wildGoose

I have never been told to focus on calories. The focus from the very minute I had surgery has been: Protein - 1 gram for every one inch of height, fluids - between 50 to 64 oz. daily at the minimum, Vitamin supplements - B12, Calcium, multi Vitamin, Vitamin D
If you focus on that all the other stuff will fall into place.
Now of course the diet to get to your Protein goal almost forces the rest. If you eat your protein first, there isn't room for all the stuff you are supposed to stay away from. I don't worry about fat and I focus on good vegetables and fruit. I eat full fat cheese, beef jersey and nuts for Snacks when I need one. I also drink lactose free milk as a snack or if I am hungry between meals.

My PA told me to buy Target's calcium citrate tablets when I told her the chewable a were too expensive and tempting. They dissolve very quickly and don't cost much. And my surgeon suggests Flintstones over Bariatric Advantage Vitamins. better to spend the money on new clothes!!

If you had a gastric bypass, lie on your left side. That is the way to urge the food in your new stomach to enter your intestines. It really works. Then, there is throwing up, but I've never thrown up anything but slimed foam.

Like many others, my only regret is that I did not have it sooner. But you have to be ready. It isn't really like I got my life BACK. it is more like I've got it for the first time! Since I'm 61, that's saying a lot. I wake up happy every day. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. It isn't easy. There is so much to learn. This is so much that is new. I am so grateful. I think that's the key. Also, drink your Water and go to support group!

The thing about this is that you are swollen. As you heal from surgery, everything will become easier. I know you have no way of knowing this now, but it really does get easier. Meanwhile, drink as much Water as possible and use Protein Shakes to get your Protein. Take care.

I'm 61! Had my RNY October 28, 2014. I've lost 86 pounds since my pre-op liquid diet and am doing great. I wish I had done it 10 years ago when I first started thinking about it. It is not too late. Good luck!

You are getting away too far ahead of yourself. Surgeons, and their respective hospitals, do not do this surgery unless they believe they are going to get paid. There are requirements. It isn't like going to Macy's and buying a blouse. The surgery has to be at a Bariactric Center for Excellence. (that is a medical qualification system or sorts) You do have to jump through hoops like seeing a psychiatrist, etc., but Medicare isn't as difficult as some. You need a referral from your PCP, you have to meet the BMI and other requirements. I strongly suggest that you get the referral, and speak with a surgeon. They will take care of the approvals, not you. Like I said, they want to get paid. Good Luck.

This past Thursday, I had my 3 month post-op appointment. The clinic is an hour from my house. My son and his fiance live in the next town beyond that. I took lunch to my son and when I walked into the store where he is manager, I noticed a funny look on his face for a few seconds before he said hello. Later, as I was leaving, he confessed that for those first few seconds, he hadn't recognized me! I've never been anything but extremely obese in his lifetime and now I'm not!

My biggest problem has been that my muscles have a hard time adjusting to the weight loss. I now have a physical therapist. We do lots of stretching and exercises in a very warm pool. It is helping.
Stomach remains very sensitive.

I'm just about six months out, and I'm in my first stall. At this point, I'm pretty comfortable with it because I think my body is exhausted from losing weight. I am grateful that i made it into the 100s before the stall happened,however. If I were waiting for the 100s I would probably be singing a different song.

Good for you! Way to take control of your future for both you and your children.
This disease kills! It can make our children frustrated when we cannot do the things they want to do. They are young and have their whole lives to live. It should not ever come to them having to care for us at such young ages. I lost my mother to complications of obesity and at first I was sad and depressed. She was my best friend outside of my husband. Suddenly at 66 I was making life altering decisions for her. I was much too young to have to do this. She ended up losing a toe, then a foot and then finally her leg. She was then not capable of getting up and around on her own, she had rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnea. It was the sleep apnea that killed her. She was told she would have less that a couple weeks to live if she would not use a CPAP. She refused and died on St. Partricks day in 2005.
Now, I am actually angry with her for quitting. For not getting up and saying my children need me in their lives. I swear, I will never do that to my children and grandchildren. It isn't fair to them.
So, while at first I was sad and depressed, now I have motivation to focus on me for a change. I have been doing that for the last year and I feel fantastic, I am about 90 percent healthier. I won't let anyone sabotage me or tell me I cannot do it.
I am proud of you for taking the next steps. Your positive attitude will aid in a successful outcome for you. If you need anything, feel free to reach out.

They also sell PB2 in GNC. As well as Smooth Move and Quest products.

Here is the thing. I figured out that would have to let go of everything I thought I knew about basically everything. My life has changed in every way. More than I thought possible. Please have the surgery and then wake up, open your eyes and see what happens. I promise, you have no idea what is going to happen. I Celebrate this every day. I hope you will too.

Here is the thing. I figured out that would have to let go of everything I thought I knew about basically everything. My life has changed in every way. More than I thought possible. Please have the surgery and then wake up, open your eyes and see what happens. I promise, you have no idea what is going to happen. I Celebrate this every day. I hope you will too.

Immediately after surgery, the 3 most important requirements are Protein, Vitamins and fluids. These are key. food is secondary, especially because the volume of food is very limited in the beginning. Your body is converting your stored fat into energy that drives you body. As a result you are losing weight.
In my opinion most of the Protein shakes taste terrible. But it is very important that you take in the required protein each day. As time goes on and your meal volume increases, you can gain most of your protein from your meals, provided you consume high protein meals. But that is not the stage you are in, so experiment and find the Protein Shakes that you can tolerate. There are a wide variety of powder and premix protein shakes available. For me Muscle Milk Light powder mixed with a half a banana in a Ninja single serving size blender worked well. Your protein requirement is a combination of the protein you consume from meals combined with the protein from supplements (protein shakes, protein bars).
It is equally important that you take in the required amount of fluids each day. I use to like to drink a glass of Water with ice cubes several times a day prior to surgery. But that changed after the operation. After surgery, I found that flavored water (Crystal Light) was good. Also I began drinking fine teas. The Fluid requirement is the total amount of fluids that you take in each day. It included the fluids you consume in your protein shakes.
It is also equally important that you meet your Vitamin requirement. Your body does not convert food into the essential Vitamins that you need. That is why you must use supplements.< /p>
In the area of foods, I found that Soups and chili went down easier. Therefore that is what I used. I wanted to get off the protein shakes as soon as possible, so I made my own Soups and chili with about twice the protein as store bought variety. I have include some of the recipes in the link below. It also gave me good control over the volume of the meals that I consumed. I would make up a pot of food and store it and eat it all week. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

HW:348
SW: 331
CW :299
GW 210 (with defined muscle)
Wish me luck

Like many others, my only regret is that I did not have it sooner. But you have to be ready. It isn't really like I got my life BACK. it is more like I've got it for the first time! Since I'm 61, that's saying a lot. I wake up happy every day. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. It isn't easy. There is so much to learn. This is so much that is new. I am so grateful. I think that's the key. Also, drink your Water and go to support group!

I used to worry about the expense of some of this stuff. Ultimately, I find that I eat so little, that anything is affordable. So I decided to concentrate on eating well rather than what I was spending. good luck.

I used to worry about the expense of some of this stuff. Ultimately, I find that I eat so little, that anything is affordable. So I decided to concentrate on eating well rather than what I was spending. good luck.

I used to worry about the expense of some of this stuff. Ultimately, I find that I eat so little, that anything is affordable. So I decided to concentrate on eating well rather than what I was spending. good luck.

I'm five months out. at this point Constipation remains my biggest enemy. Colace seems to be consistently good. Smooth Move tea is good, but not every day. I eat yogurt almost every day, too. The Apple is the best. But it took me a while to be able to eat one with the skin. I have it with PB2 every night. It is a total treat. Good luck.

Like many others, my only regret is that I did not have it sooner. But you have to be ready. It isn't really like I got my life BACK. it is more like I've got it for the first time! Since I'm 61, that's saying a lot. I wake up happy every day. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. It isn't easy. There is so much to learn. This is so much that is new. I am so grateful. I think that's the key. Also, drink your Water and go to support group!

I think everyone screws up from time to time. My motto is, "let my body be my teacher." My biggest fault is that I sometimes want "one extra bite." I am so grateful that my body will not let me do this without their being a price. I get the worst stomach pains. For the most part, I learn that one extra bite does not work for me any more. Then, sometimes I forget, or am just not paying attention. Then I have to start over again.

Juicy fruit is not sugarfree.

You people are doing great. The trick in the first few weeks is to do the best you can. Drink as much Water as possible. For me, and I'm a whopping five months out now, the most amazing thing was that my tastes in food changed a lot. So I would look forward to having something like tuna only to find out I could not stand it. Eventually I started thinking more about sustainability rather than worrying about enjoyment. Sure there are things I miss or want from time to time. But I find ways to appreciate my shrinking body more than a bowl of ice cream or whatever. sugar free popsies saved me in the beginning,and now I've had two boxes in my freezer for a couple of months. I promise. You'll get used to it one way and it will all change. When I was on puréed, I loved puréed bean Soup with a bit of Greek yogurt thrown in. and peppermint tea is still a lifesaver for me. keep going. And when you pick up a 20-pound bag of groceries, think about the fact you used to carry that weight. I'm so grateful.