I had my four month follow-up appointment today, and I concluded that my bariatric team is useless. I do not appreciate being told I am doing things wrong by someone who has no idea what it's like to live with gastric bypass. I basically got a lecture about how I am not eating enough, seriously! She gave me a bunch of sample menus that are absurd and told me to just try following them. I cannot, and would not try, to eat as much food as was on that menu, nor would I eat that many carbs. She wants me to eat a cup or more of food at each meal! When I told her I couldn't eat that much, her response was to eat slower! I will not force myself to overeat or engage in habits that defeat the purpose of having surgery and will eventually lead to regain. I am trying to learn good habits that will help me keep the weight off, but their advice doesn't seem to consider long term at all. Also, their vitamin recommendations are horrible, and I realized that I will just have to read my own labs. I am so thankful for the vets on this site who help me and others recognize when we are getting bad advice from those who are supposed to be helping us.

I am so sorry you had this experience.  I am so proud of you for standing strong for what's best for you and your right to have success in WL efforts.  Keep up the great work my friend.

It's why I hate seeing the blanket "follow your surgeon" advice.  Honestly, some of the advice given is absolutely appalling.

I love seeing newbies and honeymooners taking charge of their lives and being their own best researchers and advocates 

I'm with Kim. You are learning to do things we all ought to be doing for ourselves. It's unfortunate you got tossed into the deep end, but I think you'll do well.

We have to be educated and be our best advocate.

Where I think that you must eat a lot at one time crap comes from is the thought in the medical community that if we eat our 3 meals a day we will be full and never snack. Like this is the "normal"way to eat and we must be normal.

I still can't eat a cup of most things. I'm glad I can't. My pouch is tiny and it can get filled up with protein and I can not be hungry for hours.

Good luck to you.

Deb T.

You are smart not to follow their advice.  You are smart not to force it. If you are hungry then you should eat. I am changing doctor right now. He is horrible he only talks to me for about two minutes then he is gone. I have had two other surgeries and by him then when I come in for an check up he blows me off when I have questions. 

Thank goodness I found this site. The vets are awesome. 

We are our best advocates, 100%, period, the end. I'm not saying we are medically trained or anything BUT sometimes we are just numbers to our Doctors. I've been a patient for 8 years to various doctors between oncology, neurology and now bariatrics and being my own advocate has always led to getting better care. I did not listen to my nutritionist at all since week 2 when I realized that rice and pasta were on my menus then and that saltines were on my menus too. IMO those 3 things were unnecessary and not going to lead to good long term habits just like you said and just like you said, I came here to figure out on my own what to do.

Good for you for doing your own research and figuring our what is best - and taking the Doctors recommendations and weighing those along with everything else. I think that's the best approach.

If it helps..you ARE doing things correctly.

I wasnt allowed to even contemplate eating an entire cup of food in one sitting until the year mark.

Further, the NUT was like no less than 10 minutes at the table and no more than 30. If it takes you longer than 30 to eat then you are just grazing and eating needless calories.

And as far as protein forward, I swear that is the ONLY thing that kept my A1C in line and my weight in check.

Maybe get a new NUT. Like one with YEARS long track record in treating RNY patients

That is good advice. My NUT keeps stressing that every meal should take at least 30 to 45 minutes to eat, but I just knew that couldn't be right. If I take too long to eat, I don't feel the restriction. I'm not trying to learn how to eat around the surgery. Plus, who has 45 minutes to eat breakfast! I couldn't believe she actually expected me to do that. She was really upset that I drink a protein drink for breakfast, but it's the only thing I can stomach in the morning. Thanks Skinny!

A protein shake makes a great breakfast. Start the day out with a big ole protein number. Better than crackers and rice for breakfast!