Rebecca Jo Ragon
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Everything posted by Rebecca Jo Ragon
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Gastric was done Monday.... Good news and bad news
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to Karlnjax's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Praying for you. I hate to hear this happened. We will pray that you recover quickly and have no future complications. -
Sample meal at home or going out post-op?
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to Karlnjax's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Something you might want to try is to start using myfitnesspal. It is an online site (has a phone app as well) that you can track all of your daily food. You can friend others and view their diaries. I have done this over the past few months to get ideas as to what others are eating. It has helped when I am looking for something new to try. I may not even think of it until I see it on somebody else's diary. It still pretty much do 3 meals and 3 Snacks a day. My breakfast might be one egg and one breakfast turkey sausage link. My lunch might be a small Wendy's chili. dinner might be a small muffin size mini meatloaf and 1/4 cup green Beans. Snacks are yogurt, nuts, cheese, fruit. My fav is a mixture of yogurt, fruit, nuts and seeds. -
Some days I feel like I can eat the world....
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to blashlee's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Amen. I hear you. Some days I am starving!!! But like you, I can still only eat so much. And it does fill me up. If I see it is going to be a day like that, I try to choose my most "efficient" foods that give me the most Protein for the least amount of calories, so I can eat more and stay full. Other days when I am not very hungry at all, I try the things that I like that tend to be high in calories like the nuts and nut butters. I am not very hunger, so I don't eat so much that it makes it a very high calorie day. -
Doing Great!
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to principalmann's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
Good job! Keep up the good work. -
When did your surgery "kick in?"
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to MisforMimi's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Those are some very good points and very on target @@MisforMimi . I think I have fallen into that habit - slid from snacking to grazing. I am back on the very structured platform today and will see what happens. -
Post Op - (6 months +) what is your calorie intake
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to cadladykim's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have been wondering the same thing and have the same response from my drs. office. They want me to focus on getting in the Protein and Water and nutritious food and not worry about the calories. However, I have had a day here and there where I was at 1300+. I have had several at the 1100 range. I went on a website and put in my age, height and activity level. It gave me the calories needed to maintain weight, lose weight (1-2 lbs/day) and to lose weight rapidly (2+ lbs/wk). I can't find that website right now or I would put the link here. However, it gave me a good target to shoot for. I think the further out we are and the more we can tolerate, it becomes increasingly important to make smart food choices. There are many choices that I have that are good for me. Some are higher in calories. If I choose a lot of cheese and nut Snacks, I might choose to end my day with an 80 calorie greek yogurt rather than Peanut Butter. I hope this makes sense. I am 5' 4" and feel I need to stay below 1300 to continue to lose 2 lbs a week with a light activity level. I am not exercising as much as some. I had a complicated sinus surgery procedure a couple weeks ago and my dr. does not want me straining, lifting, breathing heavy (as with cardio), etc. for a couple more weeks. -
Stage IV Diet aka Real Food
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to KDM74's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@@anaxila - I am with you on those items not tasting the same. I was just trying to explain this to my two bff's yesterday. We met for lunch and I was explaining why some things didn't really bother me anymore. I have taken a bite of them and they do not taste the same and there is no satisfaction from eating them. One item in particular tastes almost like something metallic in my mouth. I tried it a second time to be sure. I could tell they were having a hard time understanding. I am not sure I understand it myself:) However, I am grateful. I don't want to work this hard and end up having to battle issues with foods that I can't leave behind and that cause me to gain weight. -
What are your tricks for dealing with food cravings?
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to cpower100's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
If my craving has been for something that I cannot have, I usually searched pinterest and the blog sites for substitute recipes. For instance, I have tried a fake mac and cheese using cauliflower. I tried a grilled cheese sandwich using cauliflower bread. I have made cupcakes with Protein powder and almond flour. I made a pizza with a portabella mushroom for the "crust." If it is for something that I shouldn't have, I have found that 1 bite of something that I am craving often satisfies the craving. For instance, I am not released for fried foods or potatoes. However, we were at a restaurant and they served my husband some fat steak fries that smelled wonderful. I ate a bite of one dipped in a little ketchup. It satisfied that craving:) -
Stage IV Diet aka Real Food
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to KDM74's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am almost 4 months out and can tolerate most everything that is okay to eat at this stage. Per my drs. instructions, I cannot add Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, etc. until 6 months. I can do coconut and apples. I have a fav snack with greek yogurt, apples, unsweetened coconut, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and pistachios. Granted, I am only eating 1/4 of an apple with each serving. The very first time I tried it, I had some issues. However, I waited a couple weeks and tried it again and didn't have any problems. I now eat that a couple times a week. I have also had pineapple, kiwi, all sorts of berries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and grapes. Because I focus on Protein, anytime I have something like that it is in very small quantities. I have not had any issues. I think the most important thing to realize is that everyone is different. What might cause an issue for me may be something that you don't have any problems with at all. Just test things in small quantities and see what happens. If you do have an issue with something, then wait a couple weeks and try it again. Good luck! -
Veterans of Bypass Surgery: Did you begin to lose your sense of hunger?
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to VDB's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hmmm I may be the odd man out. I am 4 months and 1 week out and I get hungry. Not every day. I will have some days where I have to eat because it is time for a meal or snack. However, there are some days when I get really hungry. I truly don't think it is "head hunger" either. My stomach growls and it is usually 2-3 hours after I have eaten, depending on what I had for my last meal or snack. When I eat my normal portion, I am satisfied. I think everyone is different. I go to my support group meetings regulary and this subject is a frequent topic. Some people don't really feel hunger any more, but many do. -
You can do it
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to music1618's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
What an inspiration - especially for those who may struggle a bit in the beginning. Thanks for sharing! -
2 years out from RNY and need advice!
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to tkuch's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I see everyone post - go back to the basics. That is what I would advise. Do you use a food journal or diary like MyFitnessPal? If so, continue tracking everything. If not, then start. Focus on Protein. Cut our all refined carbs - sugar, flour, bread, etc. Hold off on the rice and Pasta for awhile. Make sure you are getting in enough Water each day. Google five day pouch test. Read up on that and try that. Check your exercise/activity level. If you have stopped exercising, start back again. That is what I would do if I were in your shoes. -
Can't believe it!
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to little_mrs's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Congratulations! We are "onederland" twins. I just made it to onederland this morning as well. Feels great. Keep up the great work! -
When did you start to feel like yourself again?
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to RuxieGirl's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am 4 months and 1 week out and it is hard to remember. I do know that my oldest son got married at 10 weeks and I know I felt normal then. We had to travel out of town, were busy all day long for about four days with family get togethers, pre-wedding errands, etc. The day of the wedding started around 7 am with hair and make up, ceremony, reception and we were the last ones to leave with the bride's parents at 1 a.m. I know I was very happy that day and felt great. So, I would say I was feeling back to normal some time before 10 weeks. Hope this helps! -
ONEDERLAND! I am so excited to finally be in onderland. It has been many, many years since I have been here and it feels great!
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@MrsSugarbabe - I was that way too. I kept going back and forth from 201 to 202 for a week and a half. Then finally one day - poof 198. My scale is weird so it always gives you different readings. I have made up a rule, I weigh 3 times and take the weight that appears at least twice. LOL. Sometimes, I get 3 different weights so I have to weigh 4 times to get one twice. This morning it was 197, 198, 198. So, there you go!
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@@corerox - I am 4 months out from surgery and use MFP. I will send a request to you. I always like to have new friends on MFP and look at their food diaries for inspiration. I enter a lot of recipes into MFP. I try to do a lot of batches of food and freeze the multiple servings for convenience. So, if you ever see something like "Hunt's Meatloaf" or "Karen's Breakfast Cereal", etc. and want to know what it is, just send me a message. I will give you the recipe.
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7 year veteran RNY gastric bypass and failed but still have hope!
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to Kmartinez15's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
If you love chocolate and can tolerate dairy - here is a pretty good snack. Take a small box of fat free/sugar free chocolate instant Jello pudding and make it per the instructions with 2 C. skim milk and add a scoop of whey Protein isolate. I like adding the Syntrax Cookies and Cream. Pour into 4 dessert dishes. Sometimes I even take a Protein Bar, divide it into 4, cut it into tiny bits and sprinkle on top. Great source of protein and satisfies the sweet/chocolate craving. -
My scale is driving me crazy! I am so close to "Onederland." However, my scale fluctuates a bit. I can weigh 3 times and get 3 different weights. I usually weigh until I get the same weight twice and then go with it. Or, I just go with the highest weight. Today I weighed 199.5, 202 and 202. So, 202 it is. But I want to get to Onderland!!!!
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6 months out from surgery, stalled don't know what to do
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to susieq2923's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I am only 4 months out, so I am not sure this will help or not. I have yet to get to a major stall. However, when I have been at a point where I feel my body is not losing as quickly as it has in the past, I have gone back to the basics. I track everything in myfitnesspal. I go back to make sure I get in 80+g of Protein each day and at least 8-8oz cups of Water. I try to scale back on the more complicated recipes or food from outside sources. I go back to very simple protein sources or food I cook myself so I know exactly what is in it. I also keep my overall carbs low and my sugar carbs extremely low. That usually not only makes me feel better but it jump starts my weight loss. I hate that you feel like you do not have much of a support system. Reach out to folks here - they are great about answering posts and giving good advice and encouragement. Hang in there! -
Avoiding saggy skin
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to linedancer718's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
What I have read from other posts is that Water (hydration), great moisturizer and strength conditioning can help keep the skin tight. I think the amount of weight you lose and your age will come in to play as well. We can't really do anything about those but we can make sure we get in plenty of water, keep moisturizing our skin and do toning exercises to keep things as tight as possible. If anyone knows of anything else that will help, please let us know:) -
Protein Shakes
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to B_Darkly's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My experience has been similar to the above posts. My Dr. prefers we wean ourselves off of the Protein shakes by the third month and get our protein from food (versus shakes). However, he doesn't have a problem if we add then to our diet on occasion for convenience. In the early stages, I think they are critical to get enough protein in each day. I credit my success to them. My favorite RTD (ready to drink) shake has been the Premier Protein. However, if you want to save money you can always get the powder and mix your own. I have also started using them in sugar free dessert recipes. Good luck! -
Question re" gastric bypass and nutrition absorption
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to shmily's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@@Djmohr Interesting information. I just talked with my dr. about the percentage of malabsorption. I asked him if he knew approximately what percentage of what we are eating we do absorb. He said he was not aware of any studies that have attempted to measure this. Have you heard of any estimates? I was wondering specifically about Protein. If I get in 100g of protein for the day, do I absorb most of it since it is absorbed after the surgical site? I am interested in your chart. If you do put your hands on it, scan it for us if you can. I figure the more information I have, the better I am able to make wise decisions about my daily nutrition goals. Thanks! -
Bariatric diet recipe sites?
Rebecca Jo Ragon replied to cpower100's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I use all the ones mentioned above plus those listed below. Note that they are not all for bariatric surgery meals specifically. However, some of them (like the Iron you) have cauliflower bread and pizza crust recipes and some other helpful recipes. http://barideliciousfood.blogspot.com/p/pancakes.html http://mynewselfbariatrics.com/recipes/ http://www.theironyou.com/2014/05/cauliflower-crust-grilled-cheese.html http://insidekarenskitchen.com/my-go-to-breakfast-dish/ -
Congratulations! Good job!
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At the half-way mark this morning (down 75.5). Woohoo! I wish the 2nd half would be as easy as the first; however, I know the hard work is ahead of me.
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