6 weeks out and and am able to eat protein bars

Im scared that I wont lose that much weight as I am able to consume protein bars. I also find myself still thinking constantly about food, Im not hungry its just on my mind, will this get better? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. I just have this big fear that I will be the only one to not lose a lot of weight with the gastric bypass!

i felt the exact same way about the whole thing before surgery and the first few weeks afterwards, but i promise you it DOES get better! right now you are still adjusting and training yourself to know the difference between head hunger and belly hunger. my nurse told me when i was first out that i will still get the feeling like i am hungry but not to eat, because i'm not really hungry. it's just because you've gone so long in life feeling that way, and now you've started a new life! but i do promise you it does get much much better. i wish you all the best!!!

Thanks so much for the advice, this really helps! And by the way you look awesome! I still havent figured out how to post my picture on this site but I guess eventually I will. How much have you lost so far? Ive lost 30 and just cant wait until I notice a big change. Im afraid Im going to need a lot of plastic surgery but Ill cross that bridge when I get there! Thanks again!

Hi Kelly, you are asking for advice from someone who has been there and done that, right? Let me first give you a disclaimer:...I am a patient and not a professional, my first advice is this, when you are having a problem no further out than you are..please go to your professional as in dietician, bariatric nurse or surgeon...each center is different on how and what they teach. Now with that being said...at 6 weeks out I would be very careful consuming protein bars. What is important in having this surgery is a new lifestyle change. You have what we old timers call "the window of opportunity"..take that time and make the best of it by learning new eating habits and a whole new world of foods and products to get the best out of your new "tool".. Make this time fun and adventurous..I talk to so many people who are a bit down after surgery because they miss eating what they consider "real foods"... I rarely eat protein bars, I may purchase them if I am going on vacation traveling long distance on a plane or in a car..where food might be difficult to purchase or find..and lord knows we need something in place of airplane food that never works for us as bariatric patients..(no offense airlines)..but uck! Now just let me say this, I have nothing against protein bars but for me it was eating quick and easy that got me into trouble with my weight to begin with.. Anyway, what is very important right now is to get on that new track and make this time exciting and new, learn new recipies and find new foods to eat. INstead of protein bars how about cheese sticks?...if you are finding it difficult to pack a lunch or find something for a quick snack here is what I did..and still do often. purchase deli foods such as ham, roast beef, turkey or chicken breast, your favorite cheese then make roll ups. ( I never used processed meats such as bologna, etc) I kept a cooler in my car as moved around during the day from one area to another, those were the times I found it easy to drive through fast food joints...but in my cooler I carried roll ups, cheese sticks or I would cut up blocks of cheese..bottled water or flavored drink like crystal light... If I wanted the crunch effect I took grated cheese placing it on a paper plate and microwaved it for a few seconds and make small cheese disc out of them.. I purchased books like the ATkins, South Beach and even Suzanne Somers cook books and still use them for tons of recipies. What we as RNY patients are looking for is high protein and less carbs..so if we can eat protein bars, we can most likely eat "real protein"..such as roasted chicken, steak, bunless burgers, omelets quiche..(homemade from the recipies books I named above)..eating out is a snap for me..I share my meals with family, I order a salad and they share their meat...I get a variety, tonight for an example I ate with my son who is visiting from Florida..my daugther, her husband and my husband..I ended up with alittle from everyone..shrimp, chicken, steak..now how much better can life get?? lol Remember Kelly, you will never need to be on another diet...this is a lifestyle.. it can be fun and exciting..it should never be frustrating. I will be 4 yrs out in June and I love my new life..I enjoy the foods I eat and have never been sorry (well ok maybe the first 4 weeks after "open" surgery)...but since I healed I have never once been sorry of my decision. If I can help you out just send me an email... [email protected] You are doing great, you are thinking and questioning..that shows intiiate ..just remember it's all in the path we decide to take and the attitude we use to get there!! Brenda

You gave great advice Brenda, I carry a cooler also,but i do eat the protein bars such as south beach. Im glad that we have a person on here that is as far out to help us......Vickie

When I do choose a protein bar at the store it's normally south beach too.. you guys will laugh at this and I know Dr. Sonnanstine will probably read this post but here goes anyway.. He operated on me right after Christmas, ( take out mesh from my hernia repair) I am so picky about getting in my own food that I packed a plastic bag full of sugar free hot chocolate, packet of the heart healthy oatmeal..and South Beach protein bar, just in case I wanted a snack...lol he came in the day after my surgery and told me I could now eat...I thought, ooopppssss to late I got hungry in the middle of the night and ask the nures for some ho****er..I had my own oatmeal and hot chocolate..being prepared is the ticket....I didn't get sick so I guess I did good. The day after my plastic surgery, after having 3 hernia repairs the nutritionist came in and ask if I was hungry...I was starving, she gave me options and told me she would fix it personally..I had her fix me an egg omelet with egg beaters..my plastic surgeon walked in while I was eating, he stood there with his mouth opened and said " I cannot believe you are eating that!!"..nobody told me I shouldn't be eating..lol see though I am pretty compliant I still think about food morning noon and night so I have to stay prepared or watch out, I will eat whatever is nearby!!!

i get like this also- but i think to meself im not going to eat anything that im not suppose to- im 4 weeks post op and already have lost over 40 lbs- my friends say i look different day to day lol- i have a few friends that have had the surgery and they all LOST weight and look and are doing great- BTW my names Marty and im new to the site- im glad to be on here to for support and to give any i can

Hi Marty, welcome.!!!! your weight loss is awesome keep up the good work.

Kelly, I started eating protein bars about 4 weeks post op. I was only able to eat 1/2 at a time, but would get it all down by the end of my day. I buy the Pure Protein bars from Wal Mart and they are high in protein and low calorie all things considered. Thinking about food is completely normal and expected, because your life (and body) is going through major changes. Just be sure to get that protein, because it does help! Take one day at a time, talking your cravings out acknowledging it's a mental hunger rather than a physical one. This is what I do and it does help me. One thing I'm also finding true for myself is having been a diabetic, I'm still adjusting to the lower blood sugars and I'm thinking that in itself makes me "hungry". I would (and still do) eat a ham and cheese roll-up and find it helps to chew it slowly. What I'm trying to say is that my body has always been used to being at a blood glucose of over 150-200 mg/dl. and now it's always around 85-125 mg/dl., thus giving me signals of hunger, which in turn will play up the cravings. (I'm not an expert, only guessing and I hope that made sense! ) You're doing fine and it will get better; the protein will see to that. Even at 5 months post-op, I still have the fear that the surgery isn't working for me. I am going through that phase where you stall, loose, gain, stall, and lose again. When you get to that, don't freak out, because it's normal too. (so my doc says and I TRUST him completely!) Good luck and if you wanna talk, just email me. Dee