Alex Brecher

Disclaimer: I’m not a bypass patient and didn’t consider the bypass – I love my band! But I am answering this because I don’t think that will bias my opinion. Is it (gastric bypass) worth it? That is completely up to you to determine. You’ve gotten some really good advice on this thread. First, are you ready to make the necessary changes – for life?! That’s necessary before any type of wls – band, bypass, sleeve, etc. If you’re sure you’re ready to make the changes to your diet and lifestyle, then the question is which type of WLS. Talk to your surgeon about complications and long-term weight loss. Think about what you want to get from the surgery – is it important to you to be able to eat – or be forced to avoid – sweets, for example? Does either surgery interfere with any medications you may be taking? Only you can decide – but it’s great that you’re doing your research and getting insights from others.

This is such a tough question for so many reasons! One is that we’re all different…so while you might lose 1, 4, 2, and 6 pounds per week during a four-week period, I might lose those same 13 pounds by losing 3, 3, 3, and 4 pounds. Even more likely would be that we might lose the same amount after a year of eating the same, but maybe wouldn’t lose the same in any given four-week period. Something else is that you have to have a definition of “stall.” I don’t know if there is an official one, but I do know that some people get alarmed and call it a stall if they don’t lose weight for a couple of days, while other people wait for several weeks before calling it a “stall.” I know that every time I’ve “stalled,” there have been things for me to fix in my diet – I wasn’t perfect, even if I lied to myself that I was or truly thought I was…and then figured out what I needed to fix. Part of me thinks this is just semantics…does it matter if it’s called a stall? We have to eat right and exercise, and our bodies will do what they do!

Luckily, I haven’t had problems with fruit. I definitely waited a while after my surgery to add them back in, but I depend on it now for healthy Snacks and sweet treats! I know it’s easier with the band than with the sleeve, though. I think it’s safest to try only after your surgeon says so, and also to start with a small bite. Also, I’ve heard that the lower-sugar fruits can be easier – berries are often good.

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You are absolutely determined to lose your extra weight for good. You get weight loss surgery and are 100 percent committed to your high-protein, low-calorie weight loss surgery diet. You clear the junk from your kitchen and stock up on healthy foods. And, of course, you vow never to eat fast food again. That may work for a while, but sooner or later, you’re going to find yourself at a fast food restaurant. It may be because your friends or family insist on going. Or, it could be your only option at a time when you’ve forgotten to prepare a healthy meal, or you’re running late in the morning before work or in the evening after work. Don’t panic. Wherever you are, you can find a healthy meal that has some protein and won’t make you gain weight. Just stay calm so you can make a good choice. Here are some suggestions for the top six fast food restaurants in the U.S. 1. McDonald’s Some people may blame it for America’s obesity epidemic, but the country’s top hamburger restaurant actually offers some choices you can live with. Skip bacon, fries, sauces and dressings, anything with double or triple the meat, and anything labeled “crispy.” You can always get away with ordering a burger or sandwich without the bun or bread, or eating just the filling from a snack wrap. The following are good bets. An egg white delight muffin, with or without the English muffin, for breakfast. A Fruit ‘n’ Yogurt Parfait without the granola topping or oatmeal with apples and without cream, for breakfast. A grilled sweet chicken chili or Southwest chicken snack wrap without ranch sauce and without the tortilla. A grilled chicken sandwich, hamburger, or cheeseburger without the bun or bread. A salad with grilled chicken. Apple slices or a tangerine on the side. 2. Subway Subway can live up to its reputation of being a weight loss-friendly restaurant, but not all menu items are good choices for your weight loss surgery diet. Watch out for their breads – none are whole grain – and skip the pizza. Also, beware of fatty fillings like seafood and tuna salad and meatballs. Of course, stay away from sides and desserts like chips and cookies. The following are good bets. Egg white and ham on flatbread (or just eat the filling without the bread) for breakfast. Salads with lean proteins like black forest ham, oven roasted chicken breast, turkey breast, a veggie patty, steak, or ham. Apple slices and water to go with your meal. Tons veggies to make your sandwich more filling and nutritious but still low-calorie. Mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, or a fat-free sauce. 3. Starbucks Don’t blow your diet on beverages. If you’re not careful, you could get 600 calories and 80 grams of carbohydrates from a single drink at Starbucks. And the baked goods? Best not to even look at them, unless you want to risk dumping syndrome. Still, you can get away with a Starbucks drink or meal that you don’t need to be embarrassed to tell your surgeon about. The following are good bets. Decaffeinated coffee or tea without milk or whipped cream. Use almond milk and sugar-free syrup if you want to jazz up your beverage. Spinach and feta breakfast wrap, egg and cheddar breakfast sandwich, or reduced-fat turkey bacon breakfast sandwich without the tortilla or bread. Fresh fruit. Chicken and hummus bistro box. 4. Wendys Like McDonald’s, Wendy’s is another hamburger restaurant that can really do some damage if you’re not careful – but you can get away with a high-protein, low-calorie meal if you do your homework first. Stick to “Jr.” sized burgers and skip the fries, chicken nuggets, fried chicken, and bacon. The following are good bets. Salads with grilled chicken and without high-calorie dressings or toppings. Jr. burgers and cheeseburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps without the bun or bread and with mustard instead of a fatty or sugary sauce or dressing. A side salad and apple slices. Unsweetened iced tea. 5. Burger King What can we say? Americans like their hamburgers. Burger King is the third hamburger restaurant that ranks in the top five fast food chains in the U.S. You know the drill. Skip the bacon, fries, onion rings, double and triple burgers, and crispy chicken, and don’t even think about sundaes, shakes or pies – unless you want to feel sick from the sugar. There are plenty of options for high-protein meals as long as you skip the bun. The following are good bets. Maple flavored oatmeal with apple slices for breakfast. Ham, egg, and cheese biscuit without the biscuit for breakfast. Yumbo hot ham and cheese sandwich without the hoagie bun and with mustard instead of mayo. Tendergrill chicken sandwich, veggie burger, or Whopper Jr. without a bun or mayo. Side salad. Chicken, apple, and cranberry salad without the cranberries, or chicken Caesar salad without the croutons. 6. Taco Bell As with the other restaurants, you can get in big trouble at Taco Bell, or you can get a good meal. Stick to the smaller menu items and choose from the Fresco menu to get items under 350 calories. Taco Bell offers plenty of high-protein menu items, but you’re better off skipping the tortillas, taco shells, and tortilla chips. The following are good bets. A.M. Grilled Taco or Crunchwrap without the burrito or taco shell, if you must get breakfast at Taco Bell. Chicken taco or burrito without the tortilla or taco shell. Salsa, pico de gallo, hot sauce, red sauce, or pizza sauce. Fresco grilled steak or chicken soft taco. Fiesta taco salad with chicken or steak and without rice – don’t eat the shell.

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@@Elode my hair was always thin and straight i was one of the lucky ones that really didn't loose any hair PO it did get a little thinner though i have always wondered about hair extensions would they work with short hair?? or do you need more length to be able to put them in?? might sound like a silly but.............. as long as you take care of the extensions do you need to wash after awhile do these extensions last forever?? or do you have to replace after a period of time?? you always looked like a cutie now even more sorry you couldn't get your weight under your profile pic corrected (hint hint for any any one who can help with that??) @@Alex Brecher are you around??? @@Elode 61 lbs down!!! keep up the good job i know you will kathy Please PM me to correct any issues, thanks!

I hope you are doing well and are making progress towards your health and weight loss surgery goals. I am posting today to share some exciting news…BariatricPal is about to welcome its quarter-millionth member! That’s a lot of members. A quarter million or 250,000 is the equivalent of one new member per second for three straight days! If you stretched us out head to toe, we’d cover the length of 260 miles! Some Weighty Accomplishments Together, we have: Made almost 4 million posts. Had over 6,000 members online at the same time. Lost nearly 3 million pounds. Hitting these numbers is no small feat. I thank each and every one of you who has helped make this happen. Thank you for your membership, for your participation on the boards, and for spreading the word about BariatricPal. Join the Drive! It is because of members like you that BariatricPal can provide the support it does. Now, I am asking for your help in pushing towards our 250,000th member! If you can, spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, from your blog, and in any other way you can. You’ll be strengthening our community as you do! Because of you, we continue to be the world’s leading online weight loss surgery support network. And, because of you, we can continue to grow to even better serve the bariatric surgery community. I can’t wait to welcome member number 250,000! I am eager to see how you can help BariatricPal to hit that number sooner by helping in our member drive – starting now! Thank you for all that you do, and take care.

Which member was this please and which forum?

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This just makes my blood boil…every time I hear something like this! There are so many good strategies and wise replies on this thread…but it’s just never enough to overcome the mean people in this world. All it takes is one of their uninformed comments to make a WLS patient feel ashamed and guilty, and for what? For taking charge of our health, for committing to a lifetime of strict eating so that we actually have a life ahead of us, for following our doctors’ advice. If there was a way to educate these people, I wish I knew it. Or at least a way to teach them some manners, like minding their own business.

It can be really tough to get all your protein! What I’ve found really works is actually following what all the surgeons and dietitians say: think Protein first at every meal and snack! If you’re just having 3 meals a day, make sure each has two servings of protein – no excuses. Maybe for me it could be egg whites and tofu for Breakfast, cottage cheese and almonds for lunch and two servings of chicken for dinner. Then I build my meals around that – so maybe I’ll have some grapes with my egg whites and tofu, a salad with my cottage cheese and almonds, and broccoli and acorn squash with my chicken. However you do it, it doesn’t matter – but if I can get in two servings of protein at every meal, I can be sure to get in my protein. But I know it gets tough, especially if you’re recently post-op and still on liquids, or you can’t tolerate or don’t eat chicken! There is a ton of good suggestions on this thread – thanks to everyone. Those Protein shakes and powders and bars can really help out if you’re having trouble getting protein from regular foods.

@@nikki1980 …A pound a day? That’s phenomenal – congratulations! When you’re losing a pound a day, you should be dancing for joy! Everyone here is right – you’re doing great. Now, prepare yourself ahead of time in case your weight loss slows down. It will, but you can’t get disappointed. It’s supposed to! You’re right on track, and if you keep eating just like your surgeon says, you’ll stay right on track, even if you have challenging days or weeks or even months. It all works out in the end if you eat right.

@@titan, I think you got a lot of good advice. If you’re “struggling” to drink Dr. Pepper with the band, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it. I would worry that at best, you’ll be uncomfortable, and at worst, you can have long-lasting effects that’ll make your band less useful. What do you like about Dr. Pepper? The feeling of sipping a cold drink? Can you find a non-carbonated diet alternative? Or maybe you like the taste? Could you make your Dr. Pepper “flat” by opening it and leaving it in the fridge for a few days before drinking it? I know how it feels to really crave a specific “forbidden food” with the band. Good luck figuring it out!

Everyone here said it right…it’s up to you to make it work. If you do your part, the WLS does its part. It’s normal and healthy to be nervous, but if you’re committed, it’ll work. Like @@Elode said, “If you do your part it has no choice but to work.” It’s up to you, not to a band, sleeve, pouch, surgeon, or anything else. Good luck!

Lots of good information here! Good suggestions, too. To the OP: ask your surgeon! You said you got the clearance, so it should be okay. I always check the nutrition label to find the low-cal, high-Protein ones. Both Weight Watchers (eatyourbest.com) and Lean Cuisine have really good websites so you can find the high-protein meals. For Weight Watchers Smart Ones, for example, you can list all the meals with at least 12 grams of protein. Then you can sort those by calorie content. So, the one that comes up on top is chicken Santa Fe. It has only 160 calories and 19 grams of protein – not bad to have in your freezer in a pinch! At LeanCuisine.com, you can also search by nutrient content. You can get something like Herb Roasted Chicken for 180 calories and 16 grams of protein. So, to the OP, I think frozen meals are okay, but you can do better than 300 calories and 15 grams of protein. Also, if you get a big frozen meal, remember that it’s always okay to have half now and half another time. To ProjectMe…you’re just full of good ideas! Thank you! @@alwaysvegas , really good points about processed foods. I definitely agree that making your own is better, but for me, it’s not always practical. And when it comes time to eat, I’m better off having a semi-okay frozen meal than caving into delivery or mac and cheese!

I've been dating the last 5 years. Met my current GF of 6 months online. Many members have reached out to me over the years to create a singles section. Hope it gains some traction!

Running, running and .... running I normally hit the gym (almost) daily during the cold months but once it turns 55-60 F. you'll find me out running in central or prospect park or the salt marshes in marine park. I do a few reps of daily crunches, pushups and pullups. I'm looking at Yoga and other forms of exercise these days. Seems like my biggest muscle (my brain) needs a bit more exercising.

Thanks for these reminders, Jennifer! Great points about snacking. The other warning I have about snacking would be social snacking…snacking because your friends are having a snack, or because there are snacks available at work. It’s so easy just to do what everyone else is doing if you’re not careful.

Dr. Adeyeri, Thanks for the great tips! I think they’re spot-on, and I love the way you present the buffet as an opportunity to try new, healthy foods! The only thing I usually do differently than what you suggest is that I do include salad (greens). That’s because I can’t resist loading my plate, so I try to load it with something low-cal. Then I’ll put the “extras” on – starting with protein, and then seeing if there are any “must-try” vegetables, fruit, or something else.

Rene, thanks for this help! Sugars can be super complicated, and you’re helping us figure out how to find and avoid them. Thanks for the link to the sugar comparison chart – very interesting! Do you think the second entry for Dannon Oikos plain Greek yogurt with 18 grams of sugar is a mistake? Is it referring to a different kind of yogurt, maybe a flavored one?