Airstream88

I told almost everyone and still do if the subject comes up. Everyone has been thrilled or at least supportive so far. If there are those that weren't, I'm guessing they kept it to themselves. I didn't want to have to lie about why I was losing weight or eating a certain way. At almost 55 years old I've come to learn that I can't control what others think or do, just my reaction.

I used Isopure Unflavored. - bought it from Amazon. It didn't change the flavor of the pudding or applesauce IMO but it did change the texture. Start with 1/4 scoop and adjust from there. My favorite flavored powder was Unjury Chocolate Splendor. Also the Inspire protein powders you can buy from bariatriceating.com are pretty good.

Dumping occurs when you eat something with too much sugar or too much fat. You would have had much more severe symptoms such as racing heartbeat, sweating, diarrhea, etc. When I first started eating pureed and then soft foods, some foods would cause me to feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it happens if something isn't moist enough. When I started real food, chicken felt very uncomfortable and I learned to eat it with salsa, hummus or guacamole to moisten it up. I really didn't do well on the pureed phase. I don't like refried beans and couldn't stand the sight of pureed meat. I stuck to yogurt, shakes, unsweetened applesauce and SF pudding mixed with protein powder for the most part. Once on soft foods I did much better.

My surgeon - A member of St Agnes Hospital's Bariatric Center of Excellence, strongly suggested RNY for me - I had a BMI over 60, an umbilical hernia and gall bladder removal done at the same time. As far as I could tell, RNY is generally suggested for patients with more weight to lose and high BMIs. I went with his advice and have had no complications.

I eat Special K protein with Fairlife milk. It does keep me full but I eat every 3-4 hours (5 mini-meals daily). I don't think it's a slider food but it doesn't give me the same fullness as eating chicken does. I eat the serving size listed on the box - 3/4 cup.

I definitely can see where grazing can happen the longer you've been post-op. Any type of cracker, chip, etc just goes right through and doesn't make me feel full. So I don't allow myself to eat any multigrain cracker, bread, etc without protein. 1 - it keeps me from eating more than one serving because the restriction kicks in and 2 - the protein keeps me feeling full much longer, negating the need to snack or graze between my 5 mini-meals.

I'm only about 6 months in but prior to surgery I was a grazer - ate all the time. The eating pattern I've been given for life is 5 meals daily - every 3 - 4 hours. I eat my protein first (~3oz give or take) and then veggies and a multigrain or fruit (2 each per day, not at the same meal) along with 3 good fats (nuts, avocado, etc) I'm really doing well with this way of eating and feel I can continue this for life. Eating the protein first triggers my restriction and keeps me from getting hungry in between the meals. I won't lie, it takes some work to eat 5 times a day - I don't use protein shakes or bars, but I do use the Sargento Balanced Breaks, pre-portioned packages of nuts, and pre-sliced cheese to help fill out my meals. I bake a few chicken breasts on a cookie sheet along with onions and peppers on Sunday and then pre-portion out for weekly lunches and evening dinners (quesadilla with whole wheat tortilla or as a topping for salad).

My forever plan given to me by my NUT (Sleeve and Bypass) is 5 meals daily - protein at least 4 of 5 meals - deck of cards sized serving, a multigrain or fruit serving (2 each per day, but not at same meal), and as much veggies that can fit after eating the protein first. Plus 3 good fats - 1 tsp olive oil, nuts, nut butters, avocado. Always eat protein with any carb. I just count protein and water.

5 mini-meals every 3 - 4 hours. 3oz of protein for at least 4 of the meals so I can make my protein goal.

Are you making your protein and fluid goals? Both are extremely important to keeping the weight dropping off.

For those who have had Gastric Bypass, dumping is the result of eating too much sugar or too much fat and results in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, sweating, rapid heart beat, etc. Here is a short article from the Obesity Action Coalition: What is dumping, and why am I experiencing it? by Taghreed Almahmeed, MD, FRCSC, and Michel Murr, MD, FACS Dumping syndrome is a group of symptoms caused by rapid passage of undigested food into the small intestine. The stomach has a valve at the top and bottom, and serves as an acid-filled storage tank, breaking food intake down into small, component parts and passing it to the small bowel in small increments. After gastric bypass, ingested food passes directly into the small bowel, mixed only with saliva, but not the stomach acid. The component parts of the undigested food remain fairly intact and therefore large. The small intestine responds by diluting the ingested food through a process of “water recruitment.” The “richer” the food, in terms of sugar content, the more water will rush into the small intestine to dilute it. This is referred to as “early dumping.”

Another way to meet someone other than online dating is to join groups with interests that match your own. That way you are meeting real people with very little risk. There seems to be a Meetup Group for just about any interest out there. A guy in my office just got married to a woman he met at the Mall - she helped him buy a sweater and they hit it off. Stop looking and start living. When you least expect it someone may cross your path that is perfect for you.

I measure things like cereal and milk to make sure I have the protein count right. I eyeball protein per the Deck of Cards guideline or use the serving info on the package (for shrimp, etc). I buy nuts and popcorn in pre-portioned bags for convenience. My NUT only gives protein and fluid goals so I rarely count calories and never carbs - just eat the servings she recommends. I log my food in a book I got from Amazon but only count my protein and fluid intake. That's as much obsession about food I can handle in a day.

Be very careful with online dating. A friend of mine was chatting with a guy she met on match.com and really thought it was going to go somewhere. They talked daily and were "going to meet". Then he phoned her that he traveling overseas and had lost his Ipad and could she send him $1000 to buy a new one. It ended up he was a con man. So be careful! I think someone calling from different phones sounds suspicious. Don't answer any personal questions right away as they use that information to lure you in.

I haven't experienced dumping yet either. But that's because I am super careful about how much sugar or fat I eat in a serving. I did take a bite of something that was pure sugar and while I didn't dump, I felt bad for about 30 mins. I think you'd find if you ate a whole piece of cake or a bunch of fried chicken wings you would experience dumping. I don't think it happens with just a bite of something. I think I read somewhere that over 25 grams of sugar would cause dumping.

I found that some foods just didn't sit as well as others once I started in the soft food stage. Take very small bites, chew really well and wait until the next bite to see if you have sick feelings. If so, stop eating that food and try another. I ate a lot of cheese in the soft foods stage. Mozzarella cheese sticks and baby bells were my go to foods during this stage as well as crab soup (no veggies), meatballs and chili.

I use Nutrametrix for my MultiVitamin and first dose of Calcium. I use Bariatric Advantage Chewables for the remaining Calcium and Iron, and the B12 sublingual.

For me telling people I am on some FAD diet or doing Weightwatchers when I had WLS surgery is hiding the truth. That said, I totally understand that some people are more private than others and want to keep it to themselves. I interact with lots of different people at work, socially and at the gym) and I didn't feel like constantly trying to remember what I said to whom.

I told mostly everyone from the moment I started the six month pre-op requirement. It was just easier for me. I didn't want to have to lie or explain why I was eating/drinking in a certain way. I've found everyone to be supportive and no one has dared say to me that I've taken the easy way out. They might be thinking it but I could care less. I'm doing this for my health not for anyone's approval. A good side effect of being up front about it is that people do not push food on me at family events, etc. They know I can only eat a small amount.

Are you making your protein and fluid goals? It's really important to get in the prescribed amounts of both. Many people experience a stall at the 3 week mark or so. Your body is just trying to adjust to everything that's happened to it. Keep plugging away and I'm sure it will pick back up. After a loss, my body fluctuates up and down for a few days and then I lose another couple of pounds. I definitely never lose any weight the day after a good workout. I've learned to go with the flow!

I think the larger weight you are when you have surgery the more it hurts when you move. Think about it, you have internal stitches at all those sites they opened up to do the surgery and they pull when you move. I had my gall-bladder removed and an umbilical hernia repaired with my RNY. It hurt so bad to get up and down that my husband had to help me. I bought a toilet riser so it wouldn't be so painful to get on and off the toilet. I slept in my recliner for at least 3 weeks because it was painful to turn and get in and out of bed (though I tried every night). It does get better as the days pass though and by week 4 I was sleeping comfortably in my own bed.

Are you getting in your protein goal? Mine is 75-90g per day. If you do not make your protein goal, you will stall. Doesn't sound like you are eating enough, especially with that level of exercise. Your body won't give up the weight if you are not feeding it enough to function. At 3 months I was told I should be getting at least 600 - 800 calories daily. At 5 months post-op I'm getting around 1000 - 1200 (higher range on workout days). I've not experienced any stalls so far. I eat all real foods now, no protein shakes, bars, etc.

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I just keep telling myself that there is no food worth dying for. After my ex had a stroke at 49 and spent 6 months suffering and unable to communicate before he died, I swore to myself that I never wanted to be in a position where I couldn't speak for myself. Keep reminding yourself of why you did this. It gets better.

I had my RNY at the age of 54 - last October. I was looking at two knee replacements due to arthritis and decided getting the weight off was a better choice than trying to recovery from knee surgery at my weight. I took 5 weeks off from work (I have a great Short Term Disability plan) but in addition to the RNY I had my gall bladder removed and an umbilical hernia repaired. The first couple of weeks were difficult - but by week 4 I was feeling pretty good. I was already working with a personal trainer 2x a week so I've just kept up with that and I also have a recumbent bike I ride a couple of times a week. I'm moving so much better now. Can walk through the grocery store and not feel knee and back pain like before. Co-workers comment on how fast I walk now! This is the best thing I've done for myself in a long time. Wish I had done it 20 years ago!