learn2cook

I got my hunger back just after the third month so maybe it’s that? I like to think like a scientist so I would do experiments with using the medication vs not. I would also ask my doctor if they could substitute a prescription. I would also look into the possibility of special holiday foods being a little too persuasive. Winter holidays and parties trip me up every year. I now go onward with a plan that this year seems to work. I survey the food, pick one or two bites so I won’t feel deprived. I also eat my normal healthy choices before going. Good luck finding what works for you. (I put peppermint lip gloss under my nose for a pie sale. It worked!)

You have made a fantastic start. Write down all your thoughts in a journal. I found it has really helped me reset later when I mentally went off track. I’m really happy for your recovering overall health!

Yes, @Trish662 , I had the exact same situation only I’m 5’4”. I was 53 yrs old when I had surgery in August, and had a long stall in December and bloodwork came back iron anemia. It took a month of faithful iron supplements with vitamin C during my lunchtime (coffee, milk products, PPT, magnesium supplements all make taking iron at other times cancel out absorption). You will have to find a 4 hr window (nothing 2 hrs before and nothing 2 hrs after) that works for your absorption. I ate meatloaf, meatballs and ground grass fed beef with a small amount of marinara or mild salsa for lunch meals as well. At the time I could only eat 3 oz of protein due to restriction (dietitian still pushing for 4oz per meal even now). I get my 60-80 grams of protein per day in easily now! After that grueling iron work I did start loosing weight much more regularly 3-4 lbs a month and kept loosing weight until 2 years and 4 months. I had RNY so I need to stay on top of the iron absorption issue regularly. If I forget to take the iron with C for a week, I feel sluggish and 4-5 lbs shows up quickly. It takes about another week to get the weight and iron back on track (says the bloodwork and doc). You’ll feel better soon and your stall will end quickly. I take Centrum Women’s 50+ tablets in the morning with Calcuim and D3, then additional Nature Made Iron 65mg with Trader Joe Vitamin C complex at lunchtime. I found my magnesium low too so I take that at night with a probiotic, Trader Joe’s is the cheapest that doesn’t hurt my stomach or pocketbook but you will probably find something you like better. I don’t count carbs, but I find if I eat any simpler carbs like an apple or oatmeal I dump. I also throw off all my electrolytes and get wicked muscle spasms. Gatorade Zero or similar products help me stay balanced, and I stayed away from most carbs except veggies during the loosing phase. I can eat the same or more calories in fat and loose, but if it’s carbs, stall, stall, stall. You will find your sweet spot, pun intended.

Congratulations on your new you! My RNY surgery was August 12, 2021. My biggest fear before WLS was maintenance. I kept loosing until 2yrs, 3mo. There were a number of stalls, a couple of gains, but maintenance isn’t that bad. The stats are in the file on here, but I lost 75lbs before surgery, and 75lbs after. My tops are the same size as when I was 5’7” and 140lbs at age 20 so I think I’m there (I’ve aged and shrunk, and acquired a load of skin since then. It all hangs around my belly apron and above my knees.) I’m 56yrs old and love being active and staying active is my passion. The trick is to find activities you love, then let yourself obsess over them! The secret to my maintenance is smell. I have wicked allergies and noticed I loose weight easily when I can’t smell anything. So, I “forget” to take my nasal spray, or wear a mask with peppermint scent in it. Viola, 5-10 lbs falls off in a week. Thankfully, I also dump on sugar so I don’t need to do the smell trick often :)

I stalled about that same time too. I was still loosing, just slower. I added probiotics and personally worked on getting better sleep (meditation, CBD, journaling stress out, etc). The weight kept going down in spurts. It was just random spurts until the 2&1/2 year mark. Then I had to be super mindful and pay attention to my vitamins/minerals. It helped me to join some groups like Dr. Wiener , and a hiking club, just to be with like minded people who were trying to be healthy. I hope you find your tweaks and habits that help you :) Yes, there’s more gas in your tank to burn. It is possible.

Yeah Onederland!

I wish you a happy healthy journey on your surgery and weight loss. I saw April Laren on YouTube had the DS and was very honest about her first few weeks. She might be worth a look.

I bet you didn’t have any trouble bending over to reach it either :)

I’m glad you’re enjoying yoga! I just throw my mat in the front loader with color wash (cold) once a month. I spot clean after a sweaty class with sensitive baby wipes. Some in the class use Clorox wipes. The instructor throws hers in the washing machine cold too. We all hang them to dry. They were “invented” by a woman who saw that the non-slip pads under rugs helped her. Angela Farmer was her name.

Most of the people on here have said it. I do cook most of my food now, hence the name. I think I’m weird because I like to food prep. I weigh myself at least once a week or check how my jeans fit. Then jump back on track (if I’ve wandered) by weighing food, measuring, recording and checking in with my son or a friend to hold myself accountable. I stay in touch with my bariatric group of fellow WLS patients because it’s good positive energy from people working hard to maintain weight loss. I pop on here too, again nice positive energy from folks trying to be supportive and helpful staying healthy!

Lots of people have posted about food, so I’ll tell you my behavior changes I make. I measure my protein on a scale. My personal dietitian told me 4oz protein per meal, or diabetic protein count 20grams. I record it either online in a phone app, or write it down. I can eat as much raw veggies or baked, or steamed veggies as I like, but only at meals with protein. No root vegetables due to sugar content. I drink 2litters of water, sometimes more during the day. I take my vitamins daily. Three meals look like that, then I’m back on track. If I’m hungry, one boiled egg before bed. That’s what the dietitian told my 5’10 son too. When we really want results we share and compare information to hold each other accountable, including weighing in on the scale. I watch the glucose goddess online for tips and recipes, and Dr. Weiner. In maintenance the fruit, nuts, seeds, cheese can come in one once quantities- those are “extras.” Alcohol is only for maintenance, just major holidays. Recap; weigh/ measure food, record it, share with a trusted friend or family to keep yourself accountable. Your dietitian should be telling you what a portion of protein is for you specifically.

I’m going to reiterate the above poster, you honestly can’t compare yourself to others. My tweak is that you might not get to “the weight of your dreams.” As an older post menopausal woman I am a powerhouse of strength that lives quite comfortably on 800-1000 kcals a day and still weighs roughly 200lbs at 5’4”. I honestly can’t eat less food or risk malnutrition. I work an extremely strenuous job physically with severely disabled children. I wear size 16-18 American bottoms and size large or size 14-16 tops, large dresses. The only things that jiggle is leftover skin. I know I’m one injury away from switching to general education kids, but I’m living life full throttle and enjoying it! So, you are doing awesome work! Keep following your plan and taking care of yourself. You’re way younger than me so you have an honest shot at getting all the way down. BUT, who you are isn’t determined by how much you weigh. Are you staring down diabetes anymore? Are you pursuing your life goals, career goals, kindness to self goals? Are you involved in real life relationships and groups? Just from your post I can tell you are a caring person that works hard to make things better. Keep going! (Therapy helps you see fabulous you too.)

I love Summerseeker’s recipe, I have added a deep umami flavor with the addition of one small tin of tomato paste. It’s very thick and sticky like margarine, I’m not sure if other countries call it something else. Sometimes I put cooked buffalo meat in it for a good start towards chilli, (and beans of course.) Then it’s often served over cooked spaghetti squash (fork released) or shocked zucchini ribbons made with the carrot peeler.

This explains the reaction from the WLS center from my recent bloodwork. I had fasted like they had asked and my blood glucose levels were at 70. That’s the cutoff within normal range. I’d never had a problem fasting before surgery, and was never diabetic. This must be a more common post WLS issue. I also asked why one apple slice can make me dump? The answer was that I’ve fine tuned my body for only low glycemic levels so little bites can send it spiraling. The doc and dietician said to eat protein to counteract it, and to pair (whatever) with protein. It was the same response Catwoman got.

This may not be related to your bypass. I suggest talking with your regular doctor for a sick visit. Your doctor can run more tests to puzzle out what’s going on. Just keep your fluids up by small sips (like a child’s medicine cup then wait 5 minutes before another sip) and push some Gatorade Zero to keep your electrolytes stable while figuring this out. There’s some nasty viruses going around. Let’s hope it’s something simple like that, but get checked out.

Like most things, needing iron or not should be driven by data, not noise from social media. Your blood levels taken at the doctor’s office/lab will tell you what you need to do. Your data is specific to you and no one else, and it’s just a snapshot of your health at that time. Next year might look different and that’s ok too.

I’m a little surprised that your doc suggested the sleeve if you’re already having esophagus problems. I’m not a doctor, but my esophagus hernia excluded sleeve surgery automatically. Yes repairing can happen the same day. Be prepared for recovery taking a little longer with a sore and swollen throat. Everyone looses weight and recovers at different speeds. Just keep thinking about how much you are improving your health and quality of life.

Yeah, the new sizes and THE OPTIONS are a real head spinning thing for a while. Well done!

It’s so nice to see your rewards for hard work. Well done!

Super! You rock!

B e a u t I f u l !

I’m in the same boat. The best I could do so far is the skort every day knit selection from Woman Within. I can hike, bike, jog, and walk without pulling the legs down. Because I’m so pear shaped I size up to get over my hips then cinch the waist with the tie otherwise they fall down. In the 90’s I found longer spandex bike shorts from Walmart that went to my knees. The problem I have is the band around the bottom of the legging type is too tight and the waist is too big. I started wearing long men’s swim trunks that have a tie waist but go to my knees. Columbia and LL Bean have been my favorites for long men’s swim shorts. I picked swim shorts because there’s a tie waist. The fabric of the shorts are stiff and thick so they stay where they belong. I size up to get them over the hips and butt. I did yoga in them with a longer T-shirt, and there were no unexpected surprise crotch shots lol.

I dump on one bite of popcorn, or an apple slice, or a bite of cucumber. (I am bringing it up to the doctor. I honestly thought all people who dump flake out that easily, but after a while on here, I think I’m an anomaly.) You are fresh out of the gate with this surgery so…I don’t know. Just having a flushed face alone may be a slight blood sugar change. Did you follow up by not eating more of anything and seeing what happens? Experiment and see what the doctor says. If nothing happens after an hour or two, it might just be a little glucose wave. Normal.

Yeah, the warm face flush is another sign I’m dumping. I can get it from one bite of something. I had 5 almonds for a snack yesterday and it set me off. I’m going to ask my WLS doctor more about it. It’s just more reason to eat protein first and stick to proper meals.

I have moderate to severe asthma and in the past all allergists and pulmonologists said, “it’s because you’re fat.” So, now I’m mildly obese but still have terrible breathing and finally got the medical care I need. My peak flow meter is regularly registering at 500, the same as in my 20’s. I’m in my 50’s and sometimes my meter will go to 600 now! On the one hand I’m psyched that I’m exercising and breathing as well as I did in my 20’s. (On the other hand I’m furious that this took years of advocacy on my part.) Yeay me! I made good happen! Feel free to switch doctors if you’re not listened to after you’ve tracked your data, and done your research.