Airstream88

I'm not on here much as most of you are pre surgery or going through the weight loss process. I do pop up now and then just to let you know what's doing in terms of living life post WLS.
I'm four years post surgery and have been in maintenance for about 2 1/2 years. When I do come on the boards, I see posts about what to eat, what not to eat, how much weight has been lost, how much has been gained, and other similar topics. When I was in the early stages of my weight loss journey, i read and posted alot regarding those same issues. Now that I'm further out, I don't focus on the details...I just focus on living my life as a normal sized person with all that entails.
I just wanted to post these two pictures to show the new folks that you can be successful with weight loss. Know that while I'm smiling in the before and after pictures, I was not happy in the before shots because of the issues surrounding my obesity. Also know that I have been, and am still in therapy to address my food addiction and the root causes of my obesity. It's my path and know that I'm not advocating that this should be part of yours.
Again, I'm here just as a reminder that once the newness is over, the weight loss is done, and the emotions settle down....this is the reason I had the surgery. It's about health, mobility, and living my life rather than watching from the sidelines.

High fat foods can cause dumping which can result in hours in the bathroom. It was explained to me this way:
Part of your intestines have been bypassed - the part that breaks down food coming directly from the stomach. The intestines below that are not used to receiving food that hasn't been digested fully and don't know how to deal with it. So your brain decides the offending food (fat or sugar) needs to be get rid of and sends the Water in your body to that location to flush it out - causing diarrhea. Additional symptoms can include: Bloating, Sweating, Abdominal cramps and pain, Nausea, Heart palpitations and fast heartbeat.
A friend came to a party at our house several years ago that had Bypass many years ago. She disappeared and someone finally approached me and said she had been in our bathroom for several hours. She had eaten something she wasn't used to and had experienced dumping.

When I started my journey I was totally against Bypass and only wanted the sleeve. But at the point where I was ready to schedule surgery I picked Bypass on the recommendation of my surgeon and because I didn't want to have another surgery if I developed GERD from the Sleeve. Four months out I am very happy with my choice. I haven't experienced any negative side effects thus far. I do believe the fear of dumping does help me to resist really bad food choices. I have not tried any really sweet things except for a Hershey's Dark chocolate kiss and 1/2 of a really tiny cupcake. Even though I tolerated them I would not try to eat a full-sized dessert out of fear of dumping. I've also stayed away from fried foods for the same reason - fear of spending hours in the bathroom afterwards.
I don't think the complexity of the Bypass should be a showstopper as long as you are confident that your surgeon is experienced and qualified.

Initially I wanted the Sleeve but my surgeon felt the Bypass was the better option for me. After reading up on both, I decided to go with the Bypass. I wanted to have only 1 surgery and was also concerned about getting Reflux with the sleeve. I'm 4 months out and very happy with my decision. I've not had any dumping episodes - I don't eat fried foods or things containing high sugar but I am able to have a Dark chocolate Hersey's kiss now and then. I'm able to eat most meats, cheese, nuts, multigrain crackers/bread, etc and don't feel deprived. Probably the only thing I miss is Pasta.

So very sorry for your loss. I know it will be hard but you need to give up the alcohol. It's empty calories that aren't doing your body or your mind any good. Please find a grief counselor so you can work through your feelings without sabotaging your weight loss.

Wish I could help but the pureed stage was the most difficult for me. I am a visual eater and just couldn't bring myself to puree meat and then eat it. I ate mashed potatoes, applesauce, ricotta bake, yogurt and drank my Protein shakes.

I started at 371 (actually 382 but lost 14 pounds prior to surgery). I had RNY on 10/17/16 and I have lost ~65 pounds in 3 1/2 months. I lost the most the first month - 37 pounds, followed by 9 pounds the second (was sick for a month), then 14 pounds the third. My surgeon wants 120 total gone by month 6 - we'll see.
I'm not giving myself any timetable, just enjoying the new me that's emerging after decades of being overweight. I've gone from a Catherine's 5x to a 2x. My knee pain is much better - still there but better managed on way less medication than prior to surgery. I am no longer pre-diabetic.
I'm very glad I had the surgery!

I started at 371 (actually 382 but lost 14 pounds prior to surgery). I had RNY on 10/17/16 and I have lost ~65 pounds in 3 1/2 months. I lost the most the first month - 37 pounds, followed by 9 pounds the second (was sick for a month), then 14 pounds the third. My surgeon wants 120 total gone by month 6 - we'll see.
I'm not giving myself any timetable, just enjoying the new me that's emerging after decades of being overweight. I've gone from a Catherine's 5x to a 2x. My knee pain is much better - still there but better managed on way less medication than prior to surgery. I am no longer pre-diabetic.
I'm very glad I had the surgery!

My NUT believes in moderation and so do I. We are to eat 5 times a day and two meals may have 1 serving of multigrain and two meals may have 1 serving of fruit AFTER Protein and we can have 3 servings of good fat (includes nuts). I don't eat much bread (and if I do its toasted so it won't swell) but I do eat multigrain crackers and popcorn. Fruit every now and again because there just isn't much room left after eating the Protein. I must say I haven't had any issues with clumps of hair falling out and don't have much problem with Constipation. I've lost over 60 pounds in 3 months.

Wish I could help but the pureed stage was the most difficult for me. I am a visual eater and just couldn't bring myself to puree meat and then eat it. I ate mashed potatoes, applesauce, ricotta bake, yogurt and drank my Protein shakes.

Wish I could help but the pureed stage was the most difficult for me. I am a visual eater and just couldn't bring myself to puree meat and then eat it. I ate mashed potatoes, applesauce, ricotta bake, yogurt and drank my Protein shakes.

We are having people over. i'll make some WLS friendly stuff and some things my hubby and guests like as well.

My NUT believes in moderation and so do I. We are to eat 5 times a day and two meals may have 1 serving of multigrain and two meals may have 1 serving of fruit AFTER Protein and we can have 3 servings of good fat (includes nuts). I don't eat much bread (and if I do its toasted so it won't swell) but I do eat multigrain crackers and popcorn. Fruit every now and again because there just isn't much room left after eating the Protein. I must say I haven't had any issues with clumps of hair falling out and don't have much problem with Constipation. I've lost over 60 pounds in 3 months.

My NUT believes in moderation and so do I. We are to eat 5 times a day and two meals may have 1 serving of multigrain and two meals may have 1 serving of fruit AFTER Protein and we can have 3 servings of good fat (includes nuts). I don't eat much bread (and if I do its toasted so it won't swell) but I do eat multigrain crackers and popcorn. Fruit every now and again because there just isn't much room left after eating the Protein. I must say I haven't had any issues with clumps of hair falling out and don't have much problem with Constipation. I've lost over 60 pounds in 3 months.

We are having people over. i'll make some WLS friendly stuff and some things my hubby and guests like as well.

You really have to throw away the old diet mindset which equated low calories with accelerated weight loss. Getting in your Protein and Water is the most important - not fretting over calories. You will feel the restriction once you start eating Protein dense foods like chicken, turkey, shrimp, etc. Once I was cleared for all foods, about 31 days out, 3 bites of chicken filled me up. That's why "protein first" is the golden rule after WLS. You won't have room for anything else!
I would say that about a month out I was getting in about 400 - 600 calories. At 3 months, I'm now up to 800 - 1000 which my surgeon's nurse said is about right. My protein goal is 70 - 90.

You really have to throw away the old diet mindset which equated low calories with accelerated weight loss. Getting in your Protein and Water is the most important - not fretting over calories. You will feel the restriction once you start eating Protein dense foods like chicken, turkey, shrimp, etc. Once I was cleared for all foods, about 31 days out, 3 bites of chicken filled me up. That's why "protein first" is the golden rule after WLS. You won't have room for anything else!
I would say that about a month out I was getting in about 400 - 600 calories. At 3 months, I'm now up to 800 - 1000 which my surgeon's nurse said is about right. My protein goal is 70 - 90.

I'm at 12 weeks and I average about 800 - 1000 calories a day. On the days I work out I try to get in 90 grams of Protein and they tend to be the days I hit 1000.

It's normal. Your body is just trying to adjust to all the changes being forced upon it. Make sure you are getting in your 64 oz of Fluid and getting close or meeting your Protein goal each day.

I'm at 12 weeks and I average about 800 - 1000 calories a day. On the days I work out I try to get in 90 grams of Protein and they tend to be the days I hit 1000.

I keep track of mine to make sure I'm eating enough. At 12 weeks out I'm averaging about 800 - 1000 calories a day (right on target according to my Dr's nurse) depending on my Protein intake. My Protein goal is 70 - 90. I try to hit 90 on the days I'm working out.

I started my journey adamant I was going to get the Sleeve but my surgeon felt the Bypass would be a better choice due to my BMI of 62. My co-morbities were high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and osteoarthritis. After I finished the requirements for surgery and was ready to submit to insurance, I decided to go with the bypass. While I did not have any issues with reflux pre-op, I felt I wanted to have only 1 surgery and not be someone who down the line required a revision due to reflux, etc.
So far I have not had any issues. I recovered well and can eat all approved solid Proteins (beef, chicken, shrimp, etc)

The Mint chocolate Chip is pretty good. You are supposed to let it sit out for 10 minutes or so, otherwise it can taste icy.

I just tell people I had Weight Loss Surgery. If the discussion goes further and they ask which kind, I'll tell them that I had the Bypass.

The Mint chocolate Chip is pretty good. You are supposed to let it sit out for 10 minutes or so, otherwise it can taste icy.