Question:
I would like to know from post ops that had their surgers 6-12 or more months ago

I would like to know what a typical day is like for you veteran post-ops. What do you eat? What and how much do you drink? How often and how long do you exercise? Are you taking protein supplements? On average how many calories to you eat in a day? Do you watch the calories, fat, carbs?    — Julie M. (posted on September 9, 1999)

September 9, 1999
Distal gastric bypass 10/94. I lost 150 lbs, holding steady at 112 or so. I take 120-180g of protein supplement a day, avoid milk & sugar completely, do not drink with meals or graze. I eat whatever strikes my fancy that has no milk or sugar. I'm especially fond of tacos. Some days I can eat both a hard & soft taco. Some days I can't finish one. I enjoy prime rib now and then and sometimes put a good sized dent in it. Other times, nah. I love baked potatoes. I love chili, salads and fruit. I drink diet pop, Crystal lights and like that. I do iced tea, but don't enjoy as much as I used to. I don't much care for coffee. I personally don't do well with most chicken or rice. Is that the kind of sampling you were looking for? My husband is similar, 4 yrs out, holding a good low wt, but he eats everything, minus milk & sugar. He eats burgers & pizza & pork & turkey and he loves fish (yuck). I'm just kind of a picky eater. Alwasy was. Always leaned toward veggies & stuff, too. I'm eating a low sugar yogurt even as we speak.
   — vitalady

September 9, 1999
Hi Julie: I will give you my typical days diet(I'm 17mo. post-op) Bkfst 1 med. bowl of coco wheat sweetened with Equal, around 10am snack of either yogurt(s.f.) piece of fruit, pretzels or low fat cheese and crackers in a pkt. or p'nut butter crackers low fat again. For lunch I have a salad with ff ranch, and a hot vegetable or soup and fruit, about 1:30 or 2 I have another snack- fruit or pretzels or some WOW chips, or one of the other snacks I mentioned before, then I have a cup of coffee after I get home from work, then dinner is usually a sm. piece of meat, veggies- hot and fresh raw, some type of potato and if there is any room left I have fruit. Later on I usually pick at the fruit from dinner and if I still feel hungry before bed I have another snack- usually a bowl of Cheerios, or S.F.,F.F. icecream. I never have counted the calories but I do watch the fats in everything. I only use Olive or cannola oils-sparingly, Pam alot and ICB it's not Butter Light or real Butter(again sparingly) I can only tolerate 2-3 gms of sugar so I really watch all that. Hope that helps. Jan Terry
   — Jan T.

September 9, 1999
Hi. I had gastric bypass surgery in Oct. of 1998. I am 11 months post op. I weighed 305 pounds, today I weigh 175. I have been overweight all of my life, even as a child. This surgery has changed every aspect of my life, all for the better. I have not had any complications from the surgery. The only problems I've had are when I eat too fast or don't chew my food properly. This is the first time in my life that I don't feel like I'm on a diet. I'm not. I can eat anything. I know some people have problems eating certain foods after they've had this surgery but I have not. I take a multi vitamin and 4 tums a day for calcium and I get a B12 shot once a month from my doctor. Other than that I don't take anything else. I do not drink any protein drinks. I get enough protein in the food I eat so that I do not have to have any protein supplements. I get up in the morning and I usually have cereal. For lunch it's usually a half of a turkey or ham sandwich. If I want a snack it's usually a fruit or yogurt or cottage cheese. I drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. I fix a typical dinner for my husband and myself, usually chicken, pot roast, steaks on the grill, etc. I don't weigh my food, count calories, worry about fat grams or anything. I eat what I want whenever I want it and I still lose weight. I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure any more, I did before surgery. I try to go for a walk two or three times a week, but other than that I do not exercise. I don't know if I'm the typical person or not. I hope you feel as good as I do after your surgery. Good luck.
   — Kathy K.

September 9, 1999
I am 10 months post-op and as of my doctor's visit this afternoon have officially lost 120 pounds. My usual day would include about 1/2 cup cereal with 1/4 cup milk for breakfast every day at 8 a.m. I eat again at 10:30; 1:00 and 3:30. This could be a yogurt, a 4-oz cottage cheese, a 4-oz serving beans, small shrimp cocktail, hard boiled egg, string cheese. I try to go with protein first. Dinner is about 6:30 and is usually whatever the family is having (no meat, can't tolerate it). I do take about 5 extra grams of protein in pill form a day. Not much but every little bit helps and I prefer to take the pills. I also drink 4 liters of water a day, and exercise for an hour a day (Taebo) at least 3-4 times a week. The first thing my surgeon asked today when I saw him was "you're exercising aren't you". He could tell right away from the weight loss and body that I wasn't doing this without exercise. It makes a big difference.
   — dboat

September 10, 1999
Hi! I really appreciate this question because after reading the above answers, I feel a little more normal about what I'm eating now! :) I had gastric bypass surgery on 3/25/99 and I'm nearing the 100 lbs. lost forever mark. (210 when i weighed today...started at 307) Typical Days intake...cereal for breakfast, or sometimes i get an egg on a muffin from McD's for protein (considerably less fat than a biscuit and I only eat the top of it anyway). Recently, I started wanting a mid-morning snack and usually have grapes or some other kind of fruit. I can sometimes eat (almost) a whole sandwich for lunch with WOW chips. Dinner, I crave veggies but try to throw in a few bites of chicken for protein. For exercise, I walk 2-3 times a week (2 miles) and have recently started a step aerobics class...when i can get up early enough (i don't do mornings)
   — Carol W.

December 24, 1999
I am six months post op. Have lost 82 pounds. Except for one plateau about three weeks after surgery, I have consistently been losing weight. I just about eat anything I want--EXCEPT milk and sugar. Can't tolerate these. But, to me, this is not a problem, but a blessing! Who needs it? Where did it get me before? My routine: Morning--I walk for thirty minutes/two miles. Come home. Have an English muffin with BUTTER. Sometimes a whole one, sometimes onlyhalf. Sometimes I have a sausage biscuit. Breakfast is usually light. About 10 I'll have a light snack--orange, banana, a few chips. Lunch may be a half sandwich. Part of a frozen entree. Nachos with cheese and salsa (about 8 or so large chips). Sometimes I have to make myself eat because I'm just not hungry. I have to be real conscious to get my proteins in. My doctor's (Fobi) advice was I didn't need to take protein supplements. I just have to make sure I eat, especially protein and take my vitamins. I just had my six-month lab work. Everything was NORMAL. Oh, yes, dinner: meat, veg., bread. I use a salad plate and salad fork and eat slowly. Portions are about a cup or so. I thoroughly enjoy eating--even eating out. I sometimes order the children's portion. I take home a lot of food. I am having the time of my life and feeling fantastic!
   — Lynda B.