Poll for post-ops 2+ years out

I try to do my best at moderation and eating a balanced diet.  What I do differently than I did as a fresh post op is eat a ton more fresh fruits and veggies.  I just couldn't stomach the raw veggies until almost a year post op.  Now every day I enjoy a fresh salad with some grilled chicken as my source of protein.  If I do eat carbs I try to eat whole grains, but I try to avoid them as much as possible.  I find them too easy to over eat.  I can't say I am perfect, but so far what I am doing seems to be working for me 

Christy

Early out I was much more focused on avoiding anything "unnecessary" which basically meant really, really limiting starchy carbs and treats of any kind.  But that was only for a short term thing, that was until I reached goal.  Now, with my focus on maintaining, I still limit the starchy carbs and the treats, but I allow them more often than I did prior to reaching goal.  Because this is how I'm going to eat for the rest of my life.    While it's reasonable or feasible, to me, to avoid eating a cookie for a year or two, it did not seem reasonable to never ever have one again as long as I live.  I guess the short answer is that my plan is less strict now than it was early out.

Almost 4 years post op
Some days I can eat a lot, other days - not so much.
On days I can eat a lot I try to make up the volume in non-starchy veggies.

As for type of foods - due to RH - not only I have to eat every 2-3 hrs,but I also need to avoid refined carbs and starchy carbs. Some - as long as I have proteins and fats - are fine. But not too many and not at every meal.

I also added more proteins - since 80 or 100 gr - was not enough (my blood level shows low normal). So now I try to get 120-150 gr per day.  It is not easy to do when I still try to monitor my calories. 

I no longer try to eat "normal" food. Cookies , bread, pasta, potatoes - I got very low BS (crashed) a few times that now - when i look at these foods - my blood sugar starts crashing and I get into panic attack just in case (kidding) - but seriously - a few major crashes scared me enough so I not crave the sugars that much.  I do make lots of protein cookies and and cakes.   SF, almost  carbs free.   

I no longer need to trow up if I overeat... nor can I... I will hurt until the food passes.  So overeating is not only not fun- but also painful. But I also know when to stop eating (most days)

I do eat full fat cheese and PB, and other nut butters.  Love them. And nuts.

 Hey Nik,

First of all, I want to express my condolences to you and your family.

I acutally just got home from my 3 year follow up visit with my surgeon.  I am down to 107 again!  YAY!!  (Well, the scale there was 109, but I was fully dressed and had shoes on too - my scale said 107 after my shower today!)  I was 111 last year at this time, and he's very pleased :)

Secondly, about how I eat, goes kinda like this -

I eat when I am hungry.  I eat proteins when I am hungry.  It works.  I don't count carbs or calories or fat, just protein.   I told him I have a drink here and there and that I eat chocolate too (went to Hershey PA this past weekend!).  I just don't do it all at the same time and every day.  I told my surgeon this and he said he agrees. 

He said he's noticed more long term success in people who do what I do, and that have learned that this isn't a diet but a lifestyle, and one that I can totally live with.  I rarely deny myself anything and have made peace with white carbs and my jeans and the scale agree. 

A typical day looks like this:

Deli pop chip & coffee for breakfast
Cheese stick or shake mid AM
Turkey & cheese for lunch
cheese stick or almonds, or both mid PM
dinner - usually an ounce or two of protein and a couple of bites of what ever I have made on the side
yogurt & granola & fruit or protein bar or a combo snack

I thought how much my life has changed for the better this weekend as I walked all through Hershey Park, which for some reason seems to be entirely uphill, in both directions, and how easily I did this.  I thought about how I fit into the roller coasters and wasn't saturated with sweat or huffing and puffing the entire time.  I had a chocolate beer with dinner that night and chocolate too, and enjoyed the hell out of it.

After my awesome doctor's visit, I went and got myself a pair of jeans at Banana Republic, size 25 skinny jeans.  I don't know what a 25 equates to, but I am guessing that's a 0, since 24 was the smallest and the smallest they carry is a  00.  I can't begin to say how amazing it is to be able to get clothes that fit, that I don't have to get because they fit, but because I LIKE them AND they look good.  And this is the third year running that my clothes from the previous season fit the next year - lots of my summer clothes are from 2010 and they fit perfectly still.  I don't think I have ever been able to have clothes fit for more than a year!

Just had to say how very grateful I am to have been able to have this life changing surgery.  I wouldn't be able to do any of the things I just posted about if it had  not been for my RNY.  I don't take a minute of it for granted either.  

I didn't mean to hijack this post and I apologize; it's just that it coincided so perfectly with my visit today I had to share - thanks!

Happy Belated Anniversary Jen, and congrats on an awesome follow-up with your surgeon.

At 7 years out I basically eat what I want not placing a whole lot of time and effort on choices because I make sure to have a dense piece of protein at most meals and when I follow the protein first rule there isn't much real estate available to eat lots of other foods.

The first year was very restricted and regimented following my surgeon's "different" strict post-op plan.  I DO believe following that plan allowed me to get my head on straight for long-term eating.  Perfect - heck no, I do have battles with sugar (which I didn't eat at all the first year) but I allow myself something sweet (real sugar if I choose) most days.


What I see/read about many of us and how much we can intake I find enlightening and puzzling sometimes.  I'm sure initial pouch size has something to do with it, do you ever wonder why some have lots of restriction and others can eat larger quantities and feel hungry often?

Thanks Dana!  You are doing great and looking good too!!

I wonder that too - when I see people who can eat like 4 oz of meat or anything for that matter - I can't eat that much, no matter what!  Or two scrambled eggs - I can't finish one egg!!  Two eggs was nothing for me pre-op!

I stop eating as soon as I feel food in my pouch - I can't explain it, but I feel stuffed pretty quickly. 

I am not complaining though - I would rather eat small amounts throughout the day then worry that I am eating too much at one time, if that makes any sense!

Thankful for this post, I haven't been on the site in a while and just posted about feeling like I've fallen off the bandwagon...  I was 2 years out this past December and have lost 99 pounds but I am still about 10lbs form my personal goal.  I'm super happy with my size right now and with the weight that I have lost but I feel like I need to get back into eating right and monitoring what I eat.  In the beginning I was very strict about what I was putting in my mouth, counting everything, protein, liquids, carbs etc.  Now that I'm further out I've stopped counting and just been eating.  If I see something and I want it I eat it which may not always be the right thing to do because sometimes I feel like I "waste" meals on pointless food.  I need to start cooking more at home...    I don't dump where I throw up or get extremely sick but what happens if I eat to much is I go into a "food coma" where I have to go to sleep or I just can't function.  I've read all of your post and know that I have some work to do but I'm ready to get back at it!