Question:
How Should I Be Eating Post Op?

hello every one I need your help since the surgery I know I doing wrong but dont know how to end it up, I been eating all the wrong foods including sweet I never havent dump wich I dont like because it will stop me from eating it there a way that I should learn how to teach my pouch to dump on sugar or do something like that please help me I feel like I did the surgery for nothing can you tell me how much you have lost in the diet you have been doing I dont even do exercise and I want to try to start over againg thank you for your help please. and i dont even takes vitamins i dont wich i should be taken im a disaster.    — mabel S. (posted on September 26, 2002)

September 26, 2002
Mabel- How far out are you from the surgery? Don't panic ok! When you have this surgery, they operate on your body NOT your mind. No one said this would be easy. The surgery only works as a tool and YOU have to do the rest of the work! Surgery was a big and drastic move and you can't just say "oh well" and throw the towel in because you messed up a little. Get back on the wagon right now! Stay away from those foods that got you to an obese weight to begin with. You know what those foods are. Sure, we all have weaknesses at times, and I have put a few things in my mouth that I KNOW are not the best choices. But, you cannot continue to do this on a daily basis or the surgery would have been for nothing. And you MUST take your vitamins. I was getting sick on my vitamins, and I stopped taking them for two weeks, and now I am suffering from tingling in my extremities which my doctor told me is from a vitamin B1 deficiency. VERY SCARY STUFF. With how little we eat, it does not take long at all to become very sick without our vitamins. Even though they are still making me sick, I TAKE THEM! You did not do this surgery for nothing. My advice to you is this: Start thinking positive every day. You can do this! Join a wls support group in your area if they have one. If they don't, join a group like TOPS or Weight Watchers just so you can at least talk with others who are struggling with the same issues. When you feel like giving in and eating sugar or junk food, try to wait at least 15 minutes and occupy yourself with a busy task during this time. Usually, this will help take your mind off of it. As far as exercise goes, I am not the best to speak on this, but I really believe in starting slow. I haven't had regular exercise since the 9th grade and it is painful,unpleasant, and just plain yucky to exercise. I hate it. But, I also remind myself how much I hate being fat too. Which do I hate more? Definitely being fat. You have to just get up and make yourself do it. Even 10 minutes is better than nothing at all. Good Luck to you! (open RNY 7/23/02 -55lbs)
   — Shawnie S.

September 26, 2002
Mabel, when did you have your surgery? Email me and I'll give you the guidelines my surgeon recommended. It may help you get back on track.
   — LLinderman

September 26, 2002
I suppose this isn't what you want to hear.. but did your doctor give you any instructions on what or how to eat? Did s/he recomend some vitamins and supplements? You should be following your doctor's orders on this. Please get yourself to a support group, it sounds like its not just WHAT to eat, but its about you making the right choices.
   — Lisa C.

September 27, 2002
I don't know how far post op you are, but if it would help, I have listed on my profile what I ate at 4 1/2 mos and at 9 mos out. I also have listed the supplements I take and some foods/products I have tried and liked (or not). If you are having problems staying away from carbs and sweets the two BEST things you can do are to increase your protein intake and drink more water. Carbs make you crave more carbs so you need to break the cycle. If you are not taking supplements, START TODAY. You had the surgery to be healthy but you can DIE if you don't treat your body right. You need protein, water, a multivitamin WITH IRON, 1000 mg calcium citrate (if you had rny), and b12 (sublingual is best). START TODAY. Go to any drugstore and pick up this stuff--you need it to live. Exercise may not be your activity of choice, but please at least walk. You may start out with 5 minutes, but try to do a little each day. I'll bet if you do this you will feel better within a week.<p>Have you been evaluated for depression? My DH suffers from it and I know how it can make any situation seem so hopeless that nothing you do will make any difference. Since I KNOW that is not true here (you CAN make things better for yourself!) maybe you are a bit depressed. If so, please get some help whether from a psychologist, a friend, or your primary care physician. It is possible to get so low that you feel it is insurmountable. I hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you want. But PLEASE get the supplements started TODAY.
   — ctyst

September 27, 2002
Sorry, you can't "teach" your pouch to dump. Dumping is a physiological condition that is caused by sweets and fats going into the intestines. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) not everyone dumps. My advice for people is to ASSUME that you will dump and don't try sweets and fatty foods to find out. That way, even if you don't, you won't be tempted to "cheat". Since you have already discovered that you don't dump, you are going to have to teach your head not to let you have the foods you shouldn't. The only way this surgery will work is if you follow the rules. Eat protein - lots of it. Exercise as much as you can, even if it's only walking. Drink water, water and more water. And TAKE YOUR VITAMINS. You will end up fat and unhealthy if you don't do these things. I don't mean to sound harsh and mean but the surgery will not be successful if you don't help it. Maybe you could seek counseling to help you with any emotional issues you have with food. And maybe you need to work with a WLS knowledgeable nutritionist to help you develop a good eating plan. I am 10 months post-op, have lost 151 pounds and am very healthy. I still need to lose about 50 more pounds to reach my ideal weight and I don't know if I'll make it or not. But I am still very faithful to my eating plan of protein first, then vegetables and then fruit. I do NOT eat sweets and I don't even try sugar free cookies, etc. I think that when I have stabalized and am on a maintainance plan, then I can indulge with some sugar-free treat.
   — Patty_Butler

September 27, 2002
I am one month post-op and am not oing everything exactly right, either. I don't exercise yet because I don't have the energy. The only exercise I get done is through my daily activities. I always forget to drink my water and take my vitamins and such. I am still, however, doing good on my eating. I have lost 39 pounds. I am on regular foods now. I try to watch my carbs (most of the time my stomach can't handle them and they come back up anyways) and I try to watch my sweets. If I have to have something sweet, I get some sugar-free stuff. Cookies, ice cream, candy, and even chocolate comes sugar-free. They have carbs, but it will satisfy your sugar craving without fudging your diet. Idealy, this is what my surgeon has told me to do. Take 1-2 Flinstone's Vitamins with Iron each day, take a sublingual B-12 drop each day, and take some sort of protien drink/supplement each day. With meals, I am supposed to eat my protien first, my fruits and veggis second, and then carbs last, if I have room. I am only supposed to have 3 meals per day of about 6 ounces each and 2 snacks if I absolutely need to. I hope this has given you a little insight and helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
   — sammygirlwpc