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BariatricPal Newsletter #outlook a {padding:0;} body{width:100% !important; -webkit-text-size-adjust:100%; -ms-text-size-adjust:100%; margin:0; padding:0;} .ExternalClass {width:100%;} .ExternalClass, .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td, .ExternalClass div {line-height: 100%;} #backgroundTable {margin:0; padding:0; width:100% !important; line-height: 100% !important;} img {outline:none; text-decoration:none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;} a img {border:none;} .image_fix {display:block;} p {margin: 1em 0;} h1 { color: white !important; } h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {color: #333333 !important;} h1 a:active, h2 a:active, h3 a:active, h4 a:active, h5 a:active, h6 a:active { color: red !important; } h1 a:visited, h2 a:visited, h3 a:visited, h4 a:visited, h5 a:visited, h6 a:visited { color: purple !important; } table td {border-collapse: collapse;} table { border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-lspace:0pt; mso-table-rspace:0pt; } a {color: #4a8aca;} /* Unhides cells that we set to hide in the HTML in case the client doesn't support style properly */ *[class~=hidePhone] { display : block !important; width : auto !important; max-height: inherit !important; overflow : visible !important; float : none !important; } *[class~=hidePhone][width="30"] { width: 30px !important; } *[class~=hidePhone][width="40"] { width: 40px !important; } td[class~=hidePhone] { display: table-cell !important; } @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { a[href^="tel"], a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: none; color: blue; pointer-events: none; cursor: default; } .mobile_link a[href^="tel"], .mobile_link a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: default; color: orange !important; pointer-events: auto; cursor: default; } #userPhoto, .hidePhone, *[class~=hidePhone], td[class~=hidePhone] { display: none !important; } .responsive_table > tr > td, .responsive_table > tbody > tr > td, .responsive_table > tr, .responsive_table > tbody > tr { display: block; text-align: left; } html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tr > td, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tbody > tr > td, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tr, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tbody > tr { text-align: right; } .responsive_row { margin-bottom: 10px; } .responsive_fullwidth { width: 100% !important; } } @media only screen and (min-device-width: 768px) and (max-device-width: 1024px) { a[href^="tel"], a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: none; color: blue; pointer-events: none; cursor: default; } .mobile_link a[href^="tel"], .mobile_link a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: default; color: orange !important; pointer-events: auto; cursor: default; } Store Forums Magazine Activity Hey BariatricPal Members! I hope your summer is going well and you are finding ways to stay cool while you pursue your weight loss/maintenance and health goals! It can be hard to stay focused during the summer season if you have vacation plans, your kids are out of school, or the world just seems more relaxed, but maybe this newsletter can help. This is the run-down. • Balancing Act: Long-Term View versus Weight Loss Urgency • Summer Refreshment: Delicious and Nutritious • Get the Scoop in BariatricPal’s WLS Magazine! Enjoy the newsletter, and maybe you will take one or two ideas from it to make your weight loss surgery journey easier or more fun. To that end, we also hope you will logon to the BariatricPal Forums for more ideas and inspiration. Thanks as always for your support! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal WLS Balancing Act: Long-Term View versus Weight Loss Urgency Weight loss surgery is a life-time commitment. You have probably heard that a million times before, and hopefully you believe it. Now, take a second to think about how you are using that information. Are you using it to help you lose the most weight possible and to keep it off? Or are you using it as an excuse to delay taking action? Slow and Steady It is absolutely true that slow and steady wins the race. To begin with, do not jump into WLS before you are ready. Consider your options carefully, from whether you want WLS to which kind is best for you to whom you want as your surgeon. Then plan your surgery date at a time when you can take some time away from work and prepare your home and kitchen for recovery and the post-op diet. Once you’ve committed to weight loss, you’ll need to make serious changes, but they will only work long-term if they are sustainable. You will not be able to avoid all sugar for the rest of your life, and you probably cannot commit to an hour of exercise every day if you have never been a big exerciser. Stalls will happen, and you will make mistakes. Take a long-term view, and you will realize that these setbacks are nothing compared to the big picture. Today Is the Day On the other hand…carpe diem! You may have the rest of your life to lose weight, but that is no excuse to delay taking action. How many years have you postponed that healthy choice: a first phone call to a surgeon, or giving up your lunch-time trip through the drive-through? How many months has it been since you dared to step on the scale? How many weeks has it been since you lost weight? Start today, and it can be the first day of the rest of your healthiest life. Summer Refreshment: Delicious and Nutritious! Summer is a welcome break for some, and a three-month sweat-bath for others. Love it or hate it, though, it is here, so you might as well thrive. As a WLS patient or pre-op patient, thriving means losing weight and staying healthy – and in the heat of summer, staying healthy largely depends on staying hydrated. Here are a few ideas for getting your fluids, staying on the weight loss path, and getting to enjoy a few summer treats along the way. Cold Drinks for Hydration Water can actually taste pretty good, especially when you are hot, thirsty, and sweaty. Sometimes, though, it does not taste so good. You might have never been a water drinker, or weight loss surgery might have changed your taste buds so plain water is no longer a favorite. That’s okay. There are plenty of alternatives that are calorie-free or low-calorie and refreshing. • Flavor enhancers, with or without extras such as vitamins or electrolytes. • Iced tea, plain or with additions such as lemon or orange, mint leaves, or even a little unsweetened almond milk for a creamier but still low-calorie drink. Just make sure you choose decaf versions of tea. • Flavored water - noncarbonated, of course. You can work towards getting your 64 or more daily ounces by having a pitcher in the fridge for whenever you need it, plus carrying around a bottle filled with your favorite drink. You can also carry around a bottle that you fill with water and add flavor enhancer drops to whenever you are ready. Magic Moment: Swap Protein for Sugar Summer treats are not really known for being good for weight loss. Ice cream comes to mind (think: up to 300 calories for a half-cup, or 500 or more for a good-sized cone from a scoop shop), as do blueberry and peach pie (got room for 500 calories and 60 grams of carbs?) and smoothies (nothing like drinking 1,000 calories and 140 grams of carbs from a healthy-sounding fruit concoction). But wait! You do not need to say a painful goodbye to summer treats. You do not even have to give up your social engagements. Just swap protein for sugar while keeping some of your favorite flavors. Here are a few examples. • Protein Smoothies with up to 15 grams of protein and a minimum of sugar and carbs. Make them anywhere by taking a single-serve powder packet with you and stirring it into your water, milk, almond milk or other beverage on the spot. Enjoy the taste of berries, yogurt, bananas, and more. • Peach Mango Cooler with only two ingredients and a load of flavor. • Swiss Chocolate Root Beer Float, which tastes as good as it sounds, delivers satisfying protein, and has nowhere near the sugar you might expect. • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Shake, which kind of speaks for itself. Check out our other Recipes for great-tasting and healthy refreshing ideas. BariatricPal WLS Magazine! BariatricPal is a community of weight loss surgery pre-op and post-op patients who are here for information and encouragement, but there is more to discover! You may visit BariatricPal for the discussion forums, but there is a whole other section you can enjoy: the WLS Magazine. Straight from the Experts Our contributors know what they are talking about. • Registered dietitians (RD) who know what to eat, what not to eat, and how to approach eating in a healthy way. • Successful bariatric surgery patients who are now inspiring others through writing, speaking, personal training, and life coaching. • Clinical psychologists who can help you win the mental games and keep an eye out for pitfalls such as depression and replacement addictions. • Bariatric surgeons who know, well, pretty much everything about prep and recovery. Answers to Burning Questions… Some of the articles are on topics you might be wondering about or are worried about. They might be on the pre-op or post-op diet, getting ready for your pre-op consult or surgery, or getting in your exercise. Every WLS patient wants to avoid Weight Regain, so make sure you know the signs! Other recent articles in the WLS Magazine are on Chia and Hemp, and Finding the Light Within so you can be your own best guiding light in your journey. …And Questions That Come Up Out of the Blue What should you do when you are lying awake in the middle of the night and you suddenly decide you want to exercise tomorrow? Read how to get started with Exercise at Any Level in the magazine! When you are at the Farmer’s Market and you are tempted by the berries, check out The Benefits and Uses of Berries for WLS Patients using the BariatricPal app! Or if you find yourself at a summer party, make sure you stay on track with your diet with some tips in an article on Navigating Your Summer Social Calendar. Whether you have burning questions or you want to browse, come by BariatricPal today! Check out the WLS Magazine, join the chit-chat on the forums, and spruce up your profile! Thanks for sharing your summer with us! Stop paying for nutritional supplements! Check your insurance eligibility now! If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please click *|unsubscribe|* or to unsubscribe from ALL BariatricPal E-Mail Click Here.

At about 2 weeks, I could take normal sized drinks. At 3 weeks I could drink about 4oz at a time. I was on liquids only for the first week post-op. At week 2, I was allowed soft /pureed foods - eggs, yogurt, refried beans, etc. My energy level was better after I was able to add in some foods. As others said, you may need 4 weeks off work due to lifting restrictions. However at 4 weeks, you should be fine energy and hydration wise to return.

I'm 10 months post-op and can eat pretty much anything now. Scrambled eggs make my stomach feel like I've got a rock in it, same with bread. That one makes me sad, because I love a warm butter croissant! For breakfast most days, I make a protein shake with 2.75 oz vanilla Premier Protein shake, 1/4c 1% milk, 1/4c nonfat plain Greek yogurt, 1Tbsp agave syrup, and 1/2c frozen mixed berries (black, blue, & raspberry mix). I measure out the premier protein by weight into baggies & freeze them because the stuff doesn't keep once the bottle is opened. I never seem to get tired of my shake, but I do switch up the frozen fruit now and again. I don't care for the texture of overnight oats, so I'll make a serving of old-fashioned oats and split it into two servings and add whatever I want. If you're doing instant, go with a plain one so that you can avoid all of the added sugars. My breakfast shake gets me about 15g of protein, and it's just enough to fill me up. I can't drink the premier proteins straight because they're God-awful, so I concocted something that works for me and tastes great. Good luck!

I was sleeved 7/10 and I am on @ 2 week puréed diet. Soft scrambled eggs are the secret not boiled. Yogurt, cottage cheese, pea soup and mashed cauliflower, potatoes, hummus ( plain). Steamed carrots and butternut squash. Tonight I tried re fried beans. So far so good.

KKLIVE I had my surgery May 8 and I still feel that way and wonder when the "switch" will come and I can eat small portions of food where it tastes good. Everything has a sour taste, or is too sweet. Then I get a gagging type reflex off of yogurts and protein shakes as I can't stand one more. Today's lunch was 1/2 of refried beans with some shredded cheese, a tablespoon of salsa, and a teaspoon of sour cream on top. I had a protein shake this am and that's all I've had all day. I dread thinking about the next meal as it will look good, but there is that weird taste. But I'm hanging in there and hoping to turn a corner soon! Hope you do the same.

Isopure is 50g x 2 scoops. Double up on any powder. I bought protein soup mix from amazon and I love it. Also okios Greek yogurt has 10g of protein. And you can add milk to make it drinkable and add protein

Good evening everyone. Had some rotisserie chicken 3 ounces, with spinach salad 1/2 cup. Feeling tired and achy. Took pain medication and calling it a night. Also found and made a great desert, with blueberries, WW cream cheese and vanilla yogurt mix together place spoonful in between graham crackers and freeze.. Will let you know tomorrow how they taste.

My diet plan lists yogurt as acceptable, but not cottage cheese. I'm on high protein full liquids two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. I am now 3 days post-op. Sent from my Nexus 5X using BariatricPal mobile app

I was sleeved July 14. Feeling great. I'm able to eat pureed foods and drink most anything protein shakes, yogurt. I am getting around 60-80 grams or protein a day and around 500-700 calories. I started at 279 when I started two week prop diet and my weight was 273 on my surgery date and this morning my weight was 247. Crazy to lose 32 pounds in a few weeks.

Good afternoon everyone, back at work today. Slow but I'm getting around. For breakfast had small hard boiled egg with medium size coffee. Around 10:00 apple sauce and for Lunch just had chicken soup broth I have a yogurt that I'll eat later about 2.

I had a sf kona ice early out too and it made me so sick! So do sf slurpees. St popsicles are fine- I think the flavorings must me too concentrated or something like that. I got some sf butterscotch candies that I am realizing give me the sweats and hot flash- I'm wondering if they are really sf or if maybe they have a high sugar alcohol. This is a trial and error area for sure! I ate something on Saturday that made me so nauseous and gassy for hours and can't figure it out- I only ate yogurt, yoplait 100. I'm wondering if it uses the same artificial sweetener! Mich W Hw 223, SW 217 CW 196.6 GW 135

I'm August 7th too! I have trouble getting PMs. They don't show up on my phone. But I'd love to keep in touch here. I'm day 7 of the liquid diet. No solids not even yogurt. I've sort of adjusted but last night my family ate in front of the TV and I just had my shake and I just wanted a piece if cheese or a carrot. So hard! I get full liquids after surgery so I'm looking forward to cream of mushroom soup with the mushrooms strained out.

I'm June 19, down 30 and thrilled about it. I'm doing OK on water and protein, but getting 350-450 calories per day. It doesn't sound like enough, but I feel great and I go to work for my 10-hour days. I am still having lower GI distress about half the time, and that's getting really old. I made a commitment to eat plain NF Greek yogurt with active cultures every morning for breakfast, and that seems to be helping.

And I forgot to mention if I haven't gone, I cannot eat nothing appeals to me. Even now... I just don't want any of it. I just stick with yogurt and water and raw veggies. I eat meat on the weekends.

Full liquid: cream of wheat, low fat, sugar free yogurt, sugar free pudding( any flavor), jello, any low fat cream soup, and without a doubt, low sugar whey protein.

Sorry mine was pretty basic, but even on liquid different places have their own rules. EG i was not allowed yogurt others were. Crystal light, water, broth, pretty much all i had. - 4th july i had my surgery

I should add that I'm 4 months postop, so my quantity of food is much more than you can do yet. At 4 weeks out, my diet was mostly milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt. This particular plan was evolving between 8-12 weeks. The main thing was to make sure everything I ate contained significant protein.

Your body is reacting the way it wants to and that is fine. For some, fluids go down really easy - including soup, yogurt, etc. I remember when I went to puree/softs - I was so excited for that first scrambled egg. I ate two small forkfuls and thought I was going to die I was in so much pain. That was when I learned about eating slowly. As you move to your next stage be very mindful to pace yourself. Best of luck.

Tonight I ate yogurt around 5:15- drank water about a half hour later and then another 45 min after that we were walking around Walmart and got the hiccup so there's no reason I should have . So weird! Mich W Hw 223, SW 217 CW 196.6 GW 135

I eat regular yogurt because I hate greek yogurt. Dannon makes a low sugar variety that is really good. I eat cottage cheese, and I only eat berries because they are a lower carb fruit. Sometimes I eat beans, but in small amounts. Basically I eat a variety of fish, chicken, turkey, some red meat, eggs, and vegetables. I don't eat anything low fat, but I don't target a specific level of fat either. I eat cheese almost everyday. I do not eat bread, rice, or pasta. Potatoes are a very rare treat in very small amounts. Salad greens and avocados are a favorite of mine also. I don't feel deprived eating this way at all.

I drink about 8-10 cups of water a day. I eat and focus on protein. Typical day: breakfast of either 1 c. cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. Lunch of some sort of protein like tuna, chicken ( no more than 2 oz), or cottage cheese. Dinner again is protein in the form of meat and maybe some veg if I have room. Snacks, maybe some fruit, had watermelon the other day. I'm also not that active right now as it's 30-34 degrees C out. I'm not used to this heat and worried about dehydration.

Although I no longer work nights, I used to work 12-hour night shift at a hospital from 6:00pm to 6:30am when I was first sleeved. Here's how I ate: 6:30pm: breakfast, right after receiving report. 10:00pm: snack, usually cottage cheese or hard-boiled egg 12:00am: lunch, usually grilled chicken salad or hearty soup 3:00am: snack, usually cottage cheese or protein bar/shake 6:00am: dinner, usually protein bar or shake 8:00am: bedtime snack, usually cottage cheese or yogurt

Wow! What a difference! Day 1 2 and 3 were painful and horrible. Finally today I'm feeling 1000x better!! I was able to eat 6 Oz protein broth and 2 TBS Greek yogurt + a bit of water. I'm down 20 pounds since my pre-op liquid diet. Going back to work Monday and feel like I can handle it. Whew. I was miserable for a few days. Good luck all!

Wow! What a difference! Day 1 2 and 3 were painful and horrible. Finally today I'm feeling 1000x better!! I was able to eat 6 Oz protein broth and 2 TBS Greek yogurt + a bit of water. I'm down 20 pounds since my pre-op liquid diet. Going back to work Monday and feel like I can handle it. Whew. I was miserable for a few days. Good luck all!

I love that you included your average macros, it made it really easy to visualize. I'm so glad that's working for you. Do you ocasionally eat certain foods like greek yogurt, beans, fruit etc? For me at least giving up those foods makes me hesitant about a keto diet. But it should still be ok for a regular low carb diet i think.