Question:
I'm Now 7 months Post op very concerned on my eating!!!!

I had a distal gastric bypass. I have now 113 pounds. From the very begining my dr has alway told me to eat what I want. I come into this site everyday. The more and more i read I get more confused. I feel like I've done everything wrong. I eat the same thing I ate before. Of course in moderation. Please give me some advice I'm so scared i'm gonna gain the weight back! Is this possiable?? Another thing I have had problems with drinking water from the very begining. I can only drink about 16 ounces a day))))): Please and suggestions will help....    — Synthia L. (posted on June 11, 2002)

June 11, 2002
You must find a way to get more water in that that. Your body has to have water, at least 60 oz. per day. Try adding lemon or crystal light to it. Try drinking some decaf weak tea. As for eating...yes, people have regained weight later by being "non-compliant." For myself, personally, I have lost -165 pounds and am almost 1 year post-op. My choice is to never return to some of my trigger foods that got me to 321 pounds in the first place. I abstain from sugar & white flour & processed foods. No breads, pastas, pizza. Very little caffeine. The only soda I drink is about 1 oz. of flat diet orange soda diluted in 20 oz. of water with my 30 gm. packet of liquid protein. I don't ever want to return to my old weight, so I am in counseling. "Why I eat what I eat, when I eat what I eat." Learning to feel my feelings, not "stuff my feelings by medicating with food." The insanity of it all has to stop. My yo-yo syndrome has to stop. This is my own version of a "last-chance-diet" and by golly I will do this. But for me, I had to give up my old way of eating and make some permanent changes. Good luck to you.
   — Barbara B.

June 11, 2002
Wow.. I just hate when I see that some surgeon has said.. "eat what you want" .. that's how we got where we are now, isn't it! Please remember, you can defeat this surgery.. people have done it and will continue to do it. The surgery is not a magic fix, you do have to help it by eating right and taking care of yourself. Everyday that I get assitance from my surgeon's office, I think my lucky stars I picked one who approaches the whole patient, not just the change that they make in your stomach. Please find a dietician familiar with WLS patients and a support group in your area... they are all part of what will make you successful. I don't believe you can always eat just what you want... I think you might need to make some changes.. depending on 'what you want' .. for me.. that would start with ice cream... *smile* .. I'm pre op.. so please take what I've said with a grain of salt.. I am NOT where you are. good luck!
   — Lisa C.

June 11, 2002
Wow.. I just hate when I see that some surgeon has said.. "eat what you want" .. that's how we got where we are now, isn't it! Please remember, you can defeat this surgery.. people have done it and will continue to do it. The surgery is not a magic fix, you do have to help it by eating right and taking care of yourself. Everyday that I get assitance from my surgeon's office, I think my lucky stars I picked one who approaches the whole patient, not just the change that they make in your stomach. Please find a dietician familiar with WLS patients and a support group in your area... they are all part of what will make you successful. I don't believe you can always eat just what you want... I think you might need to make some changes.. depending on 'what you want' .. for me.. that would start with ice cream... *smile* .. I'm pre op.. so please take what I've said with a grain of salt.. I am NOT where you are. good luck!
   — Lisa C.

June 11, 2002
Let's take a realistic look at this: you have lost 113 pounds following your doctors orders. But a bunch of amatuers, many of whom are self appointed experts, exhibiting an almost obsessive/compulsive need to control their food intake tells how it SHOULD be done and you are now worried. What if they are the ones who are wrong and your doctor is right? If your blood chemistries are ok and you are still losing weight and you feel good, able to exercise, etc., you are going to be just fine following your doctors orders. Mine gave me the following "diet": eat what you like for three meals, fruits and veggies as snacks as needed. Drink when you are thirsty, listen to your body, it will tell you when you need water. (OK, so he also encourage lemon juice on salad instead of dressing and to minimize carbohydrates, but I pretty much ignore him on these issues and I have now lost over 225 pounds. He rolls his eyes when I tell him what I do eat, but it is working for me. Don't let the 'dieter's mentality' around here make you crazy.
   — merri B.

June 11, 2002
Hi Synthia: I agree with Merri....what ever I feel like eating for the day is exactly what I eat...My dr also just rolls his eyes at me but has to keep quiet as I am down #136 in just 9 months...cute little size 7...and I find that some days I can eat alot and others I can hardly get myself to nibble...The way I figure is that it evens out in the end. I didn't have this surgery to have to "DIET" for the rest of my life....I want to enjoy myself...just in moderation....If I feel like pizza, I have pizza...at least now I only eat 1 piece as where before I would have eaten 1/2 or better of the pizza...so have that 4-5 bites of what ever sounds good.....live life a little....YOU WILL ONLY OVER EAT ONCE...NONE OF US WANT THAT HORRIBLE FEELING WHEN YOU OVER EAT...IT ONLY TAKES ONCE AT THAT.....GOOD LUCK!!!!
   — Joi G.

June 11, 2002
Merri said it very well (although I agree you should find a way to get in more water). Synthia, I admire you progress in this journey. To me, you are a complete success, and an inspiration to many of us. I know, I know, there are many folks on this site who are obsessed with the "10 Rules of WLS", and VERY vocal in their opinion that following those rules to the letter is the "only way to success". Deviate just a little, and you are on the path to destruction. Well, I just don't see things that way. Look, I have no problem with folks who are willing to do anything to lose all their excess weight. I applaud their focus and will power. It's just that there are thousands of us who are not driven to "thinness at any cost"; who were just looking to regain our health, our life, and our dignity. We may not be as vocal as the obsessive/compulsive types, but we are here. And to my way of thinking, we are just as "successful" as anyone. Good luck to you... Kevin
   — meilankev

June 12, 2002
I think that when drs tell us to "eat what we want" they are assuming that we will make healthy choices. I don't think anyone's dr envisions a steady diet of ice cream and potato chips. I do eat what I want--within reason. I know that it is my responsibility to keep this body healthy and with all the trouble I have already gone to (having a major surgery) I had better be ready to commit to eating the right things to keep my body healthy. Protein first, lots of water, fewer carbs . . . These are general rules and easy to follow. I don't think you have to be a hardliner to be successful, but you do have to be mindful of your health or you could end up worse off than before. 113 pounds in 7 months is GREAT! As long as you are eating healthy in general and your labs are good, it is working FOR YOU.<p>I have also always had trouble with water. I like sugar-free Tang and can drink lots of that. I make it by the glass at work. I also like orange juice with calcium, but try not to drink too much of that cuz of the calories. But, man, does it taste good! =) Good luck. I think you are doing GREAT!
   — ctyst