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What are some of your best tips for success?



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I'll go first...my biggest obstacle was cravings. It was mental. So i started planning my meals to accommodate them so i never felt deprived.

For example: there are days when i really really want sweets, so i'll make sure i include either fruit or a chocolate Protein Shake or fruit smoothie or something to fill that craving.

If i'm craving salty i'll do deli meat and cheese as one of my Snacks or smokehouse almonds.

I also googled what cravings really mean and made adjustments as needed. Whether that meant finding a way to relieve stress, or making sure i'm hydrated etc.


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Sum of small efforts repeated day in day out. Be consistent with your food plan and exercise. Conquer behavior change and overcome the mental battles.

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Remember that you are not alone. No matter what happens, you're not the only person to ever experience what you're experiencing. We're all in this together.

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Always keep track of your meals, even if it means you have to write it down.

Make certain times for meals, drinks and Vitamins and meds (if applicable).

Hw-273
Sw-226
CW-134
GW-130
Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made.
Bra Size- 36C

Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017
RNY
"Only those who try will become" FFX

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Stop obsessing. Stop extremist thinking. Too much "nutrition nazi" is just as harmful as going crazy and eating everything in sight. Moderation. Moderation. Moderation. Stop looking for the diet that gets you there the quickest and start looking for a Forever Diet that you can live a happy life with. Don't eat food you don't like. Don't do exercise you don't enjoy. DO make the effort to find healthy foods that work in a balanced diet that are delicious. DO make the effort to try and find exercise that you look forward to and enjoy. Do find healthier substitutes for old favorites. Exercise with your bestie, your kiddo, your hubby, your dog, your horse. Stop reaching for perfection. All or Nothing is a recipe for failure. Be happy with every victory. Wake up every day and make the choice to try hard even after a stumble. Love yourself.

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For cravings, I don’t believe it’s all “mental.” There is head hunger, yes, but food cravings come from bacteria who live in our guts and they can control our brains with their waste products. The right biome of gut bugs, will have us craving natural starchy carbs (potatoes or seeds or beans) instead of donuts etc. So one thing I always do is keep up good bacteria by eating Probiotics and fermented veggies every day, and feeding the good gut bugs I have with a homemade seed granola and roasted root veggies. Since they are happy with these choices, they don’t cry out for sugary treats.

I think avoiding all sweet tasting foods (all sugars and substitutes and fruits too for 6 months, and then only 1/2 serving fruit a day) is very important to having the correct populations of gut bacteria that don’t make me crave sweets.

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Love this thread!!! :395_shaved_ice::257_dromedary_camel::780_sparkling_heart:

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

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      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
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      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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