BigSue

I'm 7 months out from gastric bypass, and my new relationship with food is still a challenge, but a little easier as I get used to it. I was told to eat 3 meals per day and avoid snacks, and I've been really strict about sticking to that. The only things I have between meals are sugar-free Jello or popsicles, 0-calorie or low-calorie beverages, and protein shakes. And of course the three meals I eat are still very small (~4 ounces each) and have to be mostly protein. I have a rotation of go-to meals that I eat all the time, and they're mostly things I can prepare and freeze in individual portions. It feels really limiting sometimes to know that I can only pick three things to eat each day. I keep finding delicious-looking recipes on Pinterest that I want to try, but there's sort of a waiting list to get new meals onto my menu. It's especially hard when I buy fresh vegetables and it's a race against time to eat them before they go bad. I usually eat with a tiny fork or spoon to help me take small bites, and I set a timer to go off every 30 seconds. I take a bite, chew for ~30 seconds, then wait 30 seconds until the next bite. Now, I've read about the benefits of "mindful eating" and how you should eat without distractions, not eat in front of the TV or computer, etc., but I would go INSANE if I tried to eat this way and had nothing to do while waiting for the next bite. I'm always doing something else while eating, whether it's watching TV/YouTube, scrolling through Facebook, working, etc. Sometimes I eat lunch while working, and I don't take my next bite until I finish a task. I can make a protein bar last over an hour that way. I don't know, maybe this is a bad habit, but it's how I roll... It's also kind of hard to get used to taking so many pills, but I've gotten a pretty good routine down. The challenge is that I have to take calcium 3x/day and iron 2x/day, which have to be at least 2 hours apart from one another and at least 4 hours apart from my thyroid medication. I use an app called Medisafe to remind me at specific times (at this point, I remember on my own, but I still like to track when I take them), and it also tracks how many I have left so I know when to refill or reorder. It does kind of feel like this stuff has taken over my life sometimes, especially if I include my daily workout plus walking, and it seems like A LOT because I spent so many years not thinking much about what or when I was eating, not taking any pills, not exercising. But it's gotten a little easier over time as it's become part of my life and part of my routine.

Woah... I just updated my weight on my profile, and I knew that would put my BMI under 30, but I still cried a little when I saw 29. This is the first time in my adult life that I am not obese! I can hardly believe it!

Congratulations! You look amazing. I was shocked when I scrolled down to the pictures after reading your description. You look WAY better than you give yourself credit for. I am seriously jealous of how LITTLE loose skin you have. You could totally pull off a miniskirt right now with no plastic surgery.

I used the 2-ounce disposable cups right after surgery, first to measure out protein shakes (you have to sip really slowly for the first couple of weeks, so it's best to track your intake 1 or 2 ounces at a time), and also to portion out purees and soft foods. Your portion size for purees and soft foods is about 2 ounces, so you can measure out individual portions of stuff like yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed cauliflower, applesauce, pudding, Jello, etc. I still use them all the time now for meal prep. I like to make a big batch of something and split it up into individual servings to freeze. You can fit 8-10 in a quart-size Ziploc bag. I have a freezer full of these containers with individual servings of turkey meat sauce, Mexican shredded chicken, Asian chicken, BBQ chicken, black beans, salsa, raspberry puree, and strawberry puree. That gives me tons of easy meals, like: Mexican chicken + salad, Asian chicken + cauliflower rice & veggies, BBQ chicken + green beans, turkey meat sauce + ricotta bake, turkey meat sauce + spaghetti squash, Greek yogurt + raspberry puree, etc. (The black beans and salsa are just so they don't go bad before I use a whole container and I can just thaw a little at a time.) I also use them as condiment cups, like ranch dip for veggies, or salad dressing to bring to work, or for small amounts of toppings like parmesan cheese or nuts. They also work as pill holders (I mostly use a pill organizer -- another great thing to have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072VQY7M7/ -- but sometimes I don't want to bring the whole day's worth of pills with me).

Notebook/food journal - didn't need (I use the MyFitnessPal app, and there are plenty of other apps available to fulfill any notebook or journal need) Pill crusher - didn't need Water bottle - This is a matter of personal preference, but I don't like those giant water bottles. The appeal is that they make it easier to make sure you get enough water, but I just use a smaller bottle and track in MFP. Prep bowls - You can probably just use whatever bowls you normally use for food (soup bowls/cereal bowls). 2 or 4 ounce plastic containers - Now here's one that I agree with! I use a ton of 2-ounce containers with lids. They are extremely useful for meal prep. These are good: https://www.target.com/p/diamond-multi-purpose-mini-cups-with-lids-50ct/-/A-14465305; if you're looking for something from Amazon, these are not as good as the Diamond but they're fine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7W9BUX/ . Also, in the first week, it's nice to have little 1-ounce medicine cups to help track fluids. They gave me a whole pack to take home from the hospital, but you can also get them on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FSSQLQ7/ Food scale - must-have! You want one that measures in grams and ounces. I've had this one for over 10 years and I'm pretty happy with it (but there are plenty of other options): https://www.amazon.com/Escali-P115C-Precision-Lightweight-Lifetime/dp/B0007GAWRS/ Small plates and bowls - not entirely necessary, but highly recommended. When you're eating tiny portions, it's just easier to eat from small dishes. I use these every day: https://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Hocking-Glass-Bowls-Custard/dp/B000LNS2HE/. My favorite small dishes are these (I have 3 sets!): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0854P3XS1/ . They are a great size and the lids are very secure. I freeze single-serving portions of soup, chili, etc. in these. They are also perfect for the famous ricotta bake. I split the ricotta bake recipe into 8 of these and bake it in the containers, then put the lids on and freeze them. Baby utensils - another nice to have, but not must-have. I use something similar to this (I can't find the same set I purchased): https://www.amazon.com/RETON-Teaspoon-Flatware-Accessory-5-2-Inch/dp/B075HDD4TC/ . They are really useful for learning to take very small bites. I much prefer using metal utensils rather than plastic utensils made for babies. One more thing to add is something to mix protein shakes. I started with a blender bottle (https://www.amazon.com/BlenderBottle-Classic-Shaker-Bottle-20-Ounce/dp/B01LZ2UMH0), but I got a milk frother as a free gift with my BariatricPal order (https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-portable-protein-mixer-blender-whipper-pink?_pos=1&_sid=06414db01&_ss=r). I wouldn't have bought it for myself, but I have ended up using it all the time. It's so much easier to mix protein shakes, protein soups, etc. than a blender bottle or a spoon. You can get something similar on Amazon. If you don't already have a blender and/or food processor, you will probably need one for the pureed stage. I have both. I don't use them very much now that I don't have to puree everything. I have this blender: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7Y3H73 and a Hamilton Beach mini food processor that does not seem to be available anymore.

Yeah, you're good! This is one of the less active boards on the site, so you might not get a lot of replies.

Before my surgery, I ordered a bunch of samples of protein shakes, and I also ended up liking IdealLean the best. I've purchased some tubs from them (chocolate brownie, birthday cake, and chocolate coconut). It is also relatively inexpensive (they inflate their "regular" price, so it's always "on sale"). I like to mix the birthday cake protein into Greek yogurt. I recently got a sample pack of LadyBoss Lean, and it is quite tasty, but I don't think I'll buy any more because it's expensive and the macros aren't as good as IdealLean. As for protein bars, I am OBSESSED with Built Bars. They are amazing. They taste like candy bars. Every time I bite into one, I marvel at how it's possible for something kinda healthy to taste so incredible. They have 18 regular flavors and they frequently put out limited release flavors. Their two newest ones, cookie dough and coconut brownie chunk, are the best ones yet. There are some people who don't like the texture, so I'd recommend trying one box before you stock up on multiple cases, but I love love love them. I've also heard good things about Alani Nu protein bars and FitFactor protein bars, but I haven't tried them because I already have over 300 Built bars in my house and don't need to be buying any more protein bars right now.😁

Yes, I absolutely love Built Bars and I consider them a treat. I like to have something I can look forward to eating at the end of the day -- saving the best for last.

I do something similar. I am very strict about only eating 3 meals and no snacks (other than sugar-free beverages and Jello). I have a Crio Bru with half a scoop of protein powder instead of breakfast, sometimes a sugar-free Jello later in the morning, and don't eat solid food until lunchtime. I have some tea or Crio Bru between lunch and dinner (I find that hot drinks are very filling), and then I have my third meal (my daily Built Bar) before I go to bed. I used to have the Built Bar for breakfast or lunch, but I really like saving it for the end of the day.

I've been purchasing Torani and DaVinci sugar-free syrups for a while, and I found another brand, Jordan's Skinny Syrups, on Amazon. I decided to try it out and I purchased this Caramel Collection Trio with Caramel Pecan, Salted Caramel, and Caramel Vanilla Creme: https://amazon.com/Jordans-Skinny-Syrups-Caramel-Collection/dp/B07B8PDS4V I loved these so much that I wanted to try some more flavors, and they have A TON. Some are available on Amazon, and I've heard that Home Goods and TJ Maxx have them for a great price ($3.99), but I don't live near either of those stores, so I went to their web site (http://SkinnyMixes.com) and... I went a little crazy! They were having a 25% off sale at the time, and I bought 13 different flavors for a total of $52.22 (including shipping) -- that's $4.02/bottle. Not bad! Here's what I got: 6-bottle Dessert Sampler Peanut Butter Cup Glazed Donut Mint Chocolate Chip Chocolate Coconut Macaron Iced Cinnamon Roll Caramel Creme Cheesecake Hazelnut Chocolate Caramel Truffle Caramel Fudge Waffle Cone Caramel Pecan (this was my favorite from the Caramel Collection Trio, so I had to get more!) Maple Bourbon Pecan Raspberry Cherry I can't wait to try them all! I mainly use flavored syrups in tea and Crio Bru (brewed cacao). I don't like coffee, but I think most people use them in coffee to make fancy Starbucks-like flavored coffee drinks. For those struggling to drink enough fluids, I highly recommend trying flavored teas/coffee/cocoa (I also find that warm beverages are great for filling me up between meals). They're also good in yogurt and protein oatmeal. I imagine they would enhance smoothies as well. There are SO MANY awesome flavors available that it was hard for me to narrow it down to "only" 13, but I decided to buy the minimum to get free shipping and save the rest for my next order.

I'm happy to see all these success stories! I have lost over 100 pounds since my surgery, and over 170 from my highest weight. I am literally HALF the person I was a year ago! I've been working out almost every day for several months, and I got a new Fitbit for Christmas that has motivated me to walk more. I got pretty bored getting 10,000 steps just walking around the house, so I've started taking walks around the neighborhood (1-2 miles) every day.

I'm interested in people's thoughts about healthy versions of junk food -- e.g., protein chips, protein cookies, protein cheese puffs... I'm especially interested in hearing from WLS veterans who have successfully kept the weight off for years. Do you eat these things, and if so, where do you draw the line? I can see these things in two different ways: (1) they'll help me reach my weight loss goals by allowing me to feel less deprived while staying on my plan, or (2) they're dangerous gateway foods that will lead me back into bad eating habits and derail my progress. I try to eat "real" foods most of the time -- meat, eggs, veggies, fruit, low-fat dairy, beans -- although I usually eat a protein bar for lunch at work (and you can pry my Built Bars from my cold, dead hands!), but sometimes it's nice to eat something reminiscent of the foods I can/should no longer eat. I bought some Quest protein chips, and they're kind of amazing. I use them for protein nachos or crushed as a salad topping to add a little extra protein. The macros are similar (if not a little better) than a protein bar, so I once ate a whole bag as a meal, but it felt kind of wrong.

Those look good! The macros aren't as great as the Quest chips, but they could work for an occasional treat.

I'm 7 months out and I still use protein shakes/powder. I get most of my protein from food, but I usually have half a scoop of protein powder or 2-3 ounces of ready-to-drink protein shake every day. Sometimes I mix it into food (like yogurt or protein oatmeal), but my favorite thing to do is mix it with Crio Bru (brewed cacao beans), some almond milk, and sugar-free flavored syrups for a flavored hot cocoa with 10 grams of protein. (A lot of people like to do the same thing with coffee, but I don't like coffee.)

I live alone and I didn’t tell anyone about my surgery. I had no trouble taking care of myself after surgery. I was required to have someone pick me up from the hospital, and they specifically said no taxis/Uber/Lyft (but nobody asked, so I probably could have gotten away with it), so I hired a home health aide to pick me up and drive me home. She also picked up my prescriptions. After that, I had no help and didn’t really need any. I was a little worried about stuff like laundry (since you’re supposed to be careful about bending over and lifting things), but didn’t have any issues. You don’t have to do much in the way of food preparation in the beginning because it’s just liquids. I don’t have any pets, so I didn’t have to worry about that. I think that issue depends on what your dog and home are like. If you have a fenced-in yard and just let the dog out, that should be fine, but if you have to take the dog on walks and it’s a big dog who pulls on the leash, that could be a problem. But I would imagine you can hire a dog-walker for a few weeks if that’s the case (which would be a lot cheaper than boarding). I had very little pain after surgery, other than gas pain the first day. I didn’t need to take any painkillers after I left the hospital — not even Tylenol. I was pretty tired for the first few days, but by about the 5th day, I felt almost back to normal. I went back to work a week and a half after surgery and I was fine. Keep in mind that everyone’s recovery is a little different, so yours could be easier or harder than mine, but based on what I’ve read here, my experience is fairly typical.

Congrats, and have a great vacation! I still find it surreal that the first number in my weight is a 1. I catch myself sometimes starting to enter 2 before I remember that I'm in the 100s.

I failed my work physical because my blood pressure was too high. Right after that, I started a new job that didn't require me to pass a physical, so I actually just kept ignoring my health for another year or so. But my new job was a desk job, unlike my old job that required a lot of walking, so I gained even more weight and got even more out of shape and I got to the point that I could only walk a short distance without getting sweaty and out of breath. The failed work physical kept nagging at me, and every time I watched a medical-themed TV show where a patient had a stroke or heart attack, I would see myself there, so I finally decided to go to a doctor (I hadn't been to one in almost 10 years). They were talking about putting me on medication for hypertension and diabetes and I didn't like the future I was seeing, of being someone with all these medical problems, going to the doctor all the time, taking a bunch of medications. I've tried losing weight so many times that I had given up on it by then. Weight loss surgery seemed so extreme -- a last resort -- and I really didn't want to do it, but I came to the realization that it was time to go to that last resort.

I wore the same size jeans (26) through 110 pounds of weight loss (I have to admit they were a bit too small at my highest weight -- I had to wear them around the house for a few hours to re-stretch them every time I washed them -- but I couldn't stand to go up another size). I had to wear a belt to hold them up toward the end of that, but I had the same frustration that I had lost so much weight but was pretty much the same size. After that, though, I started to blow through sizes really quickly. Now I'm wearing size 14 and I need a belt.

I can't wait to try the Maple Bourbon Pecan! I think that will be delicious with apple tea. Just out of curiosity, which one didn't you love? One of my favorite things is to make protein Crio Bru: 6 ounces Crio Bru + 2 ounces almond milk + half a scoop of protein powder. The flavor combination possibilities are endless!

Have you watched any of Dr. Weiner's videos on YouTube? He's a bariatric surgeon who has a lot of great videos, but he said something about head hunger in one of his videos (can't remember which one now) that really bugged me. He basically said that "stomach growling" hunger feeling is just head hunger, and I was like, "B.S.!" I am so thankful that my surgery has almost completely eliminated my hunger (so far... I know my hunger will probably return eventually). Before surgery, I felt like my stomach was a bottomless pit, and I could eat huge quantities of food and still be hungry. I tried waiting after I ate since we're always told it takes time for satiety to set in, and nope -- I would just keep getting hungrier. There were so many times that I didn't WANT to eat any more, but I was just so hungry. Sometimes I couldn't sleep because of hunger and I had to eat more just so I could sleep. And I am quite sure that this was real, physical hunger and not just in my head. My personal theory is that this is one of the factors that makes it more difficult for some people to lose or manage their weight. I truly believe that some people are just hungrier than others, or maybe we feel hunger more strongly -- kind of like a pain threshold. People who don't have that extreme hunger can't understand why it's not as easy as it sounds to "just eat less." Now, I will also admit to having head hunger -- eating out of boredom or habit, or because something looks delicious and I want to taste it, or I'm eating something so delicious that I want to keep eating more of it, or to treat myself to something I've been looking forward to eating -- and I still experience that sometimes. I still have times when I see something I want to eat really badly even though I know that I'm not hungry. But it is a heck of a lot easier to resist when I'm not actually, physically hungry.

I was getting 400-500 calories and about 50 grams of protein per day (I was supposed to get 60 grams of protein per day, but often came up short).

Calcium citrate is more easily absorbed because it doesn't require stomach acid to digest. It also has less risk of causing kidney stones. Unfortunately, most drugstore brands of calcium supplements are calcium carbonate, which is cheaper, and we bariatric patients have to buy the more expensive specialty ones.

Calories In, Calories Out. It's sort of the traditional view of weight management -- eat more than you burn and you gain weight, burn more than you eat and you lose weight. If you look at it this way, it doesn't matter what the calories are (protein, fat, carbs, meat, vegetarian, organic, GMO, etc.), just how many you're eating vs. burning.

I don’t think they’re any bigger than, say, Centrum or One-A-Day, and maybe smaller (though it’s been a while since I took those, so I’m not sure). I don’t love the taste of the capsule, but I just make sure to swallow it (with water) as soon as I put it in my mouth. YMMV, but my B12 levels on my latest bloodwork were off the charts, just from taking the sublingual tablets. I actually like taking them because they have a nice cherry flavor. My surgeon said to take chewables for the first 6 weeks. I used Barimelts multivitamin, calcium, and iron for the first two months (because they come in a 1-month supply) and then I switched to the BariatricPal Multivitamin One with iron and BariatricPal calcium chews. I got one bottle of BariatricPal multivitamin chewables just to try, and I didn’t like the taste, so then I switched to the capsules. By that time (3 months out), I had no problem swallowing pills, except it could be a little uncomfortable if I took too big of a gulp of water.

The BariatricPal Multivitamin One vitamins are the best-priced bariatric multivitamins I've seen. If you buy the ones with iron, you might not have to take a separate iron supplement. They have a yearly subscription for $99.99, which is $8.33/month. You can buy them in smaller quantities (which I recommend doing to start to make sure you like them), but the more you buy, the lower the cost per vitamin. They do have a chewable one that you can take right after surgery, but I didn't care for the taste (I took Barimelts for the first two months, but they are pricey). You can take normal drugstore vitamins, but you have to take a double dose, and if you do that, the BariatricPal subscription is cheaper than most of the drugstore vitamins. You will have to take a separate calcium citrate supplement (make sure it's calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate). I LOVE the BariatricPal Belgian chocolate caramel and French vanilla caramel soft chews -- they taste like candy and make me look forward to taking my calcium. They are the lowest-priced calcium citrate chews I've seen (and they go on sale often), but you can get calcium citrate tablets for a lower price (about 1/3 of the price of soft chews per dose). I buy Caltrate petites and take those 1x per day (2 pills per dose) and soft chews 2x per day. You will also need vitamin B-12, which you can get as a sublingual tablet, injection, or nasal spray. I buy NatureMade brand sublingual tablets from Amazon. They are very inexpensive -- less than $10 for 50.