Songbird7777

I’m from philly

Waves from NW Jersey. I'm in Hunterdon. Here's to a rocking journey. I had mine recently, too. Will be fun to see how we change and lose. Best of luck to continued success.

Oh wow -- hang in there my friend -- it will get better I promise! I just hit the 4 month mark and I could have written your post at the same point The Protein Shakes made me just miserable after about 2 weeks but I did find comfort in the Isopure drinks from Vitamin Shoppe. They were expensive but worth it to me at that point. I would have done anything to avoid the Slim Fast shakes LOL I also found syntrex nectar Protein and now I mix two scoops of that with Water and it provides 46 grams of protein for 200 calories and it tastes good to me and they have a lot of flavors. Once you find a couple of flavors you like you can get the giant containers online from Walmart for cheaper. I'm down 65 pounds and have so much more energy and feel great. You can do this!

Here is a link to an article that I wrote about my surgery. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

After gastric bypass surgery, it can be difficult. It takes time. It wasn't until around the 6 month that all the problems seemed to melt away and I reached a happy state.
The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, Fluid and vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. So focus on the three main items.
Since you said you thought you might be dehydrated. Then focus on solving your problems with fluids.
It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even Water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate Hot Drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good.
The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your Vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the Protein Shakes. It is the water component of the Soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and Decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day.
Since you indicated you are having a problem with protein shakes.
Many experience problems drinking Protein shakes. I hated them. But in the beginning I drank them, three 16-ounce protein shakes a day, in order to meet my protein requirements. There are many varieties of protein shakes available today. Experiment until you can find one you can tolerate. You don't have to like it, just tolerate it. I used Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Creme) powder blended with water and a half a banana. That worked for me. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, you might try premixed Isopure.
If you tried all the various varieties and still are unsuccessfully, then there is the fallback of fortified milk. 32 ounces of 1% milk fortified by adding 1 cup of dried milk provides 56 grams of protein. It also takes a dent out of meeting the fluid requirements. Mix up a pitcher and drink a little throughout the day.
Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, Hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.

POD #2.... I'm feeling much better today. Monday and Tuesday were miserable. I'm still very tired and it's hard to keep up with the fluids. Thanks for the support!!

I had RNY gastric bypass because of health issues. I had diabetes and high blood pressure and several other conditions. The surgery helped resolve these issues quickly and place them in remission.
I do not believe my personality changed as a result of the surgery. I am still the same me. I did find that my stamina (ability to perform physical labor) increased dramatically. It was also nice to be able to buy clothes from department stores again. I went from a size 3X in shirts down to a size small and from a size 46 in pants down to a size 33.
Here is a picture of what happens in just 6 months after surgery.

I had "Robotic Gastric Bypass Surgery" & I stayed in the hospital for one night & had follow up with my doctor one week after.

I usually drink 3 Premier Protein clear a day that's 60g there and snack on low fat cottage cheese as a mid morning snack that's 12g. I keep a rotisserie chicken in the fridge and slice three ounces off at a time with steamed veggies for dinner. That gets me close to 80g a day. I'm 4 months out. I also became tired of Protein Shakes. I mix it up some times and snack on a hard boiled egg.

A study by David Cummings et. al. published in Diabetalogia investigated the mounting evidence indicates that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) ameliorates type 2 diabetes.
32 adults were divided into 2 groups. In the ILMI [intensive lifestyle and medical intervention] group, the individuals performed ≥45 min of aerobic exercise 5 days per week, a dietitian-directed weight- and glucose-lowering diet, and optimal diabetes medical treatment for 1 year. In the RYGB group, the individuals received Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).
Diabetes remission at 1 year was 60.0% with RYGB vs 5.9% with ILMI (p = 0.002). Compared with the most rigorous ILMI yet tested against surgery in a randomised trial, RYGB yielded greater type 2 diabetes remission in mild-to-moderately obese patients recruited from a well-informed, population-based sample.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00125-016-3903-x
I am almost 3 years post-op RNY surgery. I had Type 2 diabetes and took 2 types of medication prior to surgery. When I left the hospital 2 days after surgery, my diabetes went into remission and I went off my meds. It has stayed in remission ever since. Many individuals on this website report similar results. But a few don't. From prior posts, one of the variables for success appears to be the length of time the individual had diabetes prior to surgery. So one of the interesting points of this study is:
The groups were equivalent regarding all baseline characteristics, except that the RYGB cohort had a longer diabetes duration (11.4 ± 4.8 vs 6.8 ± 5.2 years, p = 0.009).

Researches in Australia (Dr. C. Westgarth from the University of Liverpol, Leahurst, Australia, and colleagues) looked at the relationship between owning a dog and the exercise one gets by walking a dog. What they found was “Forty-five percent of owners reported that their dog ‘very often (3+ per week)’ ‘encouraged them to walk’ in the past month and 66 % of owners reported that they agreed with the statement ‘Having my dog(s) makes me walk more’. “
They also found that "a number of factors could influence the likelihood of an owner walking his or her dog. The dog-related factors that significantly increased the probability of frequent walks was the size of the dog, with medium/large dogs more likely to be walked; so was a high degree of attachment to the dog, and the person answering the question being most responsible for dog-walking. Also, believing that the dog enjoys going for a walk was associated with a greater likelihood of walking, as was believing that walking would keep the dog healthy and decrease barking. Conversely, if the dog was old or sick, the probability of walking frequently was lower, as one might expect."
http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/06/10/lassie-effect-can-motivate-exercise-11398

I had gastric bypass Jan 18. My highest weight was 235. My day of surgery I weighed 192. My current weight today is 136. Boy has it been a journey of ups and downs but well worth it. I will however be getting plastics in the near future. I went from a 38 DDD to a b cup full of skin YUCK!

How are you doing? I'm 2 days out and just starting to feel normal again

Yes let's keep in touch

Thanks for coming back and sharing. I got to hand it to the ladies, but since I am a guy, I really get inspired seeing the progress that other guys who had before bodies that look like I do now make in their weight loss.

Thanks everyone. Life is amazing, of course I am an optimist and felt that way before losing the weight. It just sweetens the joy now. Remember. Nothing taste as good as thin!

There’s no doubt weight loss surgery helps you eat less. Whichever type you get replaces your regular stomach with a smaller pouch (or stoma or sleeve). But your struggle with food isn’t automatically over the minute you get out of surgery. The sooner you accept and confront this, the more weight you can lose, and the easier your weight loss journey is likely to be.
Whether you get the adjustable gastric band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or another type of Weight Loss Surgery, your Weight Loss Surgery is a restrictive procedure. It helps you fill up sooner, stay full longer, or be unable to tolerate certain foods. (And yes, some procedures such as the gastric bypass are malabsorptive – they reduce nutrient absorption – but all of them restrict food intake).


The Struggle Often Continues
For some patients, Weight Loss Surgery can lower your interest in food, so you are not constantly thinking about it. There’s no question Weight Loss Surgery can help you gain control of your eating, but it’s unlikely to eliminate your struggles with food disappear. A few lucky Weight Loss Surgery patients really do stop being tempted by food. The rest, who make up the vast majority of Weight Loss Surgery patients, continue to struggle.
You still may be hungry, enjoy salt, fat, starch, or sugar, or be tempted to use food as an emotional crutch. Your family members may continue to insist on keeping high-calorie foods in the house, or pressure you to eat things you shouldn’t. Your friends may still be going out to eat and inviting you to join them in ordering high-fat, high-sugar items.
“Why Me?” Isn’t Appropriate
It’s easy, even natural, to think of yourself as unlucky. Why should you have to struggle with food? Why should you have to monitor every bite you take, while some people don’t? The fact is, almost everyone does. Ask almost any skinny person how they stay skinny, and you’ll get some variation of the same answer: “I work hard for it.”
Just like you, they are aware of what goes into their bodies. They sometimes may be hungry; they sometimes may want to eat more than they should. But they, like you now, take responsibility for their decisions. They may:
Skimp on portions if they over ate at the previous meal.
Choose healthy foods first.
Have a strategy for dealing with emotions and boredom that doesn’t involve eating.
Have a support system that promotes healthy behaviors.
Accept It and Manage It

If you find you still have a rocky relationship with food after weight loss surgery, don’t conclude that WLS didn’t work for you. Instead, accept that you will need to fight the cravings and urges for months, years, or life, and start making a plan. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in developing strategies – whether you ask other BariatricPal members or an always-thin person you admire!
Persist in Order to Get the Answers You Need
We all want to be able to trust our doctors. You want to believe your surgeon takes care of all aspects of your Weight Loss Surgery, including your post-op, long-term nutrition. But it doesn’t always happen like that. Nutritional counseling may not be part of your surgery package, or you may only get a limited amount of generic information.
Or, your surgeon may simply not know how to help you nutritionally. Remember that many doctors have no more than an hour of nutrition education in medical school. To become a weight loss surgeon, doctors need to learn surgery. There is no dietary education requirement.
If you need help finding strategies to satisfy hunger – physical or head hunger – and your surgeon and primary care doctor are not able to help, keep looking. A session with a nutritionist may be more affordable than you think, and worth every penny.
Your Emotional Support System and Your Relationship with Food
The support system you built so carefully can come in handy right about now. Take advantage of your ability to talk to a therapist or psychologist if you have one to bring up your concerns. Discussing your ongoing struggles with portion sizes, food choices, and over-frequent nibbling with a mental health professional can help you come up with some strategies that work for you.
Group sessions are also appropriate forums to talk about food struggles and strategies. Though it may feel embarrassing at first to admit you’re still thinking about food a lot, you will find nearly everyone in that room did or does have that same experience.
Most Weight Loss Surgery patients do not find their surgery instantly eliminates their food struggles. You can take months or years to come to terms with a food addiction, and it may be something you need to learn to live with for life, but in a healthier manner than before Weight Loss Surgery. Be honest with yourself and those around you, and be open to suggestions, and you can figure out strategies that work for you. Do not assume WLS did not work for you!

Whether you’re young in age or young-at-heart, there are a few key steps you can take to keep your metabolism motor humming so you are blasting away calories at the highest rate possible.


As you age, your metabolism slows down. Older people also tend to have less muscle mass than younger people, which also reduces metabolic rate. This is why we encourage older patients to add light weight-bearing exercise to their fitness routines.
So how do you keep that furnace burning in order to burn calories, even if you’re already achieved your goal weight?
There are many simple tools to accomplish this task. I’ve outlined my favorites below:
Exercise
This weapon is key to maintaining and increasing metabolism. Seniors, take note−The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people 65 and older get 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week and perform weight-bearing exercises on all the body’s major muscle groups at least twice a week.
At any age, indoctrinate a 30-minute daily work-out, just like brushing your teeth and eating lunch, into your daily routine.
Sleep
To increase the chances of boosting metabolism, adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Getting too little shut-eye can significantly alter your body’s processes enough to predispose you to gain weight.
(Do you ever feel hungry for no reason when you’re exhausted and then reach for the wrong foods to boot?)
De-Stress
When you’re tense, your body releases cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal system that is linked to weight gain. It can also significantly weaken your immune system and open the door to acute and chronic illnesses.
Turn to regular physical activity, deep breathing, a quiet evening stroll, or professional help from a psychologist or counselor if you are experiencing chronic stress.
Eat and Drink
(First and foremost, follow your bariatric practice's instructions on post-op nutrition.)
Eating the right foods−clean Proteins, fruits and vegetables−fuels your metabolism firing on all cylinders. As soon as you awaken, charge-up those calorie burners by feeding them a Protein and a fruit (think omelette with feta cheese, spinach and veggies and a cup of berries).
Eat small meals throughout the day but stop by around 7 p.m.
Staying hydrated is key to maintaining good health. Keep a glass or refillable water bottle with you throughout the day. You are properly hydrated if your urine is nearly clear.
Other than choosing the right foods to eat and finding spiritual solace in your life, these tools serve as a roadmap to good health, including maintaining a healthy weight.
Best of all, once you’ve adopted these tips, you will look and feel better--sooner than you think.

Weight loss surgery is supposed to be the final answer to obesity. Ideally, you use your sleeve, band or pouch as a tool to help you lose weight, and that tool continues to keep you in check as you maintain goal weight.
But that’s not always the case. Many Weight Loss Surgery patients find that losing weight is easier than maintaining weight loss. You may already have some hint of that if you were a long-time yo-yo dieter before surgery.


So why is it so hard to keep the weight off, and what can you do about it? It can be harder to keep the weight off than lose it in the first place because:
You might gradually be less strict with your food choices as the occasional treat becomes more frequent and bigger.
Your restriction may not feel as, well, restrictive as it did right after surgery.
Your metabolism is slower and you don’t need as many calories as you did before.
You don’t have the motivation that comes from seeing the scale go down as a reward for your good eating habits.

But a little challenge doesn’t have to get you down! After all, you’re a WLS patient, and you’re in it for the long haul! Here are some things to think about as you are losing weight, approaching goal weight, or even working on maintaining your goal weight. This is just Part 1 of the two-part series, so stay tuned for Part 2!
I Hate Counting Calories!
Yes, logging your food can be tedious. Some people even find that counting calories makes them anxious or causes them to fixate on food. Maybe immediately post-op you could skip the calorie counting and still lose weight because you had so much restriction. Maybe, in the beginning, you forced yourself to log foods for a few weeks or months.
What if, when you’re at or near goal weight, you can’t face the thought of counting calories? You still have a few options that can work.
Go back to the meal plan you got from your surgeon or nutritionist and stick to it. If it says ½ cup of oatmeal, it doesn’t matter whether you know how many calories that half-cup contains. You can be certain that if you follow the plan, your total daily calories will add up to the amount in the plan.
Log once a week. This can help you stay on track as you make sure your portion sizes are still working out for you and you are choosing the low-calorie, high-protein foods you think you are.
Focus on another nutrient, such as Protein. If you hit your target grams of protein, stick to small portions, and make sure all of your protein and other foods are the nutritious ones you’re supposed to be eating – think lean Proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats, for starters – you have a good start towards eating the way you should.

Carbs Are the Devil!
Maybe it’s carbs, maybe it’s sugar, maybe it’s pizza, or tacos, or ice cream that you avoid in your weight loss efforts. Whatever it is, there’s a good chance you’re trying to avoid it as you lose weight. Weight loss surgery patients can be tempted to go low-carb, paleo, or sugar-free. That’s fine, as long as you can keep it up long-term.
If you can’t, you’re setting yourself up for a rough time. What happens when you hit goal weight and you flip a mental switch in your head? What if you go from low-carb to letting Cookies, bread, and Pasta back into your diet? What if you go off paleo and find all sorts of processed foods that are delicious and convenient? What happens next time you come face to face with an order of chicken wings and dipping sauce for the table?
You may be better off planning for a diet that will work long term. While you are still losing weight or while you are early in the maintenance phase, take inventory of your feelings. Be honest about what you can and cannot live without, and develop a plan to address it. Then practice!
These are some possible ways to approach your food fears.
Think “healthy, portion-controlled carb” instead of “low-carb.” Aim to get in healthy carbs such as oatmeal, lentils, fruit, sweet potatoes, and yogurt rather than avoiding all carbs.
Consider the good and bad of the paleo diet. While the guidelines to avoid processed foods and refined sugars can’t hurt, it really necessary to avoid nutrient powerhouses such as Beans (think: protein, Fiber, and potassium)? And is it really possible to avoid all processed foods for the rest of your life? What happens if you run short on time? A good strategy may be to get in the habit of reading labels so you develop your ability to choose healthy (or at least, “healthier”) packaged meal helpers.
Make up your mind about trigger foods. Are you the type who can be satisfied with one potato chip when you get a craving? Or are you best off avoiding the chips altogether? Is there a similar substitute, such as kale chips, that can work for you? If you’re not sure, experiment so you know how best to handle cravings.

Maintenance has its share of challenges, but you can overcome them to be able to experience all the joys of hitting that goal weight you dreamed about for so long. Just like you did when you were getting ready for weight loss surgery and losing weight, you can take a carefully planned approach to maintenance that considers your own preferences. Stay tuned to Part 2 of the two-part series!

Your surgeon and your dietitian say you need more Protein. With a limited stomach pouch, how is that going to happen? You can add protein by adding unflavored powder to many things you are already eating and drinking. These can be added to a variety of foods and beverages including cooked cereals, flavored water or low-calorie sports drinks, light yogurts, unsweetened fruit purees, sugar-free puddings, protein shakes and smoothies, milk, Decaf coffee or tea, cottage cheese, Soups, broth and hummus or other bean dips.< /span>


Finding unflavored protein in a single serve packet will allow you to sample a brand without having to buy the larger container first. Single serve packets of whey protein isolate are available online with Bariatric Fusion, Jay Robb and Unjury. Whey Protein Powder is also found in the bulk bins at Sprouts Farmers Market. You can buy a small amount to taste test. Our patients have also liked the larger containers of unflavored whey protein by brands like Inspire , Isopure (GNC, online) and online (online). Keep in mind, whey protein must be kept under 140 degrees, otherwise, it will curdle. Soy protein isolate is also available. Brands include GNC and brands like NOW Foods and Genisoy, which are available online and some natural foods stores. These will be in larger containers. Sprouts Farmers Market also has soy protein in their bulk bins, so that you can buy a small amount to taste test. Sometimes you can get a sample taste of unflavored protein in stores that sell natural foods, supplements and sports nutrition products. Ask about the return policy if you don’t like the product. There are many other brands of unflavored protein powders on the market. If you have a group of bariatric buddies, perhaps the buddies can buy different brands to try and share. This cuts the cost of taste testing. May your protein status be awesome!

Hello Mrs. J my real name is "Jenee(Jenay)", I am scheduled for my Robotic Gastric Bypass Surgery for this Monday, August 7th at 9am. I am already preparing & planning, but yes, I will be using the vitamin patches. I have already ordered them[emoji4] Well let's keep in touch & I will be praying for both of us on our journey. God Bless![emoji4]

Hello Mrs. J my real name is "Jenee(Jenay)", I am scheduled for my Robotic Gastric Bypass Surgery for this Monday, August 7th at 9am. I am already preparing & planning, but yes, I will be using the vitamin patches. I have already ordered them[emoji4] Well let's keep in touch & I will be praying for both of us on our journey. God Bless![emoji4]

My surgery is scheduled for Aug 14 and I'm planning to use the vitamin patches because I have trouble with pill including chewables. Anyone going this route?

Wow![emoji15][emoji33] You look awesome![emoji1490][emoji1490][emoji1474] God Bless![emoji4]
#HEDIDTHAT

P.S. My name is Jenee and I will be having my Robotic Gastric Bypass Surgery coming up in 30 days on August 7th, 2017. I am so excited & you are an inspiration[emoji4]

Wow![emoji15][emoji33] You look awesome![emoji1490][emoji1490][emoji1474] God Bless![emoji4]
#HEDIDTHAT

P.S. My name is Jenee and I will be having my Robotic Gastric Bypass Surgery coming up in 30 days on August 7th, 2017. I am so excited & you are an inspiration[emoji4]