Newbie decided to lurk no more

I have been following this forum for a few days and have decided I needed to stop lurking.  I'm currently finishing a program at the Hamilton Health Sciences Bariatric centre. I had been on optifast for 12 weeks and now we are on 3 meals and 1 shake a day.  Like a lot of people this is not the first WL journey for me.  I hoping since I have made some real lifestyle changes that this time will be different.  I still have a fair amount of weight to loose so I know it will be a long journey.

Welcome Big blue eyes! You're doing the same program I am at the Ottawa Civic. I'm glad you decided to post.

How are you finding the transition back to food? And how are you enjoying the program? Do you have a weekly class with either dietitan, behaviourist or exercise specialist? I'm curious to see how the programs vary from one centre to another.

Looking forward to chatting more with you!

Tammy

The transition to food is scary, it was so much easier on the shakes.  You don't have to think, only decide between chocolate or vanilla.  Our group is really good and very supportive of each other.  I am enjoying the program.  For the first 8 weeks it was usually with the social worker, other than the second week when we had the dietitian go over the optifast stuff.  Then we had an occupational therapist go over exercise program, what we can do etc.  She is/was really good at covering things you can do at home with just resistance bands.  Since then it has been the dietitian going over things.  Helping us through the mine field of what we can and can't  have, how to revise recipes and things.    You can make an appointment to have a one on one session with any of them if you feel you need to. I also think there is a psychatrist who comes in once a month that you make an appointment to see.  Is your program the same?

Win

We seemed to rotate between dietitian, behaviourist and exercise specialist. We covered some basic nutrition while we were on shakes so we could think ahead to food. The behaviourist we have is very good and understands our issues. She's an RN who's done the program twice herself (did a second round to lose more weight) so she really "gets it".

We seem to have learned many of the same things (resistance bands, revising recipes) and the group support has been really good. This is my second time round (did it in 2002 but gained weight back in 2007 when I went through bad depression). The program has really improved from 10 years ago.

We don't have a psychiatrist to see but I believe we can arrange to see someone. We do get a one hour session with a dietitian (my appointment is on Friday) to review how life with food is again. I've been using My Fitness Pal to track everything so she can see what I've been eating. Many in our group are using this for journaling. One of the guys figured out how to use his android phone to scan upc codes on foods to record it in his journal...that was pretty cool.

I'm scared to death of bread. I've tried to keep my grains/starch servings to a minimum and make them up with a protein. I wouldn't mind an extra fruit serving instead. Will discuss with dietitian.

Tonight we covered the "eating out" unit. Even with making good choices at restaurants there is still so much sodium in the foods. And not every restaurant posts their nutritional info making it difficult. I have switched from eating out at least a couple times per week to once every second week (if that). So much easier to control things at home.
 

Hi Big Blue. Welcome to the forum! So happy to have newbies join us! I haven't been through the program like you and Tammy. I am working at it very gradually as I have decided against weight loss surgery. I am afraid to eat bread too! Lol I find it always puts my sugar and my weight up. I have done lie carb but find the no fruits too restrictive. Currently trying to follow a Volumetrics plan which is basically low fat high fiber. Nothing off limits. I too track my food with my fitness pal. Recently added more exercise. Night eating has been an issue but the past 2 wks no night hunger monster visits. Look forward to hearing more from you!