Life After RNY

Thank you! Great points! My husband has told me recently that he worries that I may not be making the right choice seeing as that the only change I've made is drinking water only. I've been on medical weight management and for the most part, their diet fits into what I would normally do (except the protein shakes). I hoping that the "tool" will help me in terms of always feeling hungry and controlling my portion sizes.

I used to love running and working out but the weight weighed me down with injuries so much that I pretty much just walk now but I guess something is better than noting. Once again, I'm hoping that once the weight comes off some it will be easier on my joints and I'll be able to do more.I have a MyfitnessPal account. Maybe I'll start using again. I see a lot of people highly recommend it.

1. How many people eat a "regular" diet but just not as much as you would have before surgery and what are your results like?  I pretty much eat what I want but do follow a protein-forward diet.  I do not eat ice cream or cereal and milk.  Both make me feel horrible and I don't miss them either.  My plan is 80/20%, I do what I must 80% and give myself 20% to vary.

2. How long did you find before you felt hungry again?  I'm 8 years out and still do not have a strong hunger signal.  I have to eat according to plan.  There are times I'm busy doing things and forget to eat, that is when I eventually get my hunger signal (slight burn, empty feeling) that reminds me I need to eat.

3. How long did it take you before you felt "normal" again?  I felt great the second day out of surgery (very minimal pain) and the first 2 weeks were not a problem.  I did feel totally exhausted from week 3 through 8 and experienced nausea at that time trying to "eat" and drink enough liquids. 

4. Are you pleased with your results and did NOT exercise a lot?  YES I'm pleased with the results, I surpassed what I thought imaginable and have maintained the loss.  No I did not exercise much, still do not but I'm active in that I never stop so although no formal exercise I do stay active.

5. Is there anything you wish you had known before surgery that you know now and think pre-ops migh tbe interested in knowing?  I wish I had found an exercise program I liked early out and could maintain.  I did lose a lot of muscle after surgery.  Some days I feel like a weakling, especially when I use to be able to move heavy furniture, etc. and now when I pu**** feels like the furniture is pushing me back, lol.

Hi Cajungirl,

Thanks so much for your replies. 8 years out is a long time. I'm so happy to hear that you are doing so well!!! Very inspirational!! I like your 80/20 philosophy but I also understand you've had 8 years to perfect it. What you described is exactly what I hope to be able to do someday. If I can fill this bottomless pit of a stomach of mine up, I know I can loose. I don't think it's just head hunger with me because I can hear my stomach growling for more food shortly after I eat. I have been trying to eat "protein forward" since I learned about it and that is helping a lot. I've completely cut sweets since I was never really big on them anyway. I'm so excited about my new life and can't wait to be 8 years out successfully... :)

Thanks a bunch!

Nita

Best wishes with your research!!!

1. How many people eat a "regular" diet but just not as much as you would have before surgery and what are your results like? What I eat: www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com 7 years of blog posts about what I eat. Pretty normal... by choice I don't do pasta, rice, bread, white potatoes, chips, crackers. I could, I choose not to.

2. How long did you find before you felt hungry again? I eat to a schedule and pretty protein forward meals so I rarely get "hunger" occasionally I will have what I call bottomless pouch days and I want more (I don't feed the beast) and some days I get picky pouch days and have to force myself to have something. No rhyme or reason really.

3. How long did it take you before you felt "normal" again? 7 weeks I felt human again... 4 months I felt normal...  and it got better and better from that point on.

4. Are you pleased with your results and did NOT exercise a lot? I walk and hike a bit, occasional boxing, dvd on cold or hot days, dance in my kitchen, that's pretty much it. Yes, very pleased with results.

5. Is there anything you wish you had known before surgery that you know now and think pre-ops might be interested in knowing?  Work on the why's of why you gained weight... they do not go away with the pounds. Oh and there is NO FINISH LINE... we all want to reach this GOAL weight but the day after you reach goal you wake up to more of the same so concentrate on life changes not goal weights ;)

~Michelle "Shelly"

Hi Shelly AKA Ms. Eggface. I was reading a blog the other day which spoke very highly of you. I was on your blog the other day, in fact. Very nice. I'll be headed back as I bookmarked it. I couldn't figure out how to "follow" though. I will.

Thanks for the very wise piece of advice about focusing on the "why" and not the "goal". I'll definitely be giving this some more thought.

Thanks,

Nita

I had RNY open surgery almost 12 yrs ago and I'm still having WOW moments to this day. I'd do it again in a heartbeat in order to feel this good. I know both surgeries are successful and can be a life saver as far as losing weight and getting healthy. Do your research and check out both boards. As for your questions:

1. I eat a regular diet and almost everything I ate before, just in smaller quantities. There are a few things I don't want to eat anymore because of high calorie count or high fat. But in the long run I eat what I did. No dumping, no problems.

2. I still don't get hungry. I eat by the clock. I eat enough per meal to fill me up until the next meal. Most days my meals are protein forward or protein only still. It works for me and I get a lot of variety.

3. I am 12 yrs out and not "normal" yet but then I never was. : )   I felt pretty good after about 6 weeks - as far as going out and eating with friends, losing some weight, being able to tolerate most foods, etc. I was active from the second week after surgery so moving a lot helped me recover.

4. I am pleased with my results because I did exercise. I was 44 when I had surgery and had good muscle tone at the time of surgery. Being active helped the weight loss, got me to goal and has kept me there. It also helps the skin when you have taught muscle tone underneath, and exercise helps with getting you recovered after anesthesia, increases lung capacity and helps tone and tighten newly shrunk skin. I don't think this surgery will work long term without exercise. It's fun to be able to move and eat more when being more active. There's the mind body connection - where one feels good so does the other.

5. Not really. This is a lifestyle change. If you're not willing to get your head in the game, don't even bother. If you need help come to this board or support groups. Research the surgical options and get help from a therapist if needed. To be successful our heads have to work with our bodies. Many of us became obese because of head/food issues and we need help with those after as well. This is still the best thing I ever did for myself. Good luck to you.

Jen 11+ yrs post op RNY

Congrats Jen!!!

Hi Jen,

Thanks for responding! It's great! to hear from someone who has been successful for so long. Congratulations! I hope to eat "regular" but not where near as much as I did. I have no problem avoiding carbs and maybe having a small amount once per day. My biggest problem is always being hungry. I'm praying that surgery will help with this. I'm also thinking that I can be a lot more active again once the pounds start to shed. I am really on working on getting my "head into this". I know there is no turning back and I don't want to mess up this wonderful opportunity that I know SO many wish they had.

Nita

1. How many people eat a "regular" diet but just not as much as you would have before surgery and what are your results like?

There is nothing regular about my diet.  I still do not consume potatoes, pasta, rice, or cereal and I loved Italian foods, baked and mashed potatoes before surgery.  I do eat some bread now.  A loaf of whole wheat or 12 grain bread lasts me for close to a month.  I keep in the freezer and only take out a slice at a time.  I eat very little meats, some cheeses, some vegetables and a serving of fruit most days.  I also have no caffeine and drink about 70 ounces of water every day.

2. How long did you find before you felt hungry again?

I eat small meals of about 200 calories about six times a day.  I have only been hungry one time since surgery six years ago.  That day I went for about 10 hours without eating and was very hungry.

3. How long did it take you before you felt "normal" again?

I had surgery on a Tuesday, was doing light housework on Saturday and back to a sit-down job on Monday.  I kept waiting for the problems to happen, but I just felt better every day.

4. Are you pleased with your results and did NOT exercise a lot?

I started on the treadmill the day I came home from the hospital and did not miss a day of exercise for five years.  I did water aerobics, weight machines, dancing, walking, yard work, housework, exercise tapes, swimming and golf without a cart.  I wanted well defined muscles, not flab.  The last year I have been working a schedule that caused me to quit exercising and I do not feel as good as when I was always moving.

5. Is there anything you wish you had known before surgery that you know now and think pre-ops migh tbe interested in knowing?

Lactose intolerance can be horrible.  I learned to use Lactaid milks and to take probiotics.  The dumping and bathroom issues made me wish the sleeve had been available.  The rapid and sustained weight loss make me glad I had RNY.  I had about a year of therapy after surgery which probably made an incredible difference in my attitude and success.

Hey.. how have you been?

Thanks for the answers. I see that WLS has helped you to change your life. I'm hoping that it will help me as well. I hear a lot about people not liking the same foods that they liked pre-op. I'm praying that I no longer love potatoes the way I do now. LOL Even if I do, I will practice restraint and allow the "tool" to work for me. I can do without the sweets and maybe even the bread but my potatoes will be hard. But not impossible. As far as exercise go, I hope to be more active overall to not only help with the muscle toning and less flab but also to prevent re-gain. If I ever reach goal, I don't ever want to see this weight again.

Nita