CrowLuv

Thank you for the link, I'll check it out!

So, I've reached and actually far surpassed my goal weight, and I'm ecstatic about that! However, I am ashamed to confess that, to put it bluntly, my diet SUCKS. I don't even know when it started to, probably over the 2020 holidays if I had to guess. I've continued to lose weight since then, and that's probably why I haven't felt compelled to make healthy changes to my diet. But believe me, I know how wrong that is. I just haven't wanted to face it head on until now. The fact is, I know that reaching goal weight is NOT the end of the journey. It's just starting, in fact. I exercise daily, and that's great, but my eating habits are pure garbage. It's hard to admit this. I'm deeply ashamed of it. To have gotten the privilege of having bariatric surgery, and to, due to that privilege, reach the accomplishment of my weight loss goal, only to treat my body like a garbage can, is a huge disservice to myself and to the golden opportunity I was given. Here's the thing: I don't know where to start. During my weight loss phase I had that down pat, I kept it very simple, which is part of why I don't know what to do with myself now. Being in maintenance, I'm at the point where I don't even know, what do I eat? I do not want to focus on calorie counting anymore (at this point, at least), for personal reasons - I just want to eat healthily. I want to give my body the nutrition it deserves. But what does that look like at goal weight? Does anyone have any advice or resources I could use to help me with this? I don't mean a calorie counter type thing, I mean more like a basic "these are the foods you should eat" type thing, with ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I don't know where to start - I'm embarrassed about that but not so embarrassed as to not ask for help when I need it...and I really do need it. If anyone has any ideas or tips to get me started on how to eat healthy at maintenance, I'd be so grateful, thanks in advance!

Hey there @NurseMichael! Just watched the video, liked and subscribed - really enjoyed it. Love your energy and passion, and while I don't know how much I can get out of it at this point in time (only one month post-op), I know it won't be long at all until whatever I learn will be so valuable. Thank you for doing this, what a great service to the bariatric community! P.S. Is it bad that I burst out laughing when your mic fell over? ? I'm so glad you didn't edit that out, it made the video even better!

I can SO relate to this. My husband and I (married 24 years now) developed the awful habit in recent years (as our kids grew older) of "Netflix and EAT," lol. So mindless eating while enjoying a good show has been a deeply ingrained habit of mine for far too long. That's a great idea about putting an end time on when to eat. I'm going to start doing that as well. Anyway - sorry to say I share that same struggle - but we got this. ?

Thank you so much - and yes, today is much better. It's obvious to me now that all those "flaky" bm's were just traveling around the monster one lol. I know, gross - but at least now I know better, and can take all this wonderful advice here and do my best to prevent it from happening again (at least at that level).

ABSOLUTELY! ?

Thank you all so much for the suggestions and advice, I really appreciate it!

Had gastric bypass last month and I've been doing really well recovery wise. Warning - there is some TMI in this post, but I really need help... Background info: My BMs since surgery have been regular but...flaky? Not liquid diarrhea, but just - kinda powdery. Didn't think much of it since I figured well, I've been eating so much less and, blah blah. But then, the past couple of days I could "feel" the constipation was oncoming (I've had it my whole life, I know the feeling). I took some stool softeners, no bueno. Fast forward to last night - I was on the toilet all night off and on, crying out in pain, almost passing out and nauseated and feeling like I was gonna puke. I could "feel" this rock hard huge BM was right there at the edge, and even having to urinate was hell bc it would put pressure on it and I could feel it trying to come out but, it was NOT gonna come out. By 4am, I was close to having husband take me to urgent care bc I knew it was "impacted" in there. I tried a couple of enemas, as hellish as that was - absolutely no help. Finally later this morning I managed to pass the monster-brick-hard BM (TMI - this involved my awkward digital breakup attempts, also hell) that has probably been in there this whole time I thought the "flaky" BM's were "normal." ? And I felt relief, but then next time I tried to go to the bathroom, a couple of hours ago, I can tell there's more, and it hurts. ? Oh and I did call the doctor (first thing this morning) and he said to take Milk of Magnesia and drink lots of water. Done. But research on this wonderful site has given me all other kinds of good advice regarding routines and products, etc. etc. - . I will be using it. Where I need guidance/advice: So, I'm in the "soft/mushy" foods phase of the post-op regimen. I've been continuing with at least 1 Premier Protein shake a day, sometimes two - to help get in enough protein (it's so hard to reach my daily goal!). Then for dinner I've been having one of the following: Mushed up lowfat cottage cheese - OR - hard boiled egg blended up in my mini-blender with a tiny dollop of lite mayo and mustard - OR - also using my mini-blender, ground up moistened chicken breast with a tiny bit of lite mayo and celery salt (my version of "chicken salad" lol) - OR - watered down and mushed up refried beans with a bit of green salsa. I'm also meeting/ exceeding my 64oz fluid requirement daily (mostly water, some herbal teas) - and in fact usually surpass that. Are there any soft foods phase "meals" y'all can recommend that can - along with the other stuff like MOM, Colace, etc. - help prevent constipation or at least not actively contribute to it? Are my foods listed above not "ideal"? I'm going by doctor's list of recommendations - but admittedly only sticking to a very few of the choices. I try to keep things simple basically. I've had constipation issues my whole life, even as a young child - and nothing is more terrifying to me honestly - I even had to have a hemorrhoidectomy last year it got so bad - and if this crap continues (ha ha, get it) I know I'll be headed down that road again, which is a nightmare I never wish to repeat. ? ANY advice on what other soft foods that could help with avoiding constipation I should start including in my diet would be really helpful, thanks so much in advance!

Oh no don't give my brain any new ideas - LOL! ?

So I just started my soft foods phase two days ago, so far so good....and then... Last night, I had a waaaay too realistic dream (nightmare!) that I woke up to the smell of pizza, and next thing I knew I had eaten two slices of supreme-everything-on-it pizza, then suddenly it dawned on me - just as I was eating the last bite - that I had just had my WLS! I felt horrified that I had actually forgotten! I panicked, felt sheer terror, was freaking out, crying, hysterical, the works! It was legit terrifying but when I woke up and realized it was just a nightmare, I felt so relieved, and then I burst out laughing because holy crap my nightmare wasn't about monsters or the usual scary stuff - but ABOUT PIZZA. ? Has anyone else had any "oops forgot I had WLS surgery and just ate something I shouldn't" dreams? Maybe it's just me and I'm a total weirdo, but still, I'm laughing about it at least, lol. ?

This sounds delish, I love deviled eggs. Gonna add this to my "list"

Woo hoo! A new milestone! My first soft foods day was Thursday. I had about 2oz of lowfat cottage cheese and it was divine lol. So weird that it felt like "enough" -- bc I love cottage cheese and used to just eat a big bowl of it. It's very exciting to realize that after just a few bites, I actually feel not just satiated, but not "yearning" for more, if that makes sense? It's a totally new feeling for me. I'd recommend you set a timer 30 minutes after your last fluid before you eat, then after eating set a timer for another 30 minutes before you have liquids again. Rinse and repeat. Best of luck!!!

Congrats! And...same here. I just started my soft foods on Thursday, and then last night - just for a moment, but still - I forgot about the "30 minutes before and after" and had a sip of tea right before I started my little bit of Cream of Wheat. I immediately was like "D'OH!" but it was okay I guess bc it had only been a little sip. Still, it kinda scared me. What I'm doing now is starting my phone timer 30 minutes before I know I should eat, to stop drinking. Then when done eating I set my phone timer for another 30 minutes to let me know I can drink liquids again. Hope that helps!

YAYYYY you are done with the surgery! I remember "meeting" you here just the weekend before it, and wow time flies, huh? So happy for you!