New To This23

7 days

Does your clinic want you to track it? Personally, I hate, like really hate, tracking food, it's inconvenient and annoying. My clinic wants me to eat 5 very small meals a day that are balanced, Protein, carb, veg, and fruit. For me, I am still losing weight and my energy increased once I was able to have these other foods. My goal was to eat how "normal" people should be eating. I do struggle with real meat and raw veggies, my system still does not like them, so I eat a vegetarian diet and cook/steam all veggies. I have learned when to stop eating based on how I feel, I now know when one bite will be one bite too much, that is how I track.

I just did my labs today for my 3-month check-up ( hit 3 months Jan 27) so I will see what my clinic has to say about my labs on Feb 12th and I will make adjustments from there if needed.

Hi I am 3 months out and I am experiencing Hair loss, but honestly, even people that do Keto or Code Red where you basically only eat Protein (btw hard on the kidneys) lose hair, so I think it's unavoidable. Things will get much easier once you can eat actual food (you'll learn by trial and error what works for you.)

Hi everyone, My 3-month mark was January 27th, 2024 for RNY. I was cleared to eat regular food in the normal way (not liquid, puree) 2 days before Christmas. I just had my labs done today, and my 3-month checkup with the clinic is on Feb 12th, where we will go over labs and diet expectations. So I will know more then.

From my highest weight, I have lost 61lbs/27.69k so far, since surgery on October 27th I have lost 39lbs/17.69k. I feel like I should have lost more, but I am right on track. I was exercising at the gym 6 days a week since mid-November, up until 2 weeks ago when I got snowed in. I am hoping to get back to the gym tomorrow, but I am overwhelmed looking for a new job/career change and I would like to move to Nevada.

I have noticed that the exercise seems to help me with the weight coming off and I have been building muscle too, especially in my arms and legs (most excited about arms).

I take full body measurements every month on the 27th. I started doing this the day before surgery in October and I have found it very encouraging, especially since I struggle with feeling I should have lost more. I would suggest everyone do this, there are some great cheap templates you can download from Etsy.

The first month after surgery I lost 0lbs, nothing and I was super upset, how can no weight come off when all you get to eat is Protein Shakes, and it's a struggle to get them down? So I guess I hit my stall right out the gate.

My surgery did go very well. I only stayed one night in the hospital, and I was eager to get home, I did throw up the entire time after surgery (that day and the next day) but I did not have pain or gas and I was able to walk around easily. TMI but I did start my period the day before surgery, so FYI bring your own pads to the hospital, the ones they have are terrible, and no you can't use a cup or tampons.

I will let you know how my lab report turns out and what they tell me on February 12th. Oh and anyone living in Las Vegas or Henderson NV and can help with a job, that would be awesome I have a bachelor's in Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, and I can learn to do anything quickly, but I would need to make enough to afford an apartment on my own. (it's worth a try)

I was a vegetarian for 12 years before I gave it up, and then life and the vicious cycle of weight gain and weight loss began for me. You can 100 percent get your Protein without meat substitutes (which tend to be full of carbs btw).

Beans with rice is a great way to get protein. Nuts and seeds, whole grains like oatmeal, couscous, quinoa, cheese, yogurt, and protein powders made out of peas. Ripple is a pea milk that is pretty good and has 8g of protein, it is very comparable to regular milk. I believe Ripple has other products too like protein powders and coffee mixes.

If 8th continent still exists, that was the best milk substitute, I had a vegan bodybuilder friend who drank it like it was going out of style, lol.

Don't forget about tofu, tempeh, edamame, and lentils (Not my fav). Chickpeas (hummus), Peanut Butter,

There are other vegetarian and vegan Protein Powder options as well.

I would suggest getting a good vegetarian cookbook, look for one that focuses on protein sources.

Okay, I set up a YouTube like just now, I have not posted but the name is BariatricStart2Finish, It's so new, I lost where my channel link went 😂😂, but the user name is BariatricStart2Finish. I do have an Instagram, it is currently set to private and I have not uploaded any photos, but I plan to. The Instagram account is BariatricStart2Finish it is currently private, but it does have a black and white picture of me for the thumbnail.

If you are interested in following please do. Warning, it will be a bit of a slow start (it already has been,lol) I am in my final few weeks of school (I returned to school on top of all of this as an elder millennial). I will follow you under one of the above-mentioned accounts depending on the platform.

The Instagram pic is the same as this profile pic, the YouTube on is me laughing next to a fish tank

you got this!!

17 hours ago, Crystal Minta said:

I had the RNY Oct 23.

Hi Crystal, we are only a few days apart on our surgery date's mine was the 27th. How are you doing? are you tolerating food well? Have you tried anything you used to like and found you don't like it?

I have considered it, I even made an Instagram account, but I have yet to post because I am so nervous/scared. I even turned off commenting on Instagram. I was thinking maybe YouTube would be better since I feel like people who are genuine would likely search for bariatric topics on YouTube, rather than have a new channel suggestion in their feed like on other sites. Might eliminate some of the mean people.

I bought mine from this site the Bariatric Pal version. My program requires I take a multi with 45 grams of Iron and this site had exactly what I needed, I did not know before I bought them how long I was required to crush my pills or use a chewable, so I bought the 3 months supply. After surgery, I found out I only needed to crush or use chewable for one month. That is okay though because I do not mind the chewable.

Now to save a few dollars I bought the pill form of calcium citrate from Walmart and honestly I was so sick of crushing that horse pill and having it ruin my food over the course of 2 weeks AND after my first post-op appointment, I was told when I am done with the month of crushing, I would need to cut the horse pill, of Calcium citrate in half to take it. This prompted me to just spend the money and buy the chewable from this site as well, and I am so glad I did.

Both the multi and the calcium citrate are the bariatric pal brand. On my first day of taking the chewable multi, I did think it was gross, but on the second day, it tasted good. (this was right after surgery of course).

I will be buying the year's supply of multi pills for $99 when I finish the ones I already bought, because that is the best deal since I did buy 3 months worth, and that will get me through to my first blood test and I will know if I should keep the same iron level or change it before I buy a years worth.

As for the calcium citrate, I can't promise I will be the model patient, regarding taking it (and no, for anyone wanting to course correct me, I do not want a list of reasons why I should thank you ). But will likely keep with the chewable because I do not want to put the effort in of having to keep a pill cutter on me and make a production of cutting my pills around people. I can just throw some chewables in a bag and call it a day.

On 11/16/2023 at 9:24 AM, Charlie21467 said:

Hello all my surgery buddies. I have a question for you. Prior to my surgery I was not a coffee drinker, and I still am not, but I got my caffeine from drinking diet coke. I'm very fortunate in that my surgeon told me if you need to take a drink of Diet Coke go ahead and take a drink of Diet Coke just don't drink a lot of it. Since October the 2nd I have managed only to have four of the mini cans of soda. I do have a weakness for mountain dew. I have had two Mountain Dews and two Diet Cokes. I know I cannot be the only one here that does not drink coffee. Have any of you tried soda?

I had Roux en Y. I was an on-and-off caffeine drinker. not a regular coffee drinker, but when I was on the caffeine I would drink one Diet Coke a day. My team said to stay away from carbonation because it would make me uncomfortable and gassy. Yesterday I tried Diet Coke, simply because I was tired of Water. I took a small sip and found it absolutely disgusting.

Have you tried crystal light? just for some flavor or if you want caffeine have you tried the caffeinated version of MIO? You can just add either one to water and they have so many flavors.

I am surprised at the BMI of 39, most insurance will cover it with a BMI of 35 and two comorbidities after that it seems like once a person hits 40 BMI you only need one, and sometimes no comorbidities, and a BMI of 50 or more will usually get covered on BMI alone. None of this exempts you from any other insurance requirements though.

If you are self-pay you should not have to worry about this at all only what the clinic wants you to do.

As for heavier clothing, putting rocks in your pockets, and filling up on Fluid before a first-time weigh-in, I did not do it, BUT I know others have. It could be a good idea if your insurance is going to require you to lose a percentage of your body weight before surgery approval. At that point, you'll be wearing the lightest breeziest outfit you have with no shoes.

I used mine right after the surgery, the first night in the hospital.

@SarahP1220 I am so glad you are doing better, what an ordeal. I hope you continue to heal well, it sounds like the worst of it is over. I'm guessing the inflammation was from the trauma of the surgery?

@SarahP1220 I am so glad you are doing better, what an ordeal. I hope you continue to heal well, it sounds like the worst of it is over. I'm guessing the inflammation was from the trauma of the surgery?

9 hours ago, jacquelynn22 said:

Almost to full foods stage, once I am there is it still only 2oz. Do I weigh all my food together to make 2oz . . . a little confused . . .

Can you talk to your team? That is what I would do, call or send a message and see what your dietician says to do.

Hi @texasmade88 Welcome!!

Congratulations on the 22lb weight loss!! is that after your surgery? Currently, I have been stalled and I am trying not to get stressed out (although there is a small thought of omg what if I did this surgery and nothing changes for me).

I won't be a month out until November 27th so I am just telling myself to chill. How are you feeling about the upcoming holidays with food and stuff?

I am actually glad I will not be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner this year, it takes a lot of pressure off of me to hang out with the family.

And you should be able to FMLA for your surgery, so maybe ask your HR department about it.

5 hours ago, DanielleQ said:

How long after doing all pre op appointments/ prerequisites did you get your surgery date? My job gives a hard time with taking time off, can you give your surgeon date preferences ?

Well as long as some moron at the office doesn't lose your paperwork, and never returns your calls for 6 six weeks, it seems like it will take on average a month or two after completing all pre-req's.

11 hours ago, The Greater Fool said:

With time I learned to eat until I feel like the next bite will make me full. Not unlike your method for avoiding being full.

@The Greater Fool Thank you for this, I am currently trying to figure this out, even though I am on the puree stage AND I never feel hungry either. My Dr. told me feeling full now is going to be different than before and I am still early out from surgery, but I am starting to get it.

If you have been craving some veggies, but have been worried about wasting them before you can finish them, Gerber (the baby food) makes a really great superfood veggie baby food, it's pretty good and perfect for those on puree or soft foods, plus you can put the lid back on and stick it in the fridge if you are not able to finish the 6oz in one go and only $1.97.

2 hours ago, Charlie21467 said:

That should have said alleviate

Walk around, get things moving.

@walterblock1 Personally I have not had any problem reheating food.

I didn't need one, but you can rent them from a medical supply if you want one and do not want to invest in one long-term. I give it 1.

When I was in the hospital they would not let me lay back past 30 degrees and I hated it, I was so uncomfortable. I did tolerate sitting up well, there was a recliner in my hospital room, that I only used to get out of bed and sit upright in.

Once home I was happy to be able to lay down.

1 hour ago, ukkodiak said:

Hello. I had my RNY on Oct 9th. I have recently graduated to soft foods, yay!! So far, I haven’t really noticed many changes to my taste perceptions. Some things taste mildly different but I still hate and enjoy the same foods as I did pre-op. My cravings for sugar have vanished however.

Unfortunately , I’m still stuck in the 3 week weight stall for 12 days now. But overall, I do feel great and sleeping soundly through the night most nights. Waking up feeling rested and refreshed most every morning. That’s the biggest changes I’ve noticed.

I have been sleeping better too. I seem to fall asleep easily and wake up no problem. It's like I am 21 again lol.