doubt that exercising at least four times a week will speed your weight loss, help you to lose more weight, and help you to maintain your weight once you reach your goal. You're gonna love the new you!!