7 Bites_Jen

There are a ton of people here that have kept things on the hush-hush - but know you are doing something HUGE for your health, and there is NO SHAME in that whatsoever!! I love going to the general forum - but you might start with one specific to your surgery. There are also some great "rooms" that have specific needs like weight to lose, age, location, etc. Just lurk for a bit and find one that you feel fits your needs - there is certainly no shortage of support here!

Thanks, guys!

What prompted me to write this article is a conversation I was having with a fellow sleever a few weeks ago. Shortly after her surgery she started having symptoms that her doctor diagnosed as a gluten intolerance. Around the same time, I began having similar symptoms - I began getting a rash on my legs and arms, I started getting stuck in my weight and having bloating, even began getting canker sores at odd times. As it turns out, I also now have a gluten sensitivity. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've spoken with several other sleever friends that have also had similar problems. So I did a Google search and found this article and several others on just this subject. I also did a quick check on Web MD and read the book Wheat Belly. With this information in hand, along with a diagnosis from my daughter's endocrinologist that she may have a gluten sensitivity as well, I put myself and my daughter on a gluten-free diet (her's was doctor recommended). My rash, canker sores, and bloating have all disappeared, and some of my daughter's issues are also starting to dissipate. I am curious as to how many others have developed gluten sensitivities after WLS? Have any of you? I'd love to hear your stories!

Cheryl this is very true! I was writing this from a culinary/food standpoint, but yes - you have to read EVERY label of EVERY thing you come in contact with!

That is so funny! If my surgeon caught me with cookies, he'd probably ask me for a handful, LOL!

There are always complications possible with every surgery - that's just something that comes along with it. I had a few issues including heartburn, severe shoulder pain, Vitamin deficiencies, and hair loss. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Heartburn - you can take medication for. Shoulder pain - goes away in time. Deficiencies - as long as you take your Vitamins, you're good to go. Hair loss - it grows back eventually. More severe complications can and do happen - that's a definite reality - but know that those situations ARE rare and are NOT the norm.

It’s no secret that one of the most prominent diets-of-the-moment is the gluten free diet. Millions have jumped on the gluten free bandwagon, including many bariatric patients. Some sing the praises of the diet, claiming the health benefits are intensive. Others claim the diet is a fad and there is absolutely no nutritional benefit to eating this way. Here we will discuss some of the myths and truths of the gluten-free diet, and how it can affect someone with WLS. Myth #1: A Gluten-Free diet is a very healthy way to eat. FALSE: There are just as many UNhealthy gluten-free foods on the market as there are healthy ones. A trip down the gluten free aisle of any supermarket will prove that - cookies, cakes, pretzels, pastas, chips … There are as many gluten free choices in junk food as you can possibly imagine. And here’s the biggest problem with that: many gluten-free products have added sugar and/or fat to compensate to make the texture and/or flavor more palatable. It's also important to note that gluten free does NOT mean organic or GMO free, so if these are concerns for you, be sure to check for organic, non-gmo labels. Myth #2: Only people with celiac disease should follow a gluten-free diet FALSE: While celiac disease is the #1 cause for going gluten free, it’s not the only reason. There are millions of people that share a gluten sensitivity or intolerance that would greatly benefit from removing gluten from their diets. This can be characterized by bloating, digestive issues, rashes, migraines, and other health issues. The only way to be sure if you have a sensitivity or not is to undergo an elimination diet which completely removes gluten for a time period. After a period of time (generally a month or more) gluten is slowly reintroduced into the diet with notes made on any reaction that occurs. Myth #3: EVERYONE can benefit from a gluten free diet. FALSE: If you DON’T have celiac or an intolerance, there really is no health benefit to removing gluten from your diet. It won’t HURT you, to be sure, but it won’t necessarily HELP you either. Myth #4: You can’t go gluten-free without buying expensive products at your health food store. FALSE: It’s actually quite simple to eliminate gluten from your diet without having to buy anything special. Focusing your diet on fresh, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy will automatically put you on the right track. It’s also possible to find several breakfast cereals, snack crackers, and other items in your regular grocery store for not a huge amount of money - just be sure to read labels! Myth #5: Gluten is only found in wheat items, and if you eat corn, oats, or rice, you’re safe. FALSE: Many items made with corn, oats, and rice DO contain wheat or wheat by-products (such as dextrose). This is used to improve texture in many products. Additionally, some oat and corn products do contain gluten! It’s very important that if you’re going completely gluten free that you read labels. Of course you know to look for items such as wheat, but it’s also very important to look for other ingredients you might not think of. Dextrose, barley, rye, dextrin, vegetable protein, etc. For a full list of ingredients to avoid, do a google search - there are a multitude of great sites with this information. The simplest solution is to look for items that are labeled “gluten-free” right off the bat. While a gluten-free diet isn’t for everyone, there are still many people that benefit from it. Studies are showing that some WLS patients, especially sleevers, begin to show signs of gluten intolerance after surgery (along with lactose intolerance). If you think you might be gluten intolerant, try a gluten free diet for a time, then re-introduce wheat products slowly to check for a reaction. If you think you might have celiac disease, check with your doctor - they can run extensive tests to find out if you are. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include weight gain, bloating, depression, skin conditions, digestive issues, and a myriad of other ailments. Celiac disease is characterized by similar conditions, and also includes canker sores, numbness in extremities, and joint pain. . Sources of this article include Web MD, Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, Go Gluten Free magazine, and various online websites. For a complete list of sources, contact the author at Admin@7BitesShow.com

Over the holidays, I regained 15 lbs!! How many of you are in the same boat?

Brilliant!! Thanks for the recipe - I actually have all that on hand right now! I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow!

Congratulations!! Love to see how positive and upbeat you are about it! You're going to do a great job

Best. Response. EEEEVERRR!!!! If you're so adamant about them not knowing anything - just don't tell them anything. If they ask where you've been just say, "Oh, I've been busy. Hey how's *insert child's name here* been doing on the field?"

Ask for a sample first. I have many friends that sell it and it's an amazing product BUT - some WLS people can't physically tolerate them. Also, some of the flavors are really gross like their greenberry and chocolate, LOL. But IF you can tolerate it and like the taste, yes it's worth the money, I'd say.

Oh my goodness that sounds good - may I steal this idea for the show? I'll give full credit to you for it. I love oats and we don't eat near enough of them!

Love this post - I am also a new runner - LITERALLY just started adding some jogging into my walks last week! Going to use these tips for sure. Thanks!

So well put!!

I think so many of us have been in your exact shoes - I was always the fat one in my group. I weighed more than ANYONE at 310 lbs. When I got the sleeve all my 190-210 lb friends told me how jealous they were b/c they didn't weigh enough to get surgery done. One even went as far as to start LYING about her wight loss every time I would post something about mine. We finally had a long heart to heart together about it - and luckily we were both receptive to what the other was thinking. It all boils down to 100% jealousy. That ugly green monster is a violent little bugger ...

I had mine put in about a year or two after my son was born. I felt a little pinch when it went in, but that was about it. It's really not that bad. You're supposed to do it either when you're on or just coming off your period b/c your cervix is a little bit open at that point, so it's not as bad. Otherwise, it CAN be really painful. So, my advice would be to watch your cycle and try to make your appointment around that.

Great post!! I love that you threw in dumping. I was actually told by my doc that sleevers don't dump. Boy did I prove HIM wrong ...

Just keep swimming ... Just keep swimming ... LOL Sounds like you're on the right track - just keep going with what you're doing. You body has to take time to adjust to your weight loss. You'll start losing again soon. How often do you weigh yourself? Make sure you wait a week then weigh again - I'd be willing to bet you'll see a difference then

Are you still losing? Are you getting sick after you eat? If you are still losing and not making yourself sick, I wouldn't worry. If you're following your doctor's orders, it sounds like you're doing fine. Yes, you can eat a little more than some, but that's okay. Everyone is different. You're still obviously not eating anywhere close to the amount you were able to pre-sleeve, right? If you're REALLY worried about it - call your doc and see what he says. But really, sounds to me like you're doing okay. I am a little surprised at how quick you're on full solids - but if it's not bothering you and you're doc's okay with it - then you're fine!

CARBS. ALL carbs. Popcorn, chips, bread, rice, Pasta ...

I have a picture of my stomach! My husband had it framed, LOL!

pureed was really hard for me - I got really bored after the full liquids stage and that continued. I did some shrimp and grits where I used canned cream of shrimp Soup and packaged grits. Knowing what I know now, that probably wasn't the best choice because of the sodium, LOL Make deviled egg filling and just don't eat the whites of the egg - you can also add some tuna or chicken to that if you run it through the processor. Also, try making up a big batch of homemade soup of whatever kind, then run it through a personal blender or food processor to puree.

I am sitting here on the couch typing away and he starts playing with the skin on the underside of my upper arm. "Stop that!" I say. "But mama, it's funny! It's all wibbly-wobbly and stuff!" He replies as he continues to bat at it like a kitten batting at a ball of yarn. Yep. This is what a 100-lb loss gets ya! LOL That's okay. I'd rather have loose skin on my arms than an extra 100 pounds any day!! What's an embarrassing moment you've had since losing weight?

Thanks, everyone! I'm glad this was helpful to you all