just wondering

Good Afternoon all, I had my VBG on May 12th this year and so far have lost 64 pounds. I started this journey at 264 and am now down to 200 on the nose! I am very pleased and happy with my choice of surgeries but was wondering how much you guys are able to eat? I am still pretty limited in what I can eat and how much. I think my doc must have gone pretty small on my pouch cause I take just a couple of bites and I am done for a few hours. I have not been able to tolerate most meats and find that I tend to eat mostly Salmon, Prawns, Etc.. Any ideas on how and what you eat to get a wider variety of food choices? Thanks for your help and keep up all the good work!! PS.. I am 5ft 2 inches and am now wearing a size 16!! havent done that in 17years!! yeah me

Hi Jody...I had my VBG on 5/24/2005 and have lost 49#. I have found that I can't handle to many meats either. However, I been able to handle ground beef in chilli, taco filling...as long as it is crumbly. I, too, am into the salmon, tuna ,etc. My tummy just does not like chicken...no matter how I prepare it. I've even put it into the Magic Bullet and ground it to an extremely fine stage and still my stomach said "no, no". I have found that Wendy's Chili does work for me. I guess we just have to keep experiementing. As time goes by, I'm sure we'll find other things we can eat. Keep up the good work on your weight loss. I am really impressed with 64 pounds. That is wonderful!!! I hope I'll be there soon; however, considering I was almost imobile 3 1/2 months ago and I can now walk through the grocery store without stopping and have thrown my cane away, I feel like I am accomplishing more than I have done in years. Take Care!!!

Hi Jody! Congrats on the weight loss. That is awesome! Great job! I had my VBG done 8 years ago. In the beginning I was the same as you. It took me almost 2 years before I was able to eat any real meat. In the beginning you will fill up really quickly. Just follow your pouch rules and do what your surgeon says. Keep eating your fish. Fish is very good for you. Make sure to eat your protien first. I found eating eggs was a great source of protien and it was very easy on me. Time is your healer. You will need to be patient and your new tummy will come around. Be faithful to your pouch rules and you will succeed in loosing all the weight you need to loose. Oh, and take your vitamins. Children's chewables were what I could tolerate in the beginning. I can take pills now. There are alot of sites on line that you can research new recipes. Just type in "Bariatric meals" and WAHLA! Good Luck Jody! You are doing great.... Eve

Thanks for the replies!! I know I have to be patient but at times it is hard! LOL It seems like the RNY people are able to eat a little more normal then us to begin with and there is not alot of communication from us VBG'rs as to how we eat and what we eat. I have been mostly lurking out here for the last 5 months reading and learning all that I can and enjoying the success of everyone on here. Finally thought it was time for me to join in and share how things are going with me. I will go to that website and see if I can find things that will work for me.

Hi there! I had my surgery on April 4th and am still having problems with all meats, even salmon and tuna, but will have a good eating day every now and then and will be able to hold down a little steak, or other meat. I have found the real trick is to absolutely not have anything to drink at least an hour before and after eating. I have found a newer love for beans and feel that I am getting protein from them and also my protein shakes. I am starting to experience a little hair loss, but take my vitamins religiously. It's great to hear of your loss. Best wishes! I have lost between 77 and 78lbs. You hang in there, and remember to get your protein in, and don't forget to drink plenty of fluids! Carol

I am almost 2 years out from surgery. What I can eat today is totally different from what I could eat in the beginning. What worked for me one day in the beginning I wouldn't be able to eat the next day. I think the best thing that I finally learned was to save enough room in my pouch for all of the "spit" that I would end up swallowing before the food had a chance to pass through. This made the difference between feeling "ok" and feelling miserable. It is certainly a learning curve. The best recommendation I could make would be to just keep trying different things. What doesn't work one day... may work a month later. One thing that I can not tolerate is ketchup. Swear that might have been my favorite "food" before surgery. So that was pretty shocking for me. I can eat BBQ sauce though... so I have made that adjustment. Today I believe that I eat as much as a person with a "small appetite". So... my recommendation would be to just keep on trying different foods. Granted you will not be able to eat a lot... but at some point after your pouch has healed... eating should become "normal". Best Regards Sharon