DLCoggin

Wow - I love all of the great ideas that are being offered in this thread!! I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that there probably aren't too many folks on this forum that loved, loved, loved working out prior to their gastric bypass surgery. LOL! Could be wrong but... Remember the Prime Directive - the surgery is a tool but long term success is about life style changes. That means that your goal is to find something that you enjoy and that is realistic for the point where you're at in your journey. Like BBdoodle, I love walking with my black lab. She loves it so much and I love watching her love it! ChatCat - You hit the nail right on the head - start slow and work your way up gradually. If you're miserable doing whatever you're doing, you will not maintain it. Five years of moderate exercise is ten thousand times better than five weeks of killing yourself trying to do too much and then just quitting. And you absolutely do feel so much better (very quickly) and yes it absolutely gets so much easier before you even realize that it's happening. Baker_gurl - I can feel the excietment in your post. Good for you!! kmiller - Perfect example of finding substitutes and giving yourself permission to have that bite of cake! It takes a strong, confident, intelligent person to allow yourself an occasional indulgence! Ms. Jen - I don't think you know the meaning of "mean". But you certainly know the importance of post-op walking better than most. It's not an option! Mami - I suspect that some folks don't really believe us when we say that we really look forward to whatever our exercise routine is. LOL! I can't explain how someone like me whose idea of exercise was walking to the fridge could ever enjoy walking three miles four times a week. Maybe it's voodoo! Who cares! It really does happen and it really is great! Ms. Tina - there are 20,000 people on this forum that either are worried, or were worried, that this wouldn't work for them. You are in very good company. It works. You're gonna love the new you!! Is this a great group of folks or what??

Colase - works like a charm. But it takes a day or two to kick in so be patient. It's over the counter so no Rx required. And yes, the constipation absolutely will go away. Miserable, but temporary.

Why do we crave sugar, carbs, salt and fat? Two little words - "It's biological." How do you fight the cravings? Two little words - "I don't!" http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-he-cravings-20120721,0,7439824.story

I use Tap and Track Pro on my iPhone but I have heard nothing but good things about My Fitness Pal and also Spark People. Tap and Track just happened to have the best reviews in the iPhone store on the day I decided I wanted an app. I have no doubt that there are many others which are probably quite good as well. I'm not sure which app you use is terribly important but I strongly recommend that you find one that you're comfortable and use it every day for every meal. An amazingly powerful too that will increae your confidence ten fold!!

Sorry guys, it's a little hard to read. The Excel formatting is lost in the copy and paste. Not much I can do about it as forum rules do not allow me to post an Excel file. Each one is in the order of menu item, calories, serving size, and protein.

A while back I created an Excel file of high Protein grocery store foods which a number of folks requested copies of. I have been constantly adding to that list (now almost double it's original size) and most recently added a number of fast food restaurant options. Here's what I have so far along with calories, serving size, and protein in grams: Arby's Grilled chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich (without mayo) 390 1 Sandwich 41 Arby's Martha's Vineyard salad -- not including dressing 277 1 Salad 26 Arby's Santa Fe Salad With Grilled Chicken -- not including dressing 283 1 Salad 29 Carl’s Jr. Cranberry Apple Walnut Grilled Chicken Salad with no dressing 320 1 Salad 27 Carl’s Jr. Original Grilled Chicken Salad with Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette 305 1 Salad 25 Carl's Jr Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich 360 6" Sandwich 34 Carl's Jr Charbroiled Chicken Salad (with low-fat balsamic dressing) 295 1 Salad 34 Casual Gourmet Chicken Sausage - Roasted Red Pepper and Spinich 120 1 Link 15 Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken & Fruit Salad with Reduced-Fat berry Balsamic Vinaigrette 290 1 Salad 22 Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap 410 1 Wrap 34 Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad 180 1 Salad 22 Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich 270 1 Sandwich 28 Chik-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad with Fat Free Honey Mustard 240 1 Salad 23 Hardee's Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich 340 1 Sandwich 33 In-n-Out Hamburger (with onion, mustard, and catsup instead of spread) 310 1 Sandwich 16 Jack in the Box Chicken Fajita Pita (no salsa) 280 1 Sandwich 21 Jack in the Box Grilled Chicken Salad with Low-fat Balsamic dressing 275 1 Salad 28 KFC Grilled Chicken BLT Salad with Hidden Valley Ranch Fat-Free dressing 265 1 Salad 36 KFC Honey BBQ Sandwich 280 1 Sandwich 14 KFC Oven Roasted Twister (without sauce) 330 1 Sandwich 28 KFC Tender Roast Sandwich (without sauce) 300 1 Sandwich 37 McDonalds Asian Salad With Grilled Chicken 300 1 Salad 32 McDonalds Grilled Snack Wrap with Honey Mustard OR Grilled Snack Wrap with Chipotle BBQ Sauce 260 1 Wrap 18 McDonald's Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken with 1/2 packet Southwest Dressing 370 1 Salad 30 McDonalds Southwest Salad With Grilled Chicken 320 1 Salad 30 Taco Bell Chicken Fiesta Taco Salad (Fresco Style) 240 1 Salad 23 Taco Bell Fresco Style Bean Burrito 330 1 Burrito 12 Taco Bell Fresco Style Steak Burrito Supreme 330 1 Burrito 16 Taco Bell Fresco Style Zesty Chicken Border Bowl (without dressing) 350 1 Bowl 19 Taco Bell Steak Fiesta Taco Salad (Fresco Style) 220 1 Salad 17 Wendy's Apple Pecan Chicken Salad 510 1 Salad 36 Wendy's Ultimate Grill Sandwich 320 1 Sandwich 28 Subway Turkey Breast and Black Forest Ham on Flatbread 310 6" Sandwich 20

Well for me, it got much easier once I could start eating solid food. It wasn't so much that I was all that hungry. But there is something therapeutic about being able to eat solid food. The first few weeks you're struggling with your brain as well as your body. But the brain adapts pretty quickly and then things start to smooth out. Staying as busy as possible also helps. Before you know it, it's all just a distant memory and the pounds are melting away!

There are four surgeons in the surgery group that my surgeon is in. All four no longer perform lap bands. Less effective and just too many complications.

I couldn't agree more and the additional weight loss with RNY was one of my reasons for choosing it as well. RNY and sleeve are both excellent choices. Gastric bands are marketed heavily but statistically, the other two are better options.

You are certainly welcome Ms. Dani. You're going to be just fine. The first few weeks are by far the toughest. You'll get into the rhythm quickly and then the real fun begins!!

I haven't experienced it but reading between the lines of your post - sounds like you're scared spitless. Stopping the blood pressure meds will probably help and meditation is always great. Fear and anxiety take a lot of energy. I'm wondering if the anxiety subsides later in the day because you're body is just too tired to maintain it. And that leads me to wonder if exercise might not be the best solution. If the dizzyness subsides along with the anxiety later in the day, that might be the time when you want to focus on getting some exercise. Take it easy at first. Walk to the end of the block and back. You're not training for the Olympics - take it slow. If you feel dizzy, sit down. Maybe do some deep breathing - in through the nose, hold it for ten seconds, out through the mouth, hold it for ten seconds. When you feel better, continue your walk. As you start to feel better, increase the distance a little at a time. You know you're doing exactly what you should be doing. When those negative, fearful thoughts creep into your mind, gently push them away and remind yourself that there is not the slightest doubt that RNY works, there is not the slightest doubt that you will lose weight. Lots of it. And quickly. Vividly imagine yourself doing all of the things that you want to do when you've achieved your goal. The subconscious mind cannot distinguish between reality, and something vividly imagined. Do that exercise every day, or several times a day, and your subconscious will take you where you want to go. You will succeed, and you're gonna love the new you!

Curious as it may be, I was never given a calorie count. Not by the surgeon, the PA, or anyone else in their office. I received what seems like reams of information on all aspects of the surgery, pre-op diet, post-op diet, foods to eat at each stage, foods to avoid at each stage, the importance of Protein, staying hydrated, risks, possible complications - tons of information. But never anything specific on calories. So...I made absolutely sure that I was getting the required protein, eating what they told me to eat at each stage, not eating what they told me to avoid at each stage, and eventually eating pretty much anything I wanted to eat when I was at regular food stage - always with an eye on high protein, low-fat, low carb, low sugar. I downloaded an app for tracking my intake about two weeks post-op and I've used it religiously right up to this minute. I averaged just slightly under 1300 calories per day until about a month ago when the surgeon recommended that I increase my calorie intake to 1800. I thought that was a little high so I'm trying to hit 1500 a day. My app tracks the ratios of carbs/fats/protein with the goal of 40%/30%/30% respectively. In other words, 40% of total calories eaten should be carbs, 30% fats, and 30% protein. Since Dec. 7th of last year up to yesterday, my ratios have been 38%/29%/33%. Worked for me!!

Protein. Now is a great time to do some experimenting. Taste is very subjective so it's difficult to make specific recommendations. EAS (Myoplex), Muscle Milk, Pure Protein, Unjury, Syntrax - all good options but there are dozens more. Buy one at a time and see which one you like the best. Once you find one you like, most manufacturers make their most popular flavors in powdered form - cuts your cost by about 50% versus the ready-to-drink shakes. Protein is vitally important post-op so you want to be ready when the time comes. You're gonna love the new you!!

Stay focused on following the protocol, stay active, and stay away from the scales for at least a week, two would be even better. Plateaus are part of the process and the further out you get, the more often they may occur and they may last longer. The above usually does the trick but it's worth mentioning that plateaus can be "artificially" created if you aren't eating enough calories. The body reacts by burning less stored fuel. Essentially, your metabolic rate slows as the body attempts to conserve fuel in response to a "famine" state. Sometimes you can break through a plateau by increasing your intake of Protein - eggs, low-fat cheese, fish, chicken, turkey, or tuna - for two or three days. Avoid anything processed. The science behind it is that the intake of pure amino acids increases your metabolism and forces the body to burn stored fat. And don't forget to drink Water. Lots of it! Helps flush everything out! :-)

Gastric banding is: The least invasive bariatric surgery option The least expensive surgical option The most widely avaiable surgical option The most widely marketed surgical option But is gastric banding the most effective surgical option? http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20120115/weight-loss-is-bypass-better-than-banding

Great job David!

Welcome!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I walk four times a week (more if possible) as well and about the same amount of time. I'm averaging about 2 3/4 miles each time. No doubt in my mind that it has increased my weight loss and lessened the time it would have taken otherwise. But I've been fortunate not to have to deal with a three hour round trip commute which would make it virtually impossible to do what I'm doing right now. Thanks again!

Your granny sounds like quite the lady!!

Ridiculous as it sounds, my black lab bit me about five weeks ago. She snapped at a spray bottle I was trying to use to spray a topical antiobiotic on a hotspot on her neck - my thumb happened to be in the way. Her upper fang went right through the center of my nail, lower fang right through the pad of my thumb. And - she broke it in three places. The ortho did new x-rays yesterday and it definitely is healing but it seems like it takes forever. I can definitely relate to your pain - broken bones hurt like hell!!

Thanks so much for the kind words! I obviously can't speak for everyone but it seems to me that the bad and the ugly, along with the good, is how we learn. I think of myself as a "recovering" foodaholic. And just like a "recovering" alcoholic, I'll a l w a y s be a "recovering" foodaholic. Thanks to RNY, I fully expect to live a long life and that means I'll have to be cautious and aware of potential pitfalls - for a long time. Along those lines, I'd love to hear about what you have learned regarding the cause of the dilated anastamosis. How common is it? Does it often occur at a specific time range or period following RNY? Is it related to too much food? Or perhaps getting in the habit of not chewing well enough or taking bites that are too large? Anything you would care to share, post or PM, would be very much appreciated. Thanks again!!

Welcome to the forum and thanks so much for sharing your experience. It is rare to have someone that is several years post-op contribute and the ones that do seem to move on quickly. I hope you'll stick around and share your long term experience with us who are really just beginning the journey. Thanks again!

Great story! Love it!!

My understanding is that it unfortunately can be different for everyone. General guidelines suggest avoiding foods with high sugar or fat content to avoid dumping. Beyond that, you really have to experiment. If you're not sure, try taking a bite of the new food and then waiting five minutes. If you don't experience any discomfort, chances are good that you won't have a problem with that food.

A while back I put together a list of high protein foods. A number of folks requested a copy of the file. Thanks to Dallas, it's been posted on the net and you can see it at... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AquBbFV701VcdGZFc2p2Q29QTXIxc0tVU1lxMklBOHc I'm assuming that you're on regular food at 13 weeks out. It's difficult to get all of your protein without some kind of supplement but hopefully you'll find some things here that will help! You also might try getting some unflavored Protein powder. First thing in the morning, put a scoop of the powder in a small bowl. Depending on the powder, one scoop is 20g or more of protein. When you eat or drink something, put a pinch of the protein powder in. You can add it to almost anything and if it's just a pinch, you shouldn't notice the taste too much. By the end of the day you've eaten an additional 20g of protein, a pinch at a time. Trying anything you can think of until you're getting all of your protein in every day is well worth the effort. Unlike fat or starches, you body cannot store protein and the nine "essential" amino acids must be obtained from food - the body cannot manufacture them. That means they need to be replenished every day. It's quite important for faster healing, increased energy, reducing hair loss, preserving lean muscle tissue and protection from bacterial and viral infections. You're gonna love the new you!!