Newbie with WLS spouse...

Hey there... My name is Monica and I've been "lurking" for a couple of weeks now. I find myself on this forum more than the others so I decided to pose a question or two in your direction! My husband had WLS three days ago. Things actually happened pretty quickly for him.. his consultation was only two weeks ago, and he was able to get approved and scheduled ten days later. (Sorry to those who have had difficulties!)

Ok... so I am currently 184 pounds and 5'5". Definitely not where I want to be... but not a candidate for surgery (nor do I want to be!). I did the "pre op" diet with my husband... and found that I actually like the protein shakes. Now that he's on liquids.... yeah... no way I'm going there! I've done WW before.. and lost 16 pounds. That's the most significant weight loss of my life. I know that we will be more active together now... the gym and long walks will be a daily routine that I look forward to. BUT.... does anyone have any advice about following a "high protein" diet without WLS? Eating together has always been a "bonding" experience (obviously since we are both fat!) with us that I've enjoyed. I don't want to be in a position where we are cooking seperate meals for the rest of our lives.

Hey Monica-- I think it's great that you're trying to keep the integrity of your relationship despite your different weight loss approaches-- it's a challenge to be sure. I was approved for my own surgery several months before my SIgOt will have his RNY, so we're in a similar boat. He "feels guilty" when he can eat something I can't-- but to tell you the truth, I wish he'd get over that because that was never my intention, you know? If your intestines are still intact, I feel like you should eat like they're intact! No need to punish yourself or restrict yourself unnecessarily. There's really no reason you can't both eat the same meals much of the time, you just need to be creative. Here's an example-- in a week or two, he'll be eating a pureed diet-- and by your own admission you could stand to eat lighter too. So make a big batch of tuna salad-- puree his, put yours on some leafy greens (surely he won't envy your rabbit food, right?) Flavorful additions like onoins, peppers, bits of relish won't hurt his pouch if pureed. Ditto for things like chicken salad, egg salad. You can split lentil, bean and split pea soups-- just run his through the blender, and maybe have a half sandwich or pita with yours. In 3-8 weeks, when he can handle denser proteins, you can make things turkey burgers (blend his, add a slice of low fat cheese and melt it on top) or taco meat --and again you can toss yours onto a salad. He'll be able to tolerate eggs, so scramble enough for two and add tasty stuff like salsa, onions, or finely chopped ham. In a pinch, you can buy Lean Cuisines on sale, puree the meat/gravy/veggies, and you can eat the rice or pasta. Baked chicken breast cooked in sauces-- low fat gravy, or low fat Campbell's soup-- is hearty and purees well too. The only real difference for us is that the idea of casseroles is a dead concept--and we loved one pot cooking! He won't be able to eat rice, noodles or soft breads-- but when you get right down to it, those are food that everyone could stand a little less of anyway. Pre-op, for 4 months we both followed a high-protein diet. We used FitDay to track our intake, ad ate a balance somewhere around 30-40% protein, 50% carbs (mostly fruit/veggie), 20% fat, and we both achieved significant losses. The reason we did this was to prepare for our post-surgical eating patterns, and because for us, protein is more sustaining. People with high BMIs have higher protein requirements than smaller people (I know I have to have no less than 80 mgs a day, even while eating 3 oz. meals) Don't panic-- it gets easier. For the next couple of weeks, it's easier to prepare foods in quantity in advance, then put them into 2 oz. servings in little Tupperware containers. Then he only needs to grab one and nuke it, and it keeps you from grazing or snacking like big tubs full would. Helps me, anyway. Best of luck to you!

Hey Monica..we r almost neighbors...just up the 5 from you! yanno, i have read about people who had RnY and the spouse or roomie cooked normal food and it about killed the narrator of the story. And...i remember thinking well that would be whack to cook a nice not-RnY dish in the same house. It would be a respect thang....i would NOT do it to my DH! Certainly not at first.  Later on, even a couple months out, he will likely be able to eat a lot more things. Shari had some good ideas...pretty much try to stick to things that can be somehow converted to his kind of food. I also loved that Susan Leach book with the cookbook, she's kind of a silly ***** but her food ideas were great and kind of gourmet. If you've read any of my posts, i am using bariatric foods all day long duirng work pretty much. The high protein soups, entrees are not bad.  You might consider eating real food the other way around..eat normal stuff at lunch or breakfast, then at home with him, pop a south beach entree into the wave and go from there. nearly all my RnY buds ate those not too long out, this depends on the surgeon of course.  Best of luck and come hang out wid us!

Hi Monica, Atkins and South Beach are high protein plans, so normal people can follow a high protein regiment without feeling like they are doing something bad for their bodies.  We don't need nearly as many grams of protein a day as a WLS person because of course they suffer from malabsorption and we don't.  But it definitely doesn't hurt and protein fills us up for a longer time keeping us less hungry.   Good luck in supporting your husband.