Question:
Is anyother gastric bypass post op patient going through what I am with food?
Next month is one year that I had my bypass surgery. My goal weight for one year is 150, and I am currently 159. My Surgeon told me that this is great and I can stop at this weight if I would like. Obviously I want to get down to 150 since that was what he told me my ideal weight should be. 11 months out, and I seem to be loosing only 1 to 2 pounds, every month for the last three months and this is driving me crazy. Lately, I seem to want to eat anything and everything in sight. To date, I have never gained any weight, and I only weight myself once a week. I just seem to want to eat all the time and I know that I am not hungry, I know it is a mental thing with me. When I am snacking sometimes it is healthy stuff and other times it is stuff that I know I should not be eating. Before surgery I could drink 20 cups of fluid a day, now I am luck to get down 2 to 3 three glasses a day and I don't like any of the protein drinks. I feel like a real failure and I am fearing that I am going to gain back the 95 pounds that I have lost so far. I cannot stop thinking about food. HELP. — mslisasue (posted on August 25, 2008)
August 25, 2008
Thank You! I thought I was the only one feeling this way. I am 7 months
post op from gastric bypass and I want to eat all day long. Don't worry I
don't do that. But my mind wants me too. I am so scared. Help...Please...
— Shopgrl714
August 25, 2008
Hi, I am not sure if my own experience will be helpful, and I am still
pretty much a newbie at 6 months out, but I woud like to try....
I had an experience several weeks ago where *suddenly* I was hungry every
minute and wanted to eat, eat, eat. This went on for a few days, and I was
panicking, thinking why is this happening? I felt as if my hunger level had
increased dramatically. I posted a question here and listed what I had been
eating for several days. Some very smart people who replied pointed out
that I had introduced some no-no foods in to my eating - frozen dinners
with mashed potatoes and stuffing, which provided and overload of empty
carbs and excessive salt. Also, some crackers made from white flour. One
person told me he had identified in himself that these types of carbs
spiked his hunger and cravings..... So, anyway, I immediately stopped
eating carbs and went back to proteins (meat/fish/cheese) and vegetables,
and no exxageration - I immediately felt my hunger was back under control.
For me, it was a dramatic difference. I no longer felt like stuffing my
face every 15 minutes. I think some people are "sensitive" to
carbs, and some aren't. For me, carb consumption starts a vicious cycle of
eating craving eating craving. I need to stay far away from carbs. May be
this is what is happening with you, I don't know, but just thought I'd
mention it in case it helps... best wishes! Gina
— Gina S.
August 25, 2008
Here are two things that might help you. The first is some health snack
foods, and the second is the 5 day pouch test that allows you to create
that "Just after Sugery" feeling all over again, and help get you
on the path to eating right. Hope there are a help.
Craving foods for RNY WLS Patients
Chocolate Fix: Melt 2 tablespoons of "no Sugar Added" Chocolate
in the microwave and swirl into 4 -6 oz of plain vanilla "Low
Fat" "no Sugar" Yogurt. Stir in a tablespoon of Slivered
Almonds
Crunchy Fix: Mix 12/ cup of "low Fat-No Sugar" Plain Yogurt ad
Salas. Top with Chopped Fresh Cilantro and serve with some chips of baked
corn tortilla or if you are less than 6 months out, try substituting sliced
Bell Peppers, shredded carrots and celery.
Comfort Food Fix: for 6 months out patients, Load a small bake potato with
a mixture of 4 oz. of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of chopped red onions, and
1 teaspoon each of fresh dill and minced garlic.
5-day Pouch Test
5-day Pouch Test I beleive was developed by a WLS patient by the name Kate
Bailey and used to determine if her pouch was working and go back to that
tight newbie feeling we all had right after surgery. As a bonus to this
plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet
and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you
are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty
good, right? Here we go!
Days One & Two: Liquid Protein
The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb protein
shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at
least six 8-ounce glasses of water each day. The purpose of all liquids is
to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In
addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for
the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but
do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated
potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test.
If you notice symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal you can eat a small piece
of melon or an orange. You can also try a dose of Emergen-C which should
reduce headache, dizziness or cramping from carbohydrate withdrawal.
The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you
want! Ahhh, but there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only
get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat.
Day 3: Soft Protein
Protein Recommendations: canned fish (tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and
seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt
pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked
or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with
"soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces
weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water
for 30 minutes before or after you meal, and no fluids with your meal. We
are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling
the pouch. If you need to add a bit of Miracle Whip or mayonnaise to the
canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too
moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we
eat "slider foods" - foods that are too moist and do not stay in
the pouch very long, they slide right through the stomach.
Day 4: Firm Protein
Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and
lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only
with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now
you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you
that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between
meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch.
Often we do not like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is
why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable.
It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I do not get
uncomfortable, but this allows me to consume more than I should.
Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds us of how the tool
really works. Hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the
hope and excitement because your pouch still works.
A word about constipation: A shift to high protein diet often results in
constipation. To relieve this you may try adding a fibrous fruit snack to
your morning and a fibrous vegetable snack in the afternoon. Fruit
suggestions are apples, berries, apricots, cantaloupe or oranges. For
vegetables try leafy greens, zucchini, cucumbers, spinach, summer squash or
string beans.
Day 5: Solid Protein
Protein Recommendations: white meat poultry cooked dry and lightly
seasoned, beef steak (if tolerated) grilled or broiled. Remember to chew
chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel
your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you will have to
work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any
carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will
have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for
your health and emotional well being.
— William (Bill) wmil
August 25, 2008
If you know you are not hungry, yet you still crave food, then it is time
to analyze why. What is happening? Are you bored? Are you anxious about
something? Afraid? Do you have a history of sabotaging yourself when you
approach a goal?
All I know is this: If you are running on fear, you will not reach or
retain your goal weight. You have to run on love. Love of life, love of
yourself.
— cydthekid50
August 25, 2008
Congrats on losing 95 lbs! And don't worry - you are not alone feeling
this way. I am just shy of 11 months out and seem to be stuck at having
lost 99 lbs to 102 lbs for the past 7 weeks. I just keep gaining and
losing the same 2 or 3 lbs. It is very frustrating and I have another 50
lbs to lose before my healthy goal weight. I have realized that I have
what I call "Food Issues" and have started seeing a counselor. I
also was very adament about tracking everything I put in my mouth for the
first 6-8 months, but have slacked off recently. This week I have renewed
my commitment to keep my food and exercise journals and hopefully this will
help. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. - Shannon
— sbonner
August 26, 2008
I am not going to "bash" you for your food choices, instead, I am
going to suggest that you try seeing a counsellor. Most of the time, we
gain weight because of our own issues with food and what it is that makes
us eat. If we don't change or eliminate those things/feelings, we will end
up right where we were before we even started the WLS journey. I urge you
to seek professional help with this. Nothing anyone here can say will
change your body make-up or the way you "interact" with food.
All the best to you.
— anitak
August 26, 2008
Hi there...Gina and Bill, in my opinion, have it pegged! Carb monster is
your problem. Eating too many simple carbs daily will cause the urge to
have more more more. (These are all most of your white grains, breads,
pasta, rice, crackers, pretzels, cereals, sugar, etc. It's a fact.
Studies show that if you start your day off with a bowl of cereal, by lunch
you want more carby-type things....and by dinner you can triple the
cravings. As long as you keep feeding that monster...the more it takes
control from you. This only take a few days of eating this way...But ends
within a day or so of stopping carbs. Try the 5-day-pouch test that Bill
recommends....I did it myself after the "carb monster" got a hold
of me during the holidays last winter. It changed me back into the
obedient, confident, healthy eater I had been for all these years post op.
(not perfect...but definitely on track) Good news too, though...You are
still losing...it has slowed down considerably because you are near your
goal weight...so near you can just about touch it. Your body is tired and
resting. It's done all that work and now it's just going to walk to the
finish line and let you take over. Step up your exercise a tiny bit...I
just added 20 push ups (girl kind, on my knees) LOL and 25 sit ups on the
bathroom floor while waiting for my shower to get warm...I start my day
this way now. Plus I bought a little $10 pedometer that tracks how many
steps I take a day...It is quite motivational. I am a somewhat active
person, but have been sitting on my fanny a bit too much lately...so I set
a goal of how many steps to take and if by midday I don't have half my
goal...I find myself taking the long way around and sure enough this is
upping my activity without much effort at all! Little things make a huge
difference and give you confidence that you can do it as so many of us are
doing. I am over 4 years and still fear weight gain...but somehow...by
following the rules and doing things in moderation are making it easier and
easier to trust...to trust my tool and trust my SELF! You can do
this...You are NOT a failure. But start by dumping your carby snacks and
replace with protein and sugar free snacks if you need something sweet. I
put SF jello pudding in ricotta cheese and add a container of sf Coolwhip
for a fluffy, thick protein dessert. I had to switch to cottage cheese
though because the lactose in ricotta was killing me...So I whip the lumps
out of cottage cheese for a similar flavor and it doesn't bother me. Look
for recipes that are eye/head pleasing to look at and yet healthy, protein
and lean...Live to eat rather than eat to live and without guilt! Good
luck...You've done great!
— .Anita R.
August 26, 2008
I would suggest finding a support group or therapist. Other than that, try
to keep yourself busy... make a list of non-food/non-eating things you like
to do and when you want to eat, go do something on your list.
Take advantage of your "head hunger" and use it as a reminder to
drink. You said you're only getting in 2 or 3 glasses a day... drink,
drink, drink, drink, drink. :) You can also "sneak" it in by
making popsicles or slushies out of crystal light or koolaide made with
splenda. I freeze it into ice cubes and run in through the blender.
Hang in there!
— mrsidknee
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