Need some advice and a diet overhaul: 2 years post-op, 75 lbs down

[Courtney86 5]

Hello, I encourage you to seek out a counselor at your university, usually they are included in your tuition. Also seek your primary care for consultation about medication to manage depression if needed. Taking walks or small breaks during your day will help as well. At lot of what has been posted as been great advice. This will pass and you are getting through it, even if I doesn’t FEEL like it. I remember being this way when I was going through graduate school and working. I actually totaled my car during this time because my mind was so busy! I was truly distracted. I hope thing la change and you become encouraged. Sending hugs and love your way!

[disco stu 73]

I highly recommend looking into B-12 injections. Has made a huge difference for me.

[nomorefattypatty 329]

I've found that even though I might gain some weight back since the surgery I can easily drop extra pounds just by getting back on track. Before surgery I could starve to death and never lose even one pound. We're all going to have to struggle with binge eating and other eating disorders because that's how we got into this position in the first place. My Fitness Pal is the best way to start. Log everything you eat because it can add up quickly and you can see where you have to cut back. You can do it!

Sent from my N9560 using BariatricPal mobile app

[Tink11 6]

Hi! I am 15 years out from DS. I will tell you what I was told not only by my surgeon but more or less everyone in my support group. I say from my support group because when I had surgery there was no DS Surgeon in our state and everyone left the state to have surgery, hence I don't think any of us had the same surgeon other than a married couple. EMBRACE THE FAT!!!! Number one rule! If you don't see fat in your toilet your not eating enough. My skin gets extremely dry any time I cut the fat. I am shocked that you were told or assumed that low fat was great for you. Protein should be about 100 grams a day split up in 20-25 gram servings, so any fatty meat is good!!! Avoid sugar. Sugar isn't as bad for DS'ers as it is for RNY, we don't dump. However, we absorb 100% of the sugar we take in. I am also surprised you can eat bread at all. Most DS'er will have bloating and serious gas issues from bread. For me (and from most I have heard from) the gas hits at the night so you may not be aware of it. For me it has been so bad the stink wakes me up at nigh, thank goodness I can blame the dog Try going flour free for a month then reintroduce it to your body, if you have a reaction please stop.

To make your diet easy for you, the order you should be eating your food, fatty meats, non starchy veggies with butter or olive oil, if your still hungry go back to fatty meat you didn't eat enough!!! Go easy on the starchy veggies. IF you need bread and Desserts, no more than a bite or two. But as my surgeon says, if you still hungry by the time you get to bread and dessert your out eating your surgery! As for malabsorption, you absorb about 20-25% of fat, 50ish% of protein and 100% of sugar (carbs are sugar, stay way from carbs that are not veggies)

You need to go back to experimenting with your body, bread...flour based food give me gas, bloat and in the end a lot of time in the bathroom. I also feel like I have the flu. My husband will look at the cookie in my hand and will ask me if I have plans for tomorrow and is it worth being sick on the couch for. Most of the time it isn't! I also have issues with rice, it will clog me up. I have heard of other DS'ers with that issue with rice too, but many more with flour. Sugar will cause the scale to go up. I still eat sugar, but it is a rare treat, not a daily ,weekly or even monthly treat. Mostly a yearly treat at this time of year. But I still very easy on it because to much will cause bloating and gas too. That is normal for humans who don't eat sugar, not just DS'ers. On the sugar note, if your craving sugar your going thru withdrawal or some Protein Drinks will cause cravings or you need to up your Vitamin Bs special B12.< /span>

Ok, what to eat on the go. I drive for a living so I have this down. My favorite is meat and cheese roll ups. What ever meat and cheese is on sale at the deli. In the roll up I will put a slice of red pepper or a some cream cheese or a smear of spinach dip (fat is your friend!!!) Jerky and beef sticks are great! Nuts. costco has parmesan cheese chips, LOVE THEM! tuna salad eaten with a fork with a cheese chip on top. I get the fatty tuna and a bit of crunch from the cheese chip. Love it! Salad with LOTS of meat. I can do chicken strips, bunless burgers, salad at any fast food place. Be careful of yogurt, most are low fat and high sugar. Actually in general avoid any food that is low fat, the sugar is crazy high. If you want yogurt, plain and add your own fruit or sugar free jam to it. You can eat fruit, pick higher Fiber ones just be aware of the amount of sugar your eating. I do apples slices and berries mostly, easy to pack for the road. These are treats, not staples.

Depression, I never had depression issues before surgery and was not prepared for it after. It hit me about a year out. I take lexapro now, it does not cause weight gain. I have noticed that when I eat more fatty fish, salmon or can tuna in fat (hard to find anymore) I feel better. I upped my omegas when I caught that, so now I am taking those with my Vitamins. I would suggest talking to your primary about depression and then getting a therapist or councilor to talk to. Not only for everything going on in your life, you have a lot! but also for food addiction. Surgery will not fix food addiction and if you don't get a handle on it, you will eventually out eat your surgery.

[Strivingforbetter 246]

@Tink11 Such good advice! And I can relate to the rank smell of gas waking you up at night. Been there several times. I'm a year and a half post-op and currently maintaining, but I plan to go back on plan soon. The DS has worked miracles helping me to maintain since summer (my eating habits haven't been on point), and I'm so grateful for this tool. There's no doubt I would have gained by now without it, especially this time of year. It's a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for the eating tips. They're a good reminder.