Regained weight after RNY, need help to get back on track

Greetings all,

I had RNY gastric bypass in 2007. I weighed in at 381 on the day of surgery, I had lost 160 pounds by 2009. I kept it off for a few more years then got comfortable and began eating like my old habits.I was blessed with my first child in 2011, but gained 60 pounds during my pregnancy. So now I am 311 pounds currently. I am desperately trying to lose the weight and my bariatric nurse suggested going back to 2 meal replacement shakes per day and eat a healthy dinner. Since I have been out of the loop I'm not sure what meal replacement shakes are any good. Can you suggest some? Also if you are in the same situation as me, what are you doing to get the weight off? Any suggestions would be so helpful. I feel lost and disappointed in myself for letting my weight get out of hand again.

Thanks so much in advance and I hope to hear from a lot of you.

I am sorry you are struggling right now. Congrats on the birth of your baby!  I like the Premier shakes from Costco or Sams club. They are quick and easy and I can drink one on the go.

I also want to point out that because it's Costco or Sams club you can take them back for a full refund if you don't like them.

I agree with Lori.  They are a quick way to get 30 grams of protein.  Track ALL your food and measure, measure, measure.

It always confuses me when people recommend going back on shakes instead of meals to help with weight loss and getting back on track.  Here's the thing.  Shakes won't keep you full long at all because liquids go right through the pouch.  If you get hungry right after drinking your shake, it will be difficult to stick to your plan and not eat unintended snacks.  And when we eat unplanned snacks, those often tend to be unhealthy choices.

To me, it makes more sense to plan three healthy meals and maybe a healthy, low cal snack or two.  If you eat some lean protein with every meal, especially denser protein like chicken or other meat, you'll feel full much longer than with a shake.

And consider the nutritional stats.  Three ounces of cooked chicken has about 150 calories and about 20 grams of protein.  Unjury protein shakes (if you mix them with water) have 100 calories and 20 grams of protein.  Yes, the shake is lower in calories.  But it won't keep you full as long, plus who finds drinking a protein shake as satisfying as eating?  You could add a whole cup of broccoli to the chicken and still only eat about 200 calories for the whole meal.

So if you ate a meal like the chicken and broccoli three times a day (substitute different meats and veggies, of course, who wants chicken and broccoli all the time?), you'd only be eating about 600 calories a day.  That's not enough.  But you could stick in a snack or two of some protein and fruit, like Greek yogurt and fruit, cottage cheese and fruit, or string cheese and fruit.  You could easily be eating five times a day and eating a decent amount of food, so you wouldn't feel hungry.  Feeling hungry makes me want to run for the potato chips.

I would also suggest going to a WLS support group, if you haven't been going.  That way you'll get regular support and encouragement to stay on track.

I think that's great advice. I'm supposed to eat only three meals a day, but adding a healthy snack keeps you full longer and you get in enough calories. I think I'll stick to what Kelly said. Thanks!

I disagree with Kelly (respectfully, of course!). Although she makes valid points, the protein shakes DO fill me up and I stay full.  I would say give both scenarios a shot. Whatever works best for you is the one you should stick to! Good luck!

How long ago was your surgery, Shelle?  Usually (although there can of course be exceptions) once someone is several months out, and especially several years out, the shakes don't keep them full very long.

I have no idea what Kelly said, but with the greatest respect you are what, 2 months out from surgery?   The OP is several years out and your cir****tances are nowhere near comparable!

Replacing two meals for shakes for someone this far out is TERRIBLE advice - it will screw with her metabolism and is pretty much doomed to long term failure ...

 

Shellee
I look forward to hearing you on the boards in a year or two. Kelly knows from EXPERIENCE. Respectfully, you do not have enough to be giving advice to someone who had their surgery so long ago.

This is terrible advice ...    Best way to ruin your metabolism and get you back into a dieting mentality!

You need to get back to basics:   EATING your protein 100g per day is the way to go, track your food, no drinking while eating or for 30 minutes after and exercise 60 minutes x 5 times per week.

Consider the experience of posters here when assessing their replies!