No restriction

Today I had a protein shake for breakfast made with skim milk and bariatric fusion; for lunch I brought some leftover black bean salad with a half of an avacado; I also brought an oikos yogurt. I usually am able to get in at least 64 oz of water at work. For dinner Ill have leftover fish and veggies.

My input:

Lot of sugar in milk. Lot of carbs in yogurt and veggies. Lot of carbs in avocado and beans too, although there is some good fat and protein in there as well.

Right now, this early out, it should be all about protein/fats first... helps in healing as well as making you feel full... maybe time for a few bites of other things after your protein, if you still have room.

Audrey

I would NEVER feel "full" on this menu -- it doesn't include any dense protein. I am now 19 months out -- but from very early on, I found that I could eat a lot of non-dense protein and feel relatively NO restriction. A shake goes through you like any liquid, salad, beans, avocado, and especially yogurt -- all slider type foods. Fish is wonderful, but not dense. Ask any RNYer old-timer and they will tell you: they can eat things like beans, salad, chips, yogurt, pudding, soup, etc almost like they never had surgery. I am certain I could eat a whole 32 oz container of yogurt!

Most people who have an RNY and who have long-term success will tell you: dense protein is the key. What is dense? Steak, chicken, pork, tuna, salmon (and I purposefully put those in order of what people usually find longest lasting in satiety.) If you think of your pouch as a funnel -- things that go through relatively fast -- will never help you to feel your restriction.

I hope this helps you.

I saw my surgeon yesterday and this was the outcome: There is nothing wrong with my pouch mechanically. It all looks fine. He says it is in my head which he cannot fix. Also he thinks that because this is my second WLS I may never feel any type of fullness and I have to measure my food and eat only that. He also suggested I see a behavioral therapist who may be able to help me. He also suggested I do a two week liquid diet to get some more weight off. I'm a little over three months post op and I've lost 40 lbs. and I guess that's not enough in his book.

I would be very, VERY angry at a doctor who suggested a liquid diet after I spent several tens of thousands of dollars on a tool to help me lose weight.

Do what you have been told by other posters. Dense protein. No slider foods.

Audrey

I think you may have two distinct issues going on: unreasonable expectations and food choices that need some modification.

While I have never had a lapband, I understand how it works. The lapband provides constant restriction, even if you are drinking. Some folks develop disorders with this feeling and always want greater fills to feel greater restriction. You will not feel the same with the RNY. Restriction is felt only AFTER you eat; it is not a constant feeling. And, you have to be mindful and eat fairly slowly in order for the feeling of fullness and restriction to be processed by the brain. If you eat too quickly and fill your pouch too fast, you run the risk of stretching your pouch until it is a big tube with your intestines. Obviously, since you had medical tests, this is not the case with you. I think you are just expecting a feeling similar with the lapband, which probably will never occur.

Also, your food choices could also be contributing to your issues. A protein drink is still a drink and provides little bulk or fullness. Bean salad and avocado can also be chewed down to mush and could be difficult to feel full from. I know I can flat eat a ton of nuts and never feel full; I believe beans are very similar. Depending upon which fish you are eating, the same is true. If it is the frozen/processed fish, then it is mostly filler and carb coating and easily mushed down.

Why don't you try this experiment? Buy some chicken breasts and a cruciferous vegetable of your choosing. Bake the chicken without any added sauces. (I like to bake it in chicken broth to keep it moist.) Measure out 4oz of chicken and 2 oz of veggies. Eat the chicken first and then the veggies, stopping if you are full. If you don't feel fullness, stop when you eat what you measured. Eat the same dish, for each meal, for at least two days, being cognizant of how you feel after each meal. I think you may find that once you rid yourself of simple carbs and become more aware of how the RNY feels, you might start recognizing those feelings of fullness.

Best wishes.

THIS is EXCELLENT advice.

In fact, it's pretty much how I lost 200 lbs.

Thank you for your reply and it makes total sense. I have tried doing just chicken or beef and vegetables and I can eat so much chicken! My mom had RNY 12 years ago so I've been watching her for years and at 12 years out if we eat the exact same meal she can eat so much less.

I feel the exact same way!!  I keep being told that it will change by 6 months.  I guess the nerves need to heal first before you feel any actual restriction.  Fingers crossed, I hope they are right.  Because right now it just feels like I'm on a diet just like before surgery.

I just hit five months and no fullness yet. I think I'm going to have to make peace with how it is.  I get so frustrated when I read about people who can only eat a few bites of Something.  I'm really struggling!