summerset

I enjoy reading your posts when you come around from time to time. Hopefully you'll never experience complications with your lap-band.

Sadly this new obsession is all too often viewed as a very good thing to cultivate or even as a predictor for adequate weight loss and maintenance.

IMO eating "a little bit of this, a little bit of that" (i. e. grazing) is way more dangerous than being able to eat a whole burger in one sitting once a month because I think one loses track of how high the intake actually is really quick but to each their own. Actually a single burger is not actually that much when it comes to quantity. Think about how much we could eat before WLS. Or how much people with normal sized stomachs are able to eat.

I wonder why so many people think their lives will magically change once they've lost weight. Of course I like being thinner but life stays the same more or less. My job is as stressful as ever, my marriage is the same as ever etc. I can imagine that for some people WLS is a true life changer (e. g. patients who are physically severely impaired because of their weight) but for many, many patients life stays the same.

It seems like other micronutrients available in plant foods are completely neglected. As for protein: I don't know how much of the Protein I consume is actually absorbed with the MGB. Same for micronutrients.

I'd even post a picture - but I don't think I'm allowed to post a picture of almond boobies.

Thanks for clarifying.

I have to say that depends.

Where exactly did I say it's wrong to eat high fat? Indeed. Maybe it prevents people from going low carb/low fat at the same time.

If you insist on being in ketosis because you think it's the right way for you to go you not only have to watch the carb intake, you also have to eat rather high in fat. The body is not stupid. When there are not enough carbs available, the body is able to make glucose out of amino acids (gluconeogenesis). So simply replacing carbs with Protein won't work that good. Protein is also more insulinogenic than many people think.

It adds a nice flavor. Coconut drink is quite nice as well. Or hazelnut.

Well, a surgeon is a surgeon. A nutritionist is a nutritionist. Two entirely different job profiles. I wouldn't expect a surgeon knowing as much about nutrition as a nutritionist any more than expecting a nutritionist being able to perform an appendectomy.

Ah yes, almost forgot. Same here.

I guess I will never understand that foot thing. Maybe it's the type of shoes people wear if you need to get smaller sizes? My closet looks pretty thinned out. I'm in the lucky situation though that I don't need to buy clothes for work. I would have to spend way more money on a wardrobe if I would work at an office instead of a hospital.

Unrealistic expectations and unsustainable behavior changes in the beginning are the reasons 47.322% of WLS patients gain back their weight.

This is a great and very important article IMO.

Well, weight loss is always fastest in the beginning, regardless if you lose it with WLS or not. Weight loss will (usually) slow down with time when you get near goal weight. I'm two weeks post op so I'm just beginning my weight loss journey. I know the first year or so is really when you lose the most weight so I'm wondering if you have any tips to make the most of this first year and maximize weight lost. As for what to eat, there are different opinions and different plans out there so I won't comment on this. Stay in touch with a NUT if possible so you can ask questions if necessary.

I just had to look up Flintstones Vitamins on amazon (I'm in Germany). They look interesting but are way too expensive here to give them a shot out of curiosity. I guess they're kind of cheap in the US compared to other vitamins?

Best you can do. Not worth getting into heated discussions.

I know the sigh - the runny nose is a problem when I eat spicy food though.

Not a vegan (anymore) but I find Protein shakes and Protein Bars still useful, especially on very busy days (Clif Builder Bars are vegan and there are more out there; even decent tasting low-carb ones if you want to take the low-carb road). If I wouldn't be so lazy I would make my own bars from time to time to get more variety. As for vegan protein food you might want to check out the "Protein Ninja" cook book as well.

In the beginning there really are some (almost) instant and very motivating results, huh?

I don't count carbs. When I eat too much carbs and not enough Protein I tend to get diarrhea. If I don't eat enough carbs, I feel sluggish. If I eat too much fat, I tend to get a stomach ache. If I don't eat enough fat, I feel cold and restless. In general I feel best when I balance out carbs-fat-protein quite even. It's not only a matter of the weight going down but also how I feel in general and how good my digestion works.

Mini Gastric Bypass or One-Anastomosis Bypass.

Don't be sorry. I think it was a legit question. What you will be able to stomach or not - you will have to make your own experiences. I talked about Asian take out food. This usually contains noodles or rice. I don't have problems eating noodles or rice but some people can't stomach them. Some people can eat french fries (for some they are slider foods!) - my stomach doesn't like them. I got queasy the few times I tried them. Same with ice cream. Some people can gorge on it, I get early dumping with nausea and tachycardia so I don't eat it. In the end you have to experiment with foods (this includes the healthy foods as well!) down the road after you've been cleared for all foods and find your own diet that works for you in the end. This might be a bit more scary than simply following a tailored plan but if e. g. some of the "allowed foods" like certain vegetables or burgers without buns give you heartburn, gas or diarrhea - they are not for you though they might be the right foods for another patient. It's sensible to stay in contact with a NUT (if possible), e. g. I have the possibility to call or write an e-mail.