TheWombat’s Posts
About the struggle to take in enough protein, that's quite normal. If you talk to your medical team (especially the dietitian), I believe they will clarify that it will be a while before you can reach your protein goals. At 30 days out, I was only getting about 30g of protein, and my dietitian said I was doing quite well.
I had VSG, and I use gummies sometimes. I'm not aware of any reason why people can't use them post WLS, once they've healed from surgery, of course. However, the gummies I've tried are a bit too tasty, so there's a temptation to take more than you should. So be aware of that.
One thing I only learned after surgery is that the desire to eat sometimes when you're not hungry is completely normal and not something to feel guilty about. "Skinny" people do it too. I used to try to "white-knuckle" it and ignore the cravings, thinking that it was some sort of weakness on my part to give in. But now that I understand that it's normal, I have what I think is a much healthier approach.
Always have on hand some foods for those occasions. Foods that engage other senses in addition to taste are particularly good. Crunchy things like carrot sticks or other raw veggies are great. I like pomegranate seeds for the way they burst when you chomp down. Usually you want foods that are low in calories/carbs (whichever you're tracking), but also consider foods that you don't like enough to eat more than a nibble. For me personally, raisins and sunflower seeds fall into this category.
I drink a glass of water. Sometimes it isn't head hunger or heart hunger, but excess stomach acid. Water helps with that.
If hunger returns after the glass of water, I assume it was real hunger and eat whatever I want as long as it is low-sugar and filling. After surgery, I learned that it's normal to have days where I'm hungrier than others. Usually the next day I will be less hungry, so it tends to even out.
A short period of buyer's remorse is very common after this surgery. And short-term depression is very common after any surgery, so you're probably feeling a combination of both. The fact that you're feeling doubts right now doesn't mean you made a mistake.
You should feel better very soon. In the meantime, take it easy on yourself. You might need to sleep more than usual. Try to distract yourself from your thoughts with something or someone entertaining.
Try to think of the future and what you can accomplish: I have a normal BMI now, and it's wonderful on this side of the fence!
You will be yourself again. In fact, you'll feel more like your true self than you have felt in years.
For the last year or so, I've been adding a dash of lemon juice to almost everything. I really love the kick it gives the food. It has single-handedly turned me into someone who prefers savoury food to sweet. Has anyone else gone mad for the stuff, or is it just me?
I'm vegan, though I might not be the person Partlypollyanna is referring to. I had VSG rather than RNY. I lost all of my excess weight, and haven't found veganism to be an issue. My labs have consistently show that I'm getting all the right nutrients, including iron and B12. My observations:
I have to "work" a little harder than a meat-eater, or even a vegetarian, to make sure I have enough protein in my diet. I regularly add (vegan) protein powder to some drinks and foods to help with that. About twice per day I have "hot chocolate": a spoonful of cocoa, a half-serving of protein powder, ho****er, and artificial sweetener to taste. Creamy and decadent! I also have oatmeal with a half-serving of protein powder a few times a week. Aside from that, I rely on veggie burgers, beans, legumes, etc. to meet my protein needs.
I discussed with my dietitian how much protein she thinks I need. I'm female, and we settled on 55g per day as a reasonable target for me. Some say that is way too low. As I said, my dietitian is OK with this, but definitely consult yours.
To top up my B12, I add nutritional yeast to some foods. It has a nutty, cheesy taste. This has worked well for me, and my labs always show high B12 levels. However, I'm not sure if it works as well for RNY patients. I suggest trying it.
One advantage of having to work a little harder to get enough protein is that I'm mostly focused on what I should eat rather than what I shouldn't eat. At the end of the day, if I've met my protein needs but I'm still hungry or just want something in particular, I usually just eat it. Doesn't happen often enough to adversely affect my diet.
Yes! Although I don't bother with room temperature water. I just add a little ho****er, coffee, or any hot liquid to the powder, stir that, and then add the rest of the liquid.
Also, if you're adding any dry ingredients (e.g. sweeteners, spices, instant coffee), it helps to mix them up before adding liquid.
I had a dream a few nights ago that I was in the office. Everything seemed normal until I remembered the pandemic. Then I panicked that I was going to catch it! So relieved when I woke up.
I didn't really have much of a fupa, so I can't address that specifically. But I will say that fat does tend to redistribute somewhat, so be patient and see what happens. In general, you tend to lose fat from the extremities first, so the fupa will probably be the last to go, if it does. But it might.
I wonder if something non-surgical like sculptsure would work on the fupa. Even a small reduction reduction in fat there could make a big difference to one's appearance and self-esteem.
I had fat pads under my eyes, and given my age (60) I didn't expect them to go anywhere. But to my surprise, at the two-year point they were basically gone. I also assumed that the loose skin under my neck was hopeless, but it did improve. I still have loose skin there, but it's not excessive for my age.
I had a whole team; the surgeon did the cutting, the endocrinologist dealt with other medical stuff, and the dietitian advised me on my diet. Are you working with a dietitian? They usually have loads of *practical* advice on how to cope while your stomach is healing. It would probably help to discuss this issue with a dietitian who is experienced with WLS.
My dietitian did not expect WLS patients to meet their protein requirements until perhaps 3 months after surgery. Her focus was on fluids, fluids, fluids, and avoiding certain foods and textures until my stomach healed. Protein shakes are difficult to digest, and some people simply can't tolerate them at first.
If adding protein shakes into your diet makes it more difficult for you to drink enough water, I suggest you explain that to your surgeon. Also, you might try watering down the shake. Or make your own protein drinks, adding in half a serving of protein powder instead of a full serving. That's one of the best suggestions I got from my dietitian. With less of the powder, the drink was easier on my stomach and better-tasting. I ended up drinking more of it, so I got more protein than I would have if I had tried it full-strength.
+1 for "There?s a lot of work that goes into the head part and it might be hard to do that well dealing with all you are dealing with."
And regardless of when you do it, I think it would be better to go to Mexico and pay for it yourself rather than risking your seniority and benefits.
As a vegan, I'm a connoisseur of plant-based protein powders. Here are my favourites. I don't know if these are available outside Europe. If you can't find these, I recommend looking for protein powders that are primarily soy-based. Soy is higher in protein than other plant sources, the flavour is unobtrusive, and it mixes readily in ho****er. Rice-based protein powders taste like flour to me. Hemp-based powders have a strong vegetable flavour; I think they'd be good in green smoothies but not much else.
Plantforce Synergy Protein Vanilla
Pulsin Soya Protein
If you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, you can make your own protein powder. I'm thinking of getting one just so I can do this. Google for recipes.
Although I'm a chocolate fiend, I generally prefer vanilla-flavoured protein powders. I mix them with cocoa powder, and find that tastes better than the chocolate flavoured powders.
I top up my protein with "hot chocolate": I mix 1 spoonful of protein powder, 1 spoonful of cocoa, sweetener to taste, ho****er, and a dash of nut milk. Sometimes I add a spoonful of flaxseed for a nutty flavour and added fibre, or a quarter teaspoon of hazelnut butter, or a dash of cinnamon. Depending on your powder, each cup of hot chocolate gives you about 12g protein for only 80 calories. I find this a great way to have a decadent treat and get extra protein in.
Our lockdown has been stricter than the UK's. Our taoiseach (prime minister) Varadkar is a medical doctor, so our policies have been mostly science-driven rather than politics driven. The stores that are allowed to be open (food markets, pharmacies) immediately installed plexiglass screens to protect their staff, and for customers they provided hand gel dispensers, supplies to clean carts and trolleys, and gloves. At first, a lot of people didn't seem to take it very seriously, but within a week or two most people were wearing masks and keeping their distance.
Starting 18 May, we will introduce a phased, five-stage exit over the next three months, with the caveat that it may be necessary to go back a step or delay the next step if cases rise too quickly at any point.
I'm very pleased with the way the company I work for has handled things. They were among the first to direct their employees to work from home. They are planning to start letting a small number of people back into the office (people who are finding it particularly difficult to work from home), but on a strictly voluntary basis. They've made it very clear that they aren't going to pressure anyone to come back to the office.
The three possibilities I can think of are:
- Nutritional deficiency. It's definitely a good idea to get a blood work-up.
- Some sort of stress to your body. Are you pregnant? Have you had a baby recently? Have you had any type of surgery (not just WLS) recently?
- Breakage. If you co-wash, make sure you do a normal wash of your hair at least once a week to remove build-up; otherwise, it can cause breakage. This may be the cause of the hair loss some DevaCurl users are having.
Maybe start with the blood test and a general check-up. If that doesn't reveal anything, a dermatologist may be able to diagnose the problem.
When you're about to sneeze or cough, it might help to wrap your arms around your stomach (or hold a pillow tightly****il the sneeze or cough is over. That should minimise the internal movement that causes the pain.
So glad you're feeling better! And it's good that the doctor was able to diagnose the problem over the phone so that you didn't have to go to the hospital.
Hi fellow vegan! I responded to your other post on the VSG forum: https://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/6043464/Vegan/
Glad you're doing well and not in much pain. I bet you'll feel a lot better tomorrow. Hang in there!
Here's a thread with some info that may help with your nerves:
https://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/6034619/What-turned-o ut-better-than-you-expected/
I don't want to inundate you with too much information, but here's another thread you might want to have handy for the first few weeks after surgery:
https://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/6040762/Tips-for-inc reasing-fluid-intake/
I had it done in the summer of 2018, and I am thrilled with the outcome! I have so much more energy. It used to be when I climbed the one flight of stairs at work, I'd pause at the top and pretend to be interested in the notices on the board -- but really I was trying to catch my breath. Now, however, I regularly climb the three flights of stairs to my flat and I'm not winded at all. My BMI is normal now, but I'm still losing. (It's normal to have a small amount of regain, so it's a good idea to go a little below your goal.)
Illogical as it may sound, I actually get a little bit "jealous" when someone announces that they're about to have WLS, because I remember how exciting the first six months are.
It's great that you found this forum, because you'll get loads of practical advice here.
Hi Paula! Welcome to the forum. Here are some tips for your first few weeks:
- If you weigh yourself right after surgery, you will probably find that you have gained weight because they pump you full of IV fluids. It will probably take about 5-7 days for the excess weight to go away.
- After surgery, your number one job is to sip, sip, sip fluid!
- You won't be able to get the recommended amount of protein for a while. That's OK; you won't become malnourished in a few weeks. Hydration is the important thing for now.
- Don't be surprised if you feel "hungry" after surgery. This is excess stomach acid. The PPI prescribed by your surgeon will help with this, but it takes a little time.
If you would like some alternative sources for protein besides meat and protein shakes, you may find this list helpful. (You don't have to be vegan or vegetarian to enjoy these!)
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-for-vegans-vege tarians
Plus some more tips:
1/2 scoop of protein powder in coffee for a "latte"
1/2 scoop of protein powder in oatmeal. I find that vanilla protein powder tastes best for this.
1/2 scoop of protein powder in ho****er with a spoonful of cocoa powder for a decadent hot chocolate drink. Add artificial sweetener to taste. Again, I find that vanilla protein powder tastes best for this. I have this twice a day!
Despite the name, "refried" beans are pretty healthy, and a good way to get some protein.
This thread was a great idea, Partlypollyanna!
I'm wombat. I'm owned by two cats; we live in Ireland. I completed my PhD (at age 57) in 2017 
, and thought "right, what's next". 
So I had the VSG in summer 2018. My weight loss has been good and steady. I'm almost at a normal BMI, and am still losing. I was sceptical that I would succeed at this, so I am thrilled with the results. I've been vegetarian for decades, but after surgery I went vegan. If you're looking for a recommendation for a vegan protein powder, I'm your woman!
Regarding the snacking, I use a multi-pronged approach:
- I typically have 3 meals of about 150 calories each, plus some snacks in the 60 calorie range, for a total of about 800 calories per day. Between the meals and snacks and drinking all the fluids I'm supposed to have, it feels like I'm always eating or drinking. This minimises the temptation to eat things I shouldn't. (This may be a bit controversial, but it works for me.)
- Every time I'm tempted to eat and it's not a scheduled mealtime or snacktime, I drink 500 ml of fluid first. That fills me up for at least 20 minutes. After that, if I still want to eat something, I do so. I try never to say "no" to myself so I don't feel deprived. Instead I say "maybe later", and when later comes I've usually forgotten about it.
- I still find that most of the hunger I feel isn't actually hunger, it's just excess stomach acid. Drinking more fluid helps a lot with that, as does the PPI your surgeon prescribed for you.
- I try to have snacks on hand that engage other senses besides just taste. For example, pomegranate seeds are crunchy and "explode" in your mouth with a burst of liquid. Interesting textures really help.
Some people experience more pain with WLS than others. I suspect it has something to do with how much poking and prodding they had to do to reach the organs, whether or not they had to repair any hernias, and things like that. It sounds like you've had a worse time than most, but the good news is that as you start feeling better, things should improve quickly.
How are you doing today?
FloridaMom1994 · 1 replies · 119 views