I am considering getting the sleeve done this winter. I am worried about getting the nutrients needed to be healthy. I know that a daily multivitamin is a must but vitamins are not a replacement for the things you get from food. How can you possibly get everything you need when you can only eat a couple bites? Is this a reasonable concern?

In my previous life (4 1/2) months ago, I was eating anything I wanted, when I wanted. I can guarantee you that drive through sandwiches, french fries, donuts, heaps of buttery mashed potatoes, pies, cakes, etc....were not giving me the nutrition I needed either. However, since being in a proper bariatric program and getting a sleeve (12/23/2013) I have become what is called a "nutritarian". That just means that everything I eat must have nutritional value or it is not worth the extra chewing.

So, even though I eat much less, everything I eat provides nutritional goodness. Sure, it all takes planning, measuring, and careful timing, but at this point I can feel and see my body and health changing in many positive ways. When I was eating more crap than whole foods from farms instead of factories, I had to take Vitamins and a few supplements anyway.

When you are making an effort to comply with a bariatric program, your body can't help but respond significantly to overall better nutrition. You have to make decisions, like when you are at a Thanksgiving table. Will I eat 2 ounces of turkey and some green Beans, or will I eat a heap of mashed potatoes and a large slice of apple pie? Any improvements that you get post-op will be based on deliberate decisions that you make every day.

Our Protein requirements are high and or need for unlimited carbs is low. This program will no doubt turn your food pyramid and your life up-side down. There is a ton of supportive information you can get from your bariatric team and even more from those of us who hang out here on the forum. We have "been there, done that, got the shirt", but there is nothing like jumping in and going for it.

Wow, thank you so much!

I found myself with these same concerns. Because of this, I really started to pay attention to the nutrition in my food choices. I tracked everything I put into my mouth in MyFitnessPal and reviewed my weekly numbers. I would then adjust my diet accordingly. Very soon, I found it easy to make the nutritionally balanced meals my body required.

Low and behold, I learned how to cook and eat like a healthy person. Guess what the result was?