summerset

I think this is something to keep in mind (like really keeping in the mind): "self-selecting success group", especially when it comes to the old timers. How many not-successful old timers are there writing regularly on the boards? Not many, if any. Sometimes someone with regain after several years of having WLS pops up but they never seem to stick around for long, only for a few posts (and I can absolutely understand why they don't want to hang around).

Of course they would. They're eating only 500 kcal a day.

My thoughts about this are: "Why do so many patients seem to feel the need to go on special restrictive diets after having WLS? Aside from allergies, intolerances or ethical reasons - why make a diet more restrictive than it has to be? Especially when thinking about that neither going "keto" nor "low carb" nor "low fat" solved our weight problems."

I had acid reflux and got an MGB - reflux got way better. Unfortunately not all RNY patients are free of reflux as well. Feels a bit like throwing a coin when you have reflux and have to decide for one surgery. An MGB is comparable to a Billroth-II-Anastomosis. There are tons of studies on Billroth II surgery. General surgeons perform it since decades when it comes to ulcers (before anyone knew about HP) and cancer.

There are plenty of protein powders and "milks" out there that don't contain lactose. Also not all contain artificial sweeteners. If the sweet taste is important to you and you don't want to add calories: have you tried different artificial sweeteners?

That's one of the reasons I deleted mine after being on this board for awhile.

There are quite a few vegetarians and vegans on this board. Maybe you want to check out the veg threads?

No envy here. That's how different people are. Just an observation but in the hospital it seemed to me that the "bypass people" could eat and drink more and better from the beginning on compared to the "sleeve people". As for restriction: how much did you eat before surgery compare to now?

Because I think only someone who was never fat can attribute all these changed reactions from other people to "having more confidence now".

No, I was in fact pleasantly surprised since I still feel some heartburn when I'm late with my meds (I sometimes notice it when working late). I expected the usually inflammation stuff they always seemed to find during the past years.

I don't know if that is really something to brag about but my last gastroscopy came back fine without any signs of inflammation in the stomach or esophagitis. The little scar I have down there has also healed well as it seems. Ok, maybe it is something to brag about because after years of having "inflammation" I did some dietary changes and of course I don't have proof that this caused the healing but it would be a big coincidence since there was no changes in medication.

So... we brag!

Isn't fishing for compliments something else? Like "OMG, I'm so FAT!!!!1", hoping to get the answer: "Oh NOOO hon, a BMI of 19 is not FAT!!!!!1"

This therapist of yours has never been fat, right?

I think this is an interesting question. Is the guy who gets from a BMI of 65 to 31 really not as successful as the gal who gets from BMI 40 to 23? And who decides this "ultimate goal weight" so many people are striving for anyway? How much lifelong effort are people willing and able to put into this whole weight/food thing? I think this is a question to ponder and being honest about to yourself. People are talking about "getting educated" before surgery all the time and how important that is. Surgeons talk a lot about that most patients won't reach a normal weight and yet this seems to be a part of pre-surgical education that many patients either seem to completely ignore or are not willing to accept at all.

Do you mean "hunger" or "I could eat something of that now"?

But doesn't that advice translate into nothing but "ignore your hunger and be on a diet for the rest of your life"? We all know this never worked for us.

Me, too. However, I was afraid of the bypass surgery and years ago it was kind of complicated to get the revision (and no guarantee you'd get it at all!!). Nowadays there are quite a few hospitals in Germany that perform revisions because of reflux without the patient having to get permission from insurance first!

I kind of feel the urge to rant about what your surgeon gave you as an answer but I won't. Instead of this I'm recommending looking up Dr. Weiner's videos, e. g. these: http://drmatthewweiner.com/weight-loss-surgery-patients-eat-your-vegetables-first/ http://drmatthewweiner.com/how-to-prevent-your-stomach-from-stretching-after-weight-loss-surgery/

This. I had severe problems as well and converting to MGB was the best decision ever. The recent gastroscopy showed that the lower esophagus seems to be well again - first time in years!! Seems like I also have (again) a little hernia - though I personally don't think this has to do with the lap-band. Truckloads of people are running around with (undiagnosed) hernia who don't even know they have one.

I'm kind of surprised that only about 30% are diagnosed(?) with an ED. I personally think everyone who needs WLS has severe problems with eating/food - if one wants to call that an eating disorder or not doesn't matter in the end.

And don't be surprised about the portion size when it comes to leafy greens and raw vegetables.

It's quite normal that you are able to eat bigger portions with time. I don't know how big these portions you're describing really are (e. g. just how big are these chicken things?). In general I have the impression that many patients don't seem to be prepared when it comes to growing portions. Is that something a lot of surgeons/nutritionists/etc. simply don't talk about? As long as your weight is moving down you're not "messing up".

Using a good blender (high speed one, if you have access to it) seems to make all the difference when it comes to smoothies.

LOL, they sure do.