Nhope

I'm sorry things are so rough. I don't blame you for feeling discouraged!! Low blood pressure is something I've struggled to manage since my bypass surgery 18 months ago. I needed to drink more water and also not shy away from salt. But one of the docs explained to me that it takes awhile for even your vascular system to reset after surgery and weight loss, and I've noticed it's getting better. I hope you find some light at the end of the tunnel soon.

Wise ones, At my goal weight and just over 18months past surgery, I am becoming aware of some of my old, bad, eating habits creeping back in. The one I'm focusing on at the moment is this: When I am eating, and just after I'm done, all I can think about is eating more and/or again. I'm not hungry, but it seems that if I haven't eaten so much that I feel uncomfortable or sick, I just want more. I try not to give in, try to wait for a specific period of time, try to write down what I've eaten immediately.... but I'm really struggling with this. I guess I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and start gaining weight again. This hasn't happened, but I worry about my capacity for self-fulfillment of my fears! Any advice or empathy is welcome! I'm going to work on checking in more on this forum again. I had gotten out of the habit in the last year, but I think it will help.

Thanks for the empathy and the tips!! I'm really bad about the eating at the table thing, I have to admit. I can do better.

Thank you all for the input, encouragement and advice about breaking old habits. I'll continue tweaking and working on all of this in order to stay healthy. What I've been remembering is that WLS is a tool, not a cure. In the end, I may have changed my physiology with surgery, but I didn't change my psychology. I had 53 years to build bad eating habits and behaviors, and that led to my being more than 200 lbs overweight, despite years of dieting, therapy, plans, and schemes. Unfortunately, now that the initial recovery period from WLS is ending, many of those habits and behaviors are showing up again. I've been trying to work on them all along and have to remind myself of the progress I have made: -I have slowed down my eating -I have become more conscious of portion size -I'm much more aware of the difference between "head hunger" and "stomach hunger" and how to feed each one -I've been working on positive activities to do in the evening, when I'm most likely to start thinking about snacking randomly. I'm still working on some other things, including starting to want more food before I'm even done eating. When that feeling comes, I try to stop mid-chew, and become aware of what I have in my mouth, using techniques from mindful eating. Then when I'm done eating, I try to recognize how long I still have the taste of the food I enjoyed in my mouth. I also try to launch into some activity or distraction to delay eating again. This all usually helps, I just need to be more vigilant about practicing what I preach. This is going to be a long journey...but I'm ready to try.

I have similar issues about vomit, and I did have to share a room, and yeah, she vomited. It was stressful but honestly I was so focused on my body that it I didn’t react by fleeing from the room or having a panic attack. Bring headphones and music to drown out noise. There will be a curtain do you shouldn’t have to see anything.

I saw the NUT today for my B12 shot and check up.. She did a metabolism breath test and recommended I eat more! First time I've ever heard that. I do track and measure everything and had been averaging between 1200-1400 cal a day. She said 2200 if I want to stop maintain and 1700 if I want to keep losing slowly. I'm going to aim for 1800 and start eating 2% yogurt and milk instead of fat free. That should help with feelings of fullness. My usual routine is: latte, yogurt, muesli, fruit, in the morning; cheese or tuna with veg and/or a slice of bread for lunch; soup packed with veg protein, beans, lentils, etc for dinner. Snacks: Annie's Crispy Bars, little bit of dark chocolate (my major splurge), Enlighten ice cream bar. I definitely get in all my protein and usually get in my fluids.

Thank you so much for your support and sharing. I've been away so couldn't respond, but I've read it several times over to give ma a much needed boost. I'd love to follow your blog!! It's always good to know we're not alone.

I'm 18 months post-surgery, at my goal weight, working out regularly, generally feeling good. But I realized during this holiday season that I'm leaving the honeymoon phase of post-surgery eating. I can eat more variety, and a little more at a time so I have to be more mindful. The hardest part is that I see some of my old, bad eating habits creeping back in: snacking at night, thinking about what I'll eat next even as I'm still eating something, justifying eating a little too much (or a lot). Even though I still can't really seriously overeat, I'm starting to worry about this slippery slope. I just keep waiting for the weight to come flooding back on as I lose more and more control over my food intake. I'd love to hear any words of support, encouragement, or wisdom from people who've been through this, or are going through it now! Thank you, and happy New Year.

I had my RNY with a gall bladder removal on Aug 4th. FWIW, here are some of the things I found most helpful. And yes, everyone is different, but I found it useful when others on this list shared their experiences, so here are some things that made the process a little easier for me: 1. In packing my overnight bag I only brought a change of underwear for the next day. I wore a caftan thingy both to and from the hospital so it felt like moving in and out of a nightgown. Ladies, I just skipped the bra at that point. 2. Also in the bag, I brought a pack of pre-moistened wipes. I am allergic to alcohol so I didn't want to rely on regular hospitals wipes and I was so happy to have my familiar, cooling, cucumber scented wipes to freshen up afterwards and to use on my forehead to soothe. 3. I was glad I thought to ask the nurse for an extra pillow to hold on my stomach. Getting up and down, it helped to put pressure on my incisions and muscles and have them strain less. 4. Music and headphones were essential and over-the-head ones, as opposed to earbuds, were much easier for me to keep track of with all the getting up and down nurses moving me around. 5. Best move I made all day was in the pre-op, after I was all set up, and had been given some pills that were making me dopey. My SIL who had been with me up to that point was still there and trying to keep me calm and distracted, and I just asked her to leave so I could have time alone for prayer (and silence!) All in all, things went smoothly for me, though the anesthesia really kicked my butt and it took me a long time to be able to get up and around. My first walk was at 4am when the took me to get weighed. It seemed kind of cruel at that point. Finally, my spiritual practice includes "mindfulness" and I'm using this opportunity of relearning what it feels like to eat to really focus on the whole experience. It doesn't make my protein drinks taste better, but it changes my intention toward them when I say I blessing of thanks for the opportunity to nourish and heal my body.

Yesterday was exactly one year since my RNY bypass surgery so it seems like a good time for an update and reflection. Some basic stats: HW-357 SW-317 Current Weight: 178 Inches lost: about 88" overall Dress size: High-32; Current-12 The most exciting change for me has been the ability to walk comfortably. The main reason I had the surgery was because I had developed issues with my feet and legs and was really limited in how much I could walk and I had constant discomfort. At the beginning of the summer I took a 3-week trip to Israel, a place I've been to many times and in the past have really suffered because there is so much walking, especially on steep stairs, cobblestones, hills, uneven ground, etc. This time I walked for hours and hours every day, climbed all the things that used to make me cry, and felt great. Not that I didn't have any pain, it was just all manageable. Not to mention the comfort of flying at half my size: fitting into seats and seat belts, not worrying about how much space I was taking.... As my feet have gotten better, I've been able to be more active overall. Swimming and aquacise classes have been a lifesaver. I started them about 6 months ago and they allowed me to stabilize and build up my core (post surgery,it was a mess) without a lot of stress on my joints. Now I've started to mix in other low-impact and weight building classes. As far as eating, I try almost everything, even if it's a few bites, and know that some things--fried stuff in particular--are going to be hard to handle. At least a couple of times a week a eat something that I had no problems with the last time I ate it, and this time it makes me feel sick. I don't throw up, just feel like the food is stuck going down. It generally passes after about a half hour. Most times, I can relate it to eating to fast or not chewing carefully enough. I've also hit the point where I am more careful not to overeat on the things that do go down easily, mostly bread and crackers. I'm happy that I have no problem with fruits and veggies, but now that it's the summer, I am trying to be careful not to eat too much fruit because I know the sugar content adds up. My weight loss has been pretty steady though it's starting to slow down. I had set myself the goal of 180, because it was about half what I weighed when I started. Now that I've reached it, and the one year mark, I'm thinking about only weighing myself every other week (I've been weighing every week) so that I can focus on evaluating how I'm eating, instead of weight lost. But I don't know if I'll have the willpower to resist the scale! One final unexpected change is that I am not constantly telling myself how fat and disgusting I am. I realize that line of thinking has been running through my head for way too many years and now it's gone. I hope for good, because I'm definitely happier without it! I've attached a before and after photo! Thanks for being an important part of this journey.

Yup, got a tattoo--and not my first one from this guy. My post-RNY celebration tattoo is o Russian nesting doll on my side.

I hope it all is going well for you--be patient! At first, managing the vitamins and the water felt like a full time job, but it becomes easier over time! Good luck.

I am one year out of an RNY bypass. My highest weight was 357lb, now I'm 178lb, Until this July, my answer to "was it worth it?" was "I don't regret it, but it was a hard decision and a difficult lifestyle change." Now I say, Yes, it was worth it. 100%. Why? Because I recently went on a vacation to a place I've been many times before, but this was the first time I've gone in a "normal" weight range. I was able to walk everywhere without being in pain or getting heat stroke. I was able to comfortably go everywhere I wanted to go. I was not able to eat everything I wanted, but I didn't go hungry. I haven't had any complications, but it's not a magic bullet--be realistic in your expectations and patient with your body. Mine is changing constantly as I'm able to exercise and everything settles. Be good to yourself. You are worth it.

My sisters: I'm 9 months and 150 lbs lost on this WLS journey and at this point, my whole body looks like a deflated balloon on a parade float--especially my breasts!! I went from a DD to about a C, and a 46 band to a 38 band. My problem is finding a good, everyday bra that contains everything into something resembling the shape of a breast. If the sides are too low, I get major underarm bulge, if the cup isn't quite right, I'm just misshapen. Anyone found a good solution? At least one a week I seem to be going to stores and trying on 10 bras that don't fit right. Unfortunately, I live out in the boondocks and there is no store that does any kind of fitting. Eventually I will have to travel to NYC for that. Thanks!

Wow, thank you. I'm going to have to set aside a whole afternoon for this project, but sounds like it will be worth it!

I had my RNY surgery Aug 4, 2017 so this seemed like a good time for a check in. I've lost just about 150 lbs since the whole journey started--110 since the surgery. Went from size 30-32 to 16. I've had some really noticeable "firsts" in the last couple of months: flying without having to use a seat extender, having someone who didn't know me before tell me that I was so much smaller than they (in my mind we were the same size), being able to shop in a "regular" store and have choices. My mobility and energy is so much better, though I'm still building strength from a foot and ankle condition, at least I'm able to make progress on them. Eating can still be a puzzle. I'm able to try just about anything and am much better at reading the signs that my body is giving me that I should stop eating. There still are times when I eat and then feel incredibly sick, but fewer than before. I never liked or ate yogurt before the surgery and now I have greek yogurt at least once a day. Though I'm less cautious about trying new things, there are some things I don't want to know if I can tolerate, like the sweets I have always had trouble eating in moderation. I'm ok with skipping them right now because I know it's a slippery slope and I want to keep losing. My sister reminded me that a few days after surgery, when I was just miserable, I said I wished that I could fast forward to the six month mark, and I was right, things really did turn a major corner then. I'm very proud of how far I've come.

In the last month, I've found myself getting really exhausted midday. I have an appointment with my nutritionist in a couple of weeks, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this--I'm about 7 months out now. I take all my vitamins and am getting enough protein, but still worry about malabsorption.(sp?) Thanks, N

Breakfast of champions: protein drink with a shot of espresso and a shot of miralax. Wow, I eat some weird things since my surgery. And that will be the last time I do the espresso, but sadly, the miralax is a necessity these days.

I encourage you to set a goal that isn't measured by weight loss, but by behavior--like having a plan and sticking to it. Then you'll know you've done everything you could, and your body weight isn't always within your control. I would have a hard time maintaining a 400-800 calorie per day intake. It would ultimately be too low for me, and I know from past experience that our bodies can go into "starvation mode" when caloric intake is really low--essentially, holding onto our fat and weight to slow starvation of the body down. Everyone has to find their own working level, so you might be right on target for yourself, but I'd check in with a nutritionist. I am aiming for 1000-1200 calories these days, weight loss has slowed a bit, but it's more realistic for the long term.

Have you tried Walmart? I found that to be a good place to find jeans under $30 that were great for transitions. My weight loss has been steady, but I know that it will slow down soon!

I'm 6 months out today! My highest weight was 357. On the day of surgery it was 317. Today it's 227. At surgery I wore a size 26-28; today it's 18-20. AND everyone is different!!

It's been six months since my bypass and here's where I'm at: 130 lbs lost (90 since surgery) 60 inches overall I feel close to normal, though eating is still a bit of a negotiation. I took my first long trip and the difference was amazing: no seat extender needed on the plane, much less leg swelling, able to walk around more easily. AND I was able to eat out for almost every meal! I bought stuff for breakfast and snacks to keep in my room--mostly high protein stuff like yogurt and edamame and protein drinks--and then I just ordered whatever I wanted at restaurants, knowing that I might only eat a few bites. I took some back to the hotel for later, but most often, gave away my "doggie bag". All in all, the travel felt good. I have started swimming, which is great, because my back and leg injuries are still preventing me from doing too much more. I'm looking forward to those being healed and managed so I can walk more and take some exercise classes and yoga. As I start to be able to eat more, some of the old feelings have emerged--like worrying when I'll stop losing as I eat more calories, and fighting the temptation to snack on high carb stuff. I'm trying to just keep practicing being aware of my hunger levels and whether I'm head hungry or stomach hungry. Even though I knew all along that the surgery wouldn't necessarily change behaviors, I still feel a little sad to be back to managing these feelings. I've avoided eating sweets like candy or cake, and pasta, because I don't want to know if I can eat them yet!! I'm almost at the first goal I set for myself, back when I couldn't imagine that I could ever be 225lbs again. I'm hesitant to set another goal at this point, but I'm looking forward to 180lbs. Right now I'm just losing with the food choices I'm able to make because of the surgery. When I start having to restrict calories in order to lose, I'll think more about having a fixed goal.

My first bad pain reaction was from an omelet at about the same time. I kept texting a friend saying: what the F%$% did I do to myself? Six months out and I still can't eat an omelet or scrambled eggs, but I can eat a poached egg or egg salad. Some other things are still random, but I try to remember to do small bites, chew a lot, and take a break after the first bite or two to make sure everything is ok. I also have to remember to listen to my body--as soon as I'm a little uncomfortable, I stop.

Actually, it was yesterday, and the fact that I didn't remember until today is a good indication that things are slightly more normal. Still losing steadily, had all of my blood tests redone for post-surgery comparisons and everything is now in normal range! I do have to get for an endoscopy on Monday to try to figure out why I still get this gnawing pain/hunger/nausea sometimes. I got it before the surgery too and had it checked out and the part of my stomach that was showing "erosions" is actually the lower part that I'm not longer using because of the surgery. Yet the discomfort continues. I think it may be a lactose intolerance, so I've started cutting back. Today I go for my first post-surgery hair cut so I'm expecting that I'll really see the difference in my face dramatically. I fly for the first time in a couple of weeks and am curious about how that will be now that I'm 100 lbs less than the last time I flew! I'll still bring my seat-extender, just in case. My major focus these days is getting the strength and stability back in my body. In addition to the surgery and weight loss, I've been dealing with foot and ankle injuries and back issues, so even walking the dog can sometimes be challenging. I joined the YMCA a couple of weeks ago and have been swimming and taking water aerobics classes, I think these will help in a gentle way. I've always really loved swimming in any event, I find it very relaxing, though not always convenient. Have a great weekend everyone!