SuzeMuze

I'm sort of in the same boat... I've never been a big meat eater, so my weight came from sugar and carbs. Now that sugar and carbs are "Evil", I was caught in the problem of how do I get Protein if I don't like the taste of nearly all meat...the meat I do like makes me sick, and eggs are gross? My answer is the protein shake! I'm not trying to make a sale for anyone here, but the Syntrax Protein drinks have been my personal savior even at 9 months out. I'll savor one for Breakfast (46g), one for lunch (another 46g) and voila! My protein's taken care of and I haven't actually eaten anything. My NUT hasn't told me this isn't ok yet, so onward I go!

Everyone's different. ( as is the case with nearly everything dealing with RNY- opinions are experiences here) I stopped taking Metformin & all other meds I was on the night before surgery 9 months ago & haven't taken a pill (other than the Vitamins now) since then. My A1C went from being nearly 13 when I was diagnosed with Type 2, to about a 9 with all the meds....to a 4.5 at my six month post check up.

Yep. It happened to me when a friend was asking me how it felt after losing so much weight. She commented that no matter what she did, she couldn't get below 160. And I thought to myself, "Wait... I weigh less than 160...how can that be?" I look at her, and she looks to be a perfectly normal weight (we're the same height) but when I look at myself most times, I still see the overweight person I was. Personally, I think it's all the extra skin that's clouding my view in the mirror. <shrugs>

Interesting... I order from the children's menu all the time & I've never once been questioned about it. Either that, or an appetizer works well too.

@nuzzlebear40- wait till you go see your PCP a few months after surgery and (s)he writes either "resolved" or completely erases "Diabetes Mellitus" from your chart! That was one of my best victories from having this surgery- I have absolutely nothing on my medical chart now

I've mentioned it somewhere before, but my personal fave is the Syntrax Protein drinks. (Lemon Tea is the best, in my opinion...it actually tastes like iced tea) I can nurse a 24 oz. shake for a couple hours & it gives me 46 grams of protein. Two of them a day & I'm way above my NUT's recommendation for the day before I ever eat a bite of food. And for the record- I haven't taken a single diabetes med since the night before my surgery 7 months ago. My A1C went from about a 12 pre-op to a current 5! It was one of the best feelings in the world to watch my PCP erase "Diabetes Mellitus" from my medical record! Best of luck to you!

Ok, I've got two from my Lane Bryant days... One being that just cause I was a size 22/24, does NOT mean I have huge boobs. I get it that cutting sizes need to be proportional to the overall garment, but I am not proportioned correctly, and by the time I found something that fit over my belly, it was so huge in the boobs that the arm and neck holes hung way too far down, so I ended up having to tailor stuff anyway. Second...how short so many things seem to be! I appreciate the plus sized industry wanting to make the same cute clothes as the smaller gals, but c'mon...at the size I was, the last thing I wanted was a crop top!

Best wishes for smooth sailing through surgery and recovery, Red! It's going to be amazing!

I can only speak from my own experience, but I sat in the waiting room for pulmonary clearance longer than the test actually took. All I had to do was breathe into a machine a few times, and done. The cardiac clearance depends on what they find. It may start with a simple EKG, and if everything looks great, you're clear. If it's inconclusive, you may be asked to take a stress test. If the stress test images are ok, you're clear. If not, you may be (like me) on your way to a hospital for a heart catheterization. Once again, if THAT comes back clear (as it did for me....whole lot of stressing out for nothing in the end- not that I'm really complaining) then you're good. If not... a stent is a possible solution, which from what I understand could delay your surgery.

@@Smye I have a challenge for you! What do you have in your Bari Bag o' Tricks for those of us who choose not to eat meat or eggs? I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't care for the taste of most meats (can't tolerate them anyway) and the thought of eating an egg or drinking a glass of milk makes me gag. I'm living life on Syntrax & less than 30 carb a day & would love some suggestions of "real food"- I miss chewing!

At such an early post-op stage, it can be difficult to figure out how to get all the Protein in, for sure! I'm just shy of 6 months post-op RNY, and not being a meat or egg eater, can completely sympathize with where your'e coming from. With that being said, I would suggest looking into the many types of protein "shake" supplements that are out there. Everyone has their own favorites- mine happen to be the Syntrax nectar line. Every flavor I've tried has been amazing so far- I make a 24 ounce Water bottle and nurse it all morning, and another one for the afternoon. With 46g of protein and zero carbs per water bottle, I get 92g of whey isolate protein without "eating" a thing. I also really like the banana Cream flavor of Pure Protein- 35g protein, 1 carb per 11 oz can- a nice break from the chocolate/vanilla/strawberry humdrum I found myself in. Another one that I started out with was the Premier Protein shakes: 30g of protein, 5 carbs per 11 ounce container. However, to get that 90 grams in, it put me at 15g of carbs just from shakes- my suggested daily carb limit is 30g, and most of the time, I'd rather get my carbs from eating food I like, rather than "wasting" it on a shake. I also dabbled with the Isopure Protein Drink line, which gives 40g whey isolate per 20oz. bottle. I didn't stick long with them, as they all had a strange metallic aftertaste that got grosser to try and choke down. When I was newly post-op, I also used a protein "shot" I picked up at the grocery store which had a whopping 40some grams of protein in just 4 ounces. However to me, the taste was horrifying. If you find a protein drink you like, (most stores like GNC or Vitamin Shoppe have single serving packets so you don't have to waste money on a tub of powder you can't stand) check with your nutritionist. Everyone's surgeons are different in what they permit/encourage for you to attain your goal quickly and in a healthy way. My final suggestion is when/if you do find a supplement you like, to monitor how quickly you take in your protein. From what I understand, your body can't process more than about 30g of protein at a time- if I drank my Syntrax too quickly, a good portion of the protein would just "pass through" because my rerouted innards just can't process a lot at a time. Good luck!

While I like the Premier Protein, I've set up camp in two new places nowadays. I absolutely love the Syntrax Nectars like the other folks who've posted. As long as I make them in a blender, let them "de-foam" overnight, they're good to go for my Water bottles the next day- Fuzzy Navel is the best so far with 46g whey isolate in my 24 oz. water bottle. Zero Carbs. I also enjoy the Pure Protein banana cream ready made shakes for a nice change from the chocolate/vanilla parade- 35g protein in an 11 oz. can. 1 Carb.

I'm not one to promote products, really, but I see so many posts about folks not being able to get their surgeon's recommended daily Protein intake that I thought I'd toss a couple of options out there that are really helping me. I'm approaching 5 months post RNY, and still get the vast majority of my protein from whey isolate shakes. My surgeon doesn't necessarily have an issue with it, and I realize that at my point in this journey I should be getting more protein from food than shakes, but I simply can't tolerate meat of any kind, and the thought of eating an egg in any form makes me want to gag Anyhow, I've been searching for a break from the Premier Protein bandwagon, and have found two products that I actually enjoy and are much lower in carbs than Premier, and don't taste like watery milk. The first is Pure Protein banana Cream shakes (a shake,yes... I know). These work well for me because they're lower in calories and just 1 carb/35g of protein in 11oz. And they actually taste like Banana Cream. Rather pricey- $32 for a dozen where I live, but definitely a nice break from the chocolate/vanilla humdrum. Even better than the Pure Protein is a product called Syntrax nectar. I can only find it at the Vitamin Shop, and after trying several of the single serve packs, have decided that they're a great alternative for protein. Each scoop has 23g, and can be mixed with Water. I can easily nurse two 24 oz water bottles throughout the day, each with two scoops to give me 92g of protein in 400 calories with zero carbs, before even eating anything. Now, the canister claims it tastes just like refreshing fruit juice....I don't know that I'd go that far, but they do have decent flavors like strawberry Kiwi, Fuzzy Navel and Colada Cooler, all of which I found to be pretty decent. It's also pricey- $40 here for a 2lb canister, but if you're looking for a break, could be worth it. Good luck to those who struggle with protein- we'll all get there

@@kgagmg You have SO much going for you! You've made some incredible, life-changing decisions for the better over this past year, and the fact that you realize you might have an alcohol problem is a huge step in and of itself toward getting some resolution. The first thing I thought of when I read your post is I wondered if your surgeon could recommend a psychiatrist/psychologist for you. My surgeon's office does, and she specializes in patients with eating disorders- maybe finding an expert in the field could be worlds of help for you. I wish you the very best of luck!

I'm about 25 lbs. from my surgeon's goal weight for me, and the above posts are completely correct- it is a total mindset shift about food & our relationship with it. I still love going to restaurants, but most of the time, it's a "fail" because a lot of what's on the menu isn't bariatric friendly. Usually, I'll just order an appetizer or even something off the kid's menu...eat what I can, then don't feel bad when there's leftover food on the plate. Feeling "full" is completely different now too, and not at all pleasant. Before surgery, stuffing myself made me happy, sleepy, and very content. Now, it's extremely uncomfortable- something like pressing your fist into the end of your breastbone, right where your ribs split apart. Sometimes I actually miss that happy, sluggish feeing, I'll admit it- but I don't regret my surgery for one second.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on Valentine's Day 2013 and an A1C of nearly 13- that was the tipping point for me that I knew something had to change. I managed to lose about 40 lbs. on my own, but was taking a handful (literally) of pills a day to help bring my sugar down. 40 lbs. is great, but it and the medication wasn't enough. I chose RNY because of the promising results I learned with Type 2 diabetes. I took my last handful of pills the night before surgery, and since then, my sugar hasn't gone above 85 or so, no matter what time of day, or whether I'm fasting or not. I'm a total believer that the surgery is what did the trick- I've got about a month to go till my 6 month post op bloodwork, and I'm very eager to see what my A1C is now and to watch my PC doc type "resolved" on my chart!

I started taking 2500 mcg daily about 3 months prior to surgery, so for about 8 months total. I also have a dose of Biotin in the Multivitamin I take. Originally, I used to be on the "more is better" bandwagon & took huge doses of anything I could get my hands on, since the idea of losing hair was my worst nightmare. However, GB limits the amount of anything we can process from what we eat, so I don't know that it really makes a difference- kind of like protein- from what I understand, if you try to eat/drink more than 30 or so grams of Protein in a sitting, it just passes on through, since your body can't process that much at a time. Best of luck to you!

As a side note about hiccups... I'm not sure that it's the air or newness to surgery that does it. I'm almost exactly 5 months out and get the hiccups every single time I eat. Without Fail. It used to really annoy me, but in the process I learned that it was my body's way of telling me I'm full, so I wait patiently, and they subside within a couple of minutes

Oh my... you didn't offend me, hon. It takes WAY more than that to "offend" me. Personally, I think the word "offend" is one that's tossed around way too frequently in today's hypersensitive society, but that's a diatribe I'm sure no one wants to hear. Your apology is sweet, but no harm was done to me. You see, I suppose I've always been a bit of a different thinker. Sure, as an overweight teenager, there were times that were difficult as I wasn't one of those perky friends of mine who trotted around in short shorts & halter tops. But truth be told, for my entire life, I've always had the attitude that if someone wasn't willing to look past my physical appearance, they'd mentally (and sometimes physically) get the finger from me, and I'd move on. Maybe that came from a life of being on stage & performing, but it taught me quickly that everyone is beautiful, and our body is just a shell to hold our soul and what's on the inside. Is that shell what we'd wanted it to be? Maybe not, but being severely overweight for so long myself helped me realize the worth in everyone in my life. I had always loved Lane Bryant as being one of the very few stores that made clothing for larger size women that didn't look like couch upholstery or tablecloths. I proudly dressed myself well from that store, and what might be really odd was my difficulty in letting go of my clothing "home". I can no longer wear things from Lane Bryant, and it's still hard for me now to go into store sections that aren't labeled "Women's". For years I dreamed of wearing a size that didn't have an "X" in it...I'm there now, and it can be really intimidating to have to actually try things on before I can buy them. I think maybe the root of my cringe from the initial post is how many folks that are either just starting their journey, or contemplating that start could have been hurt by the "Lane Giant" reference. It is hard to be obese in a skinny-obsessed, air-brushed world, especially if your weight keeps you from enjoying your everyday life. I'm very fortunate that even at my heaviest about 7 years ago (rounding the corner to 300 pounds), I never let it stop me from playing with my kids, running up & down stairs for stuff, going to the pool, you name it. I had no pain, no exhaustion, no ill effects at all that I knew of, and I wasn't even really aware of my size unless I saw a photo of myself. Many, many overweight folks aren't so lucky and it's for those who have had so many proverbial knives twisted in them about their weight that the comment could have hurt. Just my opinion- I respect everyone's here

I can understand how you feel. Kind of like reading a forum post that mocks a store by calling it "Lane Giant" in a place that's designed to be understanding, compassionate and supportive. (unless I'm terribly misunderstanding what was meant). Even at my absolute heaviest, I never once considered myself "giant"...but reading that makes me wonder how many people (like me) cringed.

I used to be a classroom teacher but still work for a school system. Honestly, I find the handling of food and drink much easier then I'd thought. Since we never really got much time to eat anyhow, I'm perfectly fine with nursing a giant Protein drink all morning, then another in the afternoon. It's tough when the PTA brings goodies in, or the students bring you treats for one reason or another, but it's up to us what we actually eat. It seems like so many folks are jumping on the Protein shake bandwagon for Meal Replacements, (surgery or not) that I can't think of a single time where someone's asked me where my lunch was, or why I wasn't eating. Best of luck to you

I've tried the fuzzy navel, strawberry kiwi and colada cooler (or something like that). They were all pretty decent, but I just finished my first giant canister of the strawberry. They mix much better in a blender, but they foam up like crazy! What I've found is that I'll blend a big shake the night before, and give it overnight to "de-foam", then add the remaining Water in the morning to take to work.

I'll put in my two cents worth and say yes, without a doubt... if your head is in the game. I don't think ANY diet or tool (and WLS of any kind is a tool, not a cure) is successful if you're not willing to make a lifelong change to your attitude about food and the role it plays in your life. I spent decades on the weight roller coaster because I simply liked sugar too much- some folks have much deeper issues with food addiction and the like. I'm also not going to blow sunshine up anyone's tailpipe and say it's been a skip through the garden the whole time. It's HARD to make that permanent change in what you eat, how you eat and when you eat. I'm nearly 5 months post op and still learning what I can and can't tolerate...and it's not even consistent. Eating out is generally a failure because the vast majority of stuff that's served in restaurants are nutritional nightmares for bariatric patients. However...for me, gastric bypass has resulted in more physical changes than just the rerouting of my innards and over 60 pounds off my frame. Once I got over the pre-op detox hump of a sugarless life, I don't even want it now. I can easily go all day long on 3 Water bottles of Protein shake and not even think about eating till dinnertime. I get my protein, water and Vitamins easily. Everyone has their moments of "regret" I suppose, but my health is better now than it was in my 20's, and I'd never have gotten here without WLS. Truth be told, the actual surgical procedure and recovery is the easy part. <points to her head> The changes up here were much harder to make once and for all

I've tried them, and yes they do taste like "regular" tortillas. But I'm very suspicious of net carbs. I get it that the idea is that net carbs are what you're left with once you take the total carb count & subtract how many Fiber grams there are. But...my nutritionist never mentioned net carbs...just to keep my carbs below 50 grams a day. Therefore- I don't eat the carb control tortillas. Or the Breyer's Carb Smart ice cream...same thing. Plus, there's a Pasta out there that's called DreamFields that advertises itself as having just 5 net carbs per serving, but when you enter it into MyFitnessPal, it comes up like it was any old pasta. I'm just too suspicious and no pasta or bread is worth all the work I've done so far.

Keep your eyes on the Prize. I think a lot of us have had at least one "What did I do to myself?" or "I can't do this anymore" moment, beginning at the pre-op diet when all of a sudden it seems like everything good in our life (read: food) has been taken away. For me, the pre-op diet was a living nightmare for the first week or so, but I found that if I just kept myself busy & away from my desk (which was a snacking black hole for me) I had a much easier time of it.