learn2cook

Hard work pays off, congratulations!

Oh @Heather E , my thoughts are with you! At least you were already making moves to improve your health! Best wishes and keep us posted.-Meg

Congratulations! I really like how you communicated effectively for yourself to get a change to happen in your household! It’s amazing all the things you can do now, Weightloss and beyond.

I still feel hunger after bypass. I feel light headed and weak feeling. I do drink my fluids religiously so I realize it must be hunger. There is no sensation of fullness so I measure everything possible. So, I’m still trying to sense a signal or off switch. I’m glad metformin is helping @lizonaplane!

I had some Gatorade zero to balance electrolytes and or banana, and some small amount of magnesium, like milk of magnesia, and a calcium chew or milk. I used to be a serious runner and it alleviated cramps like Charlie horses. I have 2 prunes and a calcium chew when I’ve overdone exercise. Basically you are restoring potassium and calcium. The magnesium relaxes muscle (and most of us need a little boost in the other uses). It should take about an hour to half a day to feel the effects.

Congratulations on your surgery and I hope you continue to have a peaceful recovery ❤️‍🩹!

I would try a three pronged approach. Obviously start with your surgeon. Ask for a referral to a bariatric therapist for some back up. I would also meet more regularly with the bariatric dietitian for hands on real tactics to feeling full. I would be tempted to go back to WW as well for group chat and accountability. I had to get a new hobby of crochet to keep my hands busy and give warm clothing to the homeless shelter to “feel full.” You will find your fullness and feel comfortable in your body too.

I expected to gain a pound or two. Just you what you need to do to get back on track; walk, drink water, track your food. You will be right back on the loosing side in no time. Remember some of holiday foods have higher sodium contents and be patient with yourself while you flush that sodium out with water. Remember the good feeling of being with loved ones and keep moving forward to your goals. You can do this!

I pack several days worth of food prepped just for me in little 2 and 4 oz. containers. I like eating the same thing over and over. I make sure to put some kind of sauce on the protein to keep it moist. Most meats tend to dry out the longer you have them unless they are tightly sealed. Of course everyone’s taste changes. I only prep three days ahead.

Congratulations!

Your #2 resonated with me, “ give yourself permission to succeed rather than FAIL.” Yep, I’ve been there. Thanks for your honesty and keeping things real.

Not only is this a great celebration for you but it is encouragement for the rest of us. Congratulations and thank you!

Gage makes a lactose free yogurt I can tolerate. All Cabot Hill Fam cheeses from Vermont are also lactose free. Cabot hill makes a 50% lite cheddar that tastes good. Watch out for deli meats because they are all made with a milk binder except Boar’s Head meats. Be careful with any “worsted “ meats too. I just had shakes and Fage yogurt during the mushy phase because everything mushy has lactose. Ground meat phase will come soon and get better, sorry.

Congratulations 🎊🎈

Congratulations on 4 years of healthy living!

My program recommended College low salt/ low fat broths. I like the chicken bone broth but I think any broth will do. After surgery make sure it’s Ls/LF because the fat content can bother healing tummies. Drinking warm drinks helps many after surgery.

I’m going through a “get back to plan” moment too. I’m just focusing on one day at a time. I started by making sure I drank my water. If I drank my water I was on plan. Then I refocused on protein and measuring. Then if I could do that, I was on plan. Lastly, I had to track my food intake. If I was tracking I was on plan. It took about a week to resort myself but it’s working. I realized I was just tired of the healthy lifestyle I had been following for a solid year. I went to yoga and meditated about my intentions and checked in with myself. The Halloween candy seriously made my knees hurt and caused my asthma to wheeze again. The struggle is real. I’m just getting through this lifetime of healthy choices moment by moment, day by day. It’s a little overwhelming to think farther than that. You will get back to plan when you are ready. Start with one thing.

Your body language says so much; the before looks like “do I have to do this?” And, after looks like Super Woman! Your work has paid off!

There’s a lot going on here. I agree with the posters above. I would also talk with a dietitian and knowledgeable pharmacist. They would know more about medication/vitamin interactions and the brain. I had bypass so our vitamin requirements have us separate the daily vitamin and extra sublingual B vitamins (all B’s together) and calcium citrate w/D chews. I would talk with professional med/vitamin/food people and explain your depression as a symptom. I would also bring this up with whoever prescribed your depression medication because they should also be updated on blood/brain barrier interactions with vitamins. Many people on this forum and on YouTube have difficulty finding their balance emotionally after loosing significant weight. You are not alone, this is a known side affect. There is an emotional effect, but also a brain chemical effect. Please keep us updated on your progress. I love how you are curious and fighting for your health by asking good questions.

I’m three months post op and feel absolutely great now. You will feel so much better too after your body heals. Likely you will surprise yourself each day with another activity you couldn’t do before. Like doing a lunge in yoga or walking up the stairs without getting winded. Focus on your goals. I kept in mind that during the actual surgery I was going to be asleep. I wasn’t in charge of doing the actual surgery. It’s silly but it calmed me down. All I had to do was go to sleep and wake up, and I did. I was still me and felt like me afterward too. You will too. I also use a piece of jewelry as an anchor to remind myself to keep my focus on weight loss and self care. (WW idea) I have a ring. I couldn’t wear jewelry into the hospital but tapped my finger to remind myself of self care when I got scared. My old WW leader had a charm bracelet from her MIL who had died from diabetes complications. I still use my ring to refocus after missteps like Halloween candy lol.

This post really made me think about my relationship with food and drink again. I’m three months out with my bypass tool. I did graze one weekend on Greek style pizza and wine. I really enjoyed the company, could enjoy the wine with only two ounces. I did pack away 4 slices over 2 hours though. I had to really work hard a solid week to get back to my weight before that gathering. Looking back, the free laughter outside with friends was what I enjoyed. It felt like the openness pre-Covid. Keeping the feelings and why needs to be in front all the time. I am reminded that surgery is just a tool. Being social with friends safely is precious, and my physical health doesn’t need to take a toll. I’m going to track on an online app next time and plan ahead better. But you won’t have to stop socializing either, because I equate socializing with positive mental health. Like me you will have to evaluate your food and drink pitfalls and navigate through your strengths and weaknesses. For me, each gathering, each person, each situation is different. I have go into the next one with a better plan, but I promise I will still enjoy the socializing!

Pre-surgery I loved eating eggs every morning for breakfast. I would put leftover veggies in and Cabot Hill 50% lite cheese. After surgery I can’t tolerate them. The dietitian suggested trying them at the 6th month mark. Smelling chicken other people are cooking makes my stomach cramp too, but pork and steak are back on the menu, venison too.

I have such loose flabby breasts now, so I smooshed to really flat pancakes. I’m not super sensitive so the feeling was the same, just deflated.

Congratulations on your journey to a healthier life. I had terrible asthma due to my long surgery and anesthesia (6hrs). I had to go back to the ER after going home because it was getting worse and couldn’t use steroids (slows healing). Then the team was worried it was a blood clot. Eventually the WL team realized it truly was asthma due to anesthesia and gave me a shot of vitamin A and a half dose shot of steroids. If you still have a harder time breathing, say something while still in the hospital. Ask about vitamin A. Truly best wishes to you on your journey!

I like to bike and walk. I love lifting weights but noticed my weight comes off faster when I’m doing something aerobic. Lately I’ve gotten back into yoga.