Lately I've been reflecting...

about how I eat now versus 6 years ago.  I had my surgery 5 years and 4 months ago.  I feel that at this point of my journey my body knows what it likes and doesn't like.  At one time I thought I could tolerate pretty much anything.  Lately I've found bacon bothers me... I also don't tolerate milk well anymore and have substituted Unsweetened Almond milk for my shakes and coffee.  Always love my coffee creamer, but have cut that out too. 

I've also reflected recently about how much my diet has changed.  Simple carbs are shunned... complex carbs and included, but sparingly.  I follow a pretty strict low-carb lifestyle.  I've tried a few other methods of maintaining, but found this works best for me.  I scour the menus now when I go out to eat for foods that aren't fried, breaded, with sauces I have no idea what is in them.... and try to stick with primarily meats and a simple veggie.  I also find, even at this point, my days fluctuate between how much I can eat.  Sharing plates still works very well for me. 

So here are some things I've I think about before I eat:

1.  Will it make me gain/lose change the way maintenance is done by me? (like raise the carb monster's head)

2.  Will my Reactive Hypoglycemia flare up? (simple carbs makes this happen.  If I have a beer with i****ch out!)

3.  Will my pouch get icky feeling?  This happens from eating too much or eating too fast.  Also, if I eat the wrong things.  But today with the bacon/eggs, I burped endlessly... (I burp until it feels better which irritates my sister to no end!)

4.  Will I get gassy/bloaty? (cauliflower/broccoli and other veggies like this will make it happen, as well as carbs)

5.  Will I get constipated or get diarrhea? (this is a toss  up - some days things will, other days it won't - I've started taking Citracel to counteract the constipation)

I'm sure there's more - but I wanted to let the folks know, who are early out or within  a year or two, what it's like.  I will NEVER be normal again (as far as what I can tolerate) - but I'm ok with that, as I know it means my surgery and pouch are working and working for me. 

How about you - what has changed for you after you've had surgery?  Have your tastes changed?  Are you now lactose intolerant? Are there other foods (dense protein) that you can't tolerate now?  What have you done to change what YOU eat to be successful? 

And most of all - how do YOU look at food now, versus before surgery?

ps - I just want to let folks know - I started at 218, my surgery I was 208. My goal was 125 and I hit that within 10 months.  A few months later I dropped to 123 for about 1.5 years, then bounced back up to 127.  I hit 143 earlier this year and decided enough was enough.  I'm at 135 now and want to see 130-132 again.  I know it's doable - and I want to make it happen before my 55th birthday in April.  While 3-5 lbs may not seem like much, it can be a LOT for us lightweights!

I'm about 3 yr 5 months out.  Most of the time, I feel pretty normal.  The days my pouch says ENOUGH don't happen as often as I wish they would.

I can eat anything.  I do get gas but I can't tie it to anything specific most of the time. 

I stay pretty darn low carb.  Never pasta or rice, bread maybe once a week, beans maybe 2x a week.  I do have cheese and greek yogurt probably daily.

I still have 4 protein drinks a day.  I would be hard pressed to do without them.

I still don't drink with meals.  I usually wait an hour unless I am just dying.  I try to get in 20 oz between each "meal" so I can wait.

I have benefiber every day with my protein coffee.  No way I could eat enough fiber to stay regular.

I am religious about my vits/mins and protein and my levels have always been good. 

I'm pretty amazed most days at my energy level.  For 65, I think I look and feel pretty wonderful.  But I lost a lot of muscle and heft when I lost and exercise has been necessary to get it back.

I got away from many of the basics. I'd like to say I don't drink with my meals, but I do on occasion.  I got away from protein drinks.  I noticed my hair falling out again.  I've reincorporated them again and after dropped a few pounds.  Not only do they give me more protein, but they take the place of high calorie snacks.  Also water - I have been horrible with water until lately.  That may be another factor to losing a few lbs. 

I think its been only recently where I've noticed the difference between "now and then".  Even then can be a few years ago... how I looked at food, protein, water and vitamins!

I'm sure you remember when I was the protein drink Nazi... and I got away from it myself.  I'm hoping that I'm getting back to doing the right things will keep me on the right track.

I'm very envious of your losing at this point.  I seem to have trouble staying the same and I feel like other than weighing and measuring every bite, I do pretty well. 

Price, I weigh and measure everything too!

Great post Jody! It's always to to be reminded of basics.

My kaiser plan told me to eat three meals, zero snacks and never have a Protein drink, even immediately post op.  It was really difficult for me to know what to do.  So I took a different route thn many other LW's who depend on drinking protein.

I occasionally drink a protein hot cocoa, but I am more likely to eat a Quest Bar because chewing is important to me and I stay full longer.

Now about what I do eat:  I do look at food and ask if it will get me where I want to be.

3 meals.  1000-1200 calories unless I'm naughty.  25-50 carbs which come from veggies, eggs etc.  I eat meat, poultry, fish.  Lots of roasted veggies.  Lunch is a big salad with roasted chicken, olive oil and balsamic Creme from Europe.  Dinner is protein and veggies.  Breakfast is leftovers or Greek yogurt.   I eat Paleo/Primal.  I don't cheese but mostly goat cheese on my salads. In summer I eat some berries.  If I'm at my low weight I eat some sweet potato.  In losing mode no added starches.  I look for Gluten Free on menus because it won't have flour.   I'm good with vitamins, not quite as good with fluids.  I'm often hungry and at 4 years I'm learning to let it be ok.  Snacks when necessary are celery or red peppers.

I still exercise daily.  Sometimes 1day a week off but that's rare.

Its hard for me to keep my weight down.  There's not a day that I haven't tracked my food and exercise.  Kaiser says that 1 in 3 gain weight back.  My job is to not be one of them.  I walk often with other WLS  friends and we talk about our recovery.

Hmmm.. . typed my reply and OH didn't post it.. strange.

I remember following you from the time you had surgery and you struggled with losing the weight.  I know your perseverance and diligence is what made you get to goal, and to stay there.  I really love that others can read your story and know it's not easy to lose the weight either - and we all have to do the right things to make it happen.

Love having you back - you're an inspiration to everyone!

I am still really early in maintenance so I am definitely still learning!

It seems as though I may level off at 1500 calories, as long as I continue exercising.

I'm trying to get 70 to 80 gms of protein, I do allow myself more carbs than some  Aim for 12 cups liquid daily.

I think as time goes on I am learning my triggers and learning what doesn't agree with my sleeve

Triggers:  popcorn, almonds.  don't agree: bread sometimes, chunky soups

it will be intereresting to see what my diet is like at 2 years.

Anne

My big change is not drinking with meals or 30 minutes afterwards.  Hard to believe that I have stuck with that all this time.  I think once or twice I might have started to take a drink before realizing what I was doing.  I really think that is the main thing that helps me from eating impulsively.  I think about what I eat before I  eat it and ask myself if I want to wait another 30 minutes  to drink again.  It helps me put a period at the end of a meal.  I use a timer on my phone and once I hit that start button I know I don't want to eat again and start all over again.  I try to drink at least 16 oz of fluids between eating, more like 32 oz if I can.

I've never thought about the eating/drinking issue and thinking "do I want to wait to drink again".... interesting.