SkinnyDown

I had PF too, and went through all the special inserts with no relief, and finally my Podiatrist said get a pair of Croc clogs. I did, and PF gone. I haven't had a problem ever since. The Crocs go on before I hit the floor. I wear them around the house. I wear other shoes for exercise, and of course when I go out I can wear real shoes, when I get home the Crocs go back on my feet. I won't give up my Crocs, they cured me. They really do offer a great deal of support. Have to get the real thing, not the fake kind.

I always use lemon juice in my tuna and chicken salad. I'm not quite 2 months post-op. I've experienced no problems here.

Sorry if I missed it, but I don't know if anyone addressed the real reason you aren't supposed to have carbonated drinks. It's not because you're going to get gas per se, it's because it will stretch your pouch. When your pouch gets stretched you will need more food to satisfy your hunger. That's why over time you could eat more and more. The more food you eat, and soda you drink, the bigger your stomach gets, the more food it takes to satiate you. I'm with Djmohr on this one. Everyone should know the off limits food and beverages going into bariatric surgery, and if your bariatric center failed to tell you, they made a huge mistake. I can't imagine drinking diet soda at this point, anyway. It has to be sickeningly sweet, like all other drinks I try with artificial sugar in them. Yuck.

I did almost a year of therapy pre-op to deal with food addiction issues, and dug deep to figure out why I got fat. I had to go back very far, since I've been big since I was about 5 years old. If you can, I suggest therapy. It's really the key to finding out why all the eating happened in the first place. I couldn't agree more! To specifically answer your question, honestly...I don't experience hunger like I did pre-surgery. I have to remind myself to eat. I don't have any real cravings either. It's an odd sensation, just not feeling hungry, or having to force yourself to eat. As far as missing out...every time I step on my scale and it shows me a lower number, and every time I can go into my closet and wear something comfortably I haven't in years, or every time I finish my exercising and pushed myself a little bit further, I lose even more interest in what I used to crave so badly. My tastes have changed, I can't handle sugary tasting things, the stuff I loved after sweets most, are meats, and cheese, I can still have those, and the other carby things I used to like, I don't have room for after I get my Protein and veggies in. I hope this has helped. I wish you luck!

I told my immediate family, and even that was sketchy. A few of my family members were not happy with my decision, for various reasons. I told my closest friends. People I trusted not to judge me, try to stop me, or tell others. The rest of the people I know, extended family, and acquaintances, think I had more colon surgery. As I had a colon resection done a year and a half before my bypass surgery. The only exception I make at this point, is I tell new men I meet, fairly soon, that I had surgery. None have cared yet. I just don't believe in starting anything new based on lies, or lies of omission. In my opinion, you don't have to explain yourself to anyone. You owe no one any explanation, or reasoning of what you are doing. You are allowed to choose who you feel safest to tell, who you trust, and who you know won't discourage you. If anyone questions the weight loss, you can attribute that to eating less, and exercising more. Simple as that. Change the subject, move on to something new. Best of luck to you!

I use full fat mayo, it has no carbs. Check your low fat mayo's sometimes instead of fat they add sugar which means more carbs, to make it taste better. I use everything sparingly now, but fat does not make you fat. Carbs make you fat. They always have and they still will after surgery if you eat too many of them.

I agree, give it a week, you'll be feeling a whole lot better! Congratulations. Rest up, and get your fluids in!

@@Karlnjax I understand what you are going through. I have some family members who were dead set against me having surgery. I had to think about that. This was about me and my health, and getting healthier. This wasn't about me becoming a certain size. I have no clue what that is even about, I've been big my entire life. Either they were scared, because they knew someone, who knew someone, who had complications or death (possibly from surgery) but no solid confirmations. Or, as one of my nephews quite bluntly told me, I would not be the same person. I guess he likes his fat auntie. I have no idea what that was about, nor did I let it stop me. I do know this....within a week of surgery, I was taken off 2 oral diabetic medications and 2 different insulins I was taking daily. Now that's a huge health plus, that I didn't even bargain on that soon. My blood sugars are now normal, stabilized, and I haven't felt this good in such a long time. Do not let people discourage you. People worry for the wrong reasons. Death from surgery? How about death from being seriously overweight? People just don't think, and tend to get selfish about this stuff, and how it will affect them. You have friends here, who will help you, and encourage you. And we are all for you, getting healthy!

I actually have to remove anything I can drink from the table, just to make sure I don't drink while I eat. It's difficult otherwise. I just naturally grab for my Water bottle or cup of tea. @@Dub I'm glad your visit went well, and wish you luck with everything!

Before surgery, I did almost a year of therapy on my own (twice a month). To address my food addiction issues, and the reasons I got fat to begin with. I'm still in therapy, still working on it, and as most addictions go, will always be in recovery. There really is no easy way if a person has serious food addiction issues. It has to be addressed. Or I think we'd be setting ourselves up to fail. I could mess up at any time, and I'm well aware of it, but I have some tools now to help me, which I didn't have before. Tools I learned from my therapist. Ways of coping I didn't have before. It's made a big difference for me. Hope this helped. I wish you luck!

Thank you for sharing! Inspirational.

Crackers are on my approved list too. Melba toast, wheat/whole grain crackers, and saltines. Allowed 2-3 crackers with tuna salad, chicken salad, as part of the soft diet. Whole wheat bread (toasted) is too, but I haven't tried any bread yet. I have had crackers with no issues. I chew them very slowly and take very tiny bites, but I haven't done it much, I would rather not tack on those extra carbs. Again, that's the crazy difference of all these different Bariatric centers. I have no idea why they are so wildly different in what is ok and what is not.

I agree. I was told by my NUT, that the most successful "losers", track everything they eat and drink. That means measuring, counting and weighing everything, too. There is no room for estimates. It's a pain in the booty, I know, but it holds you accountable for what you are putting in your body. I plan to continue tracking indefinitely.

There are other foods high in Protein too. cheese, yogurt. To name a few. I'm having the same issues, but I talked to my NUT, and you can help by adding unflavored Protein powder to things like yogurt, cottage cheese, V8 juice etc. I am only required to get in 50-60 grams a day, and 700-800 calories. I'm not supposed to be on shakes anymore. They don't want us dependent on them for our protein needs. I'm not even close to goal in the calorie dept, I get about 400 calories in daily, and about 10-20 grams short of protein on any given day. A person can only eat so much with this tiny pouch. LOL Wishing you luck!

Thanks!

@@Tess White I agree with the other posters here, you shouldn't be drinking anything with sugar in it. This is lifestyle change, and this soon after surgery, you just can't go back to those old habits, and putting sugar into your body. It's going to make you gain. Carbs=sugar and sugar makes us fat. My best advice is.... Measure, weigh, count, and write EVERYTHING down you eat and drink. You'll get a clear picture of where you are going right, and where you are going wrong. I was told people who record and measure all their food, are more successful after wls. Exactly the reason I do it, and I know it's a pain, but it helps, and holds me accountable for everything that goes in my mouth. Don't estimate your portions. That can make a difference between 1/4 Cup and 1/2 Cup. BIG difference in the numbers happens. Know how many Proteins, calories, and carbs you are putting into your body, and remember. Protein first, then veggies. Carbs last. And you shouldn't have room for carbs, if you eat your protein and veggies first. If your issue is head hunger, that's something that needs to be worked out in therapy. I wish you luck with everything.

@@Daisee68 Glad you were able to eat. I love baked Talapia. It stays down fine for me, and the veggie is a great pairing!

I can tell you what my NUT said, when I asked about breaded or encrusted fish. Absolutely not. You don't need the carbs, and it's too soon for soft diet. Baked only. Hope that helps. You really should consult your nutritionist on this. Do you have a book of approved foods or not? I got one, from my bariatric center. Good luck.

@@JLT1971 You posted this, so I assume you want some honest responses, so here goes. I guess I'd ask why do you care what anyone else eats? Why are you keeping score? You laid out a very detailed account of what everyone else ate. How is this helping you at this point? I'd say stop judging everyone else and keep your eyes on your own plate. I'd also ask myself why you want to "match" what they eat....all those artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols etc. aren't that great for you. So, you trying to convince others to eat the poison...is like trying to lead ants to Aspartame or Splenda. They don't want that, they already know that's worse for them, than real sugar. They want the real thing. I don't blame them. You could have easily enjoyed a few chunks of fruit, with natural sugars, and that should have been sufficient, and would have been healthier. You are on, or "should" be on, another path. Away from all of that, and towards health. Look if you want sympathy, someone may give it, but if you want honesty, and I think you really wanted honesty. It sounds like you could benefit by looking into food addiction issues with a therapist. Why you want those foods, and why you feel left out, and are upset about what others get and you don't, is a clear sign you have issues to work on. The only reason I know this, is because I spent a lifetime doing the same, and finally got the help I needed. That's my honest opinion. You seem to want help, and there is help out there for you. But you have to take the first step. I wish you luck, with everything! I'm not a mean person, just blunt, and to the point. I blame my Sagittarianism on that. lol

@@Djmohr Wow, that's great! That's what I think would help weed out who isn't serious and who is. Also the no alcohol contract is brilliant! We really need standards across the board.

@@Kindle Yes, I had the C Diff test, it came back negative.

My head has exploded a few times already. I've been a member here almost a year now. I have little patience for ignorance. I also don't really give one care or thought to people who don't like me, or my bluntness. I like me. I have a good sense of self, and my existence doesn't depend on who likes me. I think if I were even more honest, I'd probably get the boot from this place. I think, and this is just my opinion.....as I have stated many times in this forum, that in order to get this surgery everyone should at least see a therapist as much as we have to see a nutritionist. I have for the past year been in therapy dealing with my food addiction issues, and I'll keep saying it....because I believe it's so important to being successful in losing and keeping this weight off. I'm no different than a heroin addict. Seriously. Only my drugs are readily available, affordable, and legal. Yeah...talk about a junkies dream! This is why so many people struggle. They did not deal with their food addiction issues. That's why they are so hungry. But they need to get up, and make a call, and get into therapy and work it out. Stop talking about how hungry they are, and start finding out why. We all have a story, reasons....we didn't become fat for fun. I also think people should be tested on what they know with an actual written test. Before surgery. To make sure they know what they can and cannot do, what they are supposed to do, eat, drink, and when to call the Dr. The amount of questions people ask NON PROFESSIONALS here about is astounding to me. CALL YOUR BARIATRIC CENTER! Lastly, I think there has to be a more uniform across the board system that all Bariatric centers use. I'm told to get 50-60 grams of Protein daily. Others are told 100 grams daily. I'm unsure what that's about unless it's a height issue. I'm short, so maybe I don't need as much. Some people are eating regular food by 6 weeks out, I'm on soft diet for at least 2 more weeks. They don't want me on Protein shakes anymore, and if I need more protein only unflavored powdered protein is to be used. Some people are still drinking protein shakes almost a year out! I don't care, I just don't understand why things are so different for so many people. Some have no pre-op liquid diets, while others have 10 days or more. I mean why can't the surgeons even get together and agree? Oh, and a side note. There are some really great members here who are selfless and help everyone, and I thank them for having the patience. You make things so much better for people who need answers, comfort, and care. Thank you! End rant.

I agree, call your Dr. or make a trip to the ER. This is nothing to mess around with. Especially if you are unable to eat. I've had diarrhea every day, since I got home from the hospital, 5 weeks ago. I am able to eat though. Problem is, it pretty much goes right through me. They can't figure it out yet, referring me to a Gastroenterologist if Imodium doesn't help, but I don't want to be on imodium the rest of my life either. It's getting to be a bit much, day after day of this.

ENTJ Extravert(44%) iNtuitive(75%) Thinking(1%) Judging(44%) You have moderate preference of Extraversion over Introversion (44%) You have distinct preference of Intuition over Sensing (75%) You have marginal or no preference of Thinking over Feeling (1%) You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (44%)

If they fill your body cavity with gas, how does it get into your intestinal tract? I'm just curious how that actually works. It's not like they fill your stomach and intestines with gas, right? My understanding of things, is this...you have a shortened length from food entering and exiting. Hence the extra gas coming much sooner after eating a meal. In my case, I have an even shorter distance for it to travel, since I'm missing a foot of colon as well, from a previous colon resection. So, when I eat...20 - 30 minutes later, I'm heading to the bathroom. If it doesn't improve, they want me to see a G.I. Dr. soon. I've had diarrhea ever since the surgery (6 weeks ago). Negative for C Diff. They tested me for that. I think it's best if you are having issues, and it's bad, let your bariatric team know. It might be a food allergy you didn't have, or an intolerance to something you didn't have before. Or they might be able to prescribe something to help.