Question:
Not a question, but a valuable recommendation
I am sorry, but this is not a question. Many of you are asking questions that should have been addressed by your surgeon or nutritionist LONG before surgery... but apparently haven't. I STRONGLY recommend reading "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach. She is 6 years post-op RNY, having lost 131 pounds and kept it off. The book is a brief bio, brief pre-op journal, post-op journal, list of questions and answers (to exactly the kinds of questions being asked on this board), and 135 low-carb, high protein recipes for living and eating well after weight-loss surgery. I got this book after another gastric bypass acquaintance recommended it - saying it was her "Bible" - and I can see why. I am pre-op gastric bypass, just waiting for my insurance to approve the procedure, and I have already been on the high-protein, low carb diet since October. I've lost 25 pounds so far, because my surgeon required me to lose as much weight as I could before the bypass, to help reduce the fatty liver, and also, to get used to "living the plan". I am living off of fish, turkey, chicken, cottage cheese, regular cheese, and a very few vegetables. I've been in preparation for this surgery ever since I decided in September to do it, and it is hard for me to understand those on this list who would work so hard to get approved for surgery, then after healing, think that they can go back to eating the way they did before. Sugar is a NO-NO. White carbs (potatoes, pasta, chips, popcorn, BREAD) are a no-no. Even if you are ABLE to eat them without being sick... they are NOT a part of your life-long eating plan. I highly recommend this book, please get it and follow it. I got it as part of a "beginner's kit" from another bariatric site. — Erica Alikchihoo (posted on January 7, 2009)
January 7, 2009
Yes, it is a great book. And it is just that, a beginners book.Bad habits
have a tendency to creep back. Even Susan Maria has gained some of her
weight back. Keeping it off and battling old habits is the real trick.She
has a weekly online support group. Listen in, she talks about it. I can
see where you're coming from as a pre-op patient. I am definately having
to work extra hard to stay in control. Of course we know what the no-no's
are, but saying no is another story.
— bariatricdivalatina
January 7, 2009
Hi, Erica I realise alot of questions that are posted should be directed to
the Doctors. Not all Doctors are as supportive as they should be and do not
well inform their patients. Which is sad. At times people need to ask if
this or that has happened to any of us that may have experienced this
during our journey. Of course they should always ask their Doctor about any
medical question and I would hope they would but when in the time of need,
we need to be here for each other for any question. Some people are
addicted to food or any way eat for different reasons maybe different then
you or I and maybe never shared this with their doc thinking this surgery
will be a quik fix then old habits pop up and here we are. I hope that
makes since. I had RNY July 16th, 25 pounds prior and 88 since 113 total. I
have read Before and after also 2 times prior and I have it aon hand .
Great recamendation. All doctors are different. I can eat all of the no
no's u mentioned my Nutricionalist says anything as long as not too much
and only after protein our bodys need what are in these foods.(except maybe
the popcorn) most of these I choose not to cause they do nothing for
me.Sugar is a nightmare for me only finding out by drinking certain things
or eating certain fruits. You are doing great, alot of people struggle
during this preop time because of the fact of their eating habits prior to
this. I feel the same we have come to far to go back but if you never had
an eating problem you may not understand why some of these people return to
old habits its comforting to them and they never have delt with this issue
prior. I would hope they use their tool to live. This is part of this
surgery some are suseccful some fail as in anything you have done your
homework you have read the same as me it happens you or I may have a better
chance because we wanted this so bad and we where well informed both by
ourselves and our Docter and Team. It saddens me also to see people go
backwards I hope by them posting we can help them when in need. Sorry so
long and I wish the best for you.
— Tammi Sandoval
January 7, 2009
Amen! I sometimes read these questions and shake my head. You don't go
into this type of surgery blindly. Do your research before hand. If your
doctor/hospital doesn't include pre-surgery training classes, you need to
find one that does. Being an informed patient makes you a successful
loser. The surgery is NOT a magic bullet. It is a tool which must be used
with a new way of thinking, eating and living. You can NEVER go back to
the way you were eating in the past. Ongoing sessions with a good
therapist is a must in order to address the hidden situations in your life
that brought you to the point of obesity. Good luck to all of you in the
year ahead.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 7, 2009
I too loved Susan's book. But I would also recommend Weight Loss Surgery
For Dummies. It was very informative, discussing so much of what to expect
each and every step of the way!
— Sunny-Day
January 8, 2009
I agree with your recommendation of this book but I must say I was told to
eat potato's and pasta as part of my life long eating plan. So not
everyone's Dr. and Nut are the same. They told me I do need these carbs
sometimes. Just thought I would let you know. Have a beautiful day!
— bridgadean
January 8, 2009
I happen to disagree with your "NO-NO's" as a lifestyle change.
Cutting out any food group is cutting out valuable nutrition which as an
RNYer we already have nutrition issues with the malabsorption of fats and
nutrients. Vitamins and supplements MUST be taken as a lifestyle
change....Vitamins are taken in ADDITION to eating normal balanced healthy
meals that contain natural vitamins. You suggest cutting out vital
nutrition on a long term plan. I am sorry to be so blunt, but your big
statement does not belong here...You want to start a disscussion POST it on
the forums where it is more appropiate. Your diet right now is fine short
term...You need a crash course on good carbs vs bad carbs before you hurt
yourself! Here is a great site to explain carbs before you cut out or
recommend others to cut carbs out of their "life-long
plan"....This is from the Franklin Institute
http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html
If you are uncertain about foods and want a full analysis of what exactly
is in your food, save this site. You will see what valuable nutrients you
will be cutting out of your diet when you exclude an entire food group:
http://www.nutritiondata.com/
I eat PLENTY nutritious complex carbs...daily...with most of my 5-6 meals a
day! For 5 years...for a total weight loss and maintence of 150 lbs
lost...I started at 315lbs and weigh 165lbs average for 5 years! In those 5
years, I learned that carbs do not make you gain weight...eating excess
calories and over eating do. Eating sugar is wasted calories...No nutrition
at all...White flour has lost most of it's nutrition too and so I stay away
from white flour as well...But fruits and veggies and grains offer us the
most potent and natural antioxidants and vitamins/minerals/etc. I have not
and will not give up carbs as "life-long plan" to be thin as
carbs are an important part of my LONG-LIFE PLAN to be healthy!
I wish you much luck and make sure to take your vitamin supplements because
you will need them guarenteed! You might consider taking many extra vitamin
supplements to make up for what you are not getting with fruits, veggies
and whole grains (including potaotes and rice). You should also do some
research on the long term effects of a low/no carb diet...Also, if this has
been so easy for you now that you've got a "bible" on weight
loss, you might re-think having surgery at all!! 25 lbs! Good for you...
— .Anita R.
January 8, 2009
I don't agree entirely on your "no-no" list. Of course I'm not
on here asking food questions either.
I don't do bread or pasta. I've added brown rice to my diet. I still eat
potatoes, but not much. For me potatoes help me break down meat in the
chewing process to make it easier to digest. That is why they are still in
my diet. There are many types of potatoes as well.
Protein chips are available (so saying no chips is too general).
The main thing to consider is leading a low-carb, low-fat, high protein
diet....NOT a no carb all protein diet.
— Launa N.
January 8, 2009
I completely agree with Anita R.
Also this was not the place to post such a thing, take it to the main
board.
— Katrina B.
January 8, 2009
I agree with you. My surgeon recommended this book along with several
others, I wish I would have had the list even sooner in the planning
process.
If pre-op patients would put the diet into practice before surgery I think
we'd be far more prepared for after surgery. I had read a lot, an even
this book, but had not got real super serious about changing to the actual
diet itself. Oh, it didn't take but a couple weeks to get it down, but how
much easier those first few weeks would have been had I already been
'cooking' the new diet.
I can't blame my surgeon's staff because I was all-over the web looking and
planning but just didn't put ENOUGH energy into the actual diet planning
and trying it out. I bought everything had it on the shelve but still
failed to connect how important it could be to follow through beforehand.
I wish good luck to everyone in the pre-planning stages and urge you to get
these good books and do your research...not only on what protein drink
tastes best but what the rest of your future diet will be. Start living it
before surgery. Get your supplements/vitiamns planned and started while
you have the leisure time to check them out. Waiting until the last minute
will just add stress to you when you need to be calm getting ready for the
surgery.
— angelvh2
January 9, 2009
People do not think they can go back eating they way they did, it just
happens. Life happens, stress happens, all the things that made people
emotional eaters in the past happen. When you have this surgery, they fix
your stomach not your head. You need to fix what caused you to get fat in
the first place. I am 5 1/2 years post op. I am an "all occasion
eater" I eat when I am happy, sad, mad, stressed. At first it is not
easy to eat crap, try it once and you will feel horrible but after years
you can eat it. Years down the road it will take lots of willpower to not
eat the candy sitting on your co workers desk, not to want to go out to
dinner because you are too lazy to cook, not to grab a handfull of chips.
It is like being on a diet for the rest of your life.
— Carlyn M.
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