Bariatric Life Styles Of The Poor + Infamous!

Posted: 22 Nov 2010 05:06 AM PST

New blog title - you like?  ;)  

This morning this was sitting in my email.

"I have not had a lot to say lately as there has been a sudden explosion of opinions out there regarding bariatrics and I feel a bit overwhelmed.  I have been reading with interest and find that there is a lot of inaccurate intel being put out there and folks are going to be dropping like flies soon unless there are some corrections."

-http://bariatriceating.com/SMblog/?p=1126

I read the post.  I agree with some of it.  That doesn't matter, but supposed I should say so?  I went to leave a comment, and I stopped and started to write here instead.  

"Life is a Journey – but a Bariatric Journey is even more challenging IF we don’t pull together and help each other." 

Sales pitch FTW.   Link the Capped Words next time to the Journey Product.  Instant sales.  

Can we hug now?  I'm tired.

I may be missing it.  All I see is "Call Of Duty."   (Twitch.)  Intel?

If there were information bad enough to cause us to keel over, surely someone would notice.  I mean, we don't miss anything.  

Numerous people volunteer HOURS each week analyzing ideas and products that come up in our circles.  There are plenty of folks out there with alphabets behind their names to determine when something is a BAD IDEA. 

To be honest, the ones that spend hours checking into ideas and products, typically aren't the ones with products to sell.  What do they have to lose?  Not a thing, and what do they care about?  YOU, us, ME, the community. 

Big companies that cater to us as WLS patients do it as well, checking out what's out there, what we as patients need, what we WANT, and what is necessary.  Updating, revising, revamping, offering alternatives and getting in touch with the community.  We, the WLS community, are the connection to very targeted Bariatric products and some of their success.   There are products in our market that you may have heard of?  Yes,  word of mouth spreads fast.

Should we, as patients or advocates apologize if your product was described as a salty, gritty piece of rabid dog foam mouth chalk that couldn't EVEN be washed down with Diet Coke? 

Also, that in analyzing the label of the rabid dog vitamins, it was realized that it's missing countless major nutrients that we need, and appears to be a huge waste of money. 

Um, so sorry?  It matters.

The majority of the weight loss surgery community lives on a budget.  

And, it's TRUE.  If a product is simply not great --  why should we lie just because it keeps everybody happy?  It's Called Sales, Beth!  Again, in which I question my choice of college major.

And, no, we shouldn't apologize.  We are the consumers, and our feedback is immeasurable.

We are also responsible for many products and businesses that WEREN'T even aware of our um, unique community, to join it and share their products.

I'd like to know?  Who, is doling out such bad weight loss surgery advice that peeps be DYIN'?   Surely this ain't about vitamins. 

Bad information often spreads irregardless.

I don't see much of anything NEW happening in the greater WLS community beyond the typical cyclical posting and information sharing, as it's always been. Some of the typical sticky issues that trigger BAD MEDICINE ?

LITERAL READERS + SCAN-READERS, THESE AREN'T MY OPINIONS --

• Sure, I'm sick, but... I WEAR A SIZE SIX!
• "Do As I Say, Not As I Do/Eat."
• Alternative, "Do As I Say, Not As I Drink."
• Look What I Learned In Therapy This Week!
• Do Not Post Anything Negative About Your WLS.
• Do Not Post Anything Negative About _________.
• Don't share your real feelings on _________.  It's too much for the newbies to read.
• Don't be honest about ________.
• My Nutritionist Told Me To: _________ And That Is The Only Path To Success.
• Vitamins 101, How My Doctor Told Me I Don't Need This, That, Other Thing, and That Goes For Everyone!
• Crash Diet 101 After Weight Loss Surgery.
• Pouch-Test 101.
• Passing Out is a sign of enough exercise.
• HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE ----
• OMG!  YOU MUST EAT 800 CALORIES FOR LIFE!
• You Must Wait Ten Minutes Between Swallows!
• THREE MEALS A DAY!  No. snacking. EVER. No grazing, EVER.
• WRITE EVERY BITE!
• WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY DAY. 
• Carbs Will Kill You.  (Well, depends on who you are.  ;) ...)
• Fast Food Will Kill You, don't ever step foot in McDonald's again. Boycott!!  Except, you know, Wendy's Chili.
• Don't EVER order PASTA, EVER AGAIN, IT WILL LEAD TO A BINGE OF NO RETURN!
• (This goes for any/all food outside of a typical range of "WLS diet" foods.  Don't tempt your beast! AAAAH SCARY!)
• Donuts Lead You To Temptation, Deliver You TO Evil.
• Coffee Will Kill You, Diet Soda Will Kill You.  (And so on, insert the rules here that you find simply NUTS, that have no real basis in fact.)
• Intro to Eating Disorders 101, "How To Fake It."
• Living After WLS, Guilt Style!  #1 - "What do you mean you cannot afford this?"
• Living After WLS, Guilt Style! #2 - "You're not spending, you deserve it.  You're worth it."
• I Will Never.....
• You Should Never....
• Regain is Failure.
• Revision is for losers.
• Deficiences are your fault!
• You are sick?  That's your fault because you _______________.
• "Don't listen to her, she _____________."
• You can't complain, you did this___________.
• And so forth.
• Your ideas?

Yes, dramatized, obviously, but do you see how INSANE it all is?  Who needs it!   (Us.  Obviously, because it happens all day long, every day.)  This is where a few of you stop and comment, "That is why I don't go on boards anymore."  But that isn't the answer. 

WLS PEEPS NEED SUPPORT.

I remember my first foray into the message board world of WLS, not a good memory.  I apologize for being a piss-ass newbie whiner.  I apologize.  Love, Me.

And the first books I read: Gut Feelings: From Fear And Despair To Health And Hope and Before and After.  O-o 

Neither of the books addressed the issues that I was looking to read about, WLS.  They dealt with "All About Me And What I Buy For Myself" and I wanted to know DEEP things --

"Is it going to HURT TO POOP?  Will food go though undigested?"   (Yes, I am that classy, and I did not know ANYTHING about what was happening to me!)

I realized very early that we need to find - forge - stomp our own paths. 

Celebrities who write books or self-appointed weight loss gurus weren't going to help ME in my DAILY LIFE in the long term.

"Hi, um, Carnie?  Can you tell me just how many grams of protein I have to eat before I keel over?"

At the time, Carnie was extraordinarily successful in her weight loss, and I found that inspirational, but unrealistic for me to mimic in any way.  Many of my peers flocked to get information about WLS BECAUSE! of Carnie Wilson's success!

More people in NEED of basic support are lost because they get SCARED AWAY because they are shamed into thinking they have done something wrong.

For ME and scads of others, support was found in the form of PEERS, not a WLS Guru or Salesperson.

Anyone can start over, at any time.  

I get flak for this, and for stating anything to do with "moderation."  Some say that food addicts cannot do food in moderation.  Yes, yes we can.  We have to eat to live.  It must be done.

Simply because a patient does not fall into a *~*Bariatric Life-Style*~* post surgery (likely because they did not know any better due to the lack of appropriate education and support) -- does not mean that they deserve ANY LESS FROM US, at ANY time.  Whether that is at three months or ten years post op, OR if they come back to us bringing back every pound once lost.

We are all the same. 

We were ALL MORBIDLY OBESE. 

Like I've always said, those who were morbidly obese, don't exactly JUMP at every opportunity to be 100% Compliant.  Show me someone who is, and I will show you who is lying. 

(Put down the glass, honey, I just put down my nut-bar.  See?  It can be done. Mod-er-ation.)

And, some of us choose to eat food and own our gains.  I am just saying.

WLS does nothing for us, other than to surgically alter us so that we are forced to lose weight for a period of time.  At a point, it become more about our own choices than The Surgery. 

For some it could be at 9 months, for some this comes years later.  But, at some stage, the surgery is not 100% effective on it's own, and you must work it. 

This also means that some people choose slightly DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES, and you know WHAT?  THAT IS OKAY. 

Okay, I will specify:  I don't really think the Cheetos washed down with milk for protein diet is all that great,  or the 800 calorie Starbucks Frappuccino Liquid Diet, but, I'm not in your house, and I'm not in your PANTS.  And, the I-think-I-had-too-many-calories-let-me-go-throw-up diet kinda sucks as well.  Yes, and that bottle of wine with dinner diet, really doesn't do you any favors, babe. 

Just my non-RD opinion.  But, if you are getting WHAT YOU NEED, in WHAT YOU EAT, and are maintaining a level of succcess that is GOOD FOR YOU, and you are somewhat, better off HEALTHY?  Everybody else can SHOVE THE HELL OFF.   Cupcake?

We need basic, standarized guidelines beyond the first diet stages of post weight loss surgery.  We need these standards to come from the hands of  "God!" or nobody is ever going to get it OR agree on anything.  No, I mean that.

There isn't a patient who has had weight loss surgery who can claim that they know What Is Best For Us.  There aren't enough long-term studies, results and answers for any of us to claim anything.  Unless you find me that 35-40 year post op, and has done nothing but to devote their studies to the Nutrition and Well Being Of The Surgically Altered Gut.  

The suggestions, even from professionals, CHANGE!  One day we are all about protein-first!  The next we're talking vegetables first.  But, facts stay the same.   Many of us change opinions simply to follow along a trend.  (Bacon?  That's a trend.  Stay with it.  I'm on to something here.)

Often, pre-operative patient's advice to peers is "interesting," but not really harmful, you know? 

We were all there at one point.  Soaking up information from all angles like little baby bariatric sponges.  Many of us spouted out every damn thing we Learned At Support Group in the same way.  Pre-ops probably deserve the most lee way in this area because they are learning.

New post ops often dole out loads and loads of advice, some good, some questionable, some that works for them, and some that is just,"WHAT ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE THIS FOR?!" 

Those in that so-called honeymoon stage or who have been stunted and are stuck in a perpetual honeymoon stage can be particularly awful to try to listen to or read.  Please.  I live with it.  CON. STANT. LY.  

"This is WHAT I DO, and IT WORKS FOR ME, and I HAVE LOST ____ POUNDS FOREVER!  THANK YOU JESUS AND DR. ________ 'S BLESSED HANDS, AMEN! 

So, you need to chew 47 times between bites, wait ten minutes between swallows, say a Hail Mary, Go Long, Turn to the North, and then, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL LIKE ME! 

Want to see my photos? Let me pull out the album of my weight loss journey to show you!

Oh, wait, you simply must know what I eat.  I don't eat?  Meat, eggs, fish, rice, pasta, bread, dairy, salt, soy, anything white, beige, yellow, or opaque.  Anything that ever had a mother, out.   It's also got to be locally sourced, not touched by human hands, and bleached.

Here's a card you can show at the restaurant to make SURE they know you deserve Special Attention because you had The Surgery, and that you won't eat anything on the menu, and they should cater to you specically and stop all kitchen product for YOU. 

I also take vitamins that cost me half of my weekly grocery bill a bottle, no, silly, not a month, a bottle!

The lady that sold them to me?  She said they are PERFECT for BARIATRIC POST OPS.  No, I didn't read the label on the bottle, why should I?  I mean, they HAVE to be perfect or they couldn't be sold to us with the Bariatric label.  DUH.  You should take them too, because they are PERFECT.  And, she should know, she's like, a totally successful WLS person. 

Well, she said she was, and you should try to be like people like that.  You know what they say about surrounding yourself with successful people, like me.  I mean, I'm ___ months out and I've lost ____ lbs and my life is simply A-MAZING now!  You could learn from me.

What do you mean you can't afford the vitamins?

Didn't you have WLS to take care of yourself?  You deserve to spend that money on yourself.  It's not an expense.  Neither is my special diet, you should do it just like me.  Didn't you see how successful I am?  *twirl*

I can't believe you don't take care of yourself like I do.  I need to surround myself with people who do it right."

That's a character you don't want to meet in person.  She's Special.  She's a conglomeration, not a single person, I SWEAR on my sausage on a half-English muffin.

We were very powerful as pre-op patients.  We knew everything.  I wish I kept notes of everything I knew then as opposed to now, because now, it is clear that I know NOTHING.  We are sort of like, teenagers.

 After surgery, you realize you know NOTHING.  It may happen as early as that ride home in the car. 
You are completely powerless over your body for a few days, weeks, months or for some, years.  You may turn to others for advice.

As a new post-op, your body is on auto-pilot and you are in forced starvation, and weight loss happens.  **Most of the time, not always, your mileage may vary, do not discount the post op who has a very difficult time losing.

Automatic weight loss from surgery does not make you a Weight Loss Surgery Guru.  Gooo-rooo.  That word feels gross in my mouth.  But unfortunately many people pee out fat cells and turn into goo-roos.  Once they've decided they ARE, it's kind of hard to get around it.  Some simply curl up in a ball after a while, and come eat cupcakes, but... it's a bizarre WLS phenomemon.  You don't really see it in other medical communities -- do you?

There are people who are simply WICKED AWESOME at "goo-roo'ing," it's like a side-effect of their surgery -- they become Superhero Supporters.  Certain people find their calling in this ... and might even go to back to college to find a career in helping their peers.  This is unique to our community, so many renewed interests in school, career, health and helping others.   (Nurses to left, psych students to the right.  Stand up!)  I implore MORE of you to do this. 

**We need more WLS-SPECIFIC psychologists.  STAT.  (Yeah, you laugh now.  Have you been reading the boards I discuss?) 

I will SAY IT AGAIN for the UMPTEENTH TIME.  Do not take your every ounce of your advice from non-professionals ON THE INTERNET.  If you require professional counsel in some way, PLEASE SEEK A PROFESSIONAL.   Do not take advice that you might truly need a doctor for, from the internet.  The internet is a never-ending source of information, you can truly find the support you need, but when it comes to your HEALTH? 

Get 2nd, and 3rd opinions, one from the net, 'cause you know, Dr. Google has done quite a lot for many of us and we are THANKFUL when we are schooling our Doctors.  ;)  And, thankful when we find doctors who are willing to school themselves for us.  (Dr. House?  I'm waiting.)

Kum ba yah.  Amen.  Praise Jesus.  Pass the protein cupcakes.

Feel free to UNSUBSCRIBE, find your greener pastures, and graze.  I won't be hurt.

Journey Bariatric Easy & Complete Dietary Supplement

While at the Obesity Help Conference I was given a vitamin sample.  

"Taste this.  Do it.  Now." 

That's usually an indication of vitagasmic quality or and equally opposite reaction, like needing a spittoon. 

I went ahead and tasted the tablet, because that is what I do.  And, this little vitamin disintegrated into a pile of rabid dog foam and chalk in my mouth once introduced to my saliva.  That was pleasant?  I allowed myself to enjoy the "whole sensory experience" and then I asked -

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" 

Continue reading "Journey Bariatric Easy & Complete Dietary Supplement" »

Journey Bariatric Healthy Bones Dimacal© Calcium

Along with the release of the Journey Multivitamins, Bariatric Eating has released a Calcium product. 

Although they describe the MVI as an "all-in-one" the calcium is suggested "as stand-alone products for those who choose to take additional calcium as an insurance policy, who have diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis, or for those who are happy with their current multivitamins and do not wish to switch to taking Journey Easy & Complete Multiformula Capsules or Mountain Berry Melt tablets." 

Oh.  Okay.  So, if I really enjoy the Journey Calcium -- and happen to want to stay on my current multivitamin -- that's what they suggest.  That's actually a good suggestion, considering.

Regarding the Journey Healthy Bones Dimacal Calcium -

Journey Bariatric Healthy Bones™ applies the latest emerging science to bring you a calcium supplement designed to support post-operative bone health.

Journey Bariatric elects to use DimaCal®, dicalcium malate, which has been shown to support even greater bioavailabiity and absorption than calcium salts – calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, and calcium citrate.‡

Journey Bariatric has received Albion’s Gold Medallion® which recognizes products for nutritional excellence. Healthy Bones Lemon Melt tablets help maintain strong bones with a balanced combination of Vitamin D and DimaCal® – each serving contains 500 IU's Vitamin D3 and 500 mg elemental calcium.

A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, adults take two (2) melt tablets twice daily preferably with a meal or as recommended by a physician.

Except, the ASMBS suggests

• 1500-2000mg of calcium for RNY
• 1800-2400mg for Duodenal Switch

So you might want to purchase DOUBLE the listed suggestion.   But, I am beyond confused when I read these:

"Journey contains a specialized and patented form of calcium called Dimacal that is nearly twice as absorbable than even calcium citrate. Our choice - a bucket of calcium citrate to take in a cup, OR a bowl of DimaCal to take in that same cup. DimaCal is more EFFICIENT - which is why we can take less of it for the same ...amount to get to our bone tissue. Once we take the time to understand the science, it makes sense."

And, I am waiting on the rest of the labeling, but this could translate to quite a bit of sugar alcohol.   Maybe not at all, but, it could.  I can't tell, because it's not listed.  You may not react, but I do, and it MATTERS TO ME. I REACT TO CHEWING GUM.

To be honest - I tried this product while at a conference a week ago.  I didn't know what it was when I ate it, so I gave it my honest-to-dog reaction, which was, well, "What the hell?"  But, now, I am home, with about forty of them in front of me, and I am re-reviewing.

These calcium tabs are small, white, and powdery.  They have no real discernable odor.  While the flavor is lemon-lime, it's not very obvious.   (And yes, I got it up my nose.) 

The tabs crumble extraordinarily easy and do not travel well.  I brought some home from the event (in a covered cup inside a hard suitcase) and this is what I am left with, and yes, some appear pre sucked:

Texturally?  (This is where Andrea hits me.) They're not awful.  Now that I am in my house, alone sucking vitamins alone in privacy, and overdosing?   I realize the texture is sort of like the powdered calcium that you might get in a can, but it breaks down super fast.

If you have a lot of spit in your mouth, it can be pretty overwhelming and gross.  I experienced THAT during my first tasting of the product in Texas.  Yum-o.  It, uh, frothed. 

The taste is a bit lemon, and sort of like ripping open and downing four packets of Splenda at once, dumping them on your tongue and WHOA!

And, if you looked at my desk right now, it looks like illegal activity.

^{I suppose I could save the powder for my coffee.}

• Product - Journey Bariatric Healthy Bones Dimacal© Calcium
• Via - Bariatric Eating via Journey
• Price -  $19.95 a bottle, 60 per bottle, and you need SIX PER DAY if you have an RNY (but, just so you know, you're already taking six chews from other brands, riiiiiiiight?) so three bottles per month, $59.85 a month.
• Pros - Instant Gratification Melting Technology! 
• Tastes like eating four packets of  Splenda.
  
• Cons - Can't find any science that backs the calcium NOT from the manufacturer, (I'm looking, I am... because the manufacturer makes products for big companies that make vites for other companies I buy from... did I lose you there?)
• Dosage is more than what package suggests for Bariatric peeps... you need 1500+ mg.
• They crumble, don't travel well in cup, bottle form...
• My desk looks special...
• Rating - It started somewhat decent, but now I am rotting from the inside, as I took six.  Non-pouchworthy, ^MM.

 The Journey stats for the CAPSULE FORM:

Alternative Without the Fun!  DiCalcium Malate, Same ingredient, same manufacturer (Albion), in tablet form,  you could chop them in half for swallow-fun, no Vitamin D, $10.

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I landed Thursday after a too turbulent plane ride and a very poor Super Shuttle experience, BUT I MADE IT!  You know it's been rough when others are talking about it all the way to the baggage claim.  Twitch.

I quickly found me a Rachel.  Rachel had gastric sleeve surgery not long ago, and has been struggling, so to GET to Texas was a big deal.  I know she doesn't think so, but it was.  Rachel is pretty amazing.

Rachel lost her roommate at some point, so I shoved her into my room and we spent the weekend sharing with Andrea (my usual roomie).  This worked well, and I would suggest to anyone if you're hestistant on going to an event due to cost, room with some friends whose personalities and quirks you can SLEEP WITH.  Just saying.  I can sleep with several women. ;)

While in Texas we saw the Space Center, and ate way too much TOFU.  It makes NO SENSE, but that's the way it worked out.  If your hotel has poor restaurant service, walk to local food.  It was a noodle house, and Starbucks.  Fine with me.  However I wanted MEAT slathered in BBQ, I saw NOT ONE meat joint while there.  I assumed Texas would have more, maybe not in that area. 

(Taking a photo of this photo is a Federal Crime.)

What I did see:  the INSANITY and ONSLAUGHT of hundreds of quick-serve junk restaurants.  No wonder Texas has an obesity problem, and WLS Centers in STRIP MALLS.  Just. No.  We did indulge.  WHATABURGER.  Andrea, not impressed.  Beth, happy with buttery Texas Toast on my pickley bread, but I threw away the meat.  :x 

We spent probably $75 on espresso at Starbucks though, in the biggest SB I HAVE EVER SEEN with the worst customer service at a Starbucks that I have ever experienced.  But, addiction is addiction.  GIVE IT TO ME.

Friday night after sitting in traffic to get back to the hotel -- we met up with everybody at the reception.  It's always awesome to see new friends that you know only from avatars and photos and postings online.  People never match your impressions of who they are online.  No, I am not telling.  But, mostly good. 

There were some very notable missing peeps.  Know you were missed.

I was met by two amazingly cute women:  Connie and Rosemarie from Youtube.  Rosemarie said to me, "Nobody knows who I am."  But, I did, that's cause she's ROSE-MARIE!  (You have to watch her videos.)  Connie, her sister, who's receiving the inaugural grant from the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America for her weight loss surgery, was just beaming.  They are too cute for words.  (And, no, a photo?  I don't have one.  Someone does.  I'll steal it.)

Afterwards, instead of going out to find a bull, the Bad Girls retreated and weren't so bad.  I felt that I was too old and tired to go out and find a bull and potentially have to walk back with my hurt foot.  (I have a photo of that!)  We went to my room and had an almost sleepover party.  :)

Early Saturday, we were up and filling a vendor table with BBGC T-shirts and WLSVitagarten Lab Tracker books.  I guess that makes us vendors now.  Heh.  Someone did ask me what I was selling.  I was like, "Well, I don't.  I don't want to sell anything. I'm better at unselling."  She might have been perplexed but she bought a tee shirt.

We, and I mean myself, Andrea, Shana, Kailtin, Rachel and some assorted Bad Girls who really rock... came by and had a table.  An impromptu table, and it was kind of cool, you know?  We didn't mean to be there, and we were, and so there we were. 

At least one video of the vendor space was created with a running commentary of every single table and vendor, and we were purposely avoided while we watched the video being filmed. 

Oh hai!  We are here too?  Nope.  It might be interesting to see how that video appears when edited.  But, to be fair, I realize my photos show a very slanted look at an event, because I was in a certain area for much of the time, surrounded by certain people.  I do understand that. 

We met lots of lovely Texas peeps, and interestingly lots of people who traveled in for the event! 

The vendors, lets see if I can remember, forgive me in advance for those I am forgetting: 

• Gotein
• Bariatric Advantage
• Building Blocks
• Celebrate Vitamins
• Dr. Alvarez (who also sponsored the PHOTOBOOTH, watch for THAT link soon.)
• Bariatric Eating (Appears to be morphing into a new company hawking vitamins?)
• Revival Soy
• IDS
• Arbonne
• Connie Stapleton, PhD.
• Flourish
• MaryJo "The Hotness" Rapini (did you see her tights?!)
• Chef Dave Fouts
• Bariatric TV
• Realize
• The Davis Clinic

You know I love vendors.  It makes me tingle with ANTICIPATION to find new products and services for the community.  This time I didn't come home with many goodies, I've tried everything already (note the vendor list) aside from the few that I'm sharing in future posts.

A super time was had. New friends were made.  "Old" friends were met.  We can't wait to do it again next year.  NEXT YEAR?!    More to come.

http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2010/11/houston-texas-obesity-help-event-post-1.html

Show your support for the Weight Loss Community, and the Bariatric Bad Girls Club with a Bariatric Bad Girls Club T-Shirt.

Are you a B.B.G.? Do you have what it takes?

Wear it PROUDLY and CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES.

This page is for the PRE-ORDER ONLY of a very limited supply of t-shirts.

They will be available in mid November, shipping mid to late month.

Also available -

Bariatric Bad Girls Bracelet

Yoplait sent me a super freaking awesome gift pack recently, including a wicked fantastic Kitchenaid Blender and coupons for Yoplait Smoothie Mixes.   They apparently know that I break blenders.  A lot.

Now, isn't it ironic that the two times I have been to the grocery store, they have been sold out of the mixes?  :x  MUST. BE. GOOD.

Truth is, I already tried the Yoplait Smoothie mixes, and they are delicious. I grabbed these from the frozen aisle the SECOND I saw them in the store months ago.  In fact, it's one of the first ways I have enjoyed a typical yogurt product.  In moderation, as a gastric bypass post op, I had to cut-down on the serving size of this product due to it's sugar content, from natural and real sugar, however... 'sgoooooood.

Serving Size: 1/2 pouch/107g - 8 fl oz. PREPARED Calories: 110 Calories from Fat: 15   Total Fat - Grams 1.5 % DV Fat 3 Saturated Fat - grams 1 % DV Saturated Fat 4 Trans Fat - grams 0 Cholesterol - mg 5 % DV Cholesterol 2 Sodium - mg 80 % DV Sodium 3 Total Carbohydrate - grams 19 %DV Carbohydrate 6 Dietary Fiber - grams 2 % DV Dietary Fiber 8 Sugars - grams 15 Protein - grams 5 % DV Vitamin A 4 % DV Vitamin C 30 % DV Calcium 15 % DV Iron 0

I just needed a couple new bags to SHARE WITH YOU how lovely they work in my new blender from Kitchenaid, My Blog Spark and Yoplait!  Grocery stores?  Would you please restock?  Because, new blenders?  Rock!  And, this is the first thing that's GOING in it!

Yoplait tells us -

Yoplait^® Frozen Smoothies are a quick and easy solution to help you get those important nutrients, plus a whole lot more, and now they“re available in a new, delicious Blueberry Pomegranate flavor!

Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contains one full serving of fruit (1/2 cup) and only 110 to 120 calories per serving. In addition to containing live and active cultures provided by Yoplait® yogurt, when prepared with skim milk and made according to package directions, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are also a good source of calcium.

Would you like to TRY some while you wait ever-so-patiently for me to GET SOME and photograph my protein shake-making? 

Taking into account my bypassed belly, and maybe yours --

• 1/2 serving of the Yoplait Smoothie Mix,
• 1 scoop of protein powder, to KICK IT UP a notch and give it staying power in my system (likely vanilla)
• Unsweetened soy or almond milk to blend. 

Mmmmmmmm! 

Found in the frozen fruit aisle of your local grocery store, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies come in four delicious flavors, including: Blueberry Pomegranate, Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Strawberry Mango Pineapple.

Don“t forget to visit Yoplait on Facebook and Yoplait on Twitter and "Like" or "Follow" the brand to keep up with their latest and greatest products. While you“re there, take a minute to link to your blog post on Yoplait's Facebook Page!

and Yoplait, too?  Do you want a lovely new blender with a kick-ass Smoothie button?

Leave a comment at THE FOLLOWING LINK to be considered!  Thanks.

Rachael Ray wants YOU, REGAINERS!

Beth Astic via The Rachael Ray Show:

"Did you or someone you know have gastric bypass surgery and gain the weight back, or even put on more pounds? Have you not followed the doctor's orders...and continued to eat large quantities of food even though it's dangerous to your health? If you or someone you know had gastric bypass and you're still overweight, tell us about it!"

• Click here to share your story!
• www.rachaelrayshow.com

I reposted this via Facebook on my wall, and it's taking off into whirlwind of replies. 

The original poster asked us to post to Rachael Ray's page to ask that we make sure that the show would show both sides of the equation:  both regainers and those who have successfully maintained weight loss.  The topic ticked her off enough because it seems so obviously negative, and BY GOD don't we already get enough of THAT?  (That was my inflection, BTW, she didn't say this.)

I got ticked for a different reason.  I immediately felt stabby because of the implications of the statements.  That those who regain weight after weight loss surgery were obviously doing it on purpose. Breaking rules, I guess you could say. 

"Have you not followed doctors orders?!"  LOOK AT YOU!  YOU FAILURE.  YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

"...continued to eat large quantities of food even though it's dangerous to your health?"  YOU.  HOW DARE YOU?

The accusatory tone of this simple update makes me want to punch.

I am a regainer.  I have regained.  I will regain again.  It is normal to regain a certain amount of weight.  It is also within normal limits to regain a lot of weight.  I am not stupid enough to assume that it will not happen to me.  It already has.

However, do not tell me that my weight gain after weight loss surgery comes from "disobeying doctor's orders" or intentionally stuffing myself with junk food.  I am aware that some post ops do regain weight from behaviors such as binging, but it's not typically something ANYONE plans to do.

"I think I might be bulimic after my gastric bypass!  That sounds like fun!"  "Binging is wicked awesome!"

Regain after surgery can be triggered medically, physically or for emotional and psychological issues.  Usually, it comes from all of the above, all at once, and the answer is NEVER SIMPLE.

Weight loss surgery does nothing to fix what is broken inside of the morbidly obese person that triggered weight gain to begin with.  The surgery gives the patient a one year get-out-of-meals-free pass, and that is pretty much IT.  After that, weight loss and maintenance is a head game, played by ME, MYSELF, and I.  If the patient hasn't dealt with the triggers of their obesity (such as childhood trauma, abuse, addictions, or other issues) they COME BACK WITH A VENEGANCE.

Do not assume anything about a person's regain until you understand WHAT is going on with them. 

There could be an actual physical problem.  Surgeries do fail.  Complications do arise.  A common issue with roux en y gastric bypass patients is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.  A common fix to this problem:  EATING ALL DAY LONG.  The result?  Weight gain.  The choice?  Don't eat!  Risk worse hypoglycemia, seizures, coma and death.  (Waves from that camp!)

Most of what goes on internally with a person after surgery and massive weight loss is never discussed, and it's got nothing to do with how many Big Macs they've taken to chewing and spitting in a cup in a McDonald's parking lot.

Others only want to see the New, Improved and Thin and Healthy! versions of a formerly morbidly obese person. 

Post ops who are Before + After Commercial-worthy are typically what the media, potential patients and others WANT to see, so I applaud the RR Show for actually GOING THERE about weight loss surgery and regain. 

Most people who haven't already been down the regain route don't want to hear it, they don't want to know that it is even a possibilty.  Many are quick to point a blame finger at us.  Do not assume it's because "we" are stuffing ourselves with junk.

in Surgical Weight Loss Methods., WLS Complications., WLS Revision, WLS Success Stories., WLS Support | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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Gastric Bypass - An Apple A Day?

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement.

MM is eating fruit.

I have eaten about a dozen fresh apples since my family went apple-picking a few weeks ago. 

This would not be a big deal for anyone, really, but considering I have had about TWO apples in the last seven years?  It's a BIG. FREAKING. DEAL.

What?  Why haven't you been eating apples?

First and most honest reason is, that since having roux en y gastric bypass surgery in 2004, I was trained to believe that carbohydrates were evil.  Carbohydrates include, fruit.  Fruit was not my friend.  I was extraordinarily cautious of eating any food that was "high" in carbohydrates, regardless of the form.  Fruit = evil.  This was/is drilled into my brain. 

(In fact, one apple put me over the carb limit for the day, on my pre-op diet.) 

Now, here's the thing: fruit sometimes is a problem. 

For people like me with gastric bypass, food like a simple apple can cause discomfort in the gut. 

My first recommendation would be to PEEL AN APPLE and cut it into teeny-tiny pieces when you're first stepping back into the raw fruit world.  I have spent many hours in intestinal discomfort from a non-well chewed RAW fibrous fruit or vegetable.  UN-PLEASANT.  But, as soon as you can handle it, eat the peel:  two-thirds of the fiber, and many of the antioxidants, are found in apple's peel.

Also, sometimes fruits can trigger a blood sugar issue, and we should be of that possibility.  However, eating enough fruit to trigger a late dumping and hypoglycemic event might be physically difficult.

If you eat a half serving or one serving of fruit, you may not have any reaction at all.

Some fruits are more triggering to a roux en y patient than others, for example, raisins, dates, pineapple, fig, dried fruits, melon, FRUIT JUICE and more. 

I suggest checking out the Glycemic Index for Low Glycemic fruit choices, to choose the best fruits for your system. 

Some lower GI choices are, but beware:

I now know, watermelon is NO GOOD for my system.  I love it, but, it triggers my blood sugar to react and fall drastically.

International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values

Am J Clin Nutr Foster-Powell et al. 76 (1): 5. (334K)

[Begin manual download]

Some foods can be sneaky!  Like, that watermelon, because we can eat a TON of it before we realize how full we are and then, BOOM!  Watch out for those fruits. 

Here's another resource for learning about GI levels in ALL sorts of foods.

As for me? I'm officially eating LOW GI APPLES. This is a big deal. I have conquered a fruit phobia.

Yes, I see YOU over there saying, "But, you eat lots of simple carbs and you were afraid of an APPLE?" Yes. Because? Apples to me were "sugar" plus potential discomfort.

We all know how EASY it is to eat most non-fruit or non-veggie AND non-fibrous foods after gastric bypass surgery, right?

• Crackers EASY.
• Apple with skin? Not always so easy.

This is seven years in the making.  Next?  I don't know.  I will make a valiant effort at keeping up this nightly apple habit for now.