Search the Community
Showing results for 'renew bariatrics'.
Found 17,501 results
-
Can I take liquid vitamins instead of meal replacement?
SleeveToBypass2023 replied to BrookeyB's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
You can use whatever protein shakes you want. I used ready made the first 2 weeks, then I bought protein powder from Arbonne and made my own. You can take liquid vitamins as long as they have the same amount of vitamins as bariatric vitamins do. I wasn't told not to take capsules or any kind of pills with the sleeve when I had it, but I WAS told that when I had my revision to bypass. It took a little bit but I'm able to take all my normal pills and supplements like normal now. -
Can I take liquid vitamins instead of meal replacement?
BrookeyB posted a topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hello! I am scheduled for my sleeve procedure on September 26. I have yet to purchase a meal replacement shake for right after my procedure. My hesitation is the Bariatric Advantage samples I’ve tasted are absolutely disgusting. I love regular protein powder, but these are way too sweet and the flavor is so synthetic tasting to me, it’s hard to get down. I know you’re not supposed to take capsule or chewable vitamins, right after surgery, but am I able to take liquid vitamins and a different protein right after surgery? Thanks for any help! -
The bariatric she is real and nothing will stop it. You need to make sure you stick to your protein amounts everyday because your hair needs it to produce new growth and grow (your hair can't produce protein but needs it). Collagen and biotin (as well as keratin_ are fantastic for helping your hair be softer, shinier, and healthier. BUT, it does nothing to actually prevent shedding or make it grow. Collagen is great for hair, skin, and nails as well as joints. For me, I use Codeage Platinum collagen powder. It has 5 kinds of collagen, biotin, keratin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin c. It's amazing, and I've used it for almost 2 years. It's everything I need for hair, skin, nails, and joints. Another thing I take is MSM. It's amazing for joints, but it also helps thicken hair (which is something I need since I've had 2 bariatric surgeries and my hair is seriously thin). Also make sure you take vitamin E. That's another things that is fantastic for skin and can be beneficial for hair, as well. I also use Living Proof thickening shampoo and conditioner and dry shampoo. It helps give my hair volume, which I desperately need right now. Hope all of this helps!!!
-
Holiday Travel and Bariatric Nutrition
lovvetyga replied to BaileyBariatrics's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Magazine
Balancing holiday travel with bariatric nutrition can indeed be a challenge. When I traveled to Dubai post my surgery, I was equally concerned about sticking to my dietary guidelines. Apart from the culinary temptations, I found a unique way to stay active and burn some calories - wakeboarding! It was not only a great workout but also an incredibly fun experience. Being on the water was refreshing, and it distracted me from overindulging in local treats. If you're looking for something active to do while in Dubai or want to try something different, check out https://yeprent.com/wakeboard-dubai. It might just be the holiday activity you need to maintain balance! -
It used to be that MFP had a lot of features that didn't work for bariatric patients, which is still true to some extent, but they've made updates. Like, it used to scold you if you ate fewer than 1200 calories in a day. You couldn't set goals of fewer than 1200 calories, so some of the tracking counts wouldn't really work, especially if you're focused on macros. Now I can easily set my daily goal to 800 and go from there. They've added more macro focused features and the ability to turn off "eating back" exercise calories. MFP still isn't great. You can't have more than 4 meal categories, for example. No tracking for mood or bowel movements (I def. track the latter on a separate form because of some experiences early on that I am not repeating). If I were starting food tracking anew, I'd probably use Baritastic, but after a decade I'm not switching from MFP.
-
Ditto to alllllllll the above. Collagen is great for hair, skin, and nails but it takes time and won't stop the "bariatric shed" from happening. I take Vital Protein's brand, I get it in a tub from Costco and throw it in my coffee every morning. It does help, but it takes time and consistency, especially for hair. As @Arabesque mentioned, hair is all dead stuff, so you won't see the benefits until it starts to grow out.
-
So I found out I have a uterine fibroid the size of an avocado and one the size of a jumbo egg (12cm and 6.5cm), and my uterus is apparently huge (the size of a 14 week pregnancy, I'm told). Well today was my follow up appt and I was told that my fibroids are so big, the only option I have is an abdominal hysterectomy (they are causing issues with really heavy bleeding all through the month, not at specific times for my period). We're looking at about 5 weeks out for the surgery. Apparently this is going to be a MAJOR surgery, and my doctor said I will have to do nothing, just at home, for 2 weeks at minimum but prefers me to take 6 weeks. WHAT??? 6 weeks??? She said since it'll be abdominal and not laparoscopic, it'll be 2 days in the hospital, a lot of pain, inability to sit up or do much walking during the first 2 weeks, then very slow going for the next few weeks after that. I mean...what??? ALSO... there's a part of my stomach, just above my belly button, that has always kind of stuck out. No matter what I do, it doesn't go down or get smaller. There's not really any pain, but I always thought it was because I was fat. But I've lost a lot of weight and it's still there. The gyn said it might be a hernia, but my bariatric surgeon never mentioned it during the surgery. If I have a hernia that was never found, I'd like to get it fixed. If it's not a hernia, I'd like to figure out what it is. It makes me look pregnant, and it really bugs me. The part below my belly button is my (apparently) huge uterus and fibroids. The part above my belly button is....who knows..... I'm just mentally worn out. I really thought I was done. I thought everything was going well. I don't have pain, I work out all the time, I'm thrilled with everything. And then.....boom. More crap. UGH..... This isn't a bariatric complication, so I'm very thankful for that. But I mean, SERIOUSLY??? More crap??? Sigh.... By the time I finish all this, I'm practically gonna have a brand new body. So at least there's that....
-
I can reheat lean ground beef no problems. But steak..... that's a big NO. Chicken too. If it's rubbery at all..nope. No matter how much I chew it, it seems to go down better if the meat is shredded and in some kind of sauce. Texture is a big factor for me to determine if it's going to stay down. At 5 months out, I seem to handle most foods better now. Reheating everything else has been just fine. But I did read on a few Bariatric websites, somewhere while researching surgery pre-op, to avoid reheating food in a microwave. I told my nutritionist what I read, and she also said like people here, that she'd never heard that before. But that info is out there, somewhere. I just don't remember where.
-
How did you lose the weight to get the surgery?
New To This23 replied to Theia103121's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Also the food choices I eat are nutrient-dense for example lunch or dinner is two slices of Daves Killer thin slice bread, toasted with hummus, sprouts, avocado, tomato and either 4 slices of turkey bacon or vegan bacon. I might eat rice with shrimp and asparagus, with strawberries. Breakfast is something like one thin slice of Dave's Killer bread, avocado, egg, and everything bagel seasoning. I found that I have a McDonald's egg McMuffin breakfast with coffee and no ham and it does not negatively affect my weight. I also on the advice of my bariatric nurse, who also had the surgery eat one big meal every once in a while, it helps me drop a couple of pounds by the next day. -
I was wondering (not to hijack the original thread) what is the difference between MFP and Baritastic. Is one more appropriate for bariatric surgery patients? I'm using the free version of MFP right now and it seems to be doing what I need it to, but is there important features I'm missing?
-
Today was my 1 month followup, 5 weeks post surgery. My dietician gave me a gold star review for my post op diet, and I graduated to Stage 4 of my program. Stage 5 should be approved in November, and that is the forever way of eating.
I had to go to a post op nutrition class as part of my appointment today. There was a young lady in there that had been eating WAY off diet, and she was not doing well... She had been eating fast food, but peeling the buns off, eating vegetables that were not well-cooked, and eating all kinds of foods that were not part of the detailed instruction that everyone in this program receives. We had SO many caveats from Day One to not try to jump ahead on the schedule for the foods that we eat. I was baffled that someone would decide to eat off program, especially so soon after surgery. She became tired of the liquids & soft foods, so she chose to eat ahead.
The result of her skipping ahead was that she had experienced a lot of vomiting & foamies, a lot of pain, and was unable to drink any fluids. She started feeling flushed and faint in class and had to be sent to the hospital to get some IV fluids.
The discipline that one needs for bariatric surgery cannot be overstated. We have to dig deep mentally and physically to get through surgery itself, learn new things, manage medications, and really lean into that crucial change of mindset and behavior. I hope that this young lady is able to get herself together to make the most of her surgery.
-
Great post. Thank you for the insight/update. So happy to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work.
I am still waiting for my surgery...though classes were completed 9/2022. I don't like the waiting game. But I will say that my 'surgery buddy' mentioned this site and am happy I'm hear and hope to gain support and insight for my surgery.
-
BeanitoDiego reacted to this
-
-
Has anyone else had a rash after surgery. I am about 4 months post-op and no real problems, and suddenly this rash develops ands spreads all over. I looked up online and found something called “keto rash” caused by high protein, low carb diet. I have now seen 3 doctors, including a dermatology consult at university hospital, and they think this is a reaction to taking Prilosec (which my Bariatric doctor prescribed). I won’t know for sure until some skin samples (biopsied) come back. I also have a history of eczema, and think this might just be a bad outbreak (triggered by the “stress” of surgery and lifestyle change). Has anyone else heard of Keto rash or had it?
-
I’m 25 days post gastric bypass and I’m still having abdominal pain every time I try to eat anything off the approved list. Every morning, like right now, I’m going to have 1/4-1/2 cup of scrambled eggs but like every other day I end up throwing it all up. I’m afraid to eat anything now because I throw up anything I try to ingest. Now that I’m reaching my one month mark I’m not going to try and eat what is suggested. I’m so weak and hungry but I hate that I know it Wil just all come up. Depression has set in along with detachment from things i loved before: taking my family to the lake, walking my dog, etc. i just lost any interest because mainly I’m so angry that I can’t eat even the simplest things. I’m asking if anyone here has gone through this or is this not supposed to happen and I should see my bariatric physician? The one food i can eat without retching is a small tub of ready made sugar free chocolate pudding cups from Jell-O. Looking to some help or answers to my problem. One more thing at times my chest feels so much pain it feels as if it wants to burst open so my doctor put me on hydrocodone for the pain but I rarely take them for fear of addiction and/or accidental overdose. I’m a mess and more than often I regret having this surgery even though I lost 54 lbs in 3 weeks and haven’t needed to take insulin for my diabetes-it’s been in very normal levels between 95-120 daily and my most painful neuropathy in hands and feel don’t hurt that much anymore. Thanks for reading my TedTALK and hopefully there’s a solution out there for me.
-
I have just arrived home from our 14 day holiday. We had it booked pre- covid and the company allowed us to continue postponing the booking until we could go. It was a All inclusive type holiday where you stay in a big resort and everything is at hand which suits us when travelling, my husband needs a wheelchair. We were a little nervous of the airports and flying as it is such a hassle with a wheelchair. It all went quite smoothly except for the times I was stranded with a hubby, wheelchair, two suitcases and two bags and a large handbag. At times it felt like I was the puzzle where you have a river to cross with a bag of grain, a hen and a fox. I wore the bags like a bandolero, pulled the suitcase and pushed the wheelchair with my stomach. Oh the joys of checking in at airports. I ate what I wanted, which being me, was always the best fish, seafood, cheeses and a vast amount of serrano/ parma ham. They made their own cookies and bread so these never got bypassed but in small amounts. I even had butter and ice cream. I drank strong coffee with liqueurs and some long cocktails. Usually one or two a day. A few times I felt really drunk when the bar tenders had made the cocktails stronger than the last. It was not a good feeling but I found something to eat and then the alcohol was absorbed quickly. I was a little worried to get on the scales this morning. Pre surgery, I could put almost a stone on in the two weeks [14lbs] a lot of it was water weight around my swollen ankles. I weighed in at exactly the same and TMI moment, had 8 days of poop inside me. So may even loose weight when the medicine kicks in [ or is it out ? ] So te he he another win win for my bariatric surgery
-
How to get all my protein in?
Possum220 replied to wendywitch7's topic in Post-op Diets and Questions
Most surgeons will not be much help in regard to what you need to be eating post op. Please check in with a bariatric dietician to sort out your food choices. You can have eggs. You can have baked beans. You can have a fillet of fish with vegies. You can have custard and that will count to your protein. You can add protein powder to your shakes. You can have smoothies with protein powder in. You can even add protein powder to tea and coffee. I am adding a link to a site in Australia that sells Tasteless protein powder. https://costpricesupplements.com.au/tasteless-protein-collagen-500g-by-feel-good-protein/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tasteless_protein&utm_term=tasteless%20protein%20powder&utm_content=138100867419&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_CnBhA0EiwAci5siq4K5LLhUSBAsPkQkza1QEg4FXhXg6aTlkA9D1xJdMOKSZAsupmjmBoCoVUQAvD_BwE It will end up cheaper for you with the exchange rate. Hope that the bariatric dietician can expand your food choices. -
It's a lot harder to find private insurance that will cover bariatric surgery. I would ask your surgeons office what insurances they accept and then call each of them and find out if they offer bariatric coverage, how much a policy with them with that coverage costs, and what their requirements are for approval.
-
3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak
Possum220 replied to Deep6's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
You have lost a massive amount of weight. Congrats. Given that you are 6ft you may need to be eating more to sustain such a weight loss and have good energy levels. Are you currently under the care of a bariatric dietician? If not please check in with one so that your tiredness can be investigated. Have you been having regular blood tests done to see where everything is? Having a bypass may result in malabsorsion of nutrients and lead to deficiencies that can show up in blood tests. Being back in the gym will also require more fuel for energy. You may want to throw yourself back into the thick of it but dont. Slowly increase the rate and weights that you exercise with. Dont pop another hernia by rushing things. Does the gym have an exercise physiologist that can give you guidance? Please seek one out. Walking is a great place to start. Your wife IS right. You just had major surgery and that by itself will take time. Dont try to run before you can walk. -
Have you tried Anthem Blue Cross? Also, have you done all the classes (Bariatric Orientation, Nutrition, Psych Eval & joined a support group)? Most insurance companies want you to join a Hospital-based program before giving approval.
-
Kaiser SoCal Referral
AmberFL replied to TheUsualSuspect's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have Kaiser as well, but in NorCal. I went to my regular doctor and told him straight up. I need weight loss surgery, he asked if I have dieted at all. I told him yes, I have dieted since I was 12yrs old and now after 2 children being a little older I cannot lose for nothing. I am also on ADHD meds and cannot lose weight so even the stimulants are not working. He took my weight and my BMI is 43, I am only 34 and I am on track to have diabetes, heart disease ect. He told me I was a good candidate, I don't smoke, I don't often drink and my BMI meets the requirements. I had to get a bunch of bloodwork all came back normal except my HDL. Then he sent my referral in to the bariatric surgery center in South San Francisco. I had to do an orientation and take a test, Takes an hour and 10min total. Then 5days later I got a schedule for nutrition class and then meet my surgeon. those are scheduled for next week so I am anxious on how that goes. My "Why" are my children. I have a 12yr, 6yr and 1yr old. I am currently in school finishing my bachelors. My partner doesn't have weight issues and I absolutely refuse to get to the point where I cannot play with my kids. I want to be able to be their coaches in sports as I was very much into athletics till I was in college. I want to run around with them and live a very long life with them. As well as teaching them to have a healthier life style. I am scared doing this, but I know in the long run this is what I HAVE TO DO! -
Torn between counting carbs or counting calories
Big Matty replied to KathyLev's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I count everything. I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2022 and was put on a sodium restriction. Just two months before my projected VSG surgery date my A1C was 9.6% and I was put on diabetic meds(Metformin and Semaglutide), given a blood sugar meter with instructions to check my blood sugar twice daily, and told to cut out all sugars in my diet. Around the same time as my Type-2 Diabetes diagnosis my Bariatric Surgeon had me go on a Keto/Atkins very low carb diet prior to the liver shrinking diet due to my extremely high 71.5 BMI. That was my first time on a 'low carb' diet since I tried South Beach in 2004, and I really liked it for how it made me feel and how much easier it has become to find low-carb substitutions for common foods. So I decided to stick with it post-surgery. I am two weeks out from my surgery and I am at the point where I can eat 800-1000 calories a day, where 50% is from protein, 40% fat, 10% Net Carb, and sodium between 1,500mg and 2,000mg. I track my Daily Food Intake in an Excel Spreadsheet, listing Calories, Total Fat, Protein, Net Carbs, Fiber, and Sodium of each. I also track my fluids, noting if the beverage has any sodium. I avoid sugars like the Plague, except when it comes to fruits. I will on occasion eat fresh strawberries, raspberries, or some honeydew melon. I don't feel the Keto diet is suitable for Post-op due to the high reliance on Fats. I like a more even distribution favoring protein over fat, but still keeping enough healthy fats in my system so entering Ketosis is a possibility. My carbs are always under 25g a day, most of the time between 15g and 20g. I was only in Ketosis once for a brief few days, and it was right after surgery. I check my ketone level regularly with those over the counter 'pee' strips. I like my method of tracking my nutrition manually instead of using an App or Website, although there is a lot more work looking up nutritional labels for everything I eat, or general nutritional information for those items without labels. The plus side of it is I am amassing a database of my frequently eaten food items so logging is becoming easier. I agree with the general consensus that 'Diet' is an ill-fitting word for what we are doing. I like the term 'Lifestyle Change' much better. A diet, to me, is finite in its duration. It has a beginning and an end. A Lifestyle Change goes on indefinitely. -
Thanks to the LPN at the office, who lost my testing/lab results and took over 6 weeks to let me know, even though I called to verify they got the paperwork, every week for six weeks to no avail. I am finally getting ready to be scheduled for surgery. Annoyingly, I have to get one more weigh-in due to her mistake and I can't get in to get weighed until Monday, plus my period started 10 days early and my weight is up by 2 lbs. I have struggled with weight loss that is why I am here, but never in my life, have I struggled so much to lose 5% of my original weight, until I started the bariatric program. Maybe it's the stress affecting me more than I realize. These 2 period pounds are putting me above the goal weight, even though last week I was 10 lbs below the goal weight. Honestly, I am pissed at this nurse screwing my stuff up and not informing me when I called over and over again. She has single-handedly affected my finances, my school scheduling, and my struggle to stay positive with her incompetence, not to mention she is cutting it really close to my surgery being at a time when it will be a struggle to get to the clinic that is 3 hours away up a mountain (not a hill), and the roads get super icy and snow covered. That is what is on my mind!
-
Hello! I'm New here!
Theia103121 replied to AmberFL's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi and welcome! I don't know about Disneyland, but I do know you can take FMLA leave. Because you have to stay overnight for a bariatric surgery, it counts as inpatient care. https://jjkellercompliancenetwork.com/news/does-time-off-for-weight-loss-surgery-fall-under-the-fmla,https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28f-fmla-qualifying-reasons. I also think a very strong argument could be made that bariatric surgery is not elective surgery, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. I'm at the beginning of my journey too! -
What exactly are your program guidelines? Do you meet with a dietician as part of your program? Can you reach out for some additional assistance? I know for my program, I am in the range of at least 70-80g of protein and soon enough 80-100g. There is no specific guide to carbs and fats allotment, only that protein is the priority and to limit carbs and fats. More so complex carbs and healthy fats. Sugar free as much as possible. It can feel weird at first, but it gets better with time. I mostly stick to a protein and a veg. I do happen to eat burgers with no bun. I can only really manage a whole chicken patty, but only half a turkey burger or beef burger. If i feel like I want to have more traditional way of eating it, I'll put the half on a Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat street taco tortilla. I do use sugar free bbq sauce, maybe some pickle slices and tomatoes with a reduced fat slice of cheese. It's all I can manage and I am satisfied. I also make cottage cheese bowls - taco bowls are my fave. About 3oz of ground turkey or chicken taco meat and a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese. Toppings as you like - i can do a couple cherry tomatoes, some shredded lettuce, a sprinkle of light cheese and a little salsa. Sometimes I can eat it all, sometimes I have some left which I may or may not be able to eat a little later. I would also say, instead of thinking of doing all the work for just 3ozs, meal prep. Make several portions to have on hand. Freeze extras if you tire easily. One pound of ground meat can easily last me a week's worth of meals, but I freeze to not waste if i don't realistically think I can eat any one thing. (I'm only cooking for myself a majority of the time). I also follow on IG your.onderland which provides a lot of helpful reminders, tips and recipes for the bariatric journey. Hope this helps.
-
4 Days Post Op - Revision Update
Chel1 replied to Chel1's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
@RTL1234 I did not have swelling like this with the sleeve and I am assuming since the hernia repair as well is the reason for more incisions. On the positive side yesterday when I got on the scale I lost 5 of the 7lbs from surgery (fluids, air, swollen, etc). I know it's not actual weight. We will see how things go this week. Last night was the worse with itching! I found some Zyrtec dissolvable tabs in my cabinet which helped a lot! When I read up on it - it said it's a better choice than benadryl since the effects last longer (fingers crossed). Liquids - On for two weeks post op until my follow up appointment next week on the 12th. I will be completing my blood thinning ejections then as well. After I'll be on puree for 2 wks then soft foods for another 2 wks. I'll be glad to move forward just because I can add more variety to the previous weeks. This is definitely helping me re-familiarize myself with getting the right amount of protein and fluids in daily. I was told to wait to start my vitamins 1-2 wks after, I'll start those this week. I purchased the ones from Bariatric Pal (capsules), I can open them and mix the powder in when I make my protein shake. Yes! I did find a way to mix it up for this last week of fluids! Today will be cream of bacon made the same way I did my soup yesterday. Exciting right? LOL -
September 2023 Surgery buddies
ElleRodri replied to Breaking notsobad's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
On my 4th day of the liquid diet, it's getting easier not to want to devour everything within reach. Tired of sweets though had to go get some bone broth to break up the monotony. I just got my proteins I ordered from here today so yay for some variety. Must say that the Bariatric Pal Chocolate Coconut is so amazingly good (my lunch today). A little lighter on the protein side at 15 grams but it tastes like an almond joy sans the almonds. That sweet chocolate and coconut flavor. I just realized why it's so sweet. I didn't think to look at carb counts when I bought them I just said oooo that sounds good, got to have it, and clicked the buttons. I've lucked out as the girl who works in my office trying to put on weight will buy any of the proteins I don't like off of me so they're at least not going in the trash. My husband is going to want to shoot me when he sees this box of everything I bought last week from the website. It's a good thing we have separate bank accounts or else he'd have a fit at the amount of stuff I've bought prepping for this surgery. Meet my surgeon for a final pre-op appointment tomorrow as well as doing some labs and another appointment with the pre-op department at Mayo so will be in the car the majority of the day tomorrow. Not looking forward to that as often as I've got to go to the bathroom with all these fluids. May be a miserable trip, bad enough I'm having to make it alone. This is where I feel sorry for myself for being a loner and not having a friend I can drag along with me. So I'm open to making new friends! And hope all of our September's go amazingly! 11 Days!? The last few months have flown by and it's been a pretty amazing ride once I got placed with the right physicians.
.thumb.png.e1311c86258574ac8e10c077bf5b6da6.png)
