so frustrated and confused
hi all,
i am so confused at the support meeting a guy said he could can eat 4 oz of steak, 1/2 green beans and 1/4 cup of pasta or something else well others said that is too much. he is i think 2 years out. i can eat that at a meal. so what do i do? most of the time i have 3 ozs of some meat , 1/2 cup vegs and something else. i am 4 years out. is this too much. should i eat a spoon of this a spoon of that?? can anyone help me? .. anita
I've been out with DS guys who can eat an appetizer, entree, and dessert...while I can eat 1/2 an entree and have to take the second 1/2 home. No appetizer, no dessert, nothing else.
Everyone eats differently. Men, esp., almost always can eat more and lose more.
Women DSers I know also range from the way I eat, to eating a full dinner and dessert.
It's so individualized. Please don't worry. Unless you're gaining weight it sounds as if you're eating correctly for yourself.
Duodenal Switch/Lap -- Drs. Alfons Pomp & Michel Gagner - New York City
4/4/05: 265 lbs/BMI: 45.6
4/11/05: 256 lbs/BMI: 43.9 (date of surgery)
7/27/08: Gallbladder Removed
Anita:
Hello, thank you for this topic. It can be terribly confusing when we compare. So one idea to consider is not to compare, notice and let go of judgments....
People have opinions, people have ideas, people have read things, nothing is right or wrong it just is! This is a thought process than can reduce frustration and confusion. Every bariatric program is different, perhaps that is difficult but it does not mean my surgeon is right or better it just means our surgeons are different is all....
What helps me is to realize there is 'typical' and then variations of everything, living in a rigid world of black/white is not helpful so I choose to live in a world of many shades of grey!
People typically lose 50-78% of their excess wt with a proximal RNY. Typically people have minor food intolerances such as red meat and dairy...others have none and some have many more....Typically people will regain 10-15% of the wt they originally lost, after the honeymoon (6mo to 2 yrs typically)...some don't regain, others regain more....
We are individuals, our individual body has different needs, responds to the surgery different. Some people need only a multivitamin, calcium and B12; others develop other vitamin and mineral deficiencies postop like iron anemia, thiamine issues, folate issues, copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, Vit A/D/E/k issues, B6 issues etc. There is no one size fits all perfect way to be a postop. We have guidelines not rigid rules....it is important to emphasize that it is not necessary to follow every rule all of the time.
SAMPLE GUIDELINES:
1.Fluid: Resolve to drink AT LEAST 64 ounces (This will keep you full longer and tension on the pouch) of NON-carbonated-NON-calorie fluid a day. (Water, Crystal Lite, diet Kool-Aid) In other words don't drink your calories! DO NOT DRINK WITH MEALS and WAIT 1-2 HOURS AFTER MEALS TO START DRINKING....(OR YOU WILL JUST MAKE YOURSELF HUNGRY AGAIN...SOONER!).
2.Vitamins: Resolve to take 1-2 multivitamin(s) a day, calcium as citrate form ~1,500mg a day (some may need more), & ~1,000mcg B12 liquid/tablets sublingually daily (some may need intramuscular shots). Other vitamins are based on labs/dexascans: some will need extra iron/vit C (pills/shots/infusions), vitamin A, D, E, K, Zinc, Magnesium, Thiamine (B1), Folate, B6, selenium....This is a reason we need to follow up for life with our healthcare providers, deficiencies can happen not just early postop but anytime postop!
3.Protein: Resolve to get in ~65 grams a day+/- (this will vary due to age/ht/wt/medical comorbidities) either in the food you eat or by supplementing with shakes *this is controlversial. EAT PROTEIN FIRST!!! It fills the pouch!(less room for carbs).
4.MEALS: Resolve to eat no more than 3-5 small meals a day, NO GRAZING! Take 15-20 minutes for a meal no less/more, pay attention to the food, not a TV, radio, newspaper! Composition of meals: ~50% protein leaving 25% of meal for veggies/fruit and 25% carbs (whole/multigrain/low glycemic index/.load).
5.Exercise: Resolve to exercise 30 min 3x a week, then increase to 60 min 3x a week or 30 min 6x a wee****il you are exercising 30 min MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK (or more)! It helps you cope with stress, so you don't turn to food, it will help the wt loss and also give you energy! You will feel better about yourself and be less apt to go for the carbs. NOTHING revs the metabolism better! START SOMEWHERE! VARIETY IS KEY!
6.SUPPORT: Resolve to either get involved in a local support group monthly (weekly would be better but at least 1x a month), online support is also helpful and/or get into therapy to deal with your food issues and look at why you are sabotaging your happiness. We all have food issues/demons and we all need to face them eventually the surgery is a great help but the brain is a hard organ to change and unfortunately they didn't operate it when they shrunk our tummy! Be around those whom can support and not sabotage your success, this may mean making new friends and giving up old/unhealthy ones!
Also there is no way to say eating x amount of calories is the right way, some do best with 3 meals and others do well with 5 small ones who is right BOTH if they are working the tool and successful....Most postops can eat a different amount of food on any different day or time......People ask all the tine how many calories should I be eating, too hard to tell, we have to figure that out for our INDIVIDUAL bodies what works for balance and health..track what we eat and labs and adjust accordingly. Just no cookie cutter way.
It is typically normal and expected' to be able to eat a greater variety and quantity of food as we progress postop..some people's pouches heal faster than others, some get strictures, some don't.
You appear to be coming up on 5 yrs out and if your wt is same as the ticker you are not typical, you exceeded expectations of realistically what happens postop, you reached an ideal bodywt, lost 100% of excess. Is that wrong? No it is just you and your body.....If I only lost 80% and you 100% would I be bad or wrong? No just different....
I choose to EMBRACE diversity vs allow it to frustrate me or confuse me. In this ACCEPTANCE I thrive and find HAPPINESS and inner peace vs turmoil....I love the following quote it speaks to letting go of our own harsh critics/judment of self and others!
"Only after we can learn to forgive ourselves can we accept others as they are because we don't feel threatened by anything about them which is better than us."
- Stephen Covey
I can not say what it is as it changes frequently. I go with this vs fight it or obsess about it. Some days I can eat 1 slice pizza, others a little more, some 3 oz chicken fills me but 6 oz ground beef doesn't. I do not do rice or pasta (personal choice as it is a trigger and makes me feel yucky), but I can eat a lot of potatoes, whole baked with some meat...The density of food matters, the speed, my stress level. I let go of the worry and go with what is. Hugs!
Hello,
People have opinions, people have ideas, people have read things, nothing is right or wrong it just is! This is a thought process than can reduce frustration and confusion. Every bariatric program is different, perhaps that is difficult but it does not mean my surgeon is right or better it just means our surgeons are different is all....
What helps me is to realize there is 'typical' and then variations of everything, living in a rigid world of black/white is not helpful so I choose to live in a world of many shades of grey!
People typically lose 50-78% of their excess wt with a proximal RNY. Typically people have minor food intolerances such as red meat and dairy...others have none and some have many more....Typically people will regain 10-15% of the wt they originally lost, after the honeymoon (6mo to 2 yrs typically)...some don't regain, others regain more....
We are individuals, our individual body has different needs, responds to the surgery different. Some people need only a multivitamin, calcium and B12; others develop other vitamin and mineral deficiencies postop like iron anemia, thiamine issues, folate issues, copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, Vit A/D/E/k issues, B6 issues etc. There is no one size fits all perfect way to be a postop. We have guidelines not rigid rules....it is important to emphasize that it is not necessary to follow every rule all of the time.
SAMPLE GUIDELINES:
1.Fluid: Resolve to drink AT LEAST 64 ounces (This will keep you full longer and tension on the pouch) of NON-carbonated-NON-calorie fluid a day. (Water, Crystal Lite, diet Kool-Aid) In other words don't drink your calories! DO NOT DRINK WITH MEALS and WAIT 1-2 HOURS AFTER MEALS TO START DRINKING....(OR YOU WILL JUST MAKE YOURSELF HUNGRY AGAIN...SOONER!).
2.Vitamins: Resolve to take 1-2 multivitamin(s) a day, calcium as citrate form ~1,500mg a day (some may need more), & ~1,000mcg B12 liquid/tablets sublingually daily (some may need intramuscular shots). Other vitamins are based on labs/dexascans: some will need extra iron/vit C (pills/shots/infusions), vitamin A, D, E, K, Zinc, Magnesium, Thiamine (B1), Folate, B6, selenium....This is a reason we need to follow up for life with our healthcare providers, deficiencies can happen not just early postop but anytime postop!
3.Protein: Resolve to get in ~65 grams a day+/- (this will vary due to age/ht/wt/medical comorbidities) either in the food you eat or by supplementing with shakes *this is controlversial. EAT PROTEIN FIRST!!! It fills the pouch!(less room for carbs).
4.MEALS: Resolve to eat no more than 3-5 small meals a day, NO GRAZING! Take 15-20 minutes for a meal no less/more, pay attention to the food, not a TV, radio, newspaper! Composition of meals: ~50% protein leaving 25% of meal for veggies/fruit and 25% carbs (whole/multigrain/low glycemic index/.load).
5.Exercise: Resolve to exercise 30 min 3x a week, then increase to 60 min 3x a week or 30 min 6x a wee****il you are exercising 30 min MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK (or more)! It helps you cope with stress, so you don't turn to food, it will help the wt loss and also give you energy! You will feel better about yourself and be less apt to go for the carbs. NOTHING revs the metabolism better! START SOMEWHERE! VARIETY IS KEY!
6.SUPPORT: Resolve to either get involved in a local support group monthly (weekly would be better but at least 1x a month), online support is also helpful and/or get into therapy to deal with your food issues and look at why you are sabotaging your happiness. We all have food issues/demons and we all need to face them eventually the surgery is a great help but the brain is a hard organ to change and unfortunately they didn't operate it when they shrunk our tummy! Be around those whom can support and not sabotage your success, this may mean making new friends and giving up old/unhealthy ones!
Also there is no way to say eating x amount of calories is the right way, some do best with 3 meals and others do well with 5 small ones who is right BOTH if they are working the tool and successful....Most postops can eat a different amount of food on any different day or time......People ask all the tine how many calories should I be eating, too hard to tell, we have to figure that out for our INDIVIDUAL bodies what works for balance and health..track what we eat and labs and adjust accordingly. Just no cookie cutter way.
It is typically normal and expected' to be able to eat a greater variety and quantity of food as we progress postop..some people's pouches heal faster than others, some get strictures, some don't.
You appear to be coming up on 5 yrs out and if your wt is same as the ticker you are not typical, you exceeded expectations of realistically what happens postop, you reached an ideal bodywt, lost 100% of excess. Is that wrong? No it is just you and your body.....If I only lost 80% and you 100% would I be bad or wrong? No just different....
I choose to EMBRACE diversity vs allow it to frustrate me or confuse me. In this ACCEPTANCE I thrive and find HAPPINESS and inner peace vs turmoil....I love the following quote it speaks to letting go of our own harsh critics/judment of self and others!
"Only after we can learn to forgive ourselves can we accept others as they are because we don't feel threatened by anything about them which is better than us."
- Stephen Covey
I can not say what it is as it changes frequently. I go with this vs fight it or obsess about it. Some days I can eat 1 slice pizza, others a little more, some 3 oz chicken fills me but 6 oz ground beef doesn't. I do not do rice or pasta (personal choice as it is a trigger and makes me feel yucky), but I can eat a lot of potatoes, whole baked with some meat...The density of food matters, the speed, my stress level. I let go of the worry and go with what is. Hugs!
Take Care, 
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163(lowest)/185(current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163(lowest)/185(current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"
My first thought looking at your post was to look at your weight loss ticker. You seem to be right about at your goal. My thought is that if your weight is stable and you are happy with your weight then your eating habits are right for you. If you were gaining weight then I might think you should try to decrease your calorie intake.
My thought is that what is important is that your are getting proper nutrition and your weight is stable, not the amount you eat.
Jim
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