newclear

I thought I was big boned, turned out... I am big boned. Still clinically overweight and bones are jutting out.

I am 9 wks post op, in restaurants I find my self watching other people eat. It has become disgusting to watch- it's one part the amount they are eating and another part the speed in which they eat.
For the record, I whole heartedly admit I was one of those people a short time ago. However, now I know how less food I need and how great I feel 82 lbs down and much better off.
I just find it a little hypocritical that I am feeling this. Anyone else feel like this?

I LOVE Siggi's! It's organic, no artificial sweeteners (~11-13 g carbs depending on the flavor per 5.3 oz container) and they are in the process of getting non-GMO approved. Stonyfield is also organic. If I can't get those, Chiobani and Fage comes in 3rd for me.

When I was in my 260's right after college and just started working out, I primarily walked to be honest. It's good conditioning for your heart when you're out of shape and burns a lot of calories. Using a treadmill definitely helps to work up a sweat when you add an incline. Although I went to the gym, I was actually afraid of ellipticals. Several at my gym had a max user weight capacity of 250, but several went up to 400 lbs, so I used the rowing machine other than the treadmill until I felt better about not toppling over or breaking an elliptical in public. Trust me when I say take it slow. I wanted to get into heavier workout and sometimes pushed too hard resulting in injury to my knees, ankles and groin area.
Fast forward to my surgery this March - I will tell you that I requested clearance from my doctor for several means of working out other than walking 2 weeks post-op, so I would recommend you to do the same. Good luck on your journey!

I didn't have pureed foods until 2 weeks post op. Then, I could eat 1/2 veggie sausage (or 1/2 oz) or 1 oz yogurt. It depended on the food density.

Almost 4 months post op and complication free. I have had some digestion issues in my first 2 weeks and have modified my diet a lot more than I thought I would to prevent hypoglycemic; but the change is for the better. The site doesn't even specify what procedure they studied and came to those conclusions. I hate scare tactics like this, but the truth is, practically all patients gain back a percent of the maximum weight loss. That shouldn't be a shocker to anyone. I've seen no study that says a majority of patients regain all the weight. This journey has helped me go through a dramatic life change. I can't see myself eating outside of the predominently whole, natural foods I do today. I eat healthier at 4 months than I did 1 month in. If only we could look in a crystal ball and predict our performance.

I'm 6 weeks post-op and thought I was the exception to the stall rule and didn't experience the dreaded 3rd week stall. Boy was I wrong. At the 4 week point, I'd gained 2 lbs (TMI moment - likely Water retention since I was on my cycle that week). Last week I lost 1 lb and this week I lost another 5 lbs. Stalls come with the territory, but keep doing the right thing and you'll feel good when you come out on the other end!

Protein-containing foods help us feel satisfied for longer after eating, which is helpful in managing our weight.


In a previous article I introduced the concept of getting the most from what you are eating, in particular, feeling satisfied after eating. Whilst the purpose of weight loss surgery is to help you feel satisfied on a smaller amount of food, the type of foods you choose is important to help maximise this. There are two key ingredients in helping you to feel satisfied after eating:
1. High fibre, low glycemic index carbohydrate-containing foods
2. Protein-containing foods.
The previous article explored the glycemic index, or GI. This article focuses on Protein. Protein-containing foods help us feel satisfied for longer after eating, which is helpful in managing our weight.
Protein is also involved in many bodily functions including:
building and repairing body cells such as bone, hair, skin, nail and muscle
producing hormones to help us burn stored energy, including body fat
making enzymes to help digest food
helping to protect our body against colds, Hair loss, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

Not eating enough protein can result in:
a weaker immune system
muscle loss
hair loss
inadequate weight loss.

Why am I at risk of inadequate protein intake after weight loss surgery?
As indicated in the protein counter (on my website), meat products contain the most protein per serve.
An Australian study from The St George Upper GI Clinic in Sydney, Australia, found that those with a gastric band often find red and white meat difficult to tolerate whilst fish was tolerated more easily. Some people who have had sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass also reported difficulty eating these foods but it was far less common than it was among those with a gastric band.
Red meat and chicken breast can be more difficult to eat if they are dry, overcooked, stringy, or if they have been reheated. Any meat can be difficult to tolerate if you are not using the correct eating technique. Some people will then avoid these foods, when working on improving eating technique may allow them to eat these foods comfortably.
Food tolerance varies from person to person and is found by trial and error. Tolerance of all foods can be improved by following the correct eating technique as I have discussed previously.
Following all surgeries, you will be eating smaller amounts of food. A reduced intake of food causes a decrease in protein intake. In the early stages following surgery, people who have had a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass are likely to tolerate only very small quantities of food. When you eat your meals, eat the protein-containing food first to ensure you have room for this important nutrient.
How much protein do I need?
There is no one exact recommended protein intake following weight loss surgery. A range of 60-120g has been suggested, however your individual protein needs will vary depending on your age, gender and your particular stage of recovery. It is best to speak to your dietitian about your protein needs. You can then use the protein counter below to see how you can achieve this.
It is easy to confuse the weight of food with the protein content. For example, some may assume 100g of meat provides 100g of protein. This is not the case. Head to my website for a simple table on the protein content of common foods.
Lean protein foods are the best choices, as they are lower in fat, particularly saturated fat. Meat should be trimmed of fat and chicken should have skin removed. Low fat milk, yoghurt and reduced fat cheeses are recommended.

I didn't go through insurance, but self-paid and considering this would be a big cost for us, I told my husband. I also told my brother, but my mum's the last person I wanted to tell. She has high blood pressure and would worry and ask about changing her flight to visit me and so on. My husband told my mum. I was very upset at this to the point where I stopped communicating with people. When she asked me about the procedure, I said that I'm not interested in speaking about the procedure but we can gladly talk about something else. She pressed and I hung up.
Within hours, came the e-mails about how terrible her surgery was and she almost bled out (granted the sleeve and hysterectomy are far apart). I wanted to tell her in my own way, and I wasn't ready to talk about it and don't believe that anyone should demand answers from me for the things I've chosen to do with my body. Since then, I spoke to her about why I'm getting the procedure, reminding her of the pains of my weight history, including the emotional impact. It's a very intimate, emotional choice. I'm not that close to everyone, so everyone in my life won't hear the story. In your shoes, I would politely request that she stop discussing something that feels so private to you with everyone. As for the texts from people you did not personally tell, I'd thank them for any concern, but this is not information you would have told when you're ready and please respect that you are still not ready to discuss it with them. Good luck, and I'm sorry she did that. I understand how betrayed you may feel.

I'm one week post op today! For my insurance I had to wait 9 months so I've been at this for almost a year. The whole time I've been very private about who I tell. My first clue was Christmas when I finally told my sister and It turned out she already knew and was mad I had not told her yet. I had a talk with my mom after that and told her this was very private for me and it was my business who I told and didn't. She got super mad and started going on about family and being proud of what I'm doing. So this past week I've been getting text and phone calls from family and once again she got all mad "why wouldn't you want your aunt to know, she's not going to judge you" because its my business and I'm not ready to tell the whole world... I'm not sure what else I can say to her to get her to stop.....