Good Morning. Best kept secrets

Good Morning!

My NUT is ok but she is ingrained with the Kaiser one plan fits all.  I still can't see how the requirements are the same regardless of surgery, age, gender, weight, exercise ability etc.  Kaiser sticks to eat 3x a day, 4-6 hours apart, nothing in between and no supplements except a multi vitamin and a B12.   I spoke to my NUT at one month out and not since then.  I have been honest with my surgeon about protein shakes and eating a light snack around 4pm.  He told me to knock it off because it will grow to be bigger and bigger and I'll have a harder time keeping my weight off.  He definitely hates the word SNACK!  I can definitely understand and respect his point of view and his experience as a bariatric surgeon.

At our support group meeting 2x a month, on the first Wednesday the post-ops meet without a moderator and that's where the honest talk happens. 

I can understand why you wouldnt' want to see your NUT.  I wouldn't want to either and I think I Wouldnt' go back to your surgeon either unless I had complications.

The healthiest way to eat and best way to increase your metabolism, maintain your blood sugar and decrease hunger is to eat 5-6 small meals per day every 2-3 hours. If you want to call them small meals or 3 meals and 2 snacks, it doesn't matter - it comes out the same as long as you eat the right foods at these meals/snacks.  If you go 5-6 hours without food, you are going to get very hungry and you slow down your metabolism plus you send your blood sugar crazy.

At each of these 5-6 meals, you must have protein. even if you want to call it a snack - have a piece of fruit and 2 cheese sticks - the protein counteracks the carbs - this is perfect for your 4pm snack

I love my NUT - she is very up on supplements and has us eating 5-6 times per day. Immediately postop, she had us eating 6-8 times per day.

I see her for my 2 year anniversary in 2 weeks and will continue to see her for life.

Randi,

Do you keep track of Calories, Carbs and Protein?  Have you since the beginning?  I'd be curious what your intake was at 8 months out.  How was your weight loss and have you maintained with ease?  Did you get where you wanted to on the scale?  I always listen very carefully to your suggestions as I know that you do your homework out there!  Thanks for always being the voice of the "other side of the coin" from my NUT and plan.

You haven't been around much lately.  Where have you been hiding?  Or has your great life just kept you too busy to be around much?  I hope that's the case!

Here I go again. I typed you an entire message and my computer crashed. So, I will start over.

Now that I am 2 year out, I basically keep an eye out for my protein.  I drink 2 protein drinks per day totally 70grams plus 2 protein meals adding another 50grams for a total of 120grams per day.  I tend to eat way too many carbs but so far it hasn't affected my weight, so I am okay.  If it does start to affect me, then things will have to change.  As far as maintaining, I have gained about 5-7 pounds but that is to be expected and I am actually happier at this weight.  My face had gotten really skinny and everyone kept saying how sickly I looked and now I look better.  I will always have a stomach but that will never change.  I Would need to lose another 20-30 pounds to get rid of that and then I would become anorexic looking everywhere else, so I will accept the fact that I am left with a belly.  I dont' exercise due to medical problems. So, for me maintainance has been pretty easy.

At the 9 month point for me at my NUTs follow up appointment - as close to 8 months as I can give you - I was getting approximately 90grams of protein and 800 calories per day.  I could only eat 3 ounces at a time, so my calories were low.  At that point I was also only drinking 1 protein drink per day and now I drink 2, whi*****reases my calories.  My biggest problems since the beginning and still is, is fluid intake.  I get 40 ounces per day from my protein intake and about 10 ounces elsewhere but that is about it.  I know I need more but it is hard when I can't drink with or close to meals, that is when I like to drink.

As far as me not being around, I read the boards almost everyday, I just dont' always respond.  I always respond to labs, supplements, thyroid, ulcers/reflux stuff or anything else that hits my fancy but otherwise I just browse.  I do keep up on all your questions though except for the fitness stuff - that I stay away from.

I do hope all is well with you.  Please, anytime you have questions or concerns, please write.

I saw the Nut weekly while on Optifast, every 10 days for 20 days, now every 2 weeks until next week while we change diet phases.  Then it is 3 months, 6 months, annual and I have access to her for the rest of my life for free.  She also leads the weekly support groups. 
Our program is pretty rigid but we don't seem to have many problems and issues because of it.  They are nice enough and have good info, just are going to stick to their program.
Surgeon, I see him at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and annually after that.

I haven't seen my Nut since about a month out.  She was a lovely girl, but knew very little about VSG's and kept trying to tell me all about the RNY guidelines.  I showed her the myfitnesspal.com website and she was very excited about it as she hadn't seen one online before, lol.  I'm sure I learned more on this site about vitamins etc., as once again, she really only had knowledge of the RNY.

My NUT is a nice girl but totally useless.  Other than the much-copied handouts she gives, she offers no advice at all.  I tried to show her my food diary and she waved it off.... couldn't be bothered.  She will answer questions briefly but looks puzzled that I even ask.  You folks have helped me far more than she has.  I truly like my surgeon and the hospital was great but I think she is just phoning it in and collecting a paycheck.

Kat   

Havent seen a NUT since pre-op eval. Dont know if I would tell her the truth or not, She was more like, do this, do that dont do this or dont do that. No biggie, I think I am doing well on my own.

My NUT started running because I inspired her. (or so she says. LOL)

So I'd say we have a relationship of mutual respect. She's pretty good and doesn't say stupid things like some NUTs do. OTOH, I don't use her much because I'm doing okay.

 Marie, you inspire people wherever you go!