Healthy_life2

40 minutes ago, MaybeMeow said:

I appreciate your response and the link. It says right in this document... “ most post-op bariatric patients need to consume less than 1000 calories a day in order to maintain weight loss.”

1000 calories a day is a starvation diet Not a maintenance diet. This troubles me greatly. How can this be healthy long term? Meaning live to be 90 long term? Thank you for going to bat with me on this. I’m really having trouble with seeing how this is a forever option.

Call your bariratric office. They are better qualified to answer your questions about metabolism Ask if they have an information seminar. It will help you decide on surgery.

All I can offer is my experience five years out from sleeve surgery. (maintaining my weight in the 130's)

Surgery is nothing like my other diet attempts. (I've done every diet and pill) I needed a long term solution. My weight loss/maintenance diet is very livable. I'm not deprived, My hunger is manageable.

It's normal for your surgery restriction to relax after a year. My stomach is NOT back to full size. I still eat within my calorie range,

Maintenance diet and calories are different for each of us. It depends on your surgeons/dietitians plan, activity level, metabolism, healthy issues, medications......The list goes on. I maintain my weight between 1200 and 1300. I do have days that are higher. I take vacations and indulge within reason. If I have a slight gain I eat weight loss calories (My weight loss calories are 1100)

Take your time and research all of this. Do whats best for you and your health.

Jenn

@MarigoldSky

Is Weight Loss Surgery just a medically approved way into disordered eating?

For me, Obesity has been disordered eating. Working with my bariatric team and dietitian has been eye opening. I have a much better relationship with food. A psychological exam is a part of the screening process for bariatirc surgery. Some may be denied surgery until eating disorders are addressed/resolved.

How much of this is health based vs. fat phobia? I'm really struggling to reconcile what is truth and what is fat-panic. Has anyone else had these thoughts?

I guess it depends on your definition of fat phobia and fat panic. Do you base major medical decisions on appearance or what is socially acceptable? Obesity is a treatable disease. The truth is, I care about my health and being around for my family.

I'm five years out from surgery. maintaining weight int he 130's and I'm in the best shape/health of my life. Unfortunately, It took a major health crisis for me to admit my weight was slowly killing me. Weight loss has resolved my health issues. I am off many medications, My A1C is in the non diabetic range, I no longer use a CPAP machine, My mobility and quality of life is improved.

I've only told a few people in my life I'm considering surgery. I want to get really smart about it before I roll out a plan to friends and family. Any hot tips would be great!

Research and decide if this is a good choice for you. Offer friends/family to join you at bariatric appointments/local support group for facts and information. Keep people that are supportive close to you.

On 2/22/2020 at 9:44 AM, AngieBear said:

These jeans are a pair I found yesterday. My favorite part is the buckle thing in the back.

Your jeans fit perfectly. Envious of that booty!

15 hours ago, Shawna Jones said:

I’ve recently discovered that when I eat/drink my Protein, food from bariatric store or in cases where I just add Water or pre-made Protein Drinks Ect, that I get hungrier faster than when I just cook up my own small meal, or even just have a small piece of chicken or Protein Ive made or pick up from restaurant. I will be not hungry eating regular food at home that include the lean meats ect for like 4-6 hours. If I eat just a Protein Drink, snack, bar, bariatric meal however, seems like I’m ready to eat again no later than 3 hrs or even sooner..... anyone else ever notice a difference and know why? I’m so busy I often don’t have the extra time or energy to pre-make food or cook dinner so I just use pre-made bariatric protein food usually.

Hi Shawna,

Are you pre or post op?

This is only from my experience and information from my dietitian.

Protein Shakes, bars, bariatic store processed food supplements are for first stages when you can't eat enough food to hit your protein goal. My dietitian does not want patients dependent on protein shakes, bars or bariatric store products long term. Once you can hit your protein goal with real food there is no need for shakes etc...

My hunger is not satisfied with protein shakes or add Water meals. they are slider foods. They easily break down and slide through your new stomach. Real whole food keeps my hunger under control.

All of us are busy. Some of us use a day off work to meal prep. Below is a link to the low to no cook thread for meal ideas.

2 hours ago, kate_0329 said:

Hey y'all, my highest weight was 327lbs😥 I had the vsg on 5/2/17. I got down to 211lbs then found out I was pregnant in 4/18. I got up to 227lbs during pregnancy. I lost that pregnancy weight right away, but have been stuck at 211lbs since having baby almost 15 months ago. I have been tracking my food not going over 1,200 and exercising 3 days a week. Anyone else have a stall?

You might want to contact your team for professional advice. rule out medical issues etc....

All I can offer is my personal experience. What works for me may not work for others.

I went back to bariatric real food stage. The calories that once worked to put my body for weight loss stopped working. I used myfitnesspal to dial in my diet, I started at 1200 calories. then dialed my calories back by 100. ( dial calories up or down to find your own weight loss calorie range) I did the same for my carbohydrate range.

@Mimiwumba

My surgeon said, expect to lose 60% of your weight with the sleeve. ( It's a guideline based on statistics) A 70 to 80 pounds loss sounds fabulous to me. If you lose more than expected, its a bonus

Try not to compare your weight loss with others on this site. It will make you crazy, 😉

Having lunch with a friend visiting from Washington State. Nordstrom red sweater dress.

WORLD OBESITY DAY MARCH 4th 2020. Spread the word and refer people to this website

https://www.worldobesityday.org/

https://www.worldobesityday.org/about

ABOUT WORLD OBESITY DAY

People with obesity are constantly shamed and blamed for their disease. This is because many people - including doctors, policymakers, and others - do not understand that obesity is a chronic disease. They see it as a simple lack of willpower, laziness, or a refusal to "eat less and move more". But like all chronic diseases, the root causes of obesity run much deeper. They can be genetic, psychological, sociocultural, economic and environmental. It is time we break the cycle of shame and blame and revaluate our approach for addressing this complex chronic disease that affects 650 million people worldwide.

Join us and organization’s around the world for a new World Obesity Day on March 4, 2020, as we push for more comprehensive solutions, treatment and collective responsibility for addressing this global epidemic. Together, we can address the far reaching personal, societal, and economic impacts of obesity.

Share national experiences of campaigning to enable the spread of

My disclaimer for anyone asking if they can eat certain foods: Trust your medical professionals advice before anyone's opinion on this site - Eat whats on your plan and stay with in your weight loss or maintenance calories. It does not matter what they are doing or if their plan looks different.

If you are in Weight loss phase - Follow your dietitians food plan. (If its not on your plan don't eat it)

If you are on maintenance = follow your dietitians food plan -- Low glycemic carbs are added to your diet to slow stop weight loss

On 2/13/2020 at 8:47 PM, ColoradoCanuck said:

I'm almost 3 months out from loop duodenal switch surgery and jonesing for a BLT, club sandwich, heck even just half a slice with some Peanut Butter.< /p>

I certainly don't want to rush things. but I've also read that toast isn't so bad? Is that just a myth you is there something legit in the toasting that isn't as bad as plain squishy bread?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using BariatricPal mobile app

Don't waste this surgery and opportunity to get your weight off

You said, "I was instructed to avoid bread, rice and Pasta for 3-6 months " If its not on your plan, don't eat it. Trust your medical professional before anyone's advice on this site. (It does not matter what others are doing or if their plans look different)

Call your dietitian/surgeons office and ask if you can eat bread, Peanut Butter, or BLT . Or any foods you are questioning

@Ginanatucci

Glad you enjoyed your time in Italy. You are almost two years out. Do you need to work off just the 8 pounds? Or do you need to lose more than that?

Five year out, All I can offer is what works for me.

If you need to lose more than 8 pounds - Go back to bariatric basics. Eat the food on your dietitians plan, hydrate, log food in an app and exercise

If you are maintaining and need to work off an 8 pound gain - Log and stay with in your dieticians weight loss calories and macros My carbs are around 55 to 66 grams. Yes, I have a half a cup of of whole grain oats. I make sure my carbs hit my range for the day.

google bariatric friendly recipes. It may help if you are in a food rut.

On 2/4/2020 at 6:26 PM, AngieBear said:

Thanks! And yes. Feel free to track me down. This is me:

Love your name - I sent a request. My name in MFP is fit_chickx

Menu - (note training for distance run)

• coffee - unsweetened cashew milk, banana
• Post workout recovery meal - oatmeal raspberries - Protein Water -
• lunch - Homemade chicken sausage and vegetable Soup. Flat out bread and tuna salad wrap
• snack - sugar snap peas and hummus
• dinner - Chicken salad with hemp hearts sliced almonds marinated artichokes chick peas 50/50 spring mix - sweet potato
• Night time snack - Yogurt - frozen raspberries - chia seed and cashews

@FluffyChix

I don't believe the post on intuitive eating was making an assumption about not trusting our selves. Or did I miss something?

To log or not to log is a personal choice. It's finding what works long term.

@Greenfeather65

IMHO, I believe maintaining is NOT a one size fits all plan. Calories/ maros will look different for each of us. Some of us have health issues, food addictions,, have a great metabolism or a high fitness level. We all approach maintaining knowing are risk factors. Its also possible for risk factors to change with time.

Some can maintain with ease. They have la good relationship with food. They can do intuitive eating, keep and eye on the scale and not get complacent. Don't need to log food anymore.

Some may have eating disorders/ anorexia behavior/obsessing. They may have a harder time getting out of weight loss mode, Backing off of logging may be a better approach. Without getting complacent and regaining.

Some, still are trying to increase calories/macros with tight surgery restriction. They may need to log to find where there body stops losing weight

Some are struggling with old behaviors - or binge eating, food addiction, stress emotional eating. They may need to log for accountability.

Some have regain years out. May need to log to get back on track.

Off my soap box *smile*

@BoredFatGirl

Good video, thanks for posting it. I like how he teaches patients on how to eat post surgery. I also like Dr. Weiners take on the subject of stretching your surgery,. *video below*

The difference of surgery restriction becoming less as you progress out vs sleeve stretching.

Nope. Never herd of liquid carbs pre - op

Clear liquid diet is usually to shrink your liver pre - op. Most surgeons will recommend you adhere to a strict clear liquid diet days prior to your surgery. Clear Liquids will include broth, sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, Water and possibly one Protein Shake each day. Again, follow your surgeon’s instructions.

13 minutes ago, JAKE H said:

wow thank you!! I will definitely look into all of this. She is writing up a new plan on what foods she wants me to eat but she did give me the amount of Protein, carbs, and fats.

starting off at 1500 cals shes looking for

125g Protein

200g carbs

40g fat

for 2000 cal

150g protein

250g carbs

44g fat.

And yes that exactly what she said. She told me im starting to get counter productive and its because i told her i was feeling weaker and more fatigued. Its the mental games for me. Eating MORE feels so wrong now.

You have done fantastic. New year and new fitness goals!

I agree, It felt like I was doing something wrong. I was scared to eat more calories and add carbs. Its pretty normal to feel this way.

My instructions are healthy fats, low glycemic and plant based carbs. (whole wheat,Whole grains, brown rice and sweet potato) Mashed sweet potato is my go to. It fits in my pouch better. Rice bloats me..*laughing * It's going to be trial and error to find the foods that you can fit in and tolerate to increase your calories.

Avocado is also wonderful.

1 hour ago, Raquel M. said:

Good morning everyone I had surgery on 1/6/20 tomorrow is going to be a 1 month since my surgery, I am in my 5 week diet phase my question is can I eat whole wheat bread with turkey but what kind of cheese any suggestions. Please advise and thank you, also can I eat whole wheat with avocado.

What does your dietitians plan say?

Join the maintenance thread

2 hours ago, JAKE H said:

So i had meeting with my nutritionist today. i weighed in at 218. WOOO. But she dropped a bomb on me i wasnt expecting. Time to start thinking about maintenance and upping my calories. While i knew this was approaching it makes me nervous. I do realize for my body type and the way im working out to build muscle, that this is something that has to be done. I told her my energy has been down. So she would now like me to shoot for 1500 cals a day, eventually working to 2000. Is this even gonna be possible or what? im coming up on 7 months out, Ive stuck to this program pretty hard. I guess its just nerves and i have to trust her. Shes gotten me this far. How was your transitions and any advice is welcomed. thanks!!

ps. im 28 years old.

i do crossfit 5-6 times and week

also run 3 times a week. training for a half marathon in September then a full in January.

Hi Jake, Congratulations on going into maintenance. Do you have your dietitians maintenance food plan? Did she mention adding in low glycemic carbohydrates?

We get it, Transitioning to maintenance after living the "baratric weight loss rules" is hard. It takes time to get into a new mind set.

Talk with @BigViffer @BlueCrush @NurseMichael @Albus @deadmanwalking @PWMDMD for lifting advice from a guy's perspective.

This will be long, because I love this topic.

I'm five years out, I got to goal in six months, I still had tight surgery restriction. You may need graze maintenance food and calories ( eating many small meals) It can feel like you are eating all day long. Did you ever think you would have to work to eat more food? Your surgery restriction will relax over time. It gets easier to eat to fuel your body correctly for lifting/running.

I lift and distance run. I hired a sports medicine dietitian to learn how to fuel for endurance sports with my sleeve.

Some things to think about:

Exercise on low calories is counter productive. Many of us lose muscle with rapid weight loss. If you workout hard on low calories you will lose even more muscle. It's not a healthy look.

When you eat your maintenance plan, you will see better lifting and sport performance results.

I have done full and half marathons. I am training for an elevation half marathon trail run in April. I've learned many things from other bariatric runners and my own experiences. Fueling your body is going to be a different diet. I carb load seven days prior and do a taper before the race. (I'm on Facebook - BAC with you. If you want, message me. We can talk more about running/lifting and fueling healthy. Also GardianWilliam in BAC has done competitive lifting/body building. He had RNY and is a certified personal trainer.

Some threads to read on this site:

I had to forgive and let go of my former self.

Find adventures, make up for lost time, do the things your body wouldn't allow you to do. remember the things you enjoyed as a kid, take time for yourself and discover who you are and what brings you joy.

40 minutes ago, hmills653 said:

I’m almost 3 years out, I never quite reached my goal. I got down to 150# but once I started eating carbs again gained some. I have maintained at around 170#. I’m happy with my loss, but ideally wanted to reach 130# as my surgeon never gave me a goal to reach. I feel like I have to be good because this far out I can eat more and don’t want to fall into old habits. I’m glad I found this thread because I’m recovering from the holidays and more carbs than I should’ve eaten, but I’m back on track and feeling better.

Glad you are here and back on track. Anything we can help you with ask.😊

3 minutes ago, AngieBear said:

Hi guys! I met with my surgeon and my dietician today. After we discussed my athletic goals, where I am now, where I started, we’ve decided to go ahead and shift into maintenance mode. Realistically, I will probably still lose the 10 more pounds that I had in my head, but weight loss will no longer be my focus. I’m going to start working on my endurance and building up some muscle 💪 I’m fortunate that my surgeon’s background is in sports nutrition.

Later tonight I will start really perusing this thread!

Congratulations @AngieBear New year and fitness goals! . Do you use myfitnesspal?

I have days where I question this thread. Yes, we are human but it's also knowing yourself and risk factors for regain

Only my opinion, Be consistent not perfect. Don't waste your three months of your best restriction and your golden first year of weight loss. The work doesn't end after goal. @hmills653 is so right, We are all fighting the same battles.

Know your weaknesses with food.

Five years out, I still have foods I'm addicted to and keep out of my house *smile*

Time to bump the thread - Embrace the stall.

42 minutes ago, Slownstedy said:

I still have 2 pens and was considering 0.6 to see if it would help restart weightloss . All my morning fasting numbers are between 110-130.

If your Dr. has you on it to manage type 2 then take it.

You might be in a weight loss stall (they are normal) I wouldn't take victoza to "restart" weight loss. Work your plan. See embrace the stall below.