Search the Community

Today makes 1 week that I'm post-op and my emotions are all over the place. The first couple of days I felt good, and was happy that I felt full all day. Day 7 of feeling like I ate a thanksgiving dinner and it's starting to mentally drain me. I have to force myself to get liquids in, and luckily for me I didn't drink a lot before surgery or I'd probably feel dehydrated by now. My protein shakes (Premier Protein) taste nasty to me now, they leave an after taste in my mouth. The SF Popsicles I used to love taste too sweet, and I honestly can't afford to try a bunch of different protein shakes. In saying all of this...I've decided to make the best of the situation, I'm blessed to have this tool. I'm going to stay with the shakes I have now and Greek yogurt. I just wanted to post this incase anyone else was going through something similar...you are not alone.

hello everyone, my name is elisabeth from toronto canada. i had surgery april 2nd 2015 and am craving eating with a fork and knife. It is very hard on the brain considering we have gone almost 1 month on liquid. i am feeling a little grumpy these days. cant wait to start the pureed diet in order to gain a little variety. i freeze yogurt and then add 2% lactose free milk in the blender with a scoop of Protein. it is very refreshing and a change.

VITAMIN A – Vision, immunity, and healthy red blood cells Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Food Sources Orange fruits (mango, cantaloupe) Orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, Green vegetables (kale, spinach) Liver Deficiency Information Blood test: serum retinol (vitamin A) Consequences of deficiency: impaired vision; changes in iron metabolism Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. VITAMIN D – Calcium metabolism and bone health, affects immune function and heart health Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Little skin exposure to sun, live in northern climate, or older age Food Sources Fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel) Fortified milk Egg yolks (if you are a bariatric surgery patient, you might mostly be eating egg whites) Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: 25-hydroxyvitamin D Consequences of deficiency: osteoporosis (low bone mineral density and higher risk for fractures); possible higher risk for heart disease Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. Need for supplementation is very common. VITAMIN B12 – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health) Risk for Deficiency WLS that reduces nutrient absorption: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS. Plant-based diet. Heavy bleeding: e.g., complication after WLS) Older age Food Sources Animal-based foods: meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: vitamin B12 Blood test: CBC (complete blood count) Consequences of deficiency: risk of heart disease; megaloblastic anemia; permanent neurological damage; osteoporosis; depression Supplement Notes High doses not likely to be toxic. Supplements may be necessary if you are on antacids such as proton pump inhibitors FOLIC ACID – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health), prevention of neural tube defects (for pregnant women) Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Low dietary intake – especially when grain intake is low after weight loss surgery Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Lentils Asparagus Orange juice Spinach Lima beans Deficiency Information Blood test: serum folate Blood test: homocysteine Consequences of deficiency: cognitive dysfunction; neural tube defects; megaloblastic anemia Supplement Notes High doses can hide vitamin B12 deficiencies. CALCIUM – Bone health, muscle function Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Diet low in dairy products – either because of lactose intolerance or other reasons (such as avoiding milk because of the calories). Food Sources Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt (choose fat-free) Fortified milk substitutes (almond milk, soy milk) Fortified orange juice Canned bony fish (salmon, sardines) Green leafy vegetables (absorption is poor) Some fortified cereals Tofu Deficiency Information Blood test: calcium levels – note: this is not a good test for adequate calcium! You can have normal test results and still not have enough calcium in your diet! Dietary intake analysis: see if you get at least 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams per day from your diet. Rough estimate of dietary intake: at least 4 servings of high-calcium foods each day Consequences of deficiency: decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and higher risk for bone fractures) Supplement Notes Taking too much calcium can cause kidney stones and be bad for the heart. Ask your doctor how much calcium you should take in a multivitamin and as a calcium (or calcium and vitamin D or calcium and magnesium) supplement. Don’t take your calcium supplement at the same time as iron because you will interfere with absorption IRON – Healthy red blood cells, energy and other metabolism Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Vegetarian or vegan (plant-based) diet Adolescents and women of child-bearing age. Individuals with excessive bleeding (such as with a post-op complication) Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Meat, seafood, and poultry (animal-based sources have a more absorbable form of iron) Beans and lentils Green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli Potatoes Raisins Deficiency Information Blood test: serum iron/Fe Blood test: ferritin Blood test: total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (high value means low iron status) Blood test: hemoglobin and hematocrit Supplement Notes Iron supplements can be toxic even if your dose is not that high. Don’t take them unless your doctor prescribes them. That includes iron in multivitamins. Don’t take iron supplements at the together with calcium supplements. Try to take supplements with vitamin C (in food or as a supplement) to increase absorption. THE OTHERS The above deficiencies are most common among weight loss surgery patients, but other deficiencies are possible. You are at risk because of your low food intake as you restrict calories. Malabsorptive procedures, such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, also put you at risk. Ask your doctor if you are concerned about any of the following vitamins and minerals. Often, a simple blood test or even a run-through of your daily diet can help you figure out if you need an additional supplement over your daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. B vitamins: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) Vitamin C Vitamin K Magnesium Zinc The Bottom Line Nutritional deficiencies are a big risk after weight loss surgery, but they depend on a few different factors. Type of weight loss surgery – sleeve and bypass patients are more prone to nutrient deficiencies than lap-band patients. Your diet – eat protein first and choose nutritious foods to lower your risk of deficiencies. Genetics and other uncontrollable factors – women are more likely to need iron supplements, for example, than men. Megadoses of vitamin and minerals can be toxic, so don’t prescribe them for yourself. Instead, contact your surgeon or regular doctor. Simple tests can often let you know your nutrient status so you can know which nutrients to supplement.

Nutritional deficiencies are a major concern after weight loss surgery. You eat less food, so you eat fewer nutrients. Sleeve and bypass patients absorb fewer nutrients. You eat less fat, which makes it harder to absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin A. Some bariatric surgery patients take one or two multivitamins, plus an entire barrage of high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements. Others barely take any supplements. Which should you be taking? How do you even know whether you need a supplement? Can you prevent deficiencies just by eating a better diet? VITAMIN A – Vision, immunity, and healthy red blood cells Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Food Sources Orange fruits (mango, cantaloupe) Orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, Green vegetables (kale, spinach) Liver Deficiency Information Blood test: serum retinol (vitamin A) Consequences of deficiency: impaired vision; changes in iron metabolism Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. VITAMIN D – Calcium metabolism and bone health, affects immune function and heart health Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Little skin exposure to sun, live in northern climate, or older age Food Sources Fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel) Fortified milk Egg yolks (if you are a bariatric surgery patient, you might mostly be eating egg whites) Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: 25-hydroxyvitamin D Consequences of deficiency: osteoporosis (low bone mineral density and higher risk for fractures); possible higher risk for heart disease Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. Need for supplementation is very common. VITAMIN B12 – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health) Risk for Deficiency WLS that reduces nutrient absorption: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS. Plant-based diet. Heavy bleeding: e.g., complication after WLS) Older age Food Sources Animal-based foods: meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: vitamin B12 Blood test: CBC (complete blood count) Consequences of deficiency: risk of heart disease; megaloblastic anemia; permanent neurological damage; osteoporosis; depression Supplement Notes High doses not likely to be toxic. Supplements may be necessary if you are on antacids such as proton pump inhibitors FOLIC ACID – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health), prevention of neural tube defects (for pregnant women) Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Low dietary intake – especially when grain intake is low after weight loss surgery Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Lentils Asparagus Orange juice Spinach Lima beans Deficiency Information Blood test: serum folate Blood test: homocysteine Consequences of deficiency: cognitive dysfunction; neural tube defects; megaloblastic anemia Supplement Notes High doses can hide vitamin B12 deficiencies. CALCIUM – Bone health, muscle function Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Diet low in dairy products – either because of lactose intolerance or other reasons (such as avoiding milk because of the calories). Food Sources Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt (choose fat-free) Fortified milk substitutes (almond milk, soy milk) Fortified orange juice Canned bony fish (salmon, sardines) Green leafy vegetables (absorption is poor) Some fortified cereals Tofu Deficiency Information Blood test: calcium levels – note: this is not a good test for adequate calcium! You can have normal test results and still not have enough calcium in your diet! Dietary intake analysis: see if you get at least 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams per day from your diet. Rough estimate of dietary intake: at least 4 servings of high-calcium foods each day Consequences of deficiency: decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and higher risk for bone fractures) Supplement Notes Taking too much calcium can cause kidney stones and be bad for the heart. Ask your doctor how much calcium you should take in a multivitamin and as a calcium (or calcium and vitamin D or calcium and magnesium) supplement. Don’t take your calcium supplement at the same time as iron because you will interfere with absorption IRON – Healthy red blood cells, energy and other metabolism Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Vegetarian or vegan (plant-based) diet Adolescents and women of child-bearing age. Individuals with excessive bleeding (such as with a post-op complication) Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Meat, seafood, and poultry (animal-based sources have a more absorbable form of iron) Beans and lentils Green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli Potatoes Raisins Deficiency Information Blood test: serum iron/Fe Blood test: ferritin Blood test: total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (high value means low iron status) Blood test: hemoglobin and hematocrit Supplement Notes Iron supplements can be toxic even if your dose is not that high. Don’t take them unless your doctor prescribes them. That includes iron in multivitamins. Don’t take iron supplements at the together with calcium supplements. Try to take supplements with vitamin C (in food or as a supplement) to increase absorption. THE OTHERS The above deficiencies are most common among weight loss surgery patients, but other deficiencies are possible. You are at risk because of your low food intake as you restrict calories. Malabsorptive procedures, such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, also put you at risk. Ask your doctor if you are concerned about any of the following vitamins and minerals. Often, a simple blood test or even a run-through of your daily diet can help you figure out if you need an additional supplement over your daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. B vitamins: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) Vitamin C Vitamin K Magnesium Zinc The Bottom Line Nutritional deficiencies are a big risk after weight loss surgery, but they depend on a few different factors. Type of weight loss surgery – sleeve and bypass patients are more prone to nutrient deficiencies than lap-band patients. Your diet – eat protein first and choose nutritious foods to lower your risk of deficiencies. Genetics and other uncontrollable factors – women are more likely to need iron supplements, for example, than men. Megadoses of vitamin and minerals can be toxic, so don’t prescribe them for yourself. Instead, contact your surgeon or regular doctor. Simple tests can often let you know your nutrient status so you can know which nutrients to supplement.

If you are allowed you can add yogurt. or kefir. Honestly the full liquid stage just isn't fun. Just remember it's only a few days. p3aCH3s, on 13 Apr 2015 - 12:57, said: Step away from the scale. Weighing yourself more than once a week will make you crazy.

@faith19evans i knnow what you mean about advancing. Protein shakes and yogurt do it for me right now. I have the chicken Soup unjury Protein powder for when I want something savory and although I don't yet get a full 60 gm of protein a day I am still figuring out the right combo of shakes and other stuff. I got the Oikos yogurt at a local grocery store but I am going to check Walmart today to see if they carry it. It really is good stuff!

Yea I will ask. Usually my first snack is a protein shake and the other is greek yogurt or another protein shake.

@@Sreeves What store did you find the Oikos yogurt?

I think this is the crux of your problem. Increased exercise takes increased calories to sustain. If you are active and still only consuming 800 calories a day, you will run into problems with weight loss and energy levels. Try increasing your calories by introducing an extra high-Protein snack once a day. You may also want to introduce a few complex carbs (gasp!) shortly before your workouts. I started seriously exercising right around my 4 month mark as well and by adding a string cheese stick in the morning and then some granola or kashi Cereal to my afternoon yogurt (last thing I eat before I work out), I was able to have the energy I needed to get through my workouts, not feel hungry through the day, and continue losing weight.

My flavored greek yogurt has 12-15 g Protein and under 15 carbs. I often take plain greek yogurt and add flavored Protein powder to it making it over 40g protein for only about 8 carbs.

Good morning! I'm glad to see some of us back on....missing those that haven't gotten to be back. @@punkinvine sounds like you did an amazing job with such a stressful day and I love how God give us simple beautiful flowers to remind us that H is always there @@s_suther great job on your plan. You are better at liquids than me. I made it to dinner the other day but even doing that has helped me get on track mentally @@JustWatchMe happy late birthday! Great job with a little indulgence and then getting back on track Had a good day yesterday! My scale is finally moving in the right direction...this morning I was 200.0. Goodness gracious I'm so close to seeing that 1! It's been a little over a year in the 2s so if you feel the earth shaking in the next few days it's just me jumping around celebrating! Today's plan B-protein drink S-greek yogurt L-chicken salad &7 pita crackers D-bunless chili dog. Waterwaterwater Plan to walk the hood this afternoon. Have a great day!

@Glydalin Thanks for sharing your daily meal. I'll check out the Bariwise. I have been eating some Quest bars but I must say the novelty is wearing off. I have about 1/2 a bar for Breakfast with an egg. But surprisingly an egg only has 6 gr of Protein and beef only 7 gr per ounce. If all I can eat is a couple ounces it ends up grossly inadequate. 3 meals, even if protein based are not enough. Lately I have been having about 3 to 4 ounces which helps. I also have the yogurt which is 12 gr. To make a long story short, I get about 50 gr per day most days.

One of the better yogurts I have come across is the Dannon Light & Fit Greek yogurt. Offhand I know that the strawberry flavor has 80 calories, 8 carbs, and 12 g Protein. Comes in a wide variety of flavors too.

@ That's great! I am supposed to be able to eat cream of wheat but I tried that this morning and it was definitely a no-go, lol. I did find this yogurt, Oikos Triple Zero (no fat, no added sugar, no artificial sweetener) that is pretty amazing, and it has 15 gm of protein! I got the coconut cream today but I might venture back to town tomorrow to grab some more. It is tasty and goes down wonderfully.

I'm doing well now just having trouble getting enough protein/calories on most days. I think an important thing for me is continuing to keep protein supplements (I use Unjury) around to add to my food to make my meals worthwhile. I get full so easily that I often find myself waiting too long in between meals. I don't feel hunger per se, I just sometimes feel a little tired or I notice that it has been a few hours so I grab some Greek yogurt or something. How about you guys? What stages are you in?

Well the first step is admitting that you have a problem and need some help. I have a few suggestions. - Exercise first thing in the morning. I know it seems crazy to get up any earlier than you already are, but it will give you energy. Also it will probably help you make better food choices because you will be able to look at the calories and decide if the extra time working out is worth what you want to eat. - Pack a snack for your commute. I know when I get out of work I am really thirsty so I want something cold and went. Ice cream was always a favorite. Freeze a banana and puree it or freeze greek yogurt. Also freeze a Water bottle so it will still be cold at the end of the day. If you have these things with you, it will be easier to drive by the 7-11. - it seems like a lot of your trouble comes from your commute. Write a list of the reasons you had surgery and of your accomplishments. Tape that to your dashboard or steering wheel. Put it inside your wallet on a post it attached to your bank card. Put it wherever it will remind you that food is not the answer. You had surgery so you could grow old with your husband and spend time with your children. Don't let food stop you from doing that. - I know your time is limited, but maybe you should talk to a counselor who specializes in food related issues. It will probably help to talk it out with an expert. We can all give you the tips that help us, but you may have better success with a trained professional. Good luck. Keep in touch with your NUT and Surgeon too. That will help to keep you accountable.

Got my stairs in but no walk today. Misty and rainy so I skipped it. Breakfast was yogurt, lunch was three cheese sticks. dinner out was salad, seafood and two bites of the Pasta which I boxed up and took home. My mom said she'll eat the pasta for lunch tomorrow. My latest fill gets me stuck easily if I don't chew well and slow down, so I've been chewing well and slowing down. I didn't weigh myself this weekend since it was my birthday and I allowed myself to indulge. I'll weigh next weekend. Off to a concert tomorrow night with my best friend. Tomorrow will be sausage links for breakfast, cheese sticks for lunch, and egg salad for dinner before heading to the concert. If the weather is dry I'll walk on lunch.

I came across this just prior to having surgery. It has 21 grams of Protein in one 8 oz. cup. No fat...22g carbs..should I stay away from it with all those carbs?

@@vsgSarah3 That is a lot of walking but it does look like you are not getting enough food in. You body is probably in starvation mode, so it is holding on to everything. You should try to up your intake focusing on clean proteins and up your fluid intake. I always have beef jerky or protein bars on hand just in case. Each meal you should have a couple oz of a clean protein source and a veggie of some sort. Also snacks try to have a Greek yogurt or your shake (I unlike most love my protein shakes). Hydration has a lot to do with the efforts as well. 64oz seems like a lot but if broken down into several smaller servings it goes by pretty quickly. Since I work outside I drink way more than my 64oz. But, it is not all water. I have crystal light, Arnold Palmers w/ light lemonade and unsweetened tea... but any caffine I consume I drink that many more ounces of liquids to counter the effects of the caffine. If things still don't happen after a few days of following your post op bible call your nutritionist to see what they think. Good luck to you and hope things ramp up for you.

I, along with several other sleevers, don't count fat grams at all...just Protein and calories. Although I do try to eat lean protein whenever possible, I also eat real butter, full fat dressings, yogurt etc....just do smaller amounts. You have to be careful with the "low fat, no fat" thing...there is a lot of hidden sugars and processed crap they use for that stuff! And besides, the real stuff tastes better anyway

My surgeon requires us to have 100 grams of Protein each day. I'm just beginning my second week post-op, which is now full liquids. My program includes yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, pureed Soups (no chunks), milk, tomato juice, V8 Juice, protein smoothies, applesauce, and bananas. Today it has been a struggle to get the 100 grams of protein, I added Protein powder to my 1/4 cup of yogurt to increase the protein content, and i DO NOT recommend it. It was disgusting. I've eaten more calories today than i have over the past week (833), just so I could get the protein in. We were told 600-800 calories are typical in the first two weeks. On top of that, I made the mistake of weighing myself this morning, only to find that I *might* have lost 3 pounds... Feeling a little discouraged... Anyone else struggling with dietary requirements? Protein? Calories? "Slow" weight loss?

Hi all it's been a while since I stopped by...to remind you about me I have type 2 diabetes, on an insulin pump. I needed to lose 85 lbs to be at my goal. I've lost 43 lbs and the last weight loss I did have was in November. I need some help. I don't think I'm eating the right foods. I feel like I eat the same 4-5 foods everyday. lunch meat, cheese stick, yogurt Protein bar and Protein shakes.... Not to mention how expensive the Protein Bars and protein power is. I feel lost....I want to lose this other 42 lbs. I don't even know how to get on track or what I should be eating, or how much. It's like everything that I learned in my prep classes, doesn't seem to fit what's happening now. I have been trying to attended Jazzercise 3-4 days a week and walk as much as I can. I'm 47 if that helps any advice given. I did this to hopefully get off the insulin pump my need for insulin has greatly reduced but still on the pump. Thanks in advance!

I tried to go off the extra protein shake but had a problem relaxing and falling asleep so I went back to getting 100 grams of protein a day. I enjoy 2 shakes along with egg whites, chicken and yogurt. I usually take in less than 800 calories a day and It works good for me. I'm losing weight though I only get weighed in once a month

So, I've been torturing myself for the last 3 days. When I left the hospital I thought I was on ALL liquids. Yesterday I started feeling very weak & my blood sugar was really low. Called my surgeon office today to find out I can eat applesauce, yogurt, and cottage cheese also. Ate an oz of applesauce and I'm already feeling better.

Eat your protein focus on veggies a little later. You can add one or two bites for variety bit at 6 weeks, I was still only wanting softies like cottage cheese and yogurt.