Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

MAY-JUNE-JULY 2020 BYPASSERS UNITE!! Veterans Welcome too!



Recommended Posts

13 hours ago, Lanie992 said:

I just realized this was for BYPASSERS, not all WLS. It only was in caps in the title....and I still missed it. 🙄

Sorry for posting in the wrong thread.

I can’t speak for everyone else, but I welcome everyone who wants to share. We just might not be able to help with any of your questions or concerns. 😊

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everyone! Checking in with you all and hoping you are all well. I’ve been out of the US on a mini vacation and wow it’s been a crazy time. First of all there’s not much I can eat obviously. I tried ground lean beef and chewed the heck out of it, and felt severe tightness, sooo much pain for about 20 minutes. Literally only had a bite of it. Won’t try that again. I bought eggs and my stomach loves it as well as turkey meat.

I have Been working out and lost about 7lbs during my vacation. All I can think about is how much food I would have eaten had I not had surgery. Lol. Yumm frozen margaritas with guacamole and chips on the side.

How are you all feeling ??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello bypassers, hope everyone is doing well. I'm 11 weeks post-surgery and just had my 3-month follow-up appointment with the Nurse Practitioner at my surgeon's office. After this I'm transitioning to a bariatrician, the doctor that I'll see annually for blood work etc. But that's not until December. I also have to see the nutritionist again in October.

Anyway! I honestly can't believe that I'm almost halfway to my first goal. My hormones are weird as hell. I'm getting hot flashes again, even worse than before surgery. Those two months post-op with no hot flashes were heaven! Oh well. I went back on black cohosh, which seems to help. But as far as the hunger hormones go, I'm still doing well - I still almost never feel truly hungry. I do have the odd craving, but they're easily satisfied with a small quantity of something, like a teaspoon of ice cream, a piece of fruit, or a few cocoa-dusted almonds.

I'm still eating tiny amounts, my stomach has apparently not stretched at all yet, though it does seem to be healed enough that I can eat whatever I want and don't have to restrict myself to soft foods etc. I make and drink that high-protein iced coffee every morning, and then eat lots of dairy and Protein throughout the day, but I still only get up to about 60g most days. It will just have to be enough! Same deal with fluids, I can hit 50oz on most days but there's just not room enough for more than that.

My biggest problem right now is my left shoulder, which is frozen. My right was frozen two years ago and I saw an ortho, went through PT, etc. It's completely recovered, and I know what to expect this time but it still sucks - frozen shoulder is SO FREAKING PAINFUL. And now I can't take NSAIDS ever again, which is um...difficult. So I'm doing stretches and strengthening exercises with bands, and then using ice, heat, and self-pity to deal with it. HA!

I hope you're all feeling good and staying safe.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Groovy,

When my wife had a frozen should, she got great results from a steroid shot. They did it right in the doctor's office, and she was better almost immediately. Might be something to consider.

Dave

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi there. I had bypass on 6/17. Our situations sound very similar. 220 pre surgery, 200 at surgery, current weight 171 and goal 125. I’m 5’1”. Also had a hernia repair.

I’ve tolerate most things I’ve eaten but have been sensitive to dairy.

Issues I’ve experienced so far is Constipation, really bad gas and some Water aversion especially in the morning. Also experiencing some mood changes.

Otherwise all has been pretty good. I’m 7 weeks post op and starting to walk/exercise!! For the most part I feel great and I’m pleased that I am down 2 sizes already!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Dave In Houston said:

Groovy,

When my wife had a frozen should, she got great results from a steroid shot. They did it right in the doctor's office, and she was better almost immediately. Might be something to consider.

Dave

Dave, thanks. I'm considering it. Last time I didn't need it because it was a non-pandemic world, so I went to PT, cryotherapy, massage, etc. But if it keeps getting worse instead of improving, I'm probably going to try the shot.

7 hours ago, Bizbaileymiller said:

Hi there. I had bypass on 6/17. Our situations sound very similar. 220 pre surgery, 200 at surgery, current weight 171 and goal 125. I’m 5’1”. Also had a hernia repair.

I’ve tolerate most things I’ve eaten but have been sensitive to dairy.

Issues I’ve experienced so far is constipation, really bad gas and some Water aversion especially in the morning. Also experiencing some mood changes.

Otherwise all has been pretty good. I’m 7 weeks post op and starting to walk/exercise!! For the most part I feel great and I’m pleased that I am down 2 sizes already!!

Hope you continue to feel better. Walking and exercise will help with the Constipation, as will staying hydrated. Until I was able to eat grains, I used to just have a teaspoon of Miralax every day (luckily it dissolves in everything so you can't even tell it's there). Also I switched to the Multivitamin without Iron. The one that had iron in it had like 65mg which was just too much for me. After starting the Vitamins without iron and taking a separate, lower dose iron supplement (18mg), my constipation got much better. The low dose is plenty for me, since I'm post-menopause. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Groovymommy said:

Dave, thanks. I'm considering it. Last time I didn't need it because it was a non-pandemic world, so I went to PT, cryotherapy, massage, etc. But if it keeps getting worse instead of improving, I'm probably going to try the shot.

Hope you continue to feel better. Walking and exercise will help with the constipation, as will staying hydrated. Until I was able to eat grains, I used to just have a teaspoon of Miralax every day (luckily it dissolves in everything so you can't even tell it's there). Also I switched to the Multivitamin without Iron. The one that had Iron in it had like 65mg which was just too much for me. After starting the Vitamins without iron and taking a separate, lower dose iron supplement (18mg), my Constipation got much better. The low dose is plenty for me, since I'm post-menopause. Good luck!

Thanks so much @Groovymommy! I stopped the iron and have been taking stool softeners as directed by my surgeon. I walk quite a bit and it definitely helps. Gas and constipation is slowly subsiding thank goodness!

I’ve heard other people mention this but I feel like I struggle with which I want to get the most of in, Water or Protein. It seems one Or the other most days!! Thank you for your feedback on this!

hope you have an awesome day!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@Groovymommy you’re doing so great! Very happy for you and your success :)

I continue to be on the slow end of things. I’m 11 weeks out today and just shy of 30lbs down. I went on vacation for a couple weeks and ate more than I should; and things I shouldn’t. I ate 1/2 a salad yesterday which was very surprising to me. Apparently my dr is known for making small pouches and yet I can eat about 3-4 ounces of things. More if the food is at all wet - like if it has sauces or salsa, dressing or anything like that. My dietician was not surprised by this. She said that the bad foods - anything fried, puffed, chips, super crunchy things, all of that condenses down pretty efficiently when you chew it so it slides. And you can eat a lot of it. Which is not good. I’m sharing because this was a nuance I didn’t realize before. The irony is that the Snacks are easy to eat, and the healthy foods - like grilled chicken, are not. In short - headspace is very important. I need to work on that.

Other than that - my labs are stellar. Everything is normal or in the “very healthy range”. I’m walking 4 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Getting in Water and Protein. My cholesterol dropped from 270 to 160. I’d like to be further down on the scale, but I know my food choices have hindered that. I have to refocus every day and work very hard to address emotional and recreation eating.

Next up - strength training :)

hope everyone else is doing well and staying safe!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@Bizbaileymiller yeah it's really tough at first to get Protein AND Water. Remember that any Fluid you drink counts towards your total, so if you have a Protein Shake or a protein water, that counts towards both protein AND fluids. Most people will never be able to get enough protein in the day without using some kind of protein supplement (shakes, bars, waters, etc.). That's why I make my protein iced coffee every morning, made with skim milk it's 35g of protein, which kick-starts my consumption for the day. I can't drink the protein waters (don't like the taste or the aftertaste of the artificial sweeteners) but if you can handle them, I'd start drinking those as much as you can.

@613cnn great point about the Snacks. I think that's why they discourage us from even trying them. Luckily I *love* cheese and it's got tons of protein so when I want a snack I eat a cheese stick or a string cheese. Plus that Calcium 💗!

The only thing I can eat a full cup of is watermelon, since it, like snacks, crunches down into nothing when you chew it. Luckily it's good for me, but don't know what I'll do when the season is over!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been doing well, like @613cnn I've been losing a little slowly. My high weight was 245 lbs, surgery weight on 7/27 was 215 lbs, and I'm currently hovering around 198 lbs. I weigh often and found I tend to alternate between losing for 3-4 days and stalling for 3-4 days. It might be a result of me measuring at night with clothes on, instead of in the morning... but part of me likes the idea that my 'real' weight is a couple lbs under what I see on the scale 😏. I also started out at a lower weight so I imagine that factors in. My weight for the past month...

image.png.a18ffd03fc242da6c1fb4834107bb14c.png

I've been mercifully able to tolerate most foods I've tried. Ground pork shaped into a meatball has been the worst so far. Turkey, cheese, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced steak, ground beef, fish, potato... all have been fine. I average 45-70g Protein and 500-700 cals per day. I have yet to attempt any Desserts or fried foods, but the cravings are starting to come back. Focusing now on not snacking in the evening!

Edited by Double_Me

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 9/4/2020 at 9:25 AM, 613cnn said:

@Groovymommy you’re doing so great! Very happy for you and your success :)

I continue to be on the slow end of things. I’m 11 weeks out today and just shy of 30lbs down. I went on vacation for a couple weeks and ate more than I should; and things I shouldn’t. I ate 1/2 a salad yesterday which was very surprising to me. Apparently my dr is known for making small pouches and yet I can eat about 3-4 ounces of things. More if the food is at all wet - like if it has sauces or salsa, dressing or anything like that. My dietician was not surprised by this. She said that the bad foods - anything fried, puffed, chips, super crunchy things, all of that condenses down pretty efficiently when you chew it so it slides. And you can eat a lot of it. Which is not good. I’m sharing because this was a nuance I didn’t realize before. The irony is that the Snacks are easy to eat, and the healthy foods - like grilled chicken, are not. In short - headspace is very important. I need to work on that.

Other than that - my labs are stellar. Everything is normal or in the “very healthy range”. I’m walking 4 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Getting in Water and Protein. My cholesterol dropped from 270 to 160. I’d like to be further down on the scale, but I know my food choices have hindered that. I have to refocus every day and work very hard to address emotional and recreation eating.

Next up - strength training :)

hope everyone else is doing well and staying safe!

@613cnn I could've written your post above. Except I'm 12.5 weeks out and 29 pounds down. Everything else is the same... walking 4-5 miles a day (tho I'm 7 days a week) . Carbs go down easy and I eat too many but try and keep them at least the same as my Protein most days. Gotta commit to strength training.

@Groovymommy... My hot flashes are miserable. My doc husband just recommended a Vitamin with Black Cohash and I started it last week. Nothing so far. But I'll stick with it since you say It works for you. Also my hubs is a big believer in the shoulder steroid shots. (and knees). Go for it. By the way I've now had two ibuprofins. Took them during a Migraine with a prilosec and lots of Water. No stomach problems. Don't plan to make it a habit but after 3 months of no Nsaids it sure worked. Envious of your lack of hunger. No such luck here. I'm getting about 1000 calories a day. Hence the slower weight loss. On the plus side no Hair loss yet and my labs are great.

I forgot to mention, I'm having some success in the constipation-battle with taking a senna every other evening. I wouldn't say it makes going easy but keeps me from getting backed up and colace was starting to make me a little nauseous. You might give it a try

Anyway, good to hear from you both. Here's hoping we hit our halfway goals soon! I've got 4 more pounds to halfway! Hope it happens by 4 months post as I've read 4 months is often where most hit their halfway. Onward Bypassers!

Edited by MaybeMeow

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey everyone! Happy Labor Day. Hope you are all well. Just checking in. I’m heading into my week 7. So far so good. Glad I can finally begin to do some intense workouts. Still feel some pain on my left side so I will take it somewhat easy. Lol. I feel so good and loving all the NSV. So far I’ve lost 37lbs since the day of surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Repeatingthoughts said:

Hey everyone! Happy Labor Day. Hope you are all well. Just checking in. I’m heading into my week 7. So far so good. Glad I can finally begin to do some intense workouts. Still feel some pain on my left side so I will take it somewhat easy. Lol. I feel so good and loving all the NSV. So far I’ve lost 37lbs since the day of surgery.

37 pounds is AMAZING!! Keep doin what you're doin. What kind of workouts are you up to?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, MaybeMeow said:

37 pounds is AMAZING!! Keep doin what you're doin. What kind of workouts are you up to?

thanks!!! For cardio I either take peloton classes or use the elliptical for 45 minutes. I make sure I get over 10k steps at least 6x a week. I was also doing very light weight training. No more than 10lbs. Now that I am clear for everything, I am doing a lot of strength training and cutting back on cardio. Exercise helps a lot withy anxiety. Sadly a few years ago due to an injury I slowed down and gained a bunch of weight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hey everyone..hope you are well!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • 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

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      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.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      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.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×