joatsaint

I have kept most of my meals very simple.
During that 1st year post-op, I was so afraid that I would "break the magic" after WLS,
that I wanted and still want my meals to be boring and basic.
I'm never going to allow food to have so much control over me again! :-)

I'm 3 years out and gained back 15lbs since March. I'm struggling to lose the weight too.
There are 3 things that have worked for me in the last 3 weeks.
1) watch my portion size, go back to using my old bowls and plates - that way I know how much I'm eating.
2) stop eating when I'm satisfied and not over full. Frankensleeve lets me know when hes too full, but I've gotten back into the "clean your plate" club. I've decided, I'd rather put less food on my plate, rather than have too much and feel the need to finish it all.
3) reduce/eliminate sugar, high glycemic vegetables/fruit, processed/canned/frozen foods and meals. I'm cooking as much of my food as possible and eating things "that are the ingredients for other things". :-)
My primary diet is pretty simple - roasted/crock pot pork or chicken, vegetables (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), high Protein bars, limited fruit (at most 2 of these per day - apples, pears, plums...), and nuts (less than 20 per day - almonds, pecans, ...no peanuts)
I have up to 3 cheat meals per week - Tuesday/Friday/Sat night. I don't go crazy, but I do eat a few more of the "bad for me" foods.
So far it's working. I've lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks.
You can follow my adventure in Battling Regain in this thread:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/352539-ive-regained-weight-what-do-i-do-about-it/

I have kept most of my meals very simple.
During that 1st year post-op, I was so afraid that I would "break the magic" after WLS,
that I wanted and still want my meals to be boring and basic.
I'm never going to allow food to have so much control over me again! :-)

I was found to have a hiatal hernia after they did the pre-op EDG test on me.
But my doc never said it would interfere with the Sleeve surgery. He said it was very common and he routinely repaired the hernias as part of the operation.
But, I decided on the Sleeve before I chose a surgeon.
And found a surgeon that preferred doing the Sleeve.
I had a hiatal hernia and he repaired it during the Sleeve surgery.
He does both Sleeve and Bypass, but he never mentioned the Bypass option.

I know everyone is different in the way they think about how often to weigh themselves.
Those first few days following surgery,
I couldn't wait to jump on the scale and watch as my weight started to fall.
I got very anxious if I saw the scale stay the same or (gasp!) creep up.
I chose not to take it too seriously and made a deal with myself.
#1 - The only weigh in that counted was 1st thing in the morning - before I got dressed, drank or ate.
#2 - I could weigh myself as often as I wanted during the day. If I started getting anxious about the fluctuations in my weight during the day.... see rule #1!
This system has worked well for me for almost 3 years.
And when I start worrying about not losing or losing slower than I wanted,
I just remind myself of how fast I WAS NOT losing weight before surgery.

I'm 3 years out and gained back 15lbs since March. I'm struggling to lose the weight too.
There are 3 things that have worked for me in the last 3 weeks.
1) watch my portion size, go back to using my old bowls and plates - that way I know how much I'm eating.
2) stop eating when I'm satisfied and not over full. Frankensleeve lets me know when hes too full, but I've gotten back into the "clean your plate" club. I've decided, I'd rather put less food on my plate, rather than have too much and feel the need to finish it all.
3) reduce/eliminate sugar, high glycemic vegetables/fruit, processed/canned/frozen foods and meals. I'm cooking as much of my food as possible and eating things "that are the ingredients for other things". :-)
My primary diet is pretty simple - roasted/crock pot pork or chicken, vegetables (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), high Protein bars, limited fruit (at most 2 of these per day - apples, pears, plums...), and nuts (less than 20 per day - almonds, pecans, ...no peanuts)
I have up to 3 cheat meals per week - Tuesday/Friday/Sat night. I don't go crazy, but I do eat a few more of the "bad for me" foods.
So far it's working. I've lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks.
You can follow my adventure in Battling Regain in this thread:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/352539-ive-regained-weight-what-do-i-do-about-it/

What if my craving is for human brains?
Is that head hunger or am I a zombie? :-P

OMG!!!!! THOSE ARE AMAZING! ???????????????????? I Want to print them out !!!! That would be a ton of paper though! Lol thank you so much!!!!!

I did a quick Google search and found these 2 bariatric friendly cook books from Georgetown Community Hospital.
http://georgetowncommunityhospital.com/sites/www_georgetowncommunityhospital_com/Uploads/CookBook.pdf
http://georgetowncommunityhospital.com/sites/www_georgetowncommunityhospital_com/Uploads/BARATRIC%20COOKBOOK.pdf

I'm 3 years out and gained back 15lbs since March. I'm struggling to lose the weight too.
There are 3 things that have worked for me in the last 3 weeks.
1) watch my portion size, go back to using my old bowls and plates - that way I know how much I'm eating.
2) stop eating when I'm satisfied and not over full. Frankensleeve lets me know when hes too full, but I've gotten back into the "clean your plate" club. I've decided, I'd rather put less food on my plate, rather than have too much and feel the need to finish it all.
3) reduce/eliminate sugar, high glycemic vegetables/fruit, processed/canned/frozen foods and meals. I'm cooking as much of my food as possible and eating things "that are the ingredients for other things". :-)
My primary diet is pretty simple - roasted/crock pot pork or chicken, vegetables (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), high Protein bars, limited fruit (at most 2 of these per day - apples, pears, plums...), and nuts (less than 20 per day - almonds, pecans, ...no peanuts)
I have up to 3 cheat meals per week - Tuesday/Friday/Sat night. I don't go crazy, but I do eat a few more of the "bad for me" foods.
So far it's working. I've lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks.
You can follow my adventure in Battling Regain in this thread:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/352539-ive-regained-weight-what-do-i-do-about-it/

@@joatsaint
That is awesome! Thank you!

@@Lexuskela
The recipes on this site are from my local bariatric dietitian. I love her cooking class.
http://insidekarenskitchen.com/bariatric-friendly-recipes/

I am 29 months post-op RNY surgery. I put my approach to maintaining my weight loss in a short article at http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

I'm 3 years out and gained back 15lbs since March. I'm struggling to lose the weight too.
There are 3 things that have worked for me in the last 3 weeks.
1) watch my portion size, go back to using my old bowls and plates - that way I know how much I'm eating.
2) stop eating when I'm satisfied and not over full. Frankensleeve lets me know when hes too full, but I've gotten back into the "clean your plate" club. I've decided, I'd rather put less food on my plate, rather than have too much and feel the need to finish it all.
3) reduce/eliminate sugar, high glycemic vegetables/fruit, processed/canned/frozen foods and meals. I'm cooking as much of my food as possible and eating things "that are the ingredients for other things". :-)
My primary diet is pretty simple - roasted/crock pot pork or chicken, vegetables (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), high Protein bars, limited fruit (at most 2 of these per day - apples, pears, plums...), and nuts (less than 20 per day - almonds, pecans, ...no peanuts)
I have up to 3 cheat meals per week - Tuesday/Friday/Sat night. I don't go crazy, but I do eat a few more of the "bad for me" foods.
So far it's working. I've lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks.
You can follow my adventure in Battling Regain in this thread:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/352539-ive-regained-weight-what-do-i-do-about-it/

I was very strict my first year and stayed completely on my recommended diet.
But that diet included carbs - in the form of vegetables - low glycemic vegetables, high in Fiber. (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts...)
Staying away from processed foods/sugar is a good thing, but I still needed carbs for energy and the nutrients that were in those foods.
Carbs are not a bad thing and I didn't need to stay completely away from them.
I have a couple of recipes that I used A LOT the first year:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/33646-bbq-sauce-low-carb-my-new-favorite-sauce/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31464-updated-really-cool-recipe-make-spaghetti-noodles-from-chicken-meat/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31170-confession-time-the-spaghetti-monster-almost-got-me/

I was very strict my first year and stayed completely on my recommended diet.
But that diet included carbs - in the form of vegetables - low glycemic vegetables, high in Fiber. (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts...)
Staying away from processed foods/sugar is a good thing, but I still needed carbs for energy and the nutrients that were in those foods.
Carbs are not a bad thing and I didn't need to stay completely away from them.
I have a couple of recipes that I used A LOT the first year:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/33646-bbq-sauce-low-carb-my-new-favorite-sauce/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31464-updated-really-cool-recipe-make-spaghetti-noodles-from-chicken-meat/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31170-confession-time-the-spaghetti-monster-almost-got-me/

In my case, it was a change in job and lifestyle that were the main factors.
#1 - I went from a job that allowed me to get off work early enough that I could walk for an hour each evening, to a job that barely allows me enough time to get home, check my email, eat and get to bed.
#2 - I went from being single to being in a relationship.
And she likes to eat food with more flavor (and more variety) and drink wine.
So, I kinda let myself start enjoying a bit more of the higher calorie foods and wine.
I've just allowed myself to get too complacent.
And I need to get back to my old habits of being more observant of what and how often I'm eating.
No snacking out of boredom, no eating out of habit.
Adjusting my caloric intake on my non-date nights to take in to account the extra calories I'm eating on date nights.
If I hadn't had those changes in my life, I'd still be eating the same foods and exercising like I was last year.
In my case, I became alarmed when I gained 5lbs and kept in on for months.
I got more worried when I gained 5 more.
When the extra weight went to 15lbs (11lbs now.... I've lost 4lbs) :-)
I decided it was time to take action before things got out of hand.

I was very strict my first year and stayed completely on my recommended diet.
But that diet included carbs - in the form of vegetables - low glycemic vegetables, high in Fiber. (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts...)
Staying away from processed foods/sugar is a good thing, but I still needed carbs for energy and the nutrients that were in those foods.
Carbs are not a bad thing and I didn't need to stay completely away from them.
I have a couple of recipes that I used A LOT the first year:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/33646-bbq-sauce-low-carb-my-new-favorite-sauce/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31464-updated-really-cool-recipe-make-spaghetti-noodles-from-chicken-meat/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31170-confession-time-the-spaghetti-monster-almost-got-me/

I was very strict my first year and stayed completely on my recommended diet.
But that diet included carbs - in the form of vegetables - low glycemic vegetables, high in Fiber. (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts...)
Staying away from processed foods/sugar is a good thing, but I still needed carbs for energy and the nutrients that were in those foods.
Carbs are not a bad thing and I didn't need to stay completely away from them.
I have a couple of recipes that I used A LOT the first year:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/33646-bbq-sauce-low-carb-my-new-favorite-sauce/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31464-updated-really-cool-recipe-make-spaghetti-noodles-from-chicken-meat/
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31170-confession-time-the-spaghetti-monster-almost-got-me/

I want to lose as much as I can in my first year. I will not cheat or give in etc. I went into this surgery knowing my life was changing forever & I was not going back. I have no interest in carbs or sweets shockingly. Thankfully.
So I have been looking at recipes on here & various Bariatric sites & Pinterest & I am worried when I see carbs. I want to stay away from carbs.
So I am calling out to all of the VERY STRICT sleevers who are in their first year or who are past their first year and were strict. I am looking for ideas of recipes with no carbs & no sugar please.
Can we start a thread going here to support each other? Thanks in advance ????????

Me too!!

All done! Green light for surgery. 1 step closer.

In my case, it was a change in job and lifestyle that were the main factors.
#1 - I went from a job that allowed me to get off work early enough that I could walk for an hour each evening, to a job that barely allows me enough time to get home, check my email, eat and get to bed.
#2 - I went from being single to being in a relationship.
And she likes to eat food with more flavor (and more variety) and drink wine.
So, I kinda let myself start enjoying a bit more of the higher calorie foods and wine.
I've just allowed myself to get too complacent.
And I need to get back to my old habits of being more observant of what and how often I'm eating.
No snacking out of boredom, no eating out of habit.
Adjusting my caloric intake on my non-date nights to take in to account the extra calories I'm eating on date nights.
If I hadn't had those changes in my life, I'd still be eating the same foods and exercising like I was last year.
In my case, I became alarmed when I gained 5lbs and kept in on for months.
I got more worried when I gained 5 more.
When the extra weight went to 15lbs (11lbs now.... I've lost 4lbs) :-)
I decided it was time to take action before things got out of hand.

Once you choose your surgeon, you should be confident that you’re in good hands. Still, your surgeon is only partly responsible for your weight loss surgery success. YOU have the greatest share of responsibility. Here’s what you can do before surgery to make surgery safer, make recovery easier, and lose weight faster – and it’s not just sitting back and waiting for your surgery date to arrive!


Pre-Op Diet
The pre-op diet has a few purposes. The critical one is to shrink your liver so it’s not blocking your surgeon’s view of your insides during surgery. That makes your operation easier and safer.
The pre-op diet also helps you lose weight. That may be surprising since you’re expecting to start your weight loss after surgery, but it’s actually a good idea to start losing weight beforehand. In fact, the more you lose before surgery, the safer surgery will be, and the better you’ll feel afterwards.
Different surgeons suggest different pre-op diets. The diet has about 1,000 calories. It could depend on lean Proteins and other nutrient-rich foods, or it could be a liquid diet with Protein Shakes. Or, it could be a combination of the two, with each day including two Protein shakes as Meal Replacements plus one meal with vegetables and protein.
The pre-op diet can last from a few days to several weeks or even months. In general, the longer you’re on it, the better. You’ll lose more weight, shrink your liver more, and gain confidence that you’ll be able to continue a strict eating program long-term after surgery.
Get in Shape
Why exercise before surgery? One reason is that, like with a good diet, it can make surgery safer. In this case, it’s because exercising can strengthen your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Of course, exercise also burns calories and can help you lose a little extra weight before surgery.
Another reason to get in shape before surgery is because it will make recovery easier. Many weight loss surgery patients find that walking around the house and then the neighborhood is their best tool for fighting post-op pain. If you’re used to being active before surgery, you’ll have an easier time walking after surgery.
You don’t need to go crazy on your pre-op exercise regimen. If you’re not used to exercising, start small. As long as your doctor approves you to be active, just find a few minutes each day to walk at a comfortable pace.
Clean and Stock the Kitchen
Fact: you can’t eat food that’s not there.
So, clean out your kitchen. Get rid of sugary Desserts, starchy Snacks, and fatty meats and cheeses. Anything you know you shouldn’t be eating shouldn’t be in your kitchen. Get rid of it before surgery because for weeks after surgery, you won’t be physically able to carry out heavy trash bags filled with forbidden foods.
Once your kitchen is cleaned out, stock it up! At least get the protein shakes and powders you’ll need for weeks or more after surgery. Consider getting some flavored water in case you’re unable to tolerate Water post-op. You can also stock up on non-perishable staples, such as canned chicken and tuna, frozen fruit and vegetables, and instant oatmeal packets.
Take Your Nutritional Supplements
You know you’ll be taking nutritional supplements post-op. If you have the sleeve or bypass, you’ll be taking them for life. With the band, you’ll need supplements for months, years, or life. Did you know you shouldn’t wait until after surgery to start taking your supplements?
At a minimum, take a Multivitamin beginning when you start your pre-op diet. Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, the supplement helps make sure your body has the nutrients it needs to heal your surgery wound. Also, it’s an insurance policy so that if you have trouble eating and swallowing supplements for a few weeks after surgery, your body will still have a good store of nutrients in reserve.
Practice Your Healthy Eating Habits
Consider the pre-op period practice for the post-op diet. That includes eating slowly, measuring portions, and choosing nutrient-dense instead of processed, high-calorie foods. Also consider making exercise a habit now, so it’s easier to get back to it after surgery.
You cannot guarantee an easy surgery, but you can certainly do a few things to improve your chances. Use these tips to take control of your pre-op prep as soon as you’re ready to lose weight and get healthy!

Accountability is a big part of it. I also am accountable by being here and posting about the struggles of maintenance. I too am in a relationship and that impacts just based on eating out more...and yes...the wine. I do many of the same things you do. The trick I'm sure is not throwing the baby out with the bath Water. Gaining a few does not mean gain a ton.
We can do this!!