A Few Questions...

I know that I am not getting enough in but if I want a snack I get a cheese stick , or yogurt something with a little protein in it. Tonight we had steak, baked potato, and a veg medley w/cheese. My potato is still sitting on my plate with some steak. Knock on wood I haven't noticed too much hair loss but then again I have very thin hair anyway. I have been taking biotin, 1 a day carb smart vit. B-12 sublingual from Walmart and my pepcid. I picked up Walmart's version of the s/f chewable calcium yesterday. My blood workup was in the limits when I saw the dr. a couple of weeks ago. As far as eating out on Friday nights we get hoagies. I split one with my daughter. I usually take the meat out of the roll and eat some of it that way. I do get hungry or could be head hunger later at night but try to work with the cheese. I also put in some GNC Liquid Protein when I have a glass of water. It's like 19 grams a serving. Not too bad it i*****h flavor. Now I need to buckle down and get to exercising. Sandy

Hi Em, I did post about going to the nutritionist a few weeks ago, these were her recommendations. Take from this what you need, but I thought it was good, sound advice. Three small meals a day, and two snacks. No grazing. Grazing can lead to weight gain in WLS patients. She said, she's seen it. No drinking with meals. It stretches the pouch, and pushes trough the food. No drinking 30 minutes before, and thirty minutes after. Hydration is essential. 64 ounces plus a day Supplements are a must, calcium, mutivit, iron, B12, as directed by your MD Calories: 800-1200. Use the lower end if you don't exercise, higher end if you do. Protein: 80-100 grams. She agreed with our body's inability to absorb nutrients, and suggested to stay at the high end if tolerated. Carbs: 100 grams or less. She was not as hung up on this as most. Fat: 35-45 grams. She was really reluctant to give me a range for this since so many good protein options have a higher fat content. she would rather have me make the lower fat choice. She said as long as the calories were in-line I'd be ok. Fiber: 15 grams or more. This is difficult; she suggested chili, hummus, or beans. Exercise is essential. Cardio and weight resistance. Support groups. Everyone needs this; she feels we can't do it alone. I hope you find this info helpful. Becareful with the protein bars, some are filled with sugar. I always make sure they're 5-8 grams of sugar or less. I don't worry as much about carbs as some do. The way I look at it, I need a balanced diet. Extremes are the way I lived before WLS. As for the hair loss...mine is coming out in clumps. And, I never skip my vits, get enough protein, water, and exercise. I guess it's just going to happen. I often wondered why it's so upsetting for me. I think because when I was heavier people always commented on how beautiful my hair was..so to see it falling out is upsetting. Eating out for me is still a challenge. I try to stop before I get to full. Sometimes I feel like I eat to much. I find since the surgery it hard for me to gauge my level of fullness. One minute I'm okay, then next I'l fell awful. I really have to eat slow, and listen to my body...another thing I wasn't doing pre-WLS. Like I said hope this helps. Keep up the great work. Linda R

Hi Em, Glad you asked the questions. I've been curious too! Concerning the protein bars, I don't eat 'em. They taste yucky to me and I'd rather gulp down the yucky liquid than have to chew, chew, chew the yucky bars. About the amounts ya eat, I think it sounds about normal, too. It's funny how varied our pouches can feel. I was starving today after spending the day visiting my dad in the hospital, so we ran over to Long John Silver's. I ordered a basket, ate 1 1/2 planks and 3 or 4 fries and I was veeery full. It's just hard to tell. I can feel full, then turn around 2 hours later and be hungry again. However, my appetite has decreased tremendously! Thirdly, my poor hair!!! It's so sad to look down in the drain after my showers and see it lying there like a bird's nest. I DO take my B-complex sublingual with biotin in it daily, but it doesn't help. I have my hair cut short, since New Years because of the loss. Thought if I got it cut short and flippy, I could camoflauge it better. I hope it stops soon! I don't take the protein loyally as I should however and could just slap myself because I KNOW better. It isn't as shiny anymore either. And lastly...my weight loss IS slow. I weighed 309 on Sept. 19 at surgery and now weigh 256. Most people have been just whizzin' by me, but again, my fault. I do not exercise like I know I should. HOWEVER, I am thrilled to death to say that a friend at church is moving to a new home and he gave us his perfectly good, nice sturdy treadmill. I'm so excited. Got it set up in the living room tonight in the corner, but where I can watch tv and walk on it for an hour a day. That is my new commitment for myself. It may look bulky in there, but I don't care! You're not paranoid, Em. We all go through with worries and doubts. Take care, Kelly

Hi Emily - What a great post! Thanks for bringing up these questions. I've just started losing hair. So sad. Hope it ends soon. I do take all my vitimins but have difficulty getting in the protein. Still am having problems with some foods. I've started using Fitday for track my intake and it helps. I go to the sports center 5 times a week and do cardio and strength training but have been on a plateau most of the month. Have gained and lost the same two pounds for weeks now. Just trying to take it one day at a time. Thanks again for the questions. It's a great thread. Hugs, Sydney

Em, I checked on the protein bar today for you. The ones I was referring to are Atkins Advantage and you get them at Wal-Mart. I personally like the Caramel Cookie dough and teh Caramel Fudge Brownie. They have 17 g of carbs, but theyhave 9g of Dietary fiber, so you subtract the fiber and it has 8 g of countable carbs and it has 12 g of protein. Hope this help you out! Christine

I'm supposed to get in 100 grams of protein a day. I have never met this goal, though I do try every day. I eat protein first, then veggies, then carbs if I'm still hungry. I almost never get to the carbs. I went to Chili's on Friday night. I ordered a kids meal with grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli. I ate about 1/4 of the chicken, and most of the broccoli (maybe 1/2 a cup?). It took me about an hour to eat that much. I take my vitamins every day. I feel yucky if I don't. I have lost some hair, but not a lot. I have really thick hair, too, so I haven't missed what I've lost. I can't eat much in one sitting, so my nutritionist told me to eat every 2 hours. I'm scared this counts as grazing, but she doesn't want me to get malnourished. Every once in a while I'll have popcorn if I watch a movie at night. I don't want to get in the habit of snacking. It scares me sometimes. I'm scared of not losing what I want to lose, too. I'd love to wake up tomorrow at goal with firm skin. I have so much flab and loose skin. Good luck, hun. This whole surgery thing is a trip.