a few questions for post op
Im getting ready for my RNY, the days are getting closer (april 9th) so I have a few questions if you guys don't mind answering.
1. where do I get these protein bullets and is it a good idea to have one or two lying around?
2. with such a small pouch, how do you make sure you get your daily amt of protein in? I mean in the beginning I will only be able to have a small amt of liquids, will the shakes provide enough?
3. I am afraid of dehydration. So the water thing, will I really be able to get the full amt of water in in one day? will I be constantly sipping water? and is that fruit 2 O any good, I kicked the pop almost three months ago and since have been only drinking water (I need a little variety here)
4. Last but not least, is it normal to be scared ****less????????? I am pass excited and nervouse, I am just plain scared! I keep thinking of all that could go wrong, and I look at my three babies and think I am doing this for them, but what if my attempt to improve our lives as a family ends up hurting them? I guess I just need a little reassurance that it will be ok.
Ok I know a few is three but that fourth one is one I have been struggleing with for a few days now.
1. where do I get these protein bullets and is it a good idea to have one or two lying around?
2. with such a small pouch, how do you make sure you get your daily amt of protein in? I mean in the beginning I will only be able to have a small amt of liquids, will the shakes provide enough?
3. I am afraid of dehydration. So the water thing, will I really be able to get the full amt of water in in one day? will I be constantly sipping water? and is that fruit 2 O any good, I kicked the pop almost three months ago and since have been only drinking water (I need a little variety here)
4. Last but not least, is it normal to be scared ****less????????? I am pass excited and nervouse, I am just plain scared! I keep thinking of all that could go wrong, and I look at my three babies and think I am doing this for them, but what if my attempt to improve our lives as a family ends up hurting them? I guess I just need a little reassurance that it will be ok.
Ok I know a few is three but that fourth one is one I have been struggleing with for a few days now.
Hello, I am close to 4 years post out RNY and am happy to answer your questions:
1. where do I get these protein bullets and is it a good idea to have one or two lying around?
You can get them at Barix in Ypsi OR at GNC or other Health food stores, best ones are @ Barix store (which you can find online) and come in several flavors. Your taste buds will change after surgery, so you might want to have a variety but don't waste your money and taste them now.
2. with such a small pouch, how do you make sure you get your daily amt of protein in? I mean in the beginning I will only be able to have a small amt of liquids, will the shakes provide enough?
I use Any Whey non flavored protein powder 17 gms protein per scoop and put 2 scoops in a cup of coffee, been doing that for at least 2 plus years, and do the same in the morning/afternoon...plus food. No, shakes don't provide enough and you will need to be eating something eventually....I was actually told by my surgeon who did my RNY not to worry about the protein right away - so ask whoever is doing your surgery!
3. I am afraid of dehydration. So the water thing, will I really be able to get the full amt of water in in one day? will I be constantly sipping water? and is that fruit 2 O any good, I kicked the pop almost three months ago and since have been only drinking water (I need a little variety here)
You will be amazed at how quickly you learn to take water with you everywhere you go, and I sometimes eat ice or popsicles or drink SF kool aid to get my liquids in. I've not had a "dehydration" problem so far. Just find things that taste good and keep at it one day at a time...... if you are not sure, ask your nutritionist/surgeon!
4. Last but not least, is it normal to be scared ****less????????? I am pass excited and nervouse, I am just plain scared! I keep thinking of all that could go wrong, and I look at my three babies and think I am doing this for them, but what if my attempt to improve our lives as a family ends up hurting them? I guess I just need a little reassurance that it will be ok.
You know, everyone takes this differently. You have to know that you are doing this for YOU first and foremost. It cannot have "what if's" in it and doubts. If you have doubts, you may not be ready, but we all question "am I doing the right thing" so you are not alone. The excitement is the anticipation of what's to come and your plans for being the person you so desire to be. I waited 10 years before I started my research and have NO regrets and would do it again in a minute -- It took me that long because of my work, time off, etc. Not any personal reasons. You have people who support you in this? Then know that they support you, and remember WHO you are doing this for.
I can't color this in rose and tell you things are going to be perfect, but I can tell you that we ALL have experienced one thing or another that makes us feel awkward and downright icky at times. But you learn day by day how to deal with it and move on.
I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!!!
Stacey W
1. where do I get these protein bullets and is it a good idea to have one or two lying around?
You can get them at Barix in Ypsi OR at GNC or other Health food stores, best ones are @ Barix store (which you can find online) and come in several flavors. Your taste buds will change after surgery, so you might want to have a variety but don't waste your money and taste them now.
2. with such a small pouch, how do you make sure you get your daily amt of protein in? I mean in the beginning I will only be able to have a small amt of liquids, will the shakes provide enough?
I use Any Whey non flavored protein powder 17 gms protein per scoop and put 2 scoops in a cup of coffee, been doing that for at least 2 plus years, and do the same in the morning/afternoon...plus food. No, shakes don't provide enough and you will need to be eating something eventually....I was actually told by my surgeon who did my RNY not to worry about the protein right away - so ask whoever is doing your surgery!
3. I am afraid of dehydration. So the water thing, will I really be able to get the full amt of water in in one day? will I be constantly sipping water? and is that fruit 2 O any good, I kicked the pop almost three months ago and since have been only drinking water (I need a little variety here)
You will be amazed at how quickly you learn to take water with you everywhere you go, and I sometimes eat ice or popsicles or drink SF kool aid to get my liquids in. I've not had a "dehydration" problem so far. Just find things that taste good and keep at it one day at a time...... if you are not sure, ask your nutritionist/surgeon!
4. Last but not least, is it normal to be scared ****less????????? I am pass excited and nervouse, I am just plain scared! I keep thinking of all that could go wrong, and I look at my three babies and think I am doing this for them, but what if my attempt to improve our lives as a family ends up hurting them? I guess I just need a little reassurance that it will be ok.
You know, everyone takes this differently. You have to know that you are doing this for YOU first and foremost. It cannot have "what if's" in it and doubts. If you have doubts, you may not be ready, but we all question "am I doing the right thing" so you are not alone. The excitement is the anticipation of what's to come and your plans for being the person you so desire to be. I waited 10 years before I started my research and have NO regrets and would do it again in a minute -- It took me that long because of my work, time off, etc. Not any personal reasons. You have people who support you in this? Then know that they support you, and remember WHO you are doing this for.
I can't color this in rose and tell you things are going to be perfect, but I can tell you that we ALL have experienced one thing or another that makes us feel awkward and downright icky at times. But you learn day by day how to deal with it and move on.
I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!!!
Stacey W
thank you stacy for the great response. I am lucky to have many people in my life supporting me, my husband and mother are my main supporters and cheerleaders. It took me three years of research and many many tries on my own to come to the conclusion I need this surgery. SF kool aid is a great idea! I never would have thught of it. I think I will b going to GNC for the whey and the bullet!!!!
Stacey has given you the most comprehensive answer to your questions I have ever seen here. The questions you ask all come up here all the time. Well done Stacey.
I am only replying to assure you that I, like most people was scared to death about this surgery. Even on the day of the surgery I had doubts and wanted to cancel. I am glad that I did not. My choice was life and death. I actually wonder if I would be here today had I not done this. My whole life I have been over weight and my morbid obesity problems were getting to a point that I knew I could expect my life to be cut way short. So I put my fears aside and got a new start on life.
So, unless you are having surgery just for vanity, remember that the reasons for having this surgery are to improve your health, improve the quality of your life and to increase your life expectancy. I saw the risks as being much smaller than the certainty of not doing anything.
Remind yourself of this: without doing anything where will you be in a year, two years, five? How much of life are you missing out on? How much will you have missed out on doing over the next year (s)? How many years will you simply miss out on all together? After asking those questions myself I knew what I had to do.
My only regret in doing this was that I did not do it sooner! There are so many things I missed out on doing with my kids while they were growing up that I wish I could have done. I am now doing many of those things, but my kids really did missed out on many things growing up with such an obese dad.
Nick
I am only replying to assure you that I, like most people was scared to death about this surgery. Even on the day of the surgery I had doubts and wanted to cancel. I am glad that I did not. My choice was life and death. I actually wonder if I would be here today had I not done this. My whole life I have been over weight and my morbid obesity problems were getting to a point that I knew I could expect my life to be cut way short. So I put my fears aside and got a new start on life.
So, unless you are having surgery just for vanity, remember that the reasons for having this surgery are to improve your health, improve the quality of your life and to increase your life expectancy. I saw the risks as being much smaller than the certainty of not doing anything.
Remind yourself of this: without doing anything where will you be in a year, two years, five? How much of life are you missing out on? How much will you have missed out on doing over the next year (s)? How many years will you simply miss out on all together? After asking those questions myself I knew what I had to do.
My only regret in doing this was that I did not do it sooner! There are so many things I missed out on doing with my kids while they were growing up that I wish I could have done. I am now doing many of those things, but my kids really did missed out on many things growing up with such an obese dad.
Nick
When you have the time, go read Pam T's post about the protein bullets. She does all of the research for us so we don't have to:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/pwsammy/blog/2008/05/
Being scared is normal, and not unwarranted. You're having major surgery and subjecting yourself to complications. You have to come to peace with what you are doing and weigh the risks vs. the end results.
Best of luck to you....we've all been where you are and with the help of everyone here, we made it through!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/pwsammy/blog/2008/05/
Being scared is normal, and not unwarranted. You're having major surgery and subjecting yourself to complications. You have to come to peace with what you are doing and weigh the risks vs. the end results.
Best of luck to you....we've all been where you are and with the help of everyone here, we made it through!
Hehehe... thanks Brenda. Glad my research-fanatic-tendencies get to help others.
Pam
aka - The Googlehead
Pam
aka - The Googlehead
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
Visit my blog: Journey to a Healthier Me ...or my Website
The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
1. where do I get these protein bullets and is it a good idea to have one or two lying around?
Don't bother with the protein bullets. It's the wrong kind of protein for us -- very low quality and most of it is the slow-release type. Anything that's collegan based isn't a good choice. For more info, I've got the research on my profile here:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/pwsammy/blog/action,commen ts/blog_post_id,159933/
Instead you want to look for Whey Isolate Protein ... or Whey Concentrate is also a good choice if it's mixed with Isolate. Isolate is the highest quality protein and absorbs quickly and easily in your system after RNY. The body actually is using it in the cells within 45 minutes of drinking a shake. Look for SAMPLES (don't buy big jars of anything until you know you like it). Some places to find samples include:
www.enjoyhealth.com -- I started with the 21-flavore pack
www.netrition.com -- they also have a variety pack of samples
www.bariatriceating.com -- they sell individual flavors ala carte
www.vitalady.com - also individuals
GNC -- they have a few flavors as sample packs for sale and also for free under their counter sometimes
Health Food Stores -- limited samples, but sometimes you get lucky
Meijer -- they have 2 flavors as samples
Support Groups -- ask friends to share a scoop of their favorites and have them bring it in a baggie with a label of the brand/flavor
2. with such a small pouch, how do you make sure you get your daily amt of protein in? I mean in the beginning I will only be able to have a small amt of liquids, will the shakes provide enough?
At first it'll be really hard. I was doing 3 shakes a day from the beginning ... and I still struggled because I couldn't even drink a whole shake. But it gets easier the further out you get. Just do the best you can and try to do a little better each day. Right now, at about 17 months out, I average about 110-130g protein per day... almost all from food except my morning hot chai tea protein drink.
One shake will average about 25-30g of protein... so doing 3 a day will get you to your minimum limit. Although, at first you might only be doing half of a shake at a time.
3. I am afraid of dehydration. So the water thing, will I really be able to get the full amt of water in in one day? will I be constantly sipping water? and is that fruit 2 O any good, I kicked the pop almost three months ago and since have been only drinking water (I need a little variety here)
Getting in all your water at the beginning will be just as hard as getting in enough protein. It took me a few weeks before I could consistantly hit my 64oz/day. Get used to carrying a water bottle with you EVERYwhere and sipping every 30 seconds or so. For me, I actually couldn't do plain old water ... it had to have a flavor. In fact, I still have trouble with plain water. So be prepared for that, it happens to a lot of people. I'm addicted to crystal light.
4. Last but not least, is it normal to be scared ****less????????? I am pass excited and nervouse, I am just plain scared! I keep thinking of all that could go wrong, and I look at my three babies and think I am doing this for them, but what if my attempt to improve our lives as a family ends up hurting them? I guess I just need a little reassurance that it will be ok.
If you weren't scared or nervous.... I'd be worried about you. This is a HUGE step and will require a full-life change that's going to require a LOT of hard work and lifelong dedication. But remember that you can not do this for anyone else but YOU. Don't do it for your babies... do it for you. This is the one time in your life when you really have to be selfish and focus all your energies on yourself first. Once you have your health and wellness taken care of, you can focus again on the family. Just like on an airplane and they give instructions for the oxygen face masks.... put your mask on first, then help those around you.
Also --- I have a post on my blog called Preparing for Surgery. It might give you some stuff to think about and do while you wait for your date to arrive.
http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/2008/07/preparing-for-surgery.html
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
Visit my blog: Journey to a Healthier Me ...or my Website
The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
thanks for all your advice guys, I know this is the right step in a direction of a healthy me. I thought about where I would be a year or two down the line, if I didn't have the RNY and I can honestly say I would be heavier and more withdrawn from family and friends, I would be living a half life and that is not fair to me. I did have feelings of selfishness, but you know, I deserve it. All these years making everyone else happy and safe, I guess I just forgot my own needs, so I am going to be selfish and I know that by "putting on the oxygen mask first" (as a respiratory therapist I can appreciate that statement) I will be able to keep all those in my life I love and cherish safe and happy as well. I have a two sons and a daughter, I want to be the role model they deserve, I don't want to leave them when they are young the way my father left me because he would not lose the weight.
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