The Big FOUR

Hey There My name is Timmy Ray, I live in Millinocket Maine.    I had surgery nearly 3 years ago, and I am down 250 pounds or better since surgery on 12/22/04.   I had my surgery in IOWA.. and then moved to New Jersey for a couple years.   Now I live in the same town close to a couple of my sisters here in Maine. Up to now....I havent been a part of the **Maine Post Bariatric surgery scene**... I moved here in November 2006 and have been busy with life stuffs.  Recently I realized I need to plug in.. and thought maybe a first step (besides finding a support group in Bangor, or starting one here  in Millinocket ; )... There are a few things that I still use, I call em the BIG FOUR... when dealing with life POST surgery.  My surgery was RNY, done Laproscopically.. and I praise God and my surgeon because I still am the largest patient they ever have done lapro .... at that hospital... I was blessed to have it done with small incisioin  in that manner. Would be to share what I have learned. So here goes...     these are the rules that I followed, and the peeps in my support groups I know followed.. and it works.   DO these things... and you will lose weight after surgery...and stay healthy. ALWAY check out stuff you learn on the web, here and on OH board with your doctors FIRST. NEVER do stuff that people (such as myself) tell you unless you know its okay with your Surgeon. Really.    The stuff I share here I learned from MY surgeon.. and some from other support group friends but I always called my surgeon and asked FIRST. YOU should too : ))) --- ----------------Water------------ . Carry a small bottle of water with you everywhere...and especially after surgery... practice SIPPING.   Drink lots of water.   If you attend any support groups., sometimes people just after surgery resemble lil chipmunks... because often the amount you put in your cheeks if you just sip it works just about right.   You dont wanna drink gulps  NO NO NO.. .just sips.. but sip all the darn time.    And you dont wanna drink a lot at any one time But over the course of a day its VERY imporant to stay hydrated to enable the surgery to work. MANY people who have surgery who plateau and stop losing .. its because they are not HYDRATED... not enough good ol water.    Drink, and drink more than you are used to drinking.... but SLOWLY.    Sipping is very important.   ALSO part of the water and keeping enough liquid is... ****DONT EAT until its been at least 30 minutes after you drank ****Dont DRIN****il its been at least 30 minutes after you ATE. Im three years out,...and I have lots of friends that are 6 months to  even longer than me ..four years or more.. and they follow these rules too.    Drinking too soon just washes the nutrients AWAY.. remember you have some malabsorption that is part of this surgery... And eating too soon can make it come back up (think of nausea .. it aint fun) -----------------------PROTEIN------------------------- For men, my surgeon recommends 80 grams a day.. MINIMUM.    Thats EVERY day. For women often surgeons recommend a little less... but 80 grams for everyone is something to aim for if your surgeon has not told you exactly... Again go with what your surgeon says Not getting enough protein will stall your weight loss... your hair can fall out...ant it will hurt ya.   So getting protein ... each day is VERY...vital.  Not just important.  VITAL. Sounds hard. but its easier than it looks...  I was a single guy, new after surgery.. and I LIVED on Protein whey powder mixed with milk for 5 months... until I learned betta.   I was soooo scared. (THIS is not the way btw to do it). Some good sources of protein...there are others I dont mention here... Meat.  Cheese. Eggs.  Tuna.    Peanut Butter.  Baked Beans.    Refried Beans.  Chili.   .. there are a lot of sources of protein... vary your diet.. talk to your nutritionist.... but learn to get protein and nutrients from the food you eat. Eat protein FIRST.. in your diet...avoid carbs... and you will do excellent.. : ) I still eat small meals.   5-7 small meals a day....aiming for 15 grams PROTEIN  or so each meal. So on days I get only five small meals... I still get about 75 grams....of Protein I still suppliment with Whey protein powder (look for the No sugar,... low carbs... 20 grams or better protein powder.)  I mix it with Skim milk... and have one shake or protein drink a day.. usually in the morning.. One scoop of my powder is 23 grams protein.. in a quart or so of milk (another 30 grams or so..) and that lasts me alllll morning... and its literally about 1/2 of the minimum I need each day. Eat small meals...eat small bites.   You have MOMENTUM right after surgery.... and if you focus really hard on good habits the first year.. they will stick with you and your weight loss will be permanent. -------------------------Vitamins--------------- If you have RNY gastric bypass surgery.... you will have to suppliment vitamins every day for the rest of your life.   there are a lot of different methods...ask your surgeon what they recommend. And do THAT.. at least at first. Then learn from others out here like me.....and discover what works for you. My blood work after surgery was...  day of surgery One week Two Weeks One Month Six Months One year...and every six months (One year and six months...two years...two years and ..) You get the picture They check for all the levels of trace elements in your blood...and to see if you are getting all the vitamins you need. Some methods include Liquid Vitamins,   B12 and other B vitamin shots,  Chewable vitamins... Nasal and throat vitamin sprays... and splitting or crushing adult Multi vitamins. Me? Im a cheerful adult wanna-be-a-kid-again... for ME (and again checked out with MY surgeon) .... I chew six childrens generic flintstones type kids vitamins a day.... normally 3 or 4 in morning and 3 or 4 at night. That.. THAT works for ME.    And plus I was deprived and never got em as a kid so at 43 I feel ..... special : PPP ------------Exercise----------------- This one is the easiest Find stuff you enjoy doing that is active and DO IT. Walking. Biking. Go to the Gym... take a hike.... as you lose weight you will experience WONDERFUL... OH WOW moments. Stuff you couldnt do for years or maybe NEVER as an adult. Riding on the rides at Disneyland/Disneyworld... Riding in a car ..... Driving a car.. (hey remember I was 600 plus so each of our lists are highly individual : )) Walking  Standing for a length of time Waiting in line for a movie. ALL this stuff.. as it gets easier to MOVE... MOVE . And move OFTEN.   You will feel better.... and lose weight faster. --- To Recap Work with your surgeon ... check everything out with your surgeon BEFORE you do it : ) Drink lots of Water... Get plenty of Daily Protein.. Protein First..... and eat small... meals... several times a day Take daily vitamins that your surgeon recommend... and get daily... repeated exercise that you enjoy... That is it. I have lost nearly half my weight... and life is my oyster : ) I am happy to be alive... I like myself again... and this awaits everyone who uses this surgery not as the answer.... But as a TOOL.. as part of re vamping ones life. -- Have a great weekend.. **class dismissed : ))) Hugs to all Timmy Ray

Thanks for that Timmy!  You just made me realize that the reason I am not losing as fast.  Not enough Protein!!  I am drinking one of those liquid bullet New Whey protein vials a day and I am wondering if my body is absorbing it. I think I will go back to the regular protein powder and see what happens.  I hate them though! Ick!

Welcome to Maine Timmy. I am orginALLY  from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Been here 24 years and Love it. 80 grams of protein is a lot. My nut told me 40 was good and I struggle to get that in.