Vanessa G

Guess what? You just got a new job! Isn’t that exciting? Except…it’s a tough job: you will now be the CEO of Lifetime Weight Management. But don’t worry. You can do it, and the pay is fabulous.


We’ll get to the job news, but first I’m going to tell you a job story of my own. I’m a writer and story-teller: that’s my job. Often my stories are fiction, but every word in this story is true.
Many years ago, I attended a business luncheon with a coworker who was naturally slim. The food was delicious: a huge, flaky croissant filled with chicken and grape salad, a mountain of potato chips (I adore potato chips), and strawberry shortcake for dessert. About one-third of the way through her meal, my coworker stopped eating and pushed her plate away.
“What’s the matter?” I said. “Don’t you like the food?”
“Oh, it’s fine,” she said. “I just can’t eat any more.”
She must have seen the baffled look on my face, because she added an explanation. “I eat a certain amount, and then I reach a point where I just can’t eat another bite, so I stop eating. I’ve always been this way.”
I wanted to offer to finish her lunch for her, but was too ashamed of my own greed to suggest it, and I was busy digesting what she had just said. I couldn’t remember ever in my life reaching the point where I couldn’t eat another bite of food. And although I had tried more diets and slimming plans than I could name, it had never occurred to me that I might become slim simply by stopping eating when I became full. My coworker was effortlessly slim and I was effortlessly obese. I subsided into silent envy over her natural advantage.
I spent the next 20 years suffering from morbid obesity and developing numerous health problems as a result of it. Finally, after much research and thought, I decided that weight loss surgery was my best option. On September 19, 2007, I had adjustable gastric band surgery. Ever since then I have been learning how to eat, and live, like a slim person. During that time, I’ve accumulated a lot of information, and have cultivated a lot of opinions that may not agree with yours, but of everything I’ve learned during my weight loss journey, there’s one truth you need to heed.
Like it or not, no bariatric surgery of any description is magic. The WLS patients I know have all worked hard for their success. Adjustable gastric band. Roux-en-Y. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve plication. Duodenal switch. The surgical procedure happens only once (good Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise), but one thing, common to us all, happens every day for the rest of our lives. Weight loss and weight loss maintenance require attention, commitment and action every day for the rest of our lives. It’s a job – a career – we must do or die.
A smart, mature, diligent acquaintance who did her research before she took the weight loss surgery plunge said to me once, “I had no idea how much work this was going to be.”
The work is not just in the weight loss but in lifestyle changes. The work doesn’t end once you reach your goal weight, but believe me: it is so very, very worth it. I love this new job of mine. I love the improved health and high energy and increased self-esteem and size 4 clothing, and I hope I never grow tired of it or take it all for granted.
A lifetime of work ahead of you can seem overwhelming. Think of it as a lifetime of learning. Learning is a good thing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. And if you stop growing, you die.
My mother, who struggled with obesity most of her life, used to say that there was a tall, thin brunette inside her just waiting to get out. I will always have a short, fat blonde girl inside me just waiting to get out. But having weight loss surgery has given me some wonderful tools for lifetime weight management, and I hope that proves to be the same for you.

One problem that can come up after weight loss surgery is cooking for one person. You need to cook healthy meals, but you can only eat tiny portions. And, you can’t take a day, or even a meal, off. You need each healthy meal and snack, and nobody’s going to make it for you.


You may already be used to cooking if you cook for the entire family, but now you might need to cook separate meals for yourself if you no longer eat what they do. On the other hand, you may be learning to cook for the first time, especially if you used to eat out instead of cooking for yourself before weight loss surgery. It’s also possible that your significant other used to be the family chef, but you need to take charge and cook for yourself now to make sure you stick to your weight loss surgery diet.
On top of everything else, you still have the real-life time and money constraints that everyone has. How can you possibly stick to your weight loss surgery diet without getting bored out of your mind, wasting food and money, and spending all of your spare time in the kitchen?
This series of articles will look at some strategies for cooking for one after weight loss surgery. In the first article, we have strategies for approaching the kitchen when you’re cooking for just yourself. The second article has a few helpful recipes. Finally, the third and fourth articles will help you stock your kitchen.
Don’t forget to check out the BariatricPal conversation on this topic for tons of tips from other BariatricPal members. Add your ideas to the mix!
Organization is Key
The more you plan, the better you’ll be able to handle cooking for yourself. This is true whether you’re cooking for one or for the entire family, but when you are cooking for one, nobody else is depending on you to follow through. The dedication needs to come from within.
Use the weekends to prepare what you can. Plan your meals, buy the ingredients, and make some recipes. Then, divide the recipes into single-serving portions, put some in the fridge, and freeze the rest. You can make:
Soups, using almost any combination of broth, vegetables, and lean Proteins such as Beans, chicken, turkey, and shrimp.
Stews, chilis, stir-frys, and casseroles.
High-protein muffins.

You can also prepare some ingredients to use later in the week. Wash, peel, and chop your veggies and fruits, cook a pot of beans, and cook some chicken, ground turkey, or fish to freeze for quick use later.
Playing with Portions
Portions need to be small on your weight loss surgery diet. You basically have two choices when it comes to cooking. You can make regular-sized recipes, divide them into weight loss surgery-sized portions, and store these portions in individual packets or containers. The benefits are that you get to make more interesting recipes, and you have multiple meals on hand after cooking only once.
Or, you can make small single-serving recipes that you make up or get from someone else. That way, you don’t need to worry about measuring individual portions after you cook the recipe. If you love what you made and eat the whole thing, you don’t need to feel guilty about overeating. But, cooking this way can be a little more effort because you won’t have leftovers.
The best approach is to do a little of each. Make some full-sized dishes to depend on during the week, and fill in the rest of your diet with single-serving meals and Snacks.< /p>
Don’t Overdo It or Get Intimidated
Unless you’re one of the few people who just loves to cook and has enough time and energy to do so, you’re not going to want to cook a gourmet dish for every single meal and snack. That’s okay. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do so. There are plenty of ways you can cheat on your kitchen time without cheating on your diet or cheating your taste buds.
These are some other ways to catch a break in the kitchen.
Eat out, drive through, or order in. Really. It’s okay. Whether it’s a side salad with low-fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing and a grilled chicken patty from McDonald’s (150 calories, 22 grams of protein) or half of a Chicken Bella dinner with zucchini and spaghetti squash from Ruby Tuesday (260 calories, 23 grams of protein), you can fit it into your diet. Just stay away from the baby-back ribs, Pasta, and burgers and fries that can be over 1,000 calories per order.
Use meal helpers. Heat up a tray of Green Giant Just for One cauliflower and cheese or Italian seasoned broccoli and carrots and serve it with chicken or tuna, or toss tofu with bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables.
Take advantage of easy meal options, like whole grain Cereal mixed with Greek yogurt and fruit, canned tuna or salmon with cottage cheese, and low-fat string cheese and baby carrots for a snack.
Frozen meal have preservatives, but the occasional one can help you out by keeping you from eating something far worse out of desperation. Choose ones with lean Protein, at least one serving of veggies – unless you’re planning to add your own – and a whole grain or starchy vegetable instead of potatoes or a refined grain. It’s far better to eat an entire low-fat frozen pizza for 290 calories than to order in an 8-slice large pepperoni pizza for 300 calories a slice.
Learn to love leftovers. When you make too much, get excited about saving it and using it another time. Also, get creative with your ingredients. If you eat half a can of tuna for a snack, figure out how you will use the rest in a different way so you don’t get bored and the tuna doesn’t go to waste. For example, you can make a tuna melt with fat-free cheese on a portobello mushroom.

Now that you are in the mood and have the right mentality for cooking for one, it’s time to get to the specifics. Stay tuned for the next article, which will have tips for Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for one.

Just got all of my appointments scheduled!! All within a 2 week period !! Going to be a whirlwind ! The surgery coordinator said that my insurance does not require a medic weight management program prior to surgery- she said she is still anticipating a surgery date within the next 30-45 days!! I can't believe how fast this is all happening!! I went to the weight management center in January to discuss medical weight management and now here I am!! Sort of nervous and excited at the same time !!

It happens. Focus on the new you. Don't look back. You still have an amazing journey ahead of you. You don't need his baggage. He is the one with the issues. Good luck!

Hi Tonya, I'm the same age and height as you, but I weigh 115 kg (254lb). I have not yet have the WLS, but have decided on the sleeve for a number of reasons :
1. I will still enjoy spicy foods, and a variety of foods without fear of them getting stuck or causing bad reflux
2. There are many long term complications of the band, including erosion, slippage etc.
3. I want something permanent, I need to change my lifestyle forever.
4. I really don't like the idea of a large foreign body inside me, and be able to feel the port under my skin is not appealing.
However, having said all that, I have a close friend who is very happy with the band and loves it. So it's very much an individual choice.

My friend posted this on my fb page

I read everything you typed. (Yes, in future use the return character to make MUCH shorter paragraphs -- those are hard to read.)
But girl, I hear you! Loud and clear!
And just so no one gets confused, I'm the one in our marriage who has had WLS. And my husband is the perfect model of a supportive spouse. So I'm not coming at this from any projection that you're in my situation. Because you're not.
Sweetheart, you are hooked up with a playah! And he is playing you like a violin.
He's played you for money. He's played you for support. And you're not even getting laid in return.
I will say one thing loud and clear. You better not marry this dude. I doubt you are perfect either (none of us is). But it's so clear to me that the two of you together are not really fighting about weight or eating or gym behavior -- his or yours. You are fighting about your needs to control each other.
And he's winning.
Worst of all, I find it TERRIBLE that while you're literally giving him a home and paying for all of that and while you're planning to marry this guy that you and he are not making your financial decisions together.
Get the hell out of there. Now.
(As always, these are my two cents. Others' mileage may vary.)

You remind me of my husband. And this similar behaviour is precisely why I choose not to talk to him about my choice to have surgery. Sorry, but I think you need to back off a bit.

I agree with the others, there's a whole lot going on here and you need professional help.
The one thing I would NOT do is to get married with things the way they are now.

@@ButterflyMiss - You need couples counseling. From what I gather you have multiple issues to deal with. We are not therapist here. We are people at various stages of weight loss trying to support each other around that and your issues appear to run deeper than that. Get to a counselor. If he won't go, you go alone.
I wish we could help you, but your situation appears to go beyond the scope of what this forum is designed for.

I tried to read through most of this but found it difficult going. Paragraphs are our friends!
You asked, so here is what I think.
His journey is his journey and your journey is your journey. You can't control him anymore than he can control you.
Since you are engaged and living together I would suggest you consider individual counseling for yourself and couples pre-marital counseling together.
It's great that you are learning as much as you can about what he is going through.
You can be loving and supportive while respecting each other's boundaries.

My got worse before it got better. Maybe a bit of jealousy or not knowing how to approach the new me. The MGB made me want it more but the more I wanted it the less I got it. After a talk with hubby, things got better. Skin starting to sag from weight loss but I have more energy and confidence than ever.

Thanks for the input! I know it's only a couple of weeks, but I enjoy cooking for my family! :-) I hope I feel like most of you and it won't bother me!

Congratulations, that's terrific!
Thank you for sharing your progress. I'm schedule for an MGB in March, starting to get a little nervous, and stories like yours remind me why I'm doing this.

I had MGB Apr 23rd in Tijuana with Dr ponce de leon. All I can say is it was fantastic! I'm down 126 lbs and 5 from goal weight of 189. I run 6 miles every other day and feel fantastic.   

I looked into both MGB and RNY. The MGB is both revisable and reversable. I went with MGB after researching the options. I have a great surgeon, Dr. C Peraglie in Florida. I can only say great things about the MGB and how it saved my life. Everyone's journey is different. Inform yourself. For me it was the best thing I have done for myself. I am 7 months out. Lost 89 pounds so far. I am no longer on cholesterol and Blood Pressure medicine. No longer a pre diabetic. I have great energy. Feel great! Now I can keep up with my kids.

My surgeon said to wait 2 years post MGB to get plastic surgery.

My got worse before it got better. Maybe a bit of jealousy or not knowing how to approach the new me. The MGB made me want it more but the more I wanted it the less I got it. After a talk with hubby, things got better. Skin starting to sag from weight loss but I have more energy and confidence than ever.

I am 7 months post MGB and have lost 84 lbs. Im feeling better than ever. Im not longer taking meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Im no longer pre diabetic. It has saved my life.

I am 7 months post MGB and have lost 84 lbs. Im feeling better than ever. Im not longer taking meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Im no longer pre diabetic. It has saved my life.

I am 7 months post MGB and have lost 84 lbs. Im feeling better than ever. Im not longer taking meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Im no longer pre diabetic. It has saved my life.

Congratulations!! I am 1 month shy of 12 years..... and I STILL feel the same way, I started at 305lbs, cholesterol well into the 400s, pre diabetes........ etc. I now weigh 199, cholesterol is 185, and completely normal blood sugars. I initially lost down to 175, but like Dr. Rutledge says to expect, I rebounded that 20%. I wish you continued success!!

I am 7 months post MGB and have lost 84 lbs. Im feeling better than ever. Im not longer taking meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Im no longer pre diabetic. It has saved my life.

I am 7 months post MGB and have lost 84 lbs. Im feeling better than ever. Im not longer taking meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Im no longer pre diabetic. It has saved my life.

Welcome to the Mini Gastric Bypass (Omega Loop) Surgery Forum! This is the place for you if you have the mini gastric bypass, if you're thinking about getting it, or if you just want to learn a little bit about it. Come talk about:
The mini gastric bypass diet. Risks and complications. Amount of weight you can expect to lose. The procedure. Nutritional deficiencies. The mini gastric bypass surgery has been around for a while, but it’s been getting more attention recently. The procedure and amount of weight people lose are similar to the roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery procedure, but the Omega loop procedure is quicker. You may be a little less likely to have complications from it, too.
Enjoy the Mini Gastric Bypass (Omega Loop) Surgery Forum!