The dirty little secret of RNY...(long)

I have a G1(google phone) and most of the apps are free from the "marketplace." It is called "calorie counter" and resembles daily plate. it is awesome and saves my recent food picks and favorites and all of that!

I have mental issues.  For years I've been told food makes you fat.  I was fat.  So it's hard to go through a life changing surgery and still eat.  It's kind of like an alcoholic.  They can quit drinking, avoid social settings with liquor...a food addict?  We still have to eat.  And be in control when we do.  I told my husband it's like telling a crack addict to just do a "little" bit. 

I hope with time it gets easier but for me at this point I struggle with eating more, not less.  Regardless, I'm giving it my all, love my new life, and wouldn't go  back for anything.

I was undereating starting about 5 weeks post op.  Not intentionally but because dense protein did not agree with me.  Not unusual at all for rny.

Well I did bring it up at my follow up because I suspected I was not eating enough and had confirmed that I was taking on 450-600 cal daily.  My diet was designed to provide 800-900. 

I was labled by the nurse and dietition as developing anorexia and an aversion to food.  Moreover, I was gaining weight instead of loosing.  They were of no help. 

Fortunately the surgeon was level headed and understood my metabolic challenges and explained that some rny patients will have issues like this so get calories from shakes until I can handle proteins better.  But then he told me to get about 1100 calories when I was strugling to get six.  I wanted to kill someone.

 It too****il I was five months out to be able eat enough consistently.  Trial and error is how I learned to change my diet from the plan to what suits my individual taste and preferences.  On low cal days, I add a little olive oil or an ounce or two of nuts.  Good fats have become my friend. 

Yikes!!  I am two weeks out and struggling just to get my liquid and protein in!

What does a 1200-1600 calorie day look like?  How soon will my NUT be expecting me to get there?

Post Date: 9/10/09 5:08 am  (this was my eats yesterday)
Well, I got my new Bento lunch boxes in the mail last night and it has made me be a little more creative, a little more munchie but during this TOM I am happy to have good munchies.

B: DD wake up wrap
     coffee
S: string cheese
S: 1/2 sliced apple w/1tbsp almond butter
L: 1/2 c. cottage cheese
S: multi grain tortilla chips w/hummus
S: soy crisps
D: pulled pork and green beans

So there, have some snacks!  I am looking forward to it though. Lately all I do is eat all morning and by 1 or 2 I have eaten most of my food and my hunger has gone.  That lasts till supper and I'm good to go! 

Cal: 1088 Fat: 44 Protein: 67 Carbs: 109 (way more than I usu. get.... Oh well maybe I need it)

My doctor says obsolutely nothing between meals--no matter what--I think that is my I am having such a hard time trying to increase my calories.

Funny you should mention this. I went to lunch with a pre-op today and I went off on a soapbox about “no snacks" doctors.

My theory is they are trying to address what we did wrong as regular-stomached people. But this is a whole new ballgame. I could not possibly get in enough without snacks. Even with several snacks a day I rarely reach my 1500/day target.

But add to that the fact that conventional medicine encourages normal, healthy adults to eat 3-5 small meals a day and the “no snacks" thing seems even more ridiculous.

 

I’m not telling you to defy your program, but I am telling you to do some research and, in the end, make decisions that are best for YOU. Most surgeon’s have never had this surgery before and don’t know what it’s like.

HIJACK!  Awesome picture, damn girl... you weren't kidding you are HOT!!!

My program said that too, but now that my NUT sees what I eat she has no issues with it.  Good luck, it's tough to balance not eating with eating!

I'm 14 months out.  I dieted for 35 years before having RNY.  Everyday I was thinking about what I had eaten and what I would eat.  Never lose any significant weight on the diets.

RNY has given me my life back.  The dietician told me at my one year checkup I should be eating 1200 calories/day.  I hadn't lost much for a few months and she said I wasn't eating enough.

I do get hungry but can't eat much at a meal.  Yesterday I ate 3 oz. of chicken and that's the most I've eaten since before surgery.  Actually, I do fear food and worry I won't be able to keep the weight off.  I still need to lose about 15 lbs. to meet my doctor's goal for me and I want to lose another 25 for my personal goal. 

One board I particpate in says keep carbs at 25 if you want to lose and 50 once you get to goal.  Some days I do keep net carbs at 40 but that's about as low as I get.  I do have snacks between meals but they are healthy and always have a bit of protein.  I will cheese and grapes or an apple or a protein supplement.  I have 1 or 2 protein supplements a day.

I'm happy with where I am but I worry about losing what i need to lose or gaining some back.