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learn2cook

Gastric Bypass Patients
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Everything posted by learn2cook

  1. learn2cook

    Getting the round around

    I’m so sorry this is happening to you. It took me a year to get through all the pre-surgery clearances. I DID feel heard though, I had to wait for healing. Are you being noticed and heard? What clearances have you gone through?
  2. learn2cook

    Kids meals!

    I just went camping for two weeks and we lost power and ice in the area due to storms. We moved on and ordered eggy stuff at Tim Horton’s, sandwiches at Subway (didn’t eat the bread), and burgers at local restaurants (no bun but extra lettuce and tomato). In fancier places I ask to order an appetizer as a meal. No one cares. I ended up dropping 5 pounds. (I think the threat of carnivorous animals being attracted to food in the tent had a big effect on healthy habits too. Sigh, maybe I should be more afraid of the giant rats in my apartment building ;)
  3. learn2cook

    Perimenopause & RNY warning

    Yes, I was like this. I was 53 when I had RNY. I had been period free since age 49 so yippee, then 4 months after surgery I got a “fake” period. I was concerned about the normal concerns, but the Gyn and surgical doctors told me it happens sometimes due to the estrogens being released from fat during weight loss. I was reexperiencing hot flashes and more brain fog. I was experiencing peri menopause all over again for a whole year until my weight mostly settled. I used to get anemic from periods and fibroids, now it’s malabsorption. Weird fact, if you leave the fibroids alone, they eventually calcify. You can see them when you get scanned at the airport for a flight. They make it look like I’m packing bombs and I get flagged for a very thorough search. At least if you can tell the person they are fibroids they don’t freak out over your stomach so much. The women “get it.”
  4. learn2cook

    Ugh allergies

    This is a constant problem for me too. I take Zyxal or Zyrtec for the 24 hr control, Singulair and Flonase, and Benedryl for nighttime. Then there’s puffers galore for asthma. I have tried dropping the Singulair because it makes me stupid. It worsens everything about menopause, but it does help nighttime asthma. If there’s other ideas for moderate to severe asthma/allergies I’d love to hear it! (Yes I boil the sheets, use a hepa air purifier, and shower nightly.)
  5. Congratulations on making goal! I did still loose and loose when the weather and my activities change. Fixing the low iron problem got me to onederland. Staying in a healthy iron range is proving to be the harder effort. Oh, and my calories can go to 1200-1500 if I’m including a hamburger or meatballs. For me it seems to be what I eat that makes a difference, not the calories so much. I’m 5’4” and moderately active. I lost weight bumping up calories with nutritious choices. I logged food and weighed myself to figure it out, mostly it is religiously getting the iron.
  6. I can easily explain to curious kids why I have cute wobbly angel wings under my arms. But I haven’t figured out a positive name for the leg wobbles. I explained “melted ice cream” but it was not satisfying. Angel legs anyone? There has to be a better comeback. The weather is hot and the kids often go home relating to parents “the most interesting thing of the day.”
  7. learn2cook

    Looking for Easy Protein Snacks

    I eat a hard boiled egg, or one once of meat, or a meatball. Lately I have put 1oz of walnut and 1 oz of blueberries in a toddler size container to have after work to avoid the “hangry.” Recently I cooked up some ground buffalo and mixed in some marinara, then stuffed it into some pre steamed mini peppers. Roughly it was 1 oz of meat per pepper, I only measured my 20 grams of protein needed, then stuffed the peppers with it. It was a colorful meal, but leftovers were great as a meal or snack! I absolutely love @Arabesque ‘s egg dishes and will try them!
  8. I saw “bar pizza” and I thought Mass! All is not lost as others have said. I plan my pizza into my intake. I see a special holiday or super birthday or a difficult week time wise for cooking. Then I buy a large pizza and purposefully share it so with teenage boys I’m lucky to get 1-2 slices and I’m done. I make sure the size is obvious to share and not a single serving like a bar pizza is! I also eat in front of people. No more secretive eating habits! That’s why this surgery is a lot of work and not the easy way! You probably also weren’t full because there’s no way even a fully loaded meat pizza has enough protein to keep you in check? Every day is a learning opportunity, we’ve all made our learning mistakes too!
  9. I was told to never drink it. I really love the warm, deep umami flavor of coffee, so I brought it back in around 4 months. The caffeine could inhibit your iron absorption. It did for me. I just take my iron with vitamin C at lunchtime as a work around.
  10. By the way, my midwife said “Babies are parasites and will pull from you what they need. Just take your vitamins!”
  11. I was post menopausal for my bypass. Two of my friends had sleeves with the purpose of having good health and getting pregnant. They both had had issues with PICOS and “advanced age” , over 35. One got pregnant through IVF and had a healthy girl who was born deaf, but has warmly knitted our community closer by making us all learn sign language. The mother regained her weight, BUT the dad had bypass recently and is quickly regaining his health. This family also celebrated HIGHLY the adoption of a daughter prior to the birth. Isn’t that how it always happens? I’m going to say, build your family the way it happens and don’t worry about it. I knew a single guy who worried about never having kids of his own, and his sister and brother-in-law died from a freak plane accident leaving him with two nephews to raise!!! The second mother successfully had her baby girl (she may be younger but I’m not going to ask) the “normal “ way. She did regain after the 3 yr mark, but quickly got back to track using hot yoga and a new business she started. Everybody retained their good health. Isn’t this about health and creating family? It’s going to happen one way or another, watch and see, worrying won’t make it better. GBY
  12. learn2cook

    Salads

    I slowly started cooked veggies around 4 months, just one at a time until I knew what I could tolerate. I was eating raw veggies and salad at about 8 months. I think it was because the weather got warmer and I wanted to eat cold served foods. Now at almost 2 years, most things are fine. When I still feel hungry, vegetables are my “filler.” I was so excited when I found wild grown arugula (ramp) when foraging (my new hobby)!
  13. I had a year long wait due to Covid shut downs and pre-existing conditions that had to be resolved before surgery. It was worth the wait!
  14. Anything unusual like that would require medical expertise I don’t have. I hope it’s simple and easily resolved. Best wishes!
  15. All good vibes to you and your recovery! I was really loopy the first three days, but after that I only felt better each day. The best was finally sleeping in my own bed instead of propped up in a chair/recliner. Keep up with your water and move a little every hour you are awake. Just do a little something if you can because moving helps you get better faster, and prevents bed sores.
  16. This is interesting, I like data too… 1. F, 53, 5’4” 2. 81 lbs 3. 274 lbs 4. 264 lbs 5. 240 lbs 6. 227 lbs 7. 215 lbs 8. 2 yrs 11 months post surgery 203. Resolving iron deficiency kickstarted weight loss again, still loosing :)
  17. Basic first aide says anything involving breathing is a life saving matter to pay attention to, and seek medical attention ASAP. Try to go to your primary care doctor or medical WLS doctor and they can help you get more prompt care in hospital if that’s what you need. Best wishes!
  18. learn2cook

    Surgeon suggested bypass instead of sleeve.

    I had bypass because my GERD was so awful. The surgery corrected the hiatal hernia and GERD so I’m very thankful. I do dump, but it’s simple carbs, which are very easy to avoid. I consider the dumping a stealth WLS weapon that keeps me in line. I am very grateful for it! I actually asked my surgeon for it and he didn’t make any promises, but when I told him later he made a fist pump. Hee hee!
  19. learn2cook

    Plateau for too long

    Like others have said 800 calories is not much. I have mostly gone into maintenance at almost 2 years and I’m at 800-1000 calories a day. But, I was a yo-yo dieter for years, AND I’m post menopausal. I still talk regularly with my dietitian and I suggest you do too. Good news, I recently dropped another five pounds due to rectifying my low iron count in the labs. The dietitian said that the body holds onto weight if it’s missing nutrients. I’ll still strongly suggest you talk with your team to figure out what is causing the halt.
  20. learn2cook

    SO MANY QUESTIONS

    “Start counseling before you have surgery and you’ll be just fine”-@SleeverSk. I feel like that’s true. But, when I woke up from surgery I touched my belly and said to the nurse,” I still feel like me, good!” Yep, I was still me lumps and all, just on my way to getting healthier. I had zero hunger for 5 months and it felt like such a relief. The only comparison was when I weaned my son from breastfeeding and that constant unrelenting hunger was gone. The sudden lack of hunger was like that, pure freedom. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Hiatal hernia gone, asthma lessened, knees working easier, fun clothes, unbelievable strength and stamina, positive job and satisfaction with life. Some of that was was therapy, and some was feeling like I have some control over the amount of hunger I feel. I made those choices. Food does taste different, it’s not as vibrant. It’s hard to explain, a friend of mine who is trying wegroovy said, “Food doesn’t advertise itself to me with neon lights anymore”. That described it for me too. I do get hungry and want eggs or chicken or meatballs. I used to go for M&M’s but they taste like wax, weird huh? I now LOVE deep umami flavors. Be prepared for changes, and not what you would expect. I enjoy the process of cooking, that’s a miracle in itself!
  21. learn2cook

    What Made You Smile Today?

    Nature camp is all day M-F outside (except thunderstorms) with 4-14 yr olds climbing, canoeing, hiking and learning about the environment. We teach nature/science things the kids are interested in. We found a vernal pool yesterday on a trail to show the kids on Monday. There were tadpoles with some legs coming out. Each age group will get about 45 minutes to experience the tadpoles. We’ll keep visiting to see the frogs emerge. I wasn’t mobile enough for hiking all the trails before WLS. I grew up in the woods and didn’t realize how much I missed greenery while I live in the city.
  22. There are a lot of videos on making smoothies on YouTube. There’s also protein water. Did you try the non dairy shakes?
  23. learn2cook

    What Made You Smile Today?

    This made me smile today because I love nature. I even got a job at a nature camp this summer which I would not have been able to do without WLS. Funny could be off during weight loss faze if the hormones are really out of wack, maybe? You’re still you after surgery lumps and all, just less physical lumps!
  24. When I freak out I ask myself, “What is my end game?” My goal is to enjoy the journey, live in the moment. If my moment is rough, I tell myself that drinking water is an immediate way to nourish myself. No big deal, it’s a journey. I still play around with flavors in my water. I like herbal teas and fruit, cucumbers and herbs, Gatorade Zero. It’s a journey.
  25. I’m so glad you got to the bottom of all those issues! It’s going to be rectified! I’m so happy for you to be feeling better soon.

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