lsereno

I had one pre-op that I continue to use. It's a weight watchers scale. I never use the fancier features though, just the ounce or gram and tare features. Lynda

I waited two weeks to get back on mine. Dr. OK'd it at the two week checkup. Just be careful is all he said about it. Lynda

I took all of mine whole with a very small sip of Water, one at a time at the hospital and when I got home. Only thing I waited two weeks to start again was the calcium. Lynda

Before I could eat enough Protein to meet my goals the powdered protein for travel because it is light and easy. I bring a shaker cup. My fav combination is Starbucks Instant Decaf coffee and GNC Gold Standard whey in French vanilla Creme. Beef jerkey, Special K whole grain crackers, and foil pack tuna all pack well. I also bring Splenda if I think it won't be available because it's my fav sweetener. If you will have a microwave available, quick cooking oatmeal is good too. I pack everything in baggies and it doesn't take much room. Lynda

I'm two years out and I can eat over a cup of watermelon, but not a lot more. It doesn't slide right down like popcorn and sweet baked items. Lynda

I like Chobani or Fage Greek Plain 0 (non-fat). I use it to make dip, stretch mayo in chicken or tuna salad, in smoothies, and mixed with fruit and Splenda. Protein is high: 23 or 24 per cup and calories are low, under 130 per cup. If I eat it with fruit and Splenda, I sometimes thin it with Water. Lynda

Oops! Here's the link: http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/facilities/region/gsaa/area_master/departments/Bariatrics/binder.jsp

My Bariatric Program Dr. wants me back on a PPI because the rheumatoid arthritis meds I take are ulcer-inducing. I've been avoiding it because my RA Dr. said the risk of ulcer is very low and I didn't need to take the PPI. I asked the Bariatric Dr. about side effects from the PPI and she said we already have those effects because 85% of our stomach is gone and while it's true nutrients are generally absorbed in our intact intestinal track, studies have shown many VSG patients require Vitamin and Calcium supplementation. Here's a recent study I found that discusses the issue: http://bariatrictimes.com/approaches-to-providing-nutritional-guidance-after-vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy-do-we-consider-the-vsg-as-purely-restrictive-or-something-more/ Lynda

Congrats! Three years and still at goal! Lucky you with no hunger. I do get hungry, but a small healthy meal is filling. Of course, I'm not jealous of the continued occasional diarrhea. I'm thankful to have left that behind in the first months. Lynda

Every bariatric surgery progam is a little different. But bring your questions. Better to have them. If they don't take questions, which would surprise me, ask if you can send them via email. Lynda

The most common issues I've seen in report tracking people 5 years and beyond is weight gain and acid reflux. Some have an issue with a neofundus (part of the stomach regrows or stretches, allowing weight gain, acid reflux and other issues), but there is some debate about that being caused by poor technique when doing the sleeve. If you don't eat right or take your Vitamins, also problems with Protein, Vitamin or Calcium deficiency. Lynda

Hi there! I'm a lazy cook and it's gotten worse post-op because although I love good food, who wants to put a lot of time into little meals? Here's some stuff that works great for me: Veggie soup: I make a giant pot then freeze in 1 cup portions in sandwich baggies. I add Protein when serviing. chicken. low fat meatballs, turkey sausage are all good. Here's my fav veggie Soup recipe: http://savingdinner.com/healthy-vegetarian-recipes/soup-good-food/ I don't use the potatoes. I add more turnips instead. Meaty chili: I make my chili with enough meat to get 3 oz. in a 3/4 cup serving. Freeze the same way as soup, but in 3/4 cup portions. I don't have a recipe, but I use a couple pounds very lean ground beef, 1 large can chili Beans, 1 large can tomatoes, 1 chopped onion, chili powder. In a stew pot, brown the onion and ground beef. If needed add a little oil. If any oil cooks out, drain. Add tomatoes and chili beans. Add chili powder to taste. Cook down till it tastes good to you. costco Chicken: I buy the roasted one from the deli, then freeze in 3 oz. and 2 oz. portions. Great for salads, sandwiches, and stir fries. Buy the bagged lettuce already chopped and put the salad dressing in one of those tiny plastic glad storage cups. Two of my fav salads: - Southwest style: Mix chicken with a little BBQ sauce. For salad, use lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and either 1/3 c. black beans or 1/3 cup corn. Dress salad with 1 T. lite ranch and top with BBQ chicken. - Asian Chicken: Mix chicken with a little Newmann's own Lite Sesame Ginger dressing. For salad, use lettuce, 1/8- 1/4 c. mandarin oranges packed in splenda, 1/8-1/4 C. snow pea pods. . Dress salad with 1 T. Newmann's own Lite Sesame Ginger dressing and top with chicken. Now that I'm at goal, I sprinkle 2 T. of slivered almonds on top. Two of my fav stir frys: - Italian: I use a mandolin slicer to slice zuchinni, yellow squash, onions, and peppers. Saute quickly with a little oil and some fresh basil. Add cooked chicken or shrimp and a few cherry tomatoes, cut in half. - Asian: Saute Snow pea pods, thinly sliced brocolli and carrots in a little sesame oil. Add cooked chicken or shrimp, a splash of soy sauce and a tiny splash of OJ. I like mine with a few thin slices of ginger. I also like to roast veggies and then mix iwth a little protein. I use a mandolin slicer to slice zuchinni, yellow squash, onions, and peppers. Oven roast at 425 with a little oil. Cool and freeze in portion sizes that you can eat. Mix with chicken and a little balsamic. Quick Proteins I don't have to cook: 98% FF ham rolled around a light string cheese, Bistro Sensations Chicken Sausage http://www.walmart.com/ip/Benetino-s-Bistro-Sensations-Sausage-Chicken-Habanero-W-Monterey-Jack-Cheese-Meat-12-oz/10403147, Tuna with dressing made of 1/2 light mayo, 1/2 greek yogurt, dash of prepared horseradish Frozen shrimp, cooked and deveined. I just pack them frozen and add cocktail sauce at lunch time. Lynda

Yeah, at over two years out, it's a constant vigil for me. I weigh every morning and what I see on the scale informs how I eat that day. The big difference for me? I am not ravenously hungry all day every day like I was pre-sleeve. I can eat a reasonable, healthy meal and be full. And I'm working from a healthy weight to maintain. I'm not trying to lose 100 lbs. with Weight Watchers. What's not different: Yes, I'd love to eat A LOT of the ice cream, cheetohs, buttered popcorn, chips and dip and many, many other foods that got me in this boat EVERY DAY. Do I? No, I'm not an abstainer, but I seriously limit treat foods and how often I have them. Lynda

You look so cute! Love the red sneakers. My trainer told me the best exercise for whittling the waist is simply conscioulsy sucking your tummy towards your backbone and holding it there for 60 seconds. Repeat throughout the day as you think of it. Lynda Lynda

It's not a treat day for me, so only junky snack I am having is some pretzels this evening. 8 a.m.:Soy Latte, 9 a.m.: 2 oz. 98% FF ham 10:30 a.m.:Sarah Lee Whole Grain mini-bagel w 1 wedge Laughing Cow Lite Cinnamon Cream Cheese, 1/3 bananna Lunch: 2 oz. chicken breast, 1/2 c. romaine, 1/4 mandarin oranges packed in Splenda, chopped green onion, 2 T. Newmans Own Lowfat Sesame Ginger (I nix 1 T. with the chicken and pour the other over the rest of the salad), 1 oz. Special K whole grain crackers Snack: 1 C. melon Dinner: 2 oz. water packed tuna mixed with 1 T. light mayo, 1 T. non-fat greek yogurt and 1/2 t. prepared horseradish on 1 slice WW bread with lettuce, tomato, and 1/4 small avocado (I use a big lettuce leaf instead of a top slice of bread) Snack: 3/4 C. fatfree greek yogurt and 1/3 cup blueberries with Splenda, 1 c. mini pretzels

Oh and I found some articles through Google news about carbs and addiction: How Carbs Can Trigger food Cravings http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/how-carbs-can-trigger-food-cravings/ Study: Are Carbs, Sugars Really Like Drugs To Your Brain? http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/06/27/study-are-cheap-carbs-really-like-drugs-to-your-brain/ Lynda

I am nearly 60 and still eating whole grains and doing well with that. So maintenance with starches is possible. But I do limit how much. I have one serving at Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on most days. And often I have a snack of a lower calorie grain, such as pretzels or Special K crackers, or graham crackers. On treat days, I have white bread if is good or occasionally Pasta. But everyone is different. I do try to only eat sweets outside the house because like many others, once I go down that hole I want more and there isn't much restriction with those types of foods. And it really limits how often I have sweets because after we eat a meal out, I'm usually too full to order dessert. Lynda

I wouldn't worry. I've seen that a few times here over the years. At six weeks, you should have less swelling than that. I'm sorry you have to go back, but should be quick! Lynda

For those I don't care about, I stick with a very short: "My Doctor and I have decided this is the best option for my health". I don't address any other negative comments. If they keep up after this I move away if possible and if not, I say, "Let's talk about something else". For those that I do care about, I spend more time describing that WLS has the highest success rate for permanent weight reduction and that while every surgery carries risks, the risks of remaining obese are greater. Lynda

If you don't get an answer here, try joining the Yahoo Group for Kaiser Nor Cal Bariatric and ask there: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients/ I don't have an answer for you. I went through Kaiser Fremont two years ago. After I got to surgery goal weight (loss of 10%), it took 6 weeks till surgery date. Lynda

Here's an interesting blog post from Gretchen Rubin about abstaining: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2013/01/want-to-be-free-from-french-fries-or-why-abstaining-may-be-easier-than-you-think/ Shelly of World According to Eggface is an abstainer. She doesn't do Pasta, rice, bread or potatoes and here's her post about that: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/06/fear-enemy.html As for me, I'm still trying for moderation. That means keeping some foods out of the house and only eating them when I'm out. And limiting other foods. For example, someone asked about pizza on another thread. For me, pizza wasn't a fav food and it's easy to limit it to a few times a year because hubby doesn't want it that often either. We'll see how that works as time goes by. If it doesn't work, I'll be trying something else! I'm terrified of the infamous post-three year gain. Lynda

Congrats Tink! Everyone else: I can never remember what the exact rules are supposed to be for the Vets forum. I just know at more than two years post-op, I qualify :-) LyndA

Congrats teeny weeny bikini girl! Lynda

I ate two slices of a large hand-tossed from pizza Hut, not the ends. That was a few months ago. I don't eat pizza often. I'm more than 2 years out. Lynda

PPI is Proton pump inhibitor, such as Omeprazole, that reduce stomach acid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton-pump_inhibitor