lsereno

Kaiser Fremont (and most other NorCal Kaiser Bariatric Centers) require patients to lose 10% of their weight pre-op. They provide a suggested diet and list of foods. Basically, it's: Breakfast 2 Protein 1 fruit 1 milk 0-1 starch 1 fat lunch 2-3 protein 2 vegetables 1 fruit 1 starch 1 fat dinner 3 protein 1 milk 2 vegetables 1 starch 1 fat With the following info: Calories: 1200 calories per day Protein: 70-80 grams per day Carbohydrate: 130 grams per day Fat: 30 grams per day Fluid: at least 64 ounces per day • Practice principals of mindful eating • Eat at least 3 meals per day; no snacking or grazing • Drink at least 64 oz of decaffeinated, non carbonated Fluid per day (8 cups) • Eat slowly (one bite a minute); chew food completely (30X) • In each meal, be mindful of your portion size Lynda

Just say :"thank you" it's short, to the point, and let's the other person feel acknowledged. You can ponder on what they said later. Lynda

I didn't eat Peanut Butter till I got to goal. Too many calories for too little Protein in my book. My program counts peanut butter as a fat, not as a protein. Lynda

Don't give up on those rides forever. I know 6 or 7 months seems like a long time post-op. but your body is still adjusting. I had high blood pressure pre-op and it dropped dramatically post-op. I went off all blood pressure meds and had the dizzy feeling off and on for a few months. But it eventually has crept back up. My blood pressure is not as high as it was pre-op, but I am back to taking two blood pressure meds to keep it controlled. Lynda

That's what the doc told me and hubby did say I snore less post-op. Lynda

At six months, your stomach is still adjusting to post op life. At two years out, I eat more and tolerate a wider variety of foods well. I do still have Snacks between meals most days. Some people continue to use Protein drinks for the rest of their lives. See Shelly's blog, http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/. She is several years post-op. She had a RNY, but the long term eating habits are not that different than VSG. I never ate protein bars, but Fiddleman loves them. I hope you are taking a good Vitamin regime. Are you taking a PPI, such as Prilosec? If not, perhaps you should try one. Acid reflux can be an issue for VSG post-op. Lynda

I hope so too! I do think the support group and staying connected is key. It is something we will have to work on. It frightens me to see the long term successes dropping off the radar because I wonder if they are no longer here because they started to gain and just don't want to talk about it. Thanks for sticking with us and letting us know what long term issues to expect. Lynda

I often go to an early matinee and I bring my lunch. One of my favs to take is a low fat cheese stick with low fat lunch meat wrapped around it, Special K crackers, and can of V-8 juice. Early out when I still struggled to get enough Protein, I brought beef Jerky or a Protein shake. I don't eat jerky or Protein shakes now that I can get enough protein. Grapes, berries, or cut up fruit are also good. Or raw veggies, such as cucumbers and carrots sliced into small rounds, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and celery (my program allows celery, some do not). Lynda

I can easily eat that amount now, but at a few weeks out, I often couldn't eat 2 oz. of firm Protein at a meal. I didn't eat bread for months. My meal plan back then was more like this: Wake up- 1 cup soy milk mixed with 1 packet Starbucks instant decaf, Breakfast - 1/2 fat free greek yogurt made into a smoothie with a little OJ, some Water, a couple strawberries, and Splenda lunch - 1-2 ounces tuna, 1 tbsp light mayo, 1 saltines Afternoon snack: Light cheese stick dinner - 1-2 ounces fish, 1/8 cup cooked vegetables Before bed: Protein shake

My doc found hiatial hernia when doing the VSG and fixed it. I never had trouble with it, but he told hubby I would snore less. Lynda

I do if I eat a little too much or sometimes with something acidic. Pre-op, the only thing that gave me heartburn was margarita mix. Lynda

2 years out, 14 months at goal weight. Kinda full today after treat day yesterday.Plus it is finally warm here. 8:30 a.m.: 1 slice whole wheat bread, 2 oz. roast chicken noon: 2 oz. roast chicken mixed with a little Newmann's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing, 1/3 cup boiled edamame, 1/4 cup snow peas, 1/8 cup mandarin orange segments, 1/3 cup lettuce, 2 T. sliced almonds, 2 T. Newmann's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing Afternoon snack: Fresh melon cubes dinner later: 3 oz. albacore tuna, packed in Water, mixed with 1 T. greek yogurt, 1 T. light mayonnaise and a 1/2 teaspoon of prepared horseradish on 1/2 ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, and 1/8 avocado Snack: 1 cup fat free greek Yogurt with 2 T. whipped cream cheese and Splenda, topped with Splenda sweetened smashed strawberries and 1 graham cracker, crumbled

135 was my goal and I've been there for 14 months. I'm 5'6" and have a BMI of 21.8. There are a few others here and on obesityhelp who have similar losses and have kept it off. I followed my plan, exercising, eating low fat firm Protein first, and avoiding calorie-laden foods. My caloric intake now is around 1200-1500 calories per day and I exercise (moderate paced walk) for an hour four days per week. You can do it! Lynda

I'm looking forward to seeing a FAQ section that can be provided as a link for quick answers. Sometimes I spend a lot of time digging for something I saw two years ago that someone is asking about again. New community, that sounds a bit scary but I'm open! Lynda

I used the same technique I used for Water to get the Protein drinks down. If you use the powder, you can mix it with a little less water. The Slimfast is 10 ounces for 20 grams of protein. I used

I wore a gown, robe and slippers home. I didn't want anything around my stomach, even stretchy pants or underwear. Agree with the chapstick. I also brought a small tube of lotion, my phone and my phone charger. Lynda

2 years out, 14 months at goal weight. It's my weekly treat day. 8 a.m.: 12 oz. Soy Latte 9 an.m.: 1/4 cup oatmeal with 1/2 cup Water, 1/4 cup chopped strawberries, a splash of soy and Splenda to taste, 2 oz. lowfat ham Noon: Bite of all each of the meat and dairy samples at costco, 1/2 cup melon after we got home 4 p.m.: drinks and dinner out, 2 Lemon Drops 5 p.m.: Carne Asada Taco, chicken Taco, left almost all the tortillas and ate the guts. These are traditional tacos without Beans and cheese. Before bed snack: Probably greek yogurt with blueberries

I bought a bracelet in a regular size, a pair of knee high boots, and a really cute outfit that went with the boots and bracelet. And then I bought a couple of belts too. It's your goal: make yourself happy. But do remember that happiness is what makes you happy in the long run. For example, I might be very happy eating a crapload of ice cream today, but tomorrow, not so much. Congrats on leaving the losers' bench behind and taking a seat on the goalies bench! Lynda

I don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks of the path I chose. If they care for me, they are happy I am at a healthy weight now after years of struggling. If they don't care for me, what difference does it make to them what I do? For me it was the only way out, besides that dirt nap that was increasingly scaring me the longer I stayed morbidly obese. The call it morbidly for a reason. Lynda

Glad you are ditching the doc. Not everyone is happy with weight loss surgery, some people do gain all the weight back, and there is a risk of complications, even death, but it is your decision to make, not your PCPs. For me, the benefits outweighed (haha!) the risks. I am sure that some doctors are in it for the money and that some do a poor job of preparing patients for the surgery or following up, but many more truly care about their patients and offer terrific prep and follow up. I've been very happy with Kaiser Fremont's Bariatric program. Lynda

Starchy foods are the only ones that I noticed. I'm two years out and one of the only foods I still don't tolerate well is tortillas. It was months before I could eat starches other than very well toasted whole grain bread and a couple of saltine crackers. Almost anything starchy got me including potatoes, rice, Pasta, bread, and Cereal. I didn't eat popcorn for quite a few months and when I did I started small. It's a slider food for me now so I avoid it most of the time. Lynda

Congrats!

Yeah! Glad to hear it! Lynda

Congrats! Lynda

I used a shot glass, a measuring cup and a clock to get my fluids in for the first few days. I drank one ounce every 15 minutes. Teeny sips all 15 minutes. It works out to 8 oz. every two hours and will get you very close to the recommended amount. I counted Protein shakes in my fluids. Do get up and walk every couple of hours too. Just around the house is good. Be kind to yourself. It's major surgery even though the incisions look small on the outside. Lynda