Baconville

Hi Msshellg, I'm doing well. I waited to post anything until I saw my surgeon after my NUT said I was doing fine not to worry about eating small amounts of food and feeling satiated. She felt that as long as I was meeting my Protein and Water requirements I doing well. I saw my surgeon today and he said the same thing. I don't have a stricture thank God I was stressed over that because I've followed orders strictly since week three when I went through that dumping phase. I'm on schedule and since my surgery on April 21st I've lost 56lbs. My surgeon thinks that I'm just going to be someone who does not require a lot of food to become full and that's awesome to me. My mother shared with me that I was a fussy eater and she had to make me sit at the table until I ate at least half of my meal. It's funny how food becomes an obsession for us. I hope I never go back to those bad habits that almost caused me my life. Thanks to everyone who responded to this posting. I appreciate you and I pray that we will all continue to make changes that improve our health and well-being. Have a great evening, God Bless. So glad that you got good news! Sorry to have been the one to panic you, it was not my intention. I have been watching for your update and couldn't be happier for you. Just keep following the plan! You are doing great! Carol

This actually happened to me. In the two months leading up to the pre-op diet I lost about 35 pounds. For whatever reason, on the pre-op I stalled. Mine was a two week liquid diet of mainly soup and Protein shakes, which I followed to the letter. However, both foods are very high in sodium and my clinic felt that was what caused the stall. In those two weeks I only lost 4 pounds. The good news is that even though the scale didn't move much, the liver shrunk and I had a very successful laparoscopic surgery. It was important that I spoke with my NUT because then they knew that I was following the plan and not having results. The lack of results was not from cheating, which could have delayed my surgery. Best of luck to you! Soon you too will be on the loser's bench!! Carol

I had a VERY hard time with this in the beginning too, and still struggle to a lesser degree even now, nearly a year out. RJ gave GREAT advice, so I won't repeat it. One thing my doc told me that was also helpful, is to head to the bathroom when you feel the slightest urge to go. Waiting to go will only allow the water in your stool to absorb back into the body, which in turn makes going more difficult. Also keep in mind that you are eating very little right now. Going, even a little, is OK. Time will help with the bloating, it is part of the healing process. Always call your clinic if you feel something is wrong. They can put your mind at ease if what you are experiencing is within the "normal" healing process or not. Good luck! Carol

29 Pounds In A Month Is Amazing! You are loosing nearly a pound a day!! We all lose at different rates, but I would imagine your clinic would be thrilled with that kind of progress. As to the Protein, the name of the game at this stage is maximum protein grams for fewest number of calories. Follow your clinic's guidelines - they vary considerably from clinic to clinic - but mine for the first three months was 50 grams of protein every day. If you can't tolerate the shakes, look into the powders and add them to your high protein, low calorie, food choices. I am approaching a year post surgery and I still find it important to get one shake in every day to meet my protein goals and stay under my calorie limit. The first few months are really a 'honeymoon' period of sorts. Most people do no feel hunger, or at least not as badly as they did pre surgery. You want to take advantage of this window to maximize you weight loss because it will become more difficult with time. Not impossible though, like I said, I am approaching a year, and the scale is still moving for me. But the loss has slowed considerably! Good Luck! Carol

Mine has changed over the course of the year. My surgeon said I would "bottom out" at about 180. I always had 150 in my mind as my goal. I got there and kept going. So, in order for my BMI to be in the "normal weight" range I need to get down to 130, so I have set that as my new goal. I will be one year post op on June 25th. My weight loss has slowed considerably in the last month, so I don't know if I will make 130 (I am currently at 134). If I don't I am fine with it. I am at a point where the number on the scale does not mean as much as how wonderful I feel! Work your clinic's plan, get your exercise every day, and see where your journey takes you. From what I have seen it is very different for everybody. Good luck to you! Carol

I may not be the person to answer this for you because I did not experience this, but I think it is important that you try to move on to the puree stage. Strictures can form at either end of your new stomach, and that is what can cause problems with ingesting thicker - pureed - foods. The opening will continue to close with scar tissue until you can no longer even get liquids down either, resulting in dehydration. This is one of the most common early side effect of RNY. I would encourage you to contact your clinic and let them know what is happening whey your try to eat pureed foods. If you are developing a stricture, I understand that it is a fairly simple outpatient procedure to have it opened. I know people that this has happened to more than one time. There is no way to predict it or prevent it. It is just the body's way of healing, and it tries to heals the opening closed. Good luck to you! Carol

My niece graduated from High School this afternoon. After Commencement we went to Olive Garden. Had their Lasagna Premivera with grilled chicken off their light menu. Ate all the meat (protein first!) and maybe half the pasta, before I was just done. Had about a Tablespoon of salad and half a bread stick. Tasted good though! All in all I feel very good about my choice. Went for a three mile walk when I got home.

I ate canned chicken and tuna with a bit of light miracle whip. Put it in a mini food processor, so it was pureed and smooth. Meat protein that is on most plans. Eggs were also a go to food during this stage.

Hey! Where did our group go? I can't find us anymore! Carol

You always bring a smile to my face! You will be posing for one of the Men of... Calendars next! I drink 100 ounces of water ever day. Some days more. Helps with hunger and pop cravings. Certainly "flushes" the system! Carol

So it CAN still happen. I am with you, I have not dumped, but have not tested the limits either. I have had small amounts of all types of Desserts and even candy over the last year, but in very small amounts. I would bet that if you just had 3 or 4 bites of the Beans you would have been just fine. We ate all still learning! Thank you for sharing. Glad you are feeling better!

Hi Beth Ann, There is not another person that can know your journey except YOU! Even those of us who are also experiencing our own RNY journey, are having different experiences. The great thing about this site is that you might find somebody who is experiencing the same thing you are. But no two of us will experience the same journey. We are all different. In my experience, people who make insensitive comments, normally do so for two reasons, ignorance or jealously. Your very small friend, may just not realize what she said is hurtful. If she is important enough to you, talk to her and explain why what she said was hurtful. You can't change what you don't know. Others feel uncomfortable with your weight loss, not because you have lost weight, but because it makes them more aware of the poor food and exercise choices that they are making. This is a much harder group to address, and in my experience, these are just people I have limited my exposure to. I am certainly not going back to old habits to make them more comfortable! As to your 'slow' weight loss, YOU HAVE MET YOUR DOCTOR'S GOAL IN A YEAR! That is AWSOME!! I am sure your doctor has had weight loss goals for you in the past. Have you EVER met them - in one year or ten? I know I haven't. You have done amazing! You should be congratulating yourself on your new life and focusing on improving the areas you still think you need to. The journey is never truly done. The only way we grow is to work on ourselves in some way. That is called LIVING! Enjoy, Carol

Glad I found us back! I didn't think to look in June 2014! I wish they would quit messing with the site!

I wasn't well endowed to begin with. I am barely a B now, and that's with padding! If I choose to get my arms done, might have the chest done at the same time.

I did that, and there are several choices, none are the very active group of Junies that I have been a part of. Miss you guys!

I am couple of weeks from my Surgiversary on June 25th, but I made a big step toward my goal this morning! The scale FINALLY moved! It reported that I am now down 195 pounds. I had hoped to make 200, and I know I might not get there, but I am sure excited about the drop this morning! Keep on rocking Junies! What a year!!!

Congratulations Mel! For every post that that you have found support in, you have given back to me 10 fold! You are a HUGE inspiration - but now in a small body! I would not be here without YOU! Celebrate this life changing year - you deserve it!

This was my normal for the first three months.

Your body acclimates to what it gets, both in food and exercise. If a stall lasts more than a week, try changing up your exercise. Do something new. Weights or resistance training is SO important to weight loss. Not everything needs to be cardio. Often times you will stop losing pounds when you are losing inches and then will see a sudden drop on the scale again. Every body is different. Have faith in the plan - YOU WILL LOSE! Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes a lot of work and a lot of patience! Carol

It sounds like you may be developing a stricture (where the opening to your new pouch begins to close with scare tissue). This is a very common side effect for the first few months post surgery. One I did not face so I don't have first hand knowledge, but I'm sure you will hear from somebody here that has. My understanding is that it is very easily corrected in an outpatient procedure. Go back to pureed foods, and concentrate on "protein first". No oatmeal until the Protein shake is down. Your NUT should be able to help you more when you are seen on Friday. Keep up the exercise, its important and will keep you feeling great. Don't worry about the nutrition at this point, you will be fine. Best Wishes, Carol

Hang in there! I also had my RNY on June 25th - LAST YEAR. I too was in SO much pain it was absolutely awful. As a matter of fact, immediately after surgery, my back and knee pain were much worse than my incision pain and the pain meds they gave me didn't touch it! One year later, I did a Zumba class last night. I have NO knee pain and NO back pain. I have lost 194 pounds. I have more energy than I know what to do with and a big part of that comes from being pain free. I will always think of June 25th as my lucky day - the day my life started over. I hope in a year you will be posting that it is your lucky day too! Good Luck! Carol

Happy Surgaversary! It is truly amazing how life changing this year has been!! I am glad that you are doing so well. Keep up the good work - and it is work! Celebrate LIFE! You have earned it! Carol

Cindy, What did you find out from your NUT today? Carol

Let me know if you find the secret. Right now I am just trying to ignore the hunger and keep the calories down. I have tried switching up my workouts, that has always worked in the past. Not working this time though.

Check put MyFitnessPal.com. You track what you eat and it adds up the protein grams. You can also add your water as you drink it and exercise. It is a free App, but you will want to set it up off the website. If you eat Lean Cuisine meals or a packaged food, you only have to scan the bar code. Most chain restaurants have their menus in it. I strongly believe that it has made all the difference in the success I have achieved and it is what will keep me from gaining the weight back. So much easier than the old days when you had to calculate it all be hand!