Typical Menu...
Thanks for the help.
Rachel 
Tomorrow is offically my rebirthday,so I guess I can post to this even if it is a day early. My life is really normal now. I really feel just in the last month that my life has returned to normal. or at least the WLS version of normal. I usually eat 3 meals and a couple of snacks a day. 90% of the time this are good things lots of lean protein and vegis and lately I have been adding fruit and I am getting over my fear of carbs. I sometimes eat the wrong things but nothing like before and usually it consists of a bit or two. I like to kinda follow the three bite rule. I dont dump unless I really over do it. 2 weeks ago I kept eating the icing from my nieces cake as I was dishing it out. (big mistake.) I walk 2 miles every morning M-F and recently have tried to add another 3 miles in the evening but my knees are protesting( too many years of being overweight) So I guess I will have to be a litte more conservative in my evening exercise until my knees get used to it. It is frustrating because I really want to up the pace both in milage and in pace and my body doesnt want to cooperate. The price you pay for waiting till your forties to finally get the weight off. Overall there is far more good then bad. I can eat out and I eat a wide variety of foods. My life has vastly improved since last year. I never dreamed of all the good things that would come from having this surgery. It was by far the best thing that I have ever done for myself. Hope this helps.
Lynn
Rachel,
Being a GRAD is harder than a new post op. You find you can eat more and lose less and get frustrated because you can eat more and lose less! As far as food and exercise....I do it all. Recently I have not been exercising like I use to because of an ill family member that I am taking care of but I do get some in. I need it for my sanity. I think the exercising keeps me sane if that is possible. Its 2 years and its a habit now for me. Foods I can eat 1-2 cups of food per feeding....I have about 4-5 feedings a day. Still have not mastered the 6 feedings...too much food and not enough time. I drink one protein shake per day.....That is my first AM feeding. I do about 100 oz of water or fruit2O per day. My calories are from 1400 to 2000 depending on the day. I desparately try and keep to 1400 because of gains....and you do get them if you are not careful. You have to really be dedicated to your new life to succeed with this surgery process. Its funny when I started out I thought learning to eat so little was the hard part.....it isn't. I wish someone told me about this...I wish you luck with you decision process. I do think I did a good thing with this surgery. Its helped me to find the disclipine that I needed to keep me in check with food. And let me tell you I love food....that has never changed. I just don't eat as much as I use to!
Debbie
If someone followed me around for a day, he/she probably wouldn't have a clue I had wls. I think I eat & act like a "normal person" 
I'm 56 yrs. old and am 1 3/4 yrs. post-op from RNY wls.
I eat about 1500-1800 cals/day with a definite emhasis on protein; however, I eat most any veggies & fruits & whole grains too. My typical breakfast (7:00) is a bowl of oatmeal w/ a dollop of peanut butter and some blueberries tossed in. Mid-morn., I have some kind of snack like cottage cheese w/ just a little fruit. Lunch is almost always one slice of whole grain bread (I was a soft white bread junkie before!) with some kind of tuna or chicken salad or just whatever kind of leftover meat is around. I have something with it--raw carrots or fruit. Another snack in the afternoon--maybe cheese & soy chips or a South Beach protein bar. Supper is just whatever we're having--might be meatloaf, chicken, casserole. Some kind of veggie. I eat very little pasta--and even less potatoes--but I do occasionally eat them. Another snack later in evening. Really, I'm one of the unfortunate ones that doesn't get sick from ANYTHING. I have indulged in sweets (but honestly, not til about 16 mo. post-op), have no trouble w/ fried foods or any amount of carbs. HOWEVER, I try very hard not to give in to the bad choices very often, and I sure don't eat ANYWHERE NEAR the amount I used to. Peanut butter is my biggest weakness. I should own stock.
I eat smallish portions but not so drastic that anyone would notice. The only time that it's probably apparent is when I'm at an event where people are typically pigging out--like a big reunion picnic or just something where people are "loading up"--and I only have a few things on my plate. But even then, it's not totally obvious because I often take just a little bit of quite a few things.
What allows me to eat the amount & variety that I do is exercise. Before wls, I NEVER, NEVER EVER exercised. I still don't like to, but I have made the commitment to do it. I either work out at the gym (some days a variety of cardio and other days a combo of cardio/weight training) or take a long, brisk walk. I do a minimum of 45 min. but usually get in 60 min. Good weeks, I go 6 days; bad weeks, 4. I can't TELL you how unbelieveable this is to me!
Do I have bad days--yes, definitely--days that I'd be ashamed for anyone to be watching. I give in to the old food demons at times. I struggle w/ portion control. Losing the weight w/ wls is the easy part. Even though I'd read and heard that the long-term maintenance is TOUGH, I underestimated how tough it would be. (How many 100's of times thru the years did I say "if I could only lose the weight one more time, I swear I'd keep it off"!!) Well, here I am--unbelieveably grateful that I had the surgery--but having to work really, really hard at keeping it off.
Worth every second of the struggle. My life is so different, even in my imagination I couldn't have known how much better it would be.
Best wishes to you as you make the decision that's right for YOU!
Jo
295/150-155 (at goal)
I'm 56 yrs. old and am 1 3/4 yrs. post-op from RNY wls.
I eat about 1500-1800 cals/day with a definite emhasis on protein; however, I eat most any veggies & fruits & whole grains too. My typical breakfast (7:00) is a bowl of oatmeal w/ a dollop of peanut butter and some blueberries tossed in. Mid-morn., I have some kind of snack like cottage cheese w/ just a little fruit. Lunch is almost always one slice of whole grain bread (I was a soft white bread junkie before!) with some kind of tuna or chicken salad or just whatever kind of leftover meat is around. I have something with it--raw carrots or fruit. Another snack in the afternoon--maybe cheese & soy chips or a South Beach protein bar. Supper is just whatever we're having--might be meatloaf, chicken, casserole. Some kind of veggie. I eat very little pasta--and even less potatoes--but I do occasionally eat them. Another snack later in evening. Really, I'm one of the unfortunate ones that doesn't get sick from ANYTHING. I have indulged in sweets (but honestly, not til about 16 mo. post-op), have no trouble w/ fried foods or any amount of carbs. HOWEVER, I try very hard not to give in to the bad choices very often, and I sure don't eat ANYWHERE NEAR the amount I used to. Peanut butter is my biggest weakness. I should own stock.
I eat smallish portions but not so drastic that anyone would notice. The only time that it's probably apparent is when I'm at an event where people are typically pigging out--like a big reunion picnic or just something where people are "loading up"--and I only have a few things on my plate. But even then, it's not totally obvious because I often take just a little bit of quite a few things.
What allows me to eat the amount & variety that I do is exercise. Before wls, I NEVER, NEVER EVER exercised. I still don't like to, but I have made the commitment to do it. I either work out at the gym (some days a variety of cardio and other days a combo of cardio/weight training) or take a long, brisk walk. I do a minimum of 45 min. but usually get in 60 min. Good weeks, I go 6 days; bad weeks, 4. I can't TELL you how unbelieveable this is to me!
Do I have bad days--yes, definitely--days that I'd be ashamed for anyone to be watching. I give in to the old food demons at times. I struggle w/ portion control. Losing the weight w/ wls is the easy part. Even though I'd read and heard that the long-term maintenance is TOUGH, I underestimated how tough it would be. (How many 100's of times thru the years did I say "if I could only lose the weight one more time, I swear I'd keep it off"!!) Well, here I am--unbelieveably grateful that I had the surgery--but having to work really, really hard at keeping it off.
Worth every second of the struggle. My life is so different, even in my imagination I couldn't have known how much better it would be.
Best wishes to you as you make the decision that's right for YOU!
Jo
295/150-155 (at goal) 
I feel wls has been a miracle in my life. I couldn't quit gaining weight much less lose 220 lbs before I had wls. My metabolism is shot so I have to stay around 1,000 calories a day to keep from gaining weight. The number of calories varies a lot depending on a person's metabolism. I do at least one 45 minute workout every morning and often do a second 45+ min workout at night. I try to vary my exercise never doing one routine more than 3 months, then I switch to another form of exercise. I always do cardio 3 days a week and strength training 2 days a week. Changing the routine also makes it less boring for me.
I feel my eating is like any normal persons today. I don't eat the quantity they eat, but I can eat in any restaurant with my friends. I've been one of the fortunate ones who could eat almost anything from the time I was allowed regular food at six weeks out from surgery. Grease and dairy products still give me a slight problem from time to time, but nothing dramatic. If I begin feel nauseated I quit eating and the feeling disappears within a minute or two. My menu consist mostly of meat, low carb veggies, fruit.
I stick to my surgeons plan for vitamins/calcium supplements but that has become routine so no big deal. I don't drink with my meals or for 45 min after the meal, eat slowly and eat very few carb calories. The carbs I eat are mostly complex carbs. Fruit is an ok carb for me, but bread, rice, potatoes aren't usually part of my menu.
Unless you are truly willing to make lifestyle changes the surgery is a waste of time. You will lose the weight after surgery, but as the pouch begins to stretch you will regain weight if you don't change your habits. I feel blessed in that I've learned conscious eating as a result of my wls. Every bite that goes in my mouth is quickly analyzed for nutritional value, taste value, calories, etc. I eat to live now days rather than living to eat. Do I ever just eat because I want the taste? Of course, none of us are perfect. The trick is making the right choices that fit into our daily calorie, nutritional program. Each person has to figure out what works for them and follow that program.
I found the online FitDay program to be a wonderful tool in helping me figure out the calories, fat content, carbs in foods. At 29 months I still log my food for a week from time to time to make sure I'm not getting off track with my eating. I weigh once a week and have a personal rule if I see a 5 lb gain from my lowest weight it's back to all protein until the weight drops back to my desired weight.
It's a continuous battle, but wls has allowed me to regain my quality of life. I'm not willing to give that up just for food. My life has gone from sitting waiting to die from obesity to seeing life as a new adventure every day. Yes it is worth every moment of struggle to be where I am today.
If you decide to have the surgery please ask the surgeons about their mortality rate. Not the national averages. Some surgeons have wonderful ratios whiles others have patients dying all the time.
Best of luck to you in making the right decision for you.
hi rachel,
i'm will admit that I'M NOT the role model for wls i'm one of the bad girls!!!! lol you've had a couple of responses from the good girls who do what they should, and in the end maybe they will prove to be right who knows. for me my life is alot different from the post you've read before me. i'm 13 months post-op my starting weight was 353lbs, and as of today i'm 183lbs i've lost 170lbs so far, and i would have never believed in the beginning i would have been one of the ones this would have worked for. from the beginning i've been a bad girl. i havent taken vitamins like i should, i've tried protein drinks i hate them, i RARELY exercise partly due to laziness,partly due to a bad back, and knees. i eat pretty much what i want including chips, sodas, cheese, fried foods,drink coffee,etc. i still smoke. i do eat healtier than i did before, no wait actually i don't, but i just eat alot less. i can eat sugar in moderation such as cakes, ice cream, etc but thats rare my addiction is carbs, and cheese always will be!!! i live off of potatoes, and cheese with meat tossed in for good measure beef is something that i must eat in very small portions because it hurts my pouch, but i can eat most any other meat well. i'm actually exactly where i would like to stay as far as size goes i never wanted to be skinny, just average, and i'm close enough to perfect for me i do have quite a bit of loose skin that i try in vain to hide most of the time, but i look and feel a million times better than i did a year ago! i will not advocate the way i do things for anyone else, it works for me. i did want to emphasize to you however that life after wls isn''t as daunting as most people prior to surgery think it is. yes it's a hard journey, and it isn't for everyone. i still have days where i overdo it, and can make myself extremly uncomfortable, or sick, but those days are fewer and far between the further out i get. my advice to you is to keep doing what you are doing ask questions,research, prepare yourself as much as possible because this IS A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY!! I would like to also say this...you don't have to spend $100s or $1,000s of dollars after your surgery. alot of people do on here and thats fine, but alot of us don't have that kind of money. some good vitamins i found i can tolerate are the flintstones gummie vitamins. walmart has their own version for about half the price. protein shakes are the same if you would like to know what i take you can email me, and i will give you all the info ok. i'm going to post this to the main message board as well.....wonder if the older post-ops will flame me??? lol good luck to you and to all of the people who are currently researching this option remember everyone has their own journey to make and what works for one doesn't mean it works for all.
love,
kriss
353/199(goal)/still going.......
i've lost 170lbs so far, and i would have never believed in the beginning i would have been one of the ones this would have worked for. from the beginning i've been a bad girl. i havent taken vitamins like i should, i've tried protein drinks i hate them, i RARELY exercise partly due to laziness,partly due to a bad back, and knees. i eat pretty much what i want including chips, sodas, cheese, fried foods,drink coffee,etc. i still smoke. i do eat healtier than i did before, no wait actually i don't, but i just eat alot less. i can eat sugar in moderation such as cakes, ice cream, etc but thats rare my addiction is carbs, and cheese always will be!!! i live off of potatoes, and cheese with meat tossed in for good measure beef is something that i must eat in very small portions because it hurts my pouch, but i can eat most any other meat well. i'm actually exactly where i would like to stay as far as size goes i never wanted to be skinny, just average, and i'm close enough to perfect for me i do have quite a bit of loose skin that i try in vain to hide most of the time, but i look and feel a million times better than i did a year ago! i will not advocate the way i do things for anyone else, it works for me. i did want to emphasize to you however that life after wls isn''t as daunting as most people prior to surgery think it is. yes it's a hard journey, and it isn't for everyone. i still have days where i overdo it, and can make myself extremly uncomfortable, or sick, but those days are fewer and far between the further out i get. my advice to you is to keep doing what you are doing ask questions,research, prepare yourself as much as possible because this IS A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY!! I would like to also say this...you don't have to spend $100s or $1,000s of dollars after your surgery. alot of people do on here and thats fine, but alot of us don't have that kind of money. some good vitamins i found i can tolerate are the flintstones gummie vitamins. walmart has their own version for about half the price. protein shakes are the same if you would like to know what i take you can email me, and i will give you all the info ok. i'm going to post this to the main message board as well.....wonder if the older post-ops will flame me??? lol good luck to you and to all of the people who are currently researching this option remember everyone has their own journey to make and what works for one doesn't mean it works for all.
love,
kriss
353/199(goal)/still going....... 
Kristy,
While I'm not exactly the poster child for WLS and I make some rotten choices, I worry for what your future holds. At 13 months post-op, you're living in a fairly land where you think you can continue to eat whatever you like and you'll maintain forever.
I don't exercise (but recognize the need) and was one of the fortunate ones who had no regain at all until 26 months out - then bam! I put on 6 pounds overnight and no matter what I do, it's not going away.
6 pounds is certainly manageable and I'm not going to let it ruin my parade, BUT to tell someone that they can continue to "eat chips, sodas, cheese, fried foods,drink coffee,etc. and still smoke." - well, that's just dangerous and not real smart.
Why have the surgery at all? You may be eating alot less than before, but that will change. Trust us; we've been out here alot longer and the further out you are, the more difficult it becomes.
No flame - just genuine concern
Julie
hi julie,
no i don't take your corrective critism as a flame i was expecting a simular response from older postops. as i said before yes i can and do eat most of the things i did before, however i don't just eat the bad things i do eat healthy as well. i was just letting rachel know that it's not as bad as people think it will be. i'm still losing at this point so i'm not bothered with the foods i eat. once i bottom out as they say i will definately pay closer attention to what i eat. i didn't tell her that she could eat those things just that i can. i hope that others are smarter than i when it comes to their food choices, but for now this works for me. smoking was a problem for me prior to surgery, and unfortunately continues to be. no i'm not the poster child for wls, but i'm feeling a million times better at this point, and if in the future i start to have issues i'll deal with them then. good luck to you julie and i appreciate the concern, and will take your advice to heart.
kriss
i was expecting a simular response from older postops. as i said before yes i can and do eat most of the things i did before, however i don't just eat the bad things i do eat healthy as well. i was just letting rachel know that it's not as bad as people think it will be. i'm still losing at this point so i'm not bothered with the foods i eat. once i bottom out as they say i will definately pay closer attention to what i eat. i didn't tell her that she could eat those things just that i can. i hope that others are smarter than i when it comes to their food choices, but for now this works for me. smoking was a problem for me prior to surgery, and unfortunately continues to be. no i'm not the poster child for wls, but i'm feeling a million times better at this point, and if in the future i start to have issues i'll deal with them then. good luck to you julie and i appreciate the concern, and will take your advice to heart.
kriss 
Hi,
I chose to use the 18mos. post op (as this is the window that the surgery helps you lose the most) to establish a new way of living. I certainly didn't do it perfect: My thing was water: I hated water. Still don't like it but have learned to drink it out of the bottle like medicine. When I get up in am. I down a bottle! This has finally become a habit. I always ate more than most of the people on here posts. Meaning I didn't feel starved or deprived. I didn't dump so I'd have a bite of a "no no" food here and there. I lost more slowly than some but It was a way that I could live with. I have always had a battle with my "itty bitty s*itty" committe in my head. So working with my emotional eating was a big thing for me. (I still go to my therapist monthly for this). We all do this program differently but the one main thing we all do is the pouch rules: Vitamins, water, protein, exercise. How you fit those into your life will determine your success in the long run. I was a super heavy weight , 455lbs. to start with. I have lost 200lbs. and am still losing. I have learned to listen to my body and make choices accordingly. This is something I could never have done prior to WLS. This is a fantastic tool that I would do over in a heartbeat. I have a life back. My diabetes etc. is gone. I can go and do as I want. WLS gave this back to me. Good luck on your journey...whatever road you take.
Dancin'D
7/7/04 rny/lap -200lbs.
I have struggled some after surgery. Ilost the weigh at a reasonable speed - 130 pounds In 15 months, and have maintained. I have had difficulty with always sticking to the plan at times. have verged on m a serious eating disorder and have sought counseling, which has been a life saver for me. I try to stick fairly close to this on a reasonable day. 6 oz meat, fish or chicken, 2-3 servings of 1/2 c cooked or 1 cup raw vaggies, 2 fruits a day, and one of the fruits is always a banana, 2-3 servings whole grains, whole wheat bread, kashi high protein cereal. whole wheat tortillas etc. 3 servings of dairy - milk yogurt, cheese. all divided up into 6 meals a day. many days I have a treat of sf ice cream, jello or pudding, or sf fudgecicles. An occasional cookie, but it is not good. I have a hard time stopping with just 1 or 2. I exercise regularly. at this point 3-5 times a week for no more than an hour. I was over exercising for a time, and injured myself, torn cartilege in my hip, and it was also a dysfunctional thing for me, I was also binging at the same time, and it took me a big wake up call from a therapist to realize what I was doing was possibly symptomatic of early bulemia, and I have taken it under control .
I stongly recommned beginning a mild exercise program before surgeyr, being in the best shape you can be will speed yor recovery.
I am religious about my vits, I take 2 multis a day (one a day for women) , iron, cacium citrate (1500 mg) ie citracal plus with vitamin D and extra C with my iron. B - complex liquid from GNC. supplements are crucial to maintaining your good health. I don't spend a fortune, all of them are available at Walmart, except the gnc B- complex which is about $6 a month. the liquid absorbs through the mucus membrans and does not need the intrinsic factor that we are missing to be utilized.
I do not regularly use protein supplements as they put weight on me if I have them and food and I want the food more. I used them only in the initial couple of months after surgery when I was unable to eat much, and while I was on a liquid diet. I used them some after plastic surgery when I didn't feel much like eating to boost my protein and after an illeus to put some weight back on after I went too low.
I couldn't tell yo how much liquid I take in, I really don't measure but am sure it is at least 2 liters a day.
My strongest advice is to seek therapy to deal with all the changes and issues with food. before and after surgery, dont wait a couple years like I did, I wish I had started much earlier. also to take the initial period when yoiu are not so hungry to develop habits for a lifetime to become a healthy strong person, eating healthy and balanced, and learnign to incorporate exercise into your daily life. I put a lot of info on my profile, and also Dame Tooters bariatricbytes web site is AMAZING.
the whole process is like a roller coaster ride, thrilling, scary and lots of ups and downs. the changes are so rapid and the change in how people react to you is sometimes disconcerting to say the least. I have had many periods of confusion.
Best of luck to you in your journey and if you have any questions feel free to email me, I care!
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