DevilBlueDress

Today I made a Memorial Day cookout for my family with a few twists to make it more WLS post-op friendly. It was my first time making a rhubarb crisp with Splenda instead of sugar. It was so yummy and no one noticed the switch.

:-)

Molly

Absolutely <3. Although it is difficult, I have an amazingly supportive fiancé and family to keep me going. It could still be worse besides I am loving the new body Sorry ye they are sideways. Not sure why.

You look so cute!

I also wanted to agree with you molly about this not being the easy way out. I feel although k have lost weight, that I am more unhealthy now that I was before surgery. I have had a lot of reactions to this surgery and am having to be literally deathly afraid of trying new things. I struggle daily with nutrition, fluids, "will this cause me anaphylaxis", and am I going to be in pain today. I am suffering from this surgery, so this is in no way an easy way out. I found out recently that I have become hypersensitive to foods and medicines since surgery. My surgeon states that I am uniquely reacting to the surgery. Besides the risks of anaphylaxis, I get acute pancreatitis too. Go figure. So easy, heck no, worth it, still pondering, DO I feel so much more confident and can tie my own shoe laces. Heck ya!! ~hugs

(((Autumn Pumpkin)))- I'm do sorry to hear that you are having so many health issues post-op! Are you getting the support you need?

Molly

Most people know I have had bariatric surgery. I don't keep personal secrets well. I tend to blurt out the answers to anything I may possibly try to hide. I do also add on after I am asked "I basically eat raw-vegan/ paleo". This often gets me weird looks and I explain that I get inspiration to eat healthy from those groups, and I eat meat. I also add that I cannot physically eat bread, pastas or rice. I am very picky about the food that goes in my mouth, and I do allow the odd indulgent. But that is rare. I feel so supported about my decisions from my friends. So I basically, to eventually answer your question and am brutally honest with them lol. Not that I could hide it if I wanted to hehe

Raw-vegan/paleo is a great description! I've had to attend a couple of work/conference meetings lately. One I just brought my own lunch, the other the meeting planner insisted that she would order for me. I tried gluten-free and just didn't eat the gf bread. I think it would have been better if I brought my own lunch.

I wonder how everyone is handling the "how did you lose weight" question?

Happy Onederland day! I just hit it today, too. I've been losing 1-2 lbs a week pretty steadily since surgery. Now that I'm finally solidly in regular sizes (14/16 US), I'm happy. Since the weight has come off so slowly, I have to remind myself to look at my before pics to see that I've already come a long way.

My clinic doesn't give a particular goal and I used to think I should have one and made one up for myself. Now that I'm further along, I get the whole no weight goal attitude. I've got my own personal goals along the way (more comparisons from my weight history like how much I weighed when pregnant, how much I weighed when I moved to Wisconsin, etc.). I've also been really enjoying NSVs. My latest one is being able to get in and out of the hammock in our backyard.

Anyway, I'm just trying to enjoy the journey and not worry too much about how long it will take and where I'll end up weight- wise.

Molly

Hey Everyone. I had a scary moment last week. To make a long story short, had abdominal pains which confirmed by ct scan ended up being a small bowel obstruction. I had surgery to remove the scar tissue that had wrapped around my small intestines. It wasn't alot but enough to cause the pain I was having. Not sure if it was related to my RNY. Everything in that area looked good in that area. The dr stated any surgery can cause scar tissue, which I've had laparoscopic surgeries in the past. I spent 5 days in the hospital but I'm better now. And out of the hospital! I hope everyone is continuing to do good.

Glad to hear that you are doing better after your surgery!

Thanks for everyone's advice! I am almost six months out ( RNY) and have been between 184 -185 for about 2 months! My nut says I lost so much , so fast that my body is catching up with itself?? The closer you are to goal ..the slower it will be. Set points happen even when u are doing EVERYTHING right but really? I have decided that if this is it .. I will be ok with the process. I feel great and could do without more winkles at age 64! Lol. Nut says those last 20 pounds WILL come off by my one year mark...

I wondered if losing a lot quickly was a possibility, too. I personally have not experienced that. Everyone's body is so different. Mine is a turtle - slow but steady loss.

Molly

Barbara,

Don't beat yourself up! You have reached out because you know in your heart of hearts that you need to make a change. This is really great!

Rather than a 5 day pouch test (or in addition to the 5dpt) start tracking everything you eat and drink. I find that some foods I can eat more of than others. If I make sure to eat Protein first, I feel more full usually. I also have a sweet tooth like you. I try to satisfy it each day so I don't feel deprived.

Here is a typical day's menu for me:

Breakfast - Decaf tea, 1 cup of blueberry maple refrigerator oatmeal (theyummylife.com)

Snack- 3 calcium chews, 3 Fiber gummies, tea

Lunch- 3 oz smoked salmon, 1 cup salad greens, 1 tbsp vinaigrette, SF Jello pudding

snack - Isopure Protein Drink, Quest Protein Bar

dinner - 3 oz Indian spiced hamburger, 2 tbsp yogurt sauce, 1/2 c sliced cucumbers, 2 slices small Tomato.

After dinner snack - tea or Protein hot chocolate if I need more protein.

I hope this helps! No one is perfect. I could exercise a lot more. Recently, a local WLS friend and I determined that he and I together would make the perfect WLS patient. He exercises almost every day but doesn't track his food and I track my food but don't regularly exercise. We're both losing, but not as much as we might do if we followed the nutritionist's guidelines for food and exercise.

Molly

Im hoping I post this right...it's my first time... I am six months post-op...I think, I don't even know LOL.I am having a problem and I'm wondering if anyone else is having trouble like this as well. I don't get dumping syndrome (I almost say that as an unfortunate thing because I LOVE sweets). However, I have been at the same weight for about two months or so. I haven't been eating the best but I am still continuing to exercise. I try my best to get as much Water as I can. The problem is when I "graduated" to soft foods, etc. I started to eat too much and was burping for hours until I made myself throw up (you would think I would learn...). I had an endoscopy done and nothing was wrong. It doesn't happen anymore, but it seems like I can eat A LOT more than I used to. I am fearing that I've done something to my body...has anyone had this problem? I was researching it yesterday and I've seen the 5 day pouch test... is that something I should do? I don't know?!!! Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Do you measure your food and keep a food log? I use a food scale and measuring cups along with MyFitnessPal for logging my food, Water and exercise -almost obsessively. Are you eating Protein first and eating at least 60g of Protein each day?

Molly

Had my 6 month appointment today. Protein levels are really low. Not really surprised by that. I haven't been doing my shakes, so I need to get back to that. Everything else looked good - which was a relief. I'm not losing a great deal, but I think I'm losing inches. I wish I would have measured myself before my surgery so I'd know exactly how much, but my clothes are definitely fitting differently. I'm down 5 pants sizes! I feel fantastic and think I look pretty darn good. Still a ways to go, but feeling really inspired. Definitely need to start exercising more and add strength training. I'm getting there. yay!

Woo-hoo on losing so many sizes! I'll bet that you are getting a lot of positive feedback and questions!

My Protein was low at my 6 month appt. I've added a Quest Protein Bar as my afternoon snack since the timing makes a bar in the car necessary. Andy the NUT said the 60-80g is a starting target. I always met at least 60g since surgery, so I now try to hit 80-100g per day. Molly

There are at least a few of us in Wisconsin. I live in Madison.

Molly

I am curious guys. At 6 months how much of your excess body weight have you lost. Since surgery i have lost 53% of my excess body weight. Since my highest I have lost 65% of my excess body weight. Also I used the "normal bmi" range to reference my excess body weight.

59% excess weight lost since highest weight (March 2013)

47% excess weight lost since surgery (10/2/13)

I consider myself a slow loser - only 51 lbs lost post surgery but I'm glad you prompted me to check excess weight %. Looks better that way.

:-)

Molly

While I'm still in the losing phase, I've bought inexpensive bras at Amazon. I'll do the formal fitting at the lingerie store on my surgiversary in October.

Molly

My girls are totally deflated. Even my b-cup is underfilled. Someone at my group suggested going to a shop in town to be properly fitted and address my particular problems. It's very expensive but I can buy just bra and once I know what to look for I can shop other places.

I've done this in the past: get fitted and buy one expensive bra and then buy more via Amazon.

Molly

No I'm headed to Philly again. My timing for these things is always messed up. I'm hoping I can make it in May.

Aw, man! Hopefully, I'll see you in May! How are you doing?

Molly

How many mg of Iron do you take, Molly?

I take 60mg daily.

Are you going to Support Group on Monday night?

Have you tried different forms of Iron? I eat a Bariatric Advantage lemon-lime chewable each day.

Molly

Loving the updates, everyone! Glad to see that we are all doing pretty well at 6 months post-op.

Molly

Yes, I ate as normal. Make sure you are hydrated!

Has anyone else experienced dumping yet? I dumped yesterday for the first time. Wow, not something I want to experience again!

At least I now know that it can/will happen if I eat too much sugar/fat. Until yesterday I thought that I might be someone who doesn't dump.

Molly

Here's the professional photo I tried to include in the post above. I should also add that I met the store owner through a weight loss support group and online, so I never in a million years would have been on State St, nor would I have even watched a portion of the basketball game pre-op.

Molly

I'm still slowly losing about 1-2 lbs a week. Down 80 from highest weight, 50 post-op. My six month labs were good, except my Protein levels which were low. I've added in a protein snack and I'm trying for 80-90g a day rather than the 60-80 clinic recommended which I had been following. I've added 1-2 strength training sessions per week and 2-3 aerobic workouts. I know I should add more exercise and am looking for classes to add to my routine. Since adding the protein snack, I've been eating around 1100-1200 calories per day. Last night I had my first sip of alcohol post-op at a party at a friend's store on State St. here in Madison, WI. One sip of a strong mixed drink hit me like a Mack truck for about 10 minutes, then it was sober again. But the most wild part of the night was right after the Badgers won against Arizona. Thousands of people (mostly college students) came running down to State St. And congregated in front of the store where the private party I was at -chanting, singing, climbing trees and bus shelters. It was a fantastic celebration. Pics below ( mine are a little blurry.). I added a professional photo, too. The store where the party was has the orange awning.

Stalls happen to everyone. The first one is usually around 2-4 weeks post-op. You'll get past it as long as you're following your clinic's plan.

Molly

I take 1 Flintstones complete, D3, B-50 and B12 at Breakfast

3-calcium 500 chews mid morning

1-Flintstones complete and chewable Iron at bedtime

Molly