Off Track and Discouraged

[Dex 1]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a 45year old male who is 2.5 years post RNY.

I have always been bad at my Protein, calorie and Water intake. Started to drink multiple coffees a day. Typical male never remembered to take Vitamins or supplements on a regular basis.

I have never really tracked anything AND I am now seeing the results. After my initial 120lb weightless, I have regained approx. 40 lbs in the past 8 months. I have very dry skin and scalp and my teeth are starting to chip very easy.

I am now starting back with my Daily Multi-Vitamin and calcium citrate.

I really think an app on my phone OR maybe picking up an apple watch would help me with keeping track of intake. Does anyone have any suggestions??

Thanks, 😊

[Jonathan Carlson 75]

Yes, Protein first! That's my general mantra. Vitamins are important as you've noted.

Perhaps an app like my fitness pal. I also use Samsung health on my phone to track steps. It can help.

I've been struggling too. Hang in there! Gotta get back to basics!

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

[Deep6 68]

When in doubt, I slam an Ensure with 30g Protein plus caffeine. It isn't a substitute for food but it is better than nothing.

My problem is often that I don't have much of an appetite; and when I do, it's always for something that isn't readily available in the house. Sure, I can get food delivered from a restaurant but even good restaurants tend to use things like butter and salt, in addition to who knows what else, to provide flavor.

I also tend to keep the dishes simple- steak and eggs after a work-out. I love Pasta but won't eat much of it- I'll do pasta plus meatballs, heavy on the meatballs, with just a taste of pasta.

I don't know about "apps" but you could stick a reminder in your calendar.

[ms.sss 15,816]

i used MyFitnessPal (the paid version).

I've read of others who really like the Baristatic App aswell.

i am a big proponent of tracking and I credit the practice as having a huge positive influence to my weight loss and subsequent maintenance. i have tracked my food basically everyday since since my pre-op diet, and i have almost six years worth of MFP data to prove it! more (anecdotal) proof: i have weighed below my goal weight this entire time since reaching it at 7 months post op.

FOR ME, at first, i found that it held me accountable as i could see everything i ate, and then it turned into more of a data gathering exercise that i could use and examine to determine what changes i needed to make, if any. (note i also weighed myself everyday, and still do...)

plus i actually really enjoyed/enjoy doing it! ha!

...am not as militant about it now, as i eyeball and guesstimate more, but i still do track..old habits are hard to break!

its not for everyone though, and i get it, it takes a particular kind of person to keep doing it while keeping the angst at bay, let alone enjoy it.

but anyway, try it out...you may find u are that kind of person, or, at the very least help you manage ur food intake!

good luck! ❤️

Edited May 13, 2024 by ms.sss

[JennyBeez 289]

For apps, I didn't like myfitnesspal (free version) myself, but I use Cronometer to track food/nutrition and Medisafe as a reminder for my supplements. Both are pretty basic but that works for me. (Plus they're free with no ads and no fluff)

I've only newly started on this journey, but I've been there in the past with non-WLS weight regain. You can do this -- you've done it before and you can definitely do it again. It's like any other habit addiction (smoking, biting nails, whatever) -- routine and muscle memory make it easy to get into bad habits, but are just as important when getting back into gear for the good ones. Rooting for you!

[AmberFL 1,068]

I use NetDiary (track every day!) and I love it! I wear my apple watch everyday and I stay in competition with myself to see if how many times a week I close all 3 rings on the fitness. At work I walk every single work day for 30ish min on my lunch break. I do go to the gym as well to weight lift and a little more cardio. Not every day but about 3-4times a week.

Take pictures! That is what encourages me, I have been documenting my journey and its amazing to look back at and see how far I have come. I weigh myself at least once a week, I am trying to stay away from the scale because I tend to beat myself up if I am up a lb in a day (WHICH CAN BE ANYTHING! late dinner, salt and not enough water) but I get flustered so I can't do that.

Most importantly, What is your "why?" Why did you choose WLS? What or who is/are motivation?

[Tomo 1,196]

I use fitnesspal. I like it enough that I bought the paid version.

[Deep6 68]

2 hours ago, AmberFL said:

Most importantly, What is your "why?" Why did you choose WLS? What or who is/are motivation?

I think you hit a big nail on the head-- going back to first principles- the why? is not just a reminder of what brings you into this process, but a good question we should all ask ourselves periodically. I'm no expert on weight loss, but have a fair amount of experience with various "rehab" and group support programs--as time goes on (I'm only 11 months out from my surgery), my experience has been that you change (emotionally) and your perspective changes. It's been a constant for me to periodically reevaluate my commitment to all sorts of things and ask the very questions you posed. Healthy thinking!

[Splenda 257]

On 5/11/2024 at 10:38 AM, Dex said:

Hi Everyone,

I'm a 45year old male who is 2.5 years post RNY.

I have always been bad at my Protein, calorie and Water intake. Started to drink multiple coffees a day. Typical male never remembered to take Vitamins or supplements on a regular basis.

I have never really tracked anything AND I am now seeing the results. After my initial 120lb weightless, I have regained approx. 40 lbs in the past 8 months. I have very dry skin and scalp and my teeth are starting to chip very easy.

I am now starting back with my Daily Multi-Vitamin and calcium citrate.

I really think an app on my phone OR maybe picking up an apple watch would help me with keeping track of intake. Does anyone have any suggestions??

Thanks, 😊

I also drink multiple coffees per day, but I include a 30g Protein Shake in each one (it serves both as a Creamer and as a sugar, so I just add it to dark roast black coffee).

My biggest piece of advice is to create a workable routine that hits all of your goals. There is nothing wrong with having a Protein shake+coffee for Breakfast (I do it every morning). I have two of them before noon, which gets me to 60g protein before lunch. I take my Vitamins with the morning coffee. If you need to move your vitamins and supplements next to your coffee maker to remember to take them each morning, do that. As much as possible, try to put your protein/water/vitamins/supplements on autopilot.

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

I second the Protein coffee. I had sleeve three years ago and heard all about it but never tried. Now I’m pending revision and decided to give it a try and I love it. To the point I have to be sure I don’t get too much protein because it’s so good.

I got out of the swing of taking my Vitamins as well and I’m working on a routine now. I take my Multivitamin right after my morning coffee (just be sure it’s a whole Protein Shake or it may not be enough in your stomach to keep the Vitamin down). I keep my multivitamin in the kitchen cabinet with the cups I use for coffee now to remind me to grab them. I sit them right next to my iced “proffee” as I’m drinking it so I don’t forget (I’m pretty bad so yes it does take that many reminders). Then I return the empty cup and the vitamins to the kitchen. As far as the Calcium I haven’t gotten back into the swing of that yet but I intend to take it with lunch and dinner to make things easy. I think maybe alarms on my phone may be necessary untill I get back into a routine.

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,680]

You have to get back to basics. Remember why you did the surgery and go from there. Are you moving your body and exercising? How much are you eating and how often? If you're having coffees, have them plain black with the ready made Protein Shakes added in. You always want to prioritize Protein, then veggies, then carbs, then healthy fats. Fluid intake is an absolute MUST. Since caffeine dehydrates you, you need to increase your other fluids to compensate for it. Watch your grazing and slider foods, salt and sugar intake, and watch the bad carb intake (you don't have to completely eliminate them but definitely limit them).