RNYjane

I joined this when I first had my surgery 2/24/14 and got a lot of answers... I just wanted to let everyone know you can reach out to me if you have questions im 155 down and only have 30 pounds to go to goal

Hi,
I use Stevia. I started using it year ago when I started seriously looking at the quality of food I was eating and how it affected my daily headaches/chronic Migraines and my overall well being. Prior to surgery, I rarely ate anything with chemicals, dyes and for sure Splenda or Nutrasweet. Honestly, my headaches have been terrible since surgery. I don't know, but I'm thinking all of the artificial sweetners, chemicals, dyes and additives have been playing havoc on my headaches. It's one of the reasons I have backed off on the Protein drinks and am trying to get my Protein in through food, although it's difficult. I use Stevia on my Cereal, in my coffee, on our families sweet potatoes and anything else I would add sugar too. I'm trying to eat as clean as possible while still getting in my required protein, Vitamins and minerals. I did buy some organic Protein powder which is disgusting, but I believe it won't contribute to my headaches and it will help me with my protein intake. Good luck.

Hi,
I just wanted to follow up and let you know that today I started tracking in MyFitnessPal. Wow, it has really changed everything for me. First of all, it's really cool, second, it's really puts there in black and white exactly what you've eaten and I can be accountable instead of always guessing how much protein, etc. I've eaten. it's 7:30pm and I've had 700 calories today, and 38 grams of protein. I am thrilled because I've up'd my protein today with Light and Fit Greek Yogurt, eating a Medifast Soup that had 12 grams of protein and eating 3 chicken breast nuggets at dinner. I bought the Carmel Corn Rice Cakes and tomorrow will try some natural Peanut Butter on them. Before tracking, I would just eat nothing or grab some crackers w/PB on them when I was starving where now, I am super motivated to up my protein and hopefully I will feel better and my weight loss will be better. I need to still find the articles you talked about and I have to figure how how to copy and paste my ticker. I've tried, but it's not working. thanks again for the great advice!

Thanks for the suggestion....really appreciate it! It seems that getting at least one high protein shake in a day, even gagging it down, is super important to good heath and weight loss.

The Protein I the most important. If I get at least 80 grams a day I will loose a little. If I get less than 60 I won't loose a thing. Also the protein is what gives you energy and helps prevent Hair loss. I know it can be hard. But I make one shake that is 50 grams of protein and gag it down before I can eat anything else. I take my time and hold my breath but the faster I get done with that the sooner I can eat something yummy like eggs, yogurt, or turkey burger. Those butterball turkey burgers are 31 grams of protein and I can have half for lunch and half for dinner.
Also I have discovered through research that the ones who had to fight to loose anything and took longer, actually kept the weight off. While the ones who's body melted over night ended up gaining most of it back. So that is what keeps me positive for my long term success. It isn't about how fast I loose, so long as it comes off and stays off!!! You can do it just remember the tortious and the hare ????

Thank you so much!!!!!! I needed a day to grieve the fact I would not loose like most people. A day to be pissed about it. Although I am mad as hell, these are the cards I've been dealt. Thank you for your support! My doc was almost laughing that I was so upset. He had a student with him and he was telling the student that many patients get emotional because they've experienced a lifetime of diet failure. He was compassionate but sort of found it slightly amusing. I'm starting to wonder if it's because he knows I will lose. That my fears are unfounded. I don't think he could truly know what it's like to eat broth for 17 days and only lose 7 lbs but I will lose. Not like I want but I will lose none the less. After I get out of these restrictive phases I think I'll be a lot better. I want to try to up my protein and exercise. I'm just so weak. I have no energy. On a positive note, I was excited today because I made a scrambled egg and was full before eating all of it. On the liquid phase I was worried I had no restriction but today I realize I do!
Thank you so much for the support!!!!!! Really I appreciate it. Hope your doing well

Trust me, hang in there. Emotionally, I've been all over the place. I feel major embarrassment when I see people I haven't seen in awhile because I think they are expecting me to be so much smaller and 25-30 lbs. on me, only shows a dab, not enough for anyone to say anything and I think people are expecting to say something but when they see me, they don't, because they can't tell. UGH! I can tell in my boobs and a little everywhere. Ok, yes, you have a shit struggle there but your not giving up girl! My surgeon told me yesterday that in a year and a half, I would be to a healthy weight if I simply ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full. When I eat, chose protein first. That gave me hope. I went into my appointment yesterday(7 wks) totally bummed about my weight loss and panicking about if this is going to work for me. He was a bit of a jerk, but in spite of that, I respect him for his expertise. He told me I should not be worried about the weight loss. Ok, anyway, yes, it's about the weight loss, feeling better, a better quality of life and simply "getting this new lifestye!!!" I started logging my food intake daily on MyFitnessPal.com. I don't care about the calories, only the protein pretty much. It was an eye opener for me. I had only been eating about 500 calories a day and eating less than 10 grams of protein a day; barely taking my Vitamins because they made me gag and no exercise. Because of some wonderful tips and suggestions from folks on this website, I have tried new forms of protein that I can eat and doesn't make me gag. Don't lose hope girl, I will support you! I think I went 3 weeks and lost 2 lbs. That just sucks especially when you are working so hard to be successful! I know for me, I gag easily and had throwing up issues a lot. Just tried eating a Lean Cuisine last night. It tasted pretty good, but threw it up later in the night. But Babybel Light cheese works for me, Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt goes down and I started eating Special K High Protein Cereal with unsweetened almond milk(13 grams of protein for both). Anyway, let me know if I can help you. I don't know how to add someone as a friend, I will if you know. Take good care. You CAN do this, we can all do this. We all deserve it!

Jane... You seem to know what to do and what not to do! The surgeon just gave you the tool.. Visualize the 30#s as 120 sticks of butter! That is a lot of fat that you are not carrying around anymore! Look to your own success's not others! Your body is doing exactly what it needs to do. I drink a bottle of Isopure clear fruit flavored Protein Drink daily... It gives me 20 ozs of Fluid and 40 grams of protein... NO carbs! The apple melon is good! I don't eat meat so the 80grams of Protein is always a struggle but I am so worth it.. Just ask my 10 Grandkids! Lol. I also eat cocktail / small salad shrimps almost every other day! Just chew awhile and only eat 3 of the bigger ones.
You've got this!! My stalls last for weeks but they always level off each time! Positive attitude and belief in the journey will be your best friend! Focusing on just ME is difficult for woman our age... But it's your turn! Learn to be selfish for YOU .. Don't think twice about others the next year! Celebrate our differences but remember you have many caring friends all sharing in this WLS journey! Please add me as a friend! I am here for ya! Dyan in Ohio ( buried in snow)

Hello Everyone! My name is Jane and I had the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery on December 20th, 2013. I was in the hospital for 5 days and overall, it was difficult, primarily because I have chronic headaches and the morphine triggered terrible Migraines. I have lost 30 lbs. and although I usually always approach in a super positive manner, I have to say, I am disappointed with my weight loss results and am nervous that it's just NOT going to work for me. I started at 248 and have about 100 lbs. to lose and was told by my surgeon that I may only lose about 60% of my weight and with diet and exercise would be able to lose the rest. I've seen several youtube video's and although the folks have struggled, by 7 weeks, they all seem to be enjoying a variety of meats and Proteins and exercising big time. I learned a ton from the video's and if nothing, it validated many of the symptoms and feelings I have experienced and am living everyday. I think because I tend to be a really positive person, struggling as I have, makes me really scared because frankly, I cannot fail here. Here's the scoop with me; please know that I am not a complainer at all and this is the first time I have been honest with what really is going on as it's embarrassing and I want to get this right! With my whole heart, I want to learn to eat properly for my body, to fuel it with only Vitamin dense foods. I do believe that you are what you eat and yes, I'm scared because of how I have been eating. Here it is; I can only eat Cream of Wheat with unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened applesauce, a few cracker with Peanut Butter, Barbara's Multi-grain Spoonful Cereal with the almond milk, a cheese stick here and there, a little organic chili. I have coffee in the AM with some half and half. Oh yes, I have had a few homemade chocolate chip Cookies and few pieces of chocolate and that went down great! Anytime I try eating anything else, I end up having to make myself throw up. Even with the organic crackers and PB, I have to really chew the crap out of it and only have 4-5. I understand the importance of Protein, protein, protein but I throw up all meat and can barely stand cottage cheese anymore or Protein shakes. I am going to try FF refried Beans and black beans this week with a little cheese melted on top. Nothing really tastes good, except maybe the cereal and a little Cream of Wheat. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?? It's so scary because here, I had the surgery, which I view as a total blessing and a tool to help me get to a healthy weight, and I'm scared that it's not working for me. The weight is not MELTING off of me like some folks I know and the documentation of weight loss expectations. Honestly, I lost 25 lbs. in te first 4 weeks or less. I know that I need to start exercising and making sure I am getting my protein in; I believe that is the key. Also, I have struggled to get in my Vitamins. It's so crazy, because I've always been a huge health nut and have taken supplements for years. But chewing up all of those vitamins when most of the time, I feel sick; it's difficult. I sound like such a baby here, that is what I would think if I were reading this, but this is pure honesty. I want to be successful so bad and honestly and scared I'm done losing weight and just like in the past, I will fail at this weight loss attempt. It's weird, because being overweight my entire life and living and breathing every single new diet on the market, hoping and dreaming that I had finally found the "one" diet that would be healthy and finally free me from the weight bondage. However, only once in 50 years, did I really succeed to get to my goal. After having 3 children, I eventually gained it all back and much more, hiding behind the facade that was this awesome christian mom and that is was ok to be fat. My entire life I have dieted and failed. So, yes, I still think I may fail at this. I would love and would be so thankful for some ideas of what has worked for you guys. My dad taught me to go to others for advice, those who have been there and done it. I believe your knowledge could really encourage me and help me with this incredible journey! I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.

Oh... P.S. Im am LOVING my carmel corn flavored rice cakes with Smuckers Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, the only ingredients in the PB is PEANUTS!!!! yay...its my snack...ALOT....lolol

Hello Jane..Let me reassure you, that at this stage of your journey, if you didn't lose weight, you'd probably be the first in WLS history not to do so!...I cant even imagine what one could eat or not eat, at this stage to STOP the natural progesssion of WLS... I don't even want to do my research and find out. Cuz there's always someone out there who CAN buck the system because they didn't follow instruction.
That's not your case. I am 4 years out and still cant eat freely like most WLS people can. My "CANT EAT " list is so fricken longggg! now THATS depressing. You, like me, might be one that has to eat 'organic' as much as your wallet will allow, I heard you say 'migraine'. Now that your a WLS person, you might be more sensitive to foods then you were before, I am.
It has been a long ass journey to find foods that DONT make me sick or drowsy. Im still looking. I now have staple foods like--> chicken, all veggies, oatmeal, and some very specific fruits ( I don't like them all). So longs as your don't eat gobs of sweets, treats, and crappy dead process foods, you should be ok. My Doc says if something makes you sick this month, try it again next month. I don't eat breads, pasta's, sugar, potatoes (only sweet potatoes) rice, or any dairy (the surgery made me Lactose). At first it was a down right FIGHT not to eat those things. It was what I was use to. But now I don't miss them. Im still holding at 115 lbs, 4 years later. The food struggle is on going but I plow threw the sick feelings, and makes notes to self. Oh and KEEP A food LOG!!!!!..it is sooooooooo important to look back on later. Its my survival and accountability guide.
I know what you mean about Protein. I make my own shakes, I never buy them. I use rice Protein, Water, blueberries (frozen) mixed fruit (frozen) bananas, ground flax (keeps the pipes clear, if ya know what I mean..lol) and cinnamon..blend the hell out of it in my 'bullet' and Im good to go. NO chemical in my shakes, and I trade off..I have choco flavor also and make that with coffee instead of Water, for a 'starbucks' flavor cofffe shake..yumm..the combos are endless. Think outside the box. The food world is at your fingertips, we just have a lot of experimenting to do. Your taste buds are waiting, don't be afraid...good luck