Question:
I'm so confused on my diet!!!
I have read what seems like EVERY post on the internet and every article I can come across about what to eat after gastric bypass surgery. I am scared to death to overeat..or eat the wrong things and gain the weight back. I am thinking of trying an all protein diet to keep on track. I am almost 4 months post op, and to date have lost 73 pounds...which is GREAT, but I don't want to worry about putting it all back on later. What do I do. I am so afraid of stretching out my pouch again and gaining everything back. I have started cutting back on the carbs, but I don't know what to do anymore! Any advise at all will help! Thanks! — jbuckhannon (posted on January 11, 2011)
January 11, 2011
Wow. You didn't receive instructions before you had surgery? I find that
bizarre (& dangerous!). I've spent the last 5 months becoming educated
on the life-style changes that are forthcoming. My surgery is scheduled
for 2/9 and although I'm new and I probably shouldn't be the one to answer
your question... my information is fresh and simplified. My heart goes out
to you if your Bariatric Team didn't give you the information you needed to
carry on for the rest of your life. You've got the right basic idea
regarding protein and carbs. You need 60 - 80 grams of protein per day,
less than 30 grams of carbs, and 64 ounces of water. Simplified daily
"menu" is: 3 meals consisting of (1) protein & fruit (2)
protein & carbs (3) protein and starch. Portion size ranges from 2
Tbls when starting pureed foods up to 6 oz of real food. Should have 2
snacks per day (between meals) consisting of protein to make sure you get
60-80g total, and raw vegetables if you're good on protein. Sip water
between meals, not during. Don't let yourself get dehydrated! 64 ounces,
or 2 quarts, or 8 cups, is required.
Exercise is crucial. If you start gaining weight, there's two things you
need to do... exercise more and cut carbs.
I feel inadequate posting here but am hoping I've got my facts straight
since my RNY is coming up soon. (I'm sure the old-timers will let me
know.)
Can some post-op peeps correct, clarify or add to what I've said, please?
— Ruthie D.
January 11, 2011
Hey Ruthie, I'll be a year out on Feb. 9th. Congratulations to you on your
good work so far... and congrats to Jennifer for your dedication about not
regaining. I can't add a thing to the diet suggestions, other than remember
that Docs and even dietitians will differ as to what is good, so research
is a really good idea, but in the end you must make honest self-searching
decisions about what works for you. I say self-searching because of course,
most of us have some self-deception going on in order to overeat as much as
we did to get where we got! I've lost 100 pounds since surgery, 150 since
my all-time high, and I feel great... but I do worry all the time about the
end of my "honeymoon period" and maintaining a loss. I'm working
carefully on protein, water, vitamins, etc... and I'm going to the gym (and
yoga!)... and I've added in work on my inner self... I'm in therapy, I'm
attending a mindfulness meditation class and reading a lot about our
relationship to food. I've become convinced that I'm in a perfect place to
make emotional and mental changes because the rest of me is changing so
much so quickly! And I think we MUST do the emotional/mental work to
address the addiction to overeating that we still carry with us after
surgery. I wish Jennifer and Ruthie all the best on this journey... and it
is a life-long journey of learning, growing, discovery... congrats on your
hard work so far, keep it up, and don't be a stranger!! Greg
— Greg K.
January 11, 2011
Ok, maybe what I ty0ped didn't make sense. I had all the formal training
before my surgery and I still have the support of the nutritionist, but
sometimes it's easier to ask of those that are in the situation. I know I
need 60-80 grams of protein a day and all the formal answers to the
questions...but what I am concerned about are the carbs. They told me to
have the protein first and then fruits and veggies then carbs, I get that,
but it seems easier said than done. I am scared to death of gaining my
weight back and was wondering if it was warranted and if I could do
anything right now to make sure not to have to go through that again.
— jbuckhannon
January 11, 2011
WOW! 73 pounds in 4 months if FABULOUS! It took me more than a year to lose
100 lbs, when everyone else did it in 6 months. I understand EXACTLY how
you feel. I've read many posts lately of people gaining and panicking and
I'm in the same boat. I celebrated my 10 year anni of my gastric bypass
RNY last Saturday, Jan. 8; I have gained about 25 lbs of the 118 I lost,
but started Wt. Watchers since they FINALLY started counting proteins and
carbs and I'm losing again, but it's still hard since I'm a carb-o-holic.
The WLS doesn't cure our weight problems like we think it will; we can
still gain it all back if we continue eating the same things we did before,
even in small amounts. I find that writing down what you eat helps us be
accountable. If you lick it or bite it - write it. Drink lots of water
and exercise too. Good luck!
— Betty Todd
January 11, 2011
Jen,
Congradulations on your weight loss and your concern for the future.What
you are going through and asking is the beginning steps of WISDOM!!! You
are preparing yourself for a life as a healthy, thin person. Keep up the
good work.
— Kathleen W.
January 11, 2011
I am 8 months out and I have lost 120 pounds, I eat my protein first and it
is basically my meal, I will eat a couple of grapes or fruit for snacks. I
will also try to get a few bites of a veggie for dinner. I put proti 15
fruit drink mix in my bottled water so it ups my protein to make sure I get
enough. To ensure I get enough water, I put out four bottles every morning
on the counter and make sure I get those down every day. I read the labels
or recipes on everything to see what the protein count is vs carb etc. I
miss sandwiches but for in place I take a romain lettuce leaf, put a few
thin slices of lean deli meat and cheese in it and roll it up, then dip it
in mustard. I quit eating when I am not hungry and this seems to work for
me. Good luck, you seem to be on the right track.
— tfqh99
January 11, 2011
Hi! I am surprised they didnt go over it with you more. I am 17 months out
and had lost 123, however had a horrible couple months and gained 12
back..not terrible in the grand scheme of things but it very easy to fall
back into the old pattern. I had my surgery at cleveland clinic and they
gave us a book of what to eat and what to add and when to add it. the key
to everything is to eat slow, dont drink 30 minutes prior to eating, eat
protein first. you can't just eat protein for the rest of your life. keep
sugar intake to 5grams per serving or less... i have not had a cookie or
candy at all, i use splenda for tea and coffee. sugar free popsicles are
great and satisfy the urge to crunch and sweetness. as far as other stuff
its trial and error. what i can eat wont necessarily work for you. I have a
friend who had the surgery and can actually eat a piece of chocalate. I am
petrified to throw up and that alone prevents me from eating anything with
sugar. in our nutrition class they said that dumping wont kill you, you
will just wish it did! i had one experience with it. my sister made me a
hamburger patty, i can eat hamburger... praise God! but she put on Lawry's
seasoning salt.... i got about half of it down and started shaking and
turned white as a ghost...turns out the 2nd ingredient on lawry's salt is
SUGAR>>>> so now i read everything. good luck. martha j.
— MarthaJ0110
January 12, 2011
For the most part you can do with very little to no carbs and be fine. But
this is hard to maintain. the problem is wehn you eat with ohters they all
eat a lot of carbs and it feels strange not too.
You are unlikely to stretch your pouch out if you eat small amounts at a
Time. At this point try not to stress too much and just learn to eat slow
and chew well. I tend to cut things in small pieces to avoid taking to big
a bite.
Use a small plate and enjoy what you eat. If you worry about everything you
do it will make it harder to become a regular eating pattern for you. This
is just how you eat now so try to find what you like and focus on how great
your doing.
— trible
January 12, 2011
Hi Hennifer, I had lapband but pretty much they told me you eat the protein
first because that fills you veggies and then carbs. They also said to
stop eating when you dont feel hungry anymore and also stop eating after 20
minutes. Maybe talk to the dr and see what he can offer you in the way of
diet help. I dont know If I helped but If I did great. Congratulations on
the WL
— twinsmom0804
January 12, 2011
Hey Jennifer! Sorry that misunderstood where you were coming from since
I've not been where you are - YET - and thanks for bringing it up because
the posters who answered you had good info for me too! Thanks Greg and
congrats on your 1 year anni coming up!! Betty, I like that "if you
lick it or bite it, WRITE IT" and I hate journals but that just
simplified it for me. Martha, who would have thought sugar would be in
seasoned salt. OMGosh! I can see it's going to be time to do a real pantry
clearing very soon. Lettuce Sandwiches sound like a great compromise,
Susan. Liz, my NUT said there is such a thing as too much protein (over
120 gms per day) and that GOOD carbs are important because they feed the
brain. I read somewhere that another WL patient adds protein powder to her
whole grain hot cereal for breakfast. Sounds like a good combo, but not a
thing was mentioned about hot cereals by my NUT. What do y'all think? I'm
grateful I was taught when I was a kid to chew each bite 32 times. I'm
going to do some mirror work and practice saying, "No, thanks. I'm
not hungry." and "I don't care for any, thank you." at least
10 different ways... Project for the day. LOL
— Ruthie D.
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