James Marusek

I threw away several scales because they were inaccurate. I finally found one at Bed, Bath and Beyond that was good. It is a Beurer Model BF66. It measures weight in 0.2 pound increments. You can weight yourself three times in a row and always get the same number. On the negative side, this sale has a max weight limit of 330 pounds, so if you are above that weight, I might give you problems. I weigh myself each morning and its one of the metrics that I track. It tells me very quickly if I am off-target in the maintenance phase of my weight loss journey.

There are many unknowns when dealing with Weight Loss Surgery process. And these unknowns can cause anxiety. In my case, my insurance company refused to pay for the Nutritionist appointments. My insurance required as a prerequisite that I undergo 6 months of medically supervised diet and exercise program but the insurance claimed they didn't have to pay for it. I put blinders on and went forward. In the end the insurance covered every other visit I made to the nutritionist. I found no logic in their approach. If you are trying to loss weight prior to surgery, I will offer one word of advise. After surgery you will need to cut out all caffeine and carbonated beverages. I had a 6 Diet Coke a day habit before surgery. I went cold turkey when I began the medically supervised weight loss program. I lost 20 pounds on that change alone. Also when I went cold turkey I experienced a very severe withdrawal syndrome that lasted a week - major headaches. The time to go through withdrawal is now, not when you enter the hospital for surgery. Oh, I just thought of another word of advise. Make sure you get your daily walking exercise in. It makes the recovery process go much smoother.

At 27 weeks post-op, I was very near my bottom weight. So you may be nearing your bottom. A few months post-op, I went into a stall. I said "this is too soon". I looked over my calorie intake and dropped it lower without violating my Vitamin, liquid, Protein requirements. And I began to lose significant weight again. So dropping your calories down, might provide a solution. But your body determines your bottom weight, not the goals that you set. Everyone is different.

I am several months post-op. I only do physical exercise (hill walking) when my normal routine is lacking. A few weeks ago, I moved 60,000 pounds of gravel by hand. This entailed lifting bucked filled with gravel (70 pounds each) chest high to place it in my Gator utility vehicle and then offloading it by hand. In the last few weeks, I moved over 20,000 pounds of concrete blocks. At the age of 66, I am impressed by the fact that bariatric surgery has been able to restore my stamina to the level I was when I was 35.

Carbonization is the process of forcing carbon dioxide to be absorbed by a liquid. When you drink a carbonated drink, this gas is released from the liquid as bubbles. It's what gives the carbonated drink its phizz. Although I refer to it as miniature explosions it is probably more appropriate to describe it as an expansion of the stomach by the release of a gas, like blowing up a ballon.

Before surgery I was told that I would have to get off carbonated beverages and caffeine prior to the operation. I was on a 6 diet coke a day habit. So I went cold turkey. I suffered through withdrawal for about a week. But because of that change alone I lost 20 pounds before the operation. It is my belief that the carbonation produce miniature explosions in the stomach that slowly over time cause the stomach to expand. As the stomach expands it allows one to eat more and thus results in weight gain.

Good luck on your journey. My bariatric surgery through many of my health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes into remission almost immediately after the operation.

I began taking my Vitamins the day after I left the hospital. You may want to pick up a pill crusher and a pill splitter in the drug store. The large pills such as Calcium citrate, I had to crush and mix with drink in order to take them. The vitamins need to be spaced throughout the day. I take my calcium in the morning and early afternoon and the one that contains Iron (such as the chewable Flintstone's complete) at night.

Hi Reside!. After your first year, were you able to maintain your weight loss? I had a RNY about 16 months ago. I understand there are three phases to bariatric surgery weight loss. In the first stage, one losses a lot of weight relatively quickly. I was surviving on around 700 calories per day. For me I lost almost all my weight in the first 7 months. In the second stage, one maintains the weight loss. Its like a honeymoon stage because I could consume significant calories (around 1500 and not gain any weight back. But I am told there is a third stage when the stomach heals itself and becomes more efficient. So whereas the stomach in the honeymoon stage can only process about 70% of the calories, in the third stage, it will absorb 100%. I am told this stage begins at around a year and a half. That means that I will need to cut back on my calories if I want to maintain my weight loss. I try to eat a mixture of carbs, fats and Protein each day. Each has its place. I have read that there are different types of carbs. Simple carbs (such as vegetables) and complex carbs (such as bread and pasta) and that one should try and restrict oneself to only one meal a day with complex carbs. At least that is what I have read on this board. I am a firm believer in the importance of fats, because they can keep the edge off of hunger.

Being overweight can eventually spawn a number of serious health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea etc. As I gained weight I eventually reached a point that even when I dieted and exercised I could not lose any weight. Bariatric surgery was a viable option.

I included my recipe for the berry smoothie in a short article I wrote. Here is a link to the article. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf But because the smoothie has several calories, you would want to wait until you have transitioned from the weight loss stage to the maintenance stage before you use it.

I included my recipe for the berry smoothie in a short article I wrote. Here is a link to the article. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf But because the smoothie has several calories, you would want to wait until you have transitioned from the weight loss stage to the maintenance stage before you use it.

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery and discovered that right after the surgery I became lactose intolerant. Any type of milk product would set me off within minutes. This condition lasted for a couple months and then disappeared.

I had acid reflux several times before surgery and the problem was getting worse with time. Since surgery the problem went away. For the first year, I was prescribed Omeprazole to aid my stomach healing. That is the same produce that is used for acid reflux. I have been off Omeprazole for about 4 months now and have not experienced any acid reflux. Dumping syndrome seems very close to the effects of acid reflux. If I eat too much at a time, it can lead to dumping syndrome.

I use greek yogurt because it has more Protein and better flavor. Yogurt mixed with fruits are generally out because they contain too much sugar. I am 16 months post-op so I make my own berry smoothie and use it as one of my protein supplements. It taste so good that my grandkids look forward to coming to our house so they can get some.

I suspect that while you were in the hospital, you had an I.V. hooked to you. This pumped fluids into your body. As a result you probably left the hospital weighing more then when you first entered. It takes a few days for you to shed this added weight and get back to your pre-surgery weight. So give it a little time.

Many people are genuinely curious about success stories. They sometimes have themselves in mind towards following in your footsteps. So I tend to honestly tell them about my bariatric surgery. Many don't seem to understand the process and congratulate me on my hard effort. What hard work, I had the surgery and I lost the weight.

And if your stomach tells you that you are full - stop eating and take the rest home for leftovers. Dumping syndrome is not a happy place.

See if the two of you can attend a Bariatric Surgery Support Group Meeting. They are free and there should be one in your area. It would allow him to meet in person, people like himself who have also struggled for years with excess weight and how they are overcoming this problem.

Have him attend your bariatric surgery support group meetings with you. Perhaps he might be interested in your exercise program. Try to include him in your activities.

Congratulations.

I am male, 5'6 and had my RNY 16 months ago. I began at 260 pounds. I lost 20 pounds pre-op and 90 pounds post-op. My current weight is 150 pounds. I am currently 66 years old. I think your weight loss goal is achievable.

The research that I read indicates that the body can only absorb so much Protein at any one time, therefore it is important to space out your protein supplements throughout the day. A few weeks back there was a thread on hair-loss. It might help to look up that discussion.

Experiment, experiment, experiment. There are many types of protein powders, try different ones until you can find something you can tolerate. Some protein powders are lactose free. Also try different liquids with the powders: Water, almond milk, milk. And make sure you use an electric blender. Hand blending does not provide the proper consistency. I was lactose intolerant after surgery. That went away after a few months.

At 8 weeks post-op, I definitely had a problem eating any kind of meat. chicken and turkey were the worst. Shrimp and crab legs lost their flavor. At 16 months post-op, I am more tolerant with meats. I found eating meat in chili and Soups works well. For chicken and turkey, the secret is to put them in a pot with a bouillon cube and bring them to a boil and then cook them in low heat for several hours until they are so tender they fall apart in your fork.