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Thanks for the encouragement, I know I'll be okay once I have BS, but just feeling a bit anxious this side of it. Also, that's interesting that you said "plus 20 for the regain phase", I haven't heard much about this phenomenon. I just assumed individuals just fell back into their old habits. Guess I'll have to read up on it.
The only thing that I am not able to eat or drink again is: absolutely nothing. I eat candy, cheeseburgers, lasagna, chocolate cake, drink milkshakes or margaritas.
I had RNY in October, 2007. After surgery, I made my milkshakes with protein powder. Now I can get one from the Dairy Queen if I want. For the first years, I was very careful to avoid most carbs. It was not hard at all, because I was never hungry and could eat very little after surgery.
Food funerals are not real. Make up your mind to lose all your excess weight and another 20 pounds to allow for the regain phase. Then you will develop good habits and be able to maintain your weight loss for life.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
It's not a great idea, but you know that. If you search food funerals on here, you'll see you're not alone though.
If your program has you on a plan of some type already, you should try to stick to it. Mine had me making weekly changes for the 6 months prior to help my head be in a good place for the future but didn't have a formal 2 weeks before diet or put me on liquid for X time pre-op. The head stuff is the hardest part so I appreciate that now.
Good luck!
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
I have to start my pre-operative low carb diet next week for my surgery on 9/22. I feel like I will never get to have candy or cheeseburgers or Alcohol ever again! So I have really been bingeing on these types of foods lately, even more than I ever did in the past. Has anyone else ever faced this feeling? What did you do to stop this insanity?
;Dr. Alvarez covers his findings for this amongst other procedures in this vid
Keep in mind that he specializes in doing the VSG, but when considering something like this, I find it useful to check out the "competition" as they will usually tell you things that those promoting it will avoid discussing, or at least downplay (sort of like going to a Ford dealer and telling them that you have been looking at Chevys - you will find out more about Chevys than you will from a Chevy dealer.) Let that be some inspiration for further research and make up your own mind.
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
Hello Folks.
I used to frequent theses pages back in 2003 and 04,
but long reached goal and got less and less from these forums.
BUT - I did want to pop by to encourage those just starting.
I had an RNY (at that time "the Gold Standard.)
I'm 6'1" -I was 380 to 390lbs depending on the day of the week :)
and lost down to 190 within the first year.
Now I bounce between 185 and 189 over the course of a month.
No problem maintaining that weight.
I started out being great to get in exercise,
But then slacked off over the years
till just walking a mile or two each day now. (walking the dog)
Some tips-
Walk a lot. Drink plenty of water before, not during meals.
Follow your Dr's food directives like a Rabbi staying Kosher.
Take any Nutrients that you may be mal-absorbing
Or not getting from your new food intake.
For me it was Calcium/Zinc/Magnesium
and the Fat-soluble Vitamins - A,E, and D3 (mostly for me the D3)
As you are months or a year out from surgery
and you find yourself able to eat more than before?
Start back at Day One Diet progress-
Clear Liquids (can shine a flashlight through it) Jell-O, broth and such.
Then Full Liquids (Cream soups and such)
Mushy Foods (Refried beans, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, etc)
Then Full Solids.
You'll find that your (Reduced Stomach Size- VSG, or pouch-RNY)
Has shrunk back down a good bit and you can get full
on the same small amount of food as when you started.
Some tend to have some issues with "Addiction Transfer."
(If you were a food addict before, beware gambling or drinking
After surgery.)
I swear I've seen at least 30 people on this forum back in the day
Who became alcoholics within the 2nd year post-op.
Avoid at all costs.
That's all of the things that come to mind quickly.
At 18yrs post-op, and still at target weight.
I have no issues with -
Diabetes (No Sign or pre-cursors)
Blood Pressure issues (118 over 68)
Cholesterol (Total - 170, HDL High, LDL Low, Triglycerides 95)
Resting Pulse per minute - (54)
I would definitely do this again if in the same condition as 2003.
The Surgery saved my Life.
I don't use many (in fact Very Few) "Bariatric Recipes."
I just have greatly reduced White Carbs,
and almost No Sugar.
(RNY and have a version of dumping Syndrome with Sugar)
(For me- Sugar=Laxative)
Takes the temptation out of Chocolate Candy if it's all Ex-Lax :) )
I may pop back by in a few days,
If you have random questions, ask here,
And so many other Post-ops will have info.
Oh, and hello to all of you who I've messaged with in the past.
Have the Best!
DxE
Congrats! I am 15 yrs post-op, maintained for years but ballooned back up in the last recent years. So I am back again, seeing what my tribe is up to :)
2005 HW: 300# // SW: 268# // GW: 140# (maintained for years)
2021 15yrs Post-op: 236# // Current: 127# // Goal: 120#
I find I still malabsorb fats nine years or so post op - ( sorry to be graphic) - my poo comes out soft and very light yellow in color the next day ( sometimes urgently ) if say I eat full fat cheese or a restaurant meal which contain usually several times the amount of fats and oils I?d ever consider using at home .
My ex husband who had a distal RNY said the same thing ( he was operated on a few years before me ).
He also still has significant restriction- he always has to bring most of his restaurant meals home like I do .
I?m just very curious- what makes our bodies keep this gift and if we have it why do many folks significantly regain after the two year honeymoon period ?
Since my surgery I?ve made it a point not to overeat ( not that I can ) nor to test ? dumping ? by eating sugar or say fried or most fast foods .
what is your experience?
Yes, I still have malabsorption after 15 yrs post-op. I either have loose stools or constipation due to the iron supplements. For some reason I am okay with cheese.. but not other dairy products.
2005 HW: 300# // SW: 268# // GW: 140# (maintained for years)
2021 15yrs Post-op: 236# // Current: 127# // Goal: 120#
As a new post op I am struggling with drinking enough fluids at this time. I am worried about the struggles I will come up against further down the road. What barriers/struggles have you found the hardest after weight loss surgery?
What helped me to drink my water at first was just to have a huge, cold water cup/bottle with me at ALL times.. even when I wasn't thirsty, I'd take a few sips. IF I was watching TV, I made it a point to take another few sips every commercial break. Struggles down the road were also mental.. I never could accept the new me when I looked at the mirror. I was always paranoid if a new love interest loved me for me or just because I was 1/2 my size. Now at 15+ years post-op, I did regain about 80 pounds after years of successfully keeping it off.. so in June 1st of this year, I re-centered myself.. ate like I was newly post-op, upped my exercise and practice low-carb all the way.
2005 HW: 300# // SW: 268# // GW: 140# (maintained for years)
2021 15yrs Post-op: 236# // Current: 127# // Goal: 120#
I don't know anyone that's had it via endoscopy although laparoscopic is the typical these days. There are a few posters here who had open surgeries as well.
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
Sorry to sound so dumb but what does DS stand for?
hnvr87 · 2 replies · 1416 views
