Question:
Is there anybody out there that weighed over 300lbs pre-op
All I see is lightweights. I started at 331lbs and stand 5'9". I'm 8 weeks post op and am down total 50lbs (including pre-op loss) plateauing now for 3 weeks. Too weak to exercise much and have been living on cream cheese for protein. My Doc. didn't give me a table for proteins,fats or sugars just states to slowly incorporate all foods but stay away from high sugar and high fat foods. It is so vague I feel I'm fumbling around in the dark. I started protein drinks again even though I was told to stop them at week 3. Am I wrong? — heavenlyhash (posted on July 17, 2009)
July 17, 2009
I started at 313 in December 2008. I have lost a total of 91 pounds since
2 weeks prior to surgery. You should try to walk as much as possible. I
always felt even if I only walked around the house. You will eventually be
able to incorporate all foods into your diet. Ease into it. I have had no
problems with vomiting or dumping. I eat very slowly and chew chew chew
the food. Good luck and hopes this helps.
— ragan
July 17, 2009
I am 5'10 and was 380.. Now I weigh 167. It has been 14 months post op..Eat
some cottage cheese with some fruit in it. I ate that alot.. Also I ate
scrambled eggs, I once had Fajitas but didn't eat the tortilla. Also I eat
yogurt (make sure its low in sugar), peanut butter on an apple or bannana.
I also made a pot of beans in the crock pot that lasted me a while also..I
also rolled up some lean ham and turkey (the kind you make a sandwich with)
with deli cheese and it was good..Hamburger patty with some cheese on
top...Sorry I am rambling. But I know it is hard at first.. Just remember
protein first. As far as protein shakes; I drink them a couple times a week
just in case I feel like I need some extra protein. Good luck on your
journey. Just remember to try and stay away from bread, rice, fatty foods..
— okbuffy
July 17, 2009
Hi Anitha - Have you looked at The World According to Eggface yet? It's a
great site with lots of yummy ideas for all stages of WLS. The person
writing it has a really cute "voice" and uses language and
instructions, as well as pictures, to teach us how to make good, healthy
food, but mostly YUMMY (her favorite description).
I just know you are going to be an awesome loser! Good Luck!
— SweetnessandGrace
July 17, 2009
Hi Anitha - Have you looked at The World According to Eggface yet? It's a
great site with lots of yummy ideas for all stages of WLS. The person
writing it has a really cute "voice" and uses language and
instructions, as well as pictures, to teach us how to make good, healthy
food, but mostly YUMMY (her favorite description).
I just know you are going to be an awesome loser! Good Luck!
— SweetnessandGrace
July 17, 2009
Aloha,
I have some sample menus that you can follow.
I was 411 pounds. I have lost 200 from surgery I have been out 4 years. I
still want to lose another 50.
Kema
— kemalani
July 17, 2009
Hi,
I am 5' 8" and was 354lbs pre-op. I lost 22 pounds pre-op and am now
down a total of 134 lbs 6 months from when I started losing weight and a
little over 4 months post-op. My surgeon wasn't specific in what to eat but
wanted me to get in 60-80gms of protein and stay between 4-600 calories.
There isn't a lot you can eat with those guidelines. I eat non-fat cottage
cheese, CarbMaster yogurt, or egg beaters for breakfast. Shrimp, tilapia,
salmon, chicken breast, or turkey breast with small amounts of veggies for
the other two meals. I don't use protein drinks much (occasionally when I
know I'm going to be short on protein for the day) mainly relying on the
low calorie/high protein ratio of the seafood to keep me ontrack on my
criteria. Sounds like you're doing great. I generally believe that eating
food is better than supplements but every surgeon is different in their
reccomendation and most people do fine however they approach it. The
important thing is to be as consistant as possible. Good luck Kevin
— hapkidodoc
July 17, 2009
The other posts gave some really good ideas and I would like to share an
idea with you. There is a book called "Calorie,Fat,& Carbohydrate
Counter."The main section deals with the title issue, but it does have
sections that deal with fiber, protein & iron(same section), calcuim,
and sodium. There is a fast food for emergencies. The dietician at my wls
center said that this is a neccessity for after surgery for the
information. They sell them in the book store but I got mine on Amazon.com
because I have time (didn't have surgery yet) and it was cheaper.I hope
this helps.
— Kathleen W.
July 17, 2009
Hi. I wanted to start out by commenting on your last name, Pritchard, that
is my maiden name. Anyway, I was almost at 300 lbs before I got my surgery
in Jan 2009. I started at 286, lost 13 before surgery, and since my
surgery I have gotten down to around 190. I fluctuate but am pretty much
at a plateau. I don't think you should continue drinking the protein
drinks because they do bulk you up. You will need to start incorporating
regular protein sources. Try peanut butter or meats chewed really well.
Whatever you do, please don't eat really dry meat....this was the worst
ever experience for me. I tried to eat a bite of pork chop, can't remember
how far out I was, but it was the most horrible pain. It got stuck, and I
was in misery for about two hours. Even after I drank some fluid to try to
push it through to make the pain stop. Once you change up your protein
intake (instead of eating just cream cheese), your plateau should end, and
you should start losing weight again. Good luck.
— Lyndsay30
July 17, 2009
Hey sweetheart. Ok, I am 25 years old. I had to do a 4 week liquid diet
prior to my open gastric bypass. They day I started my liquid diet, I
weighed 408!!! Thats right. Did I mention i am only 5'1. So yeah, i was
very OBESE! From dec 7,2008, through jan 5, 2009 i lost 33 pounds. I had
gastric bypass on jan 5th. To this day I weigh 254.I have lost 154 pounds
all together. In the past 7 months, I have hit SO many plateaus. Its part
of it. i didnt lose weight for 3 weeks at one point. its your bodys way
of cathing up. i promise, you WILL lose your weight. also, i still drink
protein shakes. there are some days i cant eat much at all, so i
supplement. i dont think there is anything wrong with it, and it hasnt
hurt my weight loss at all, actually it helps a little. but if you have
any other questions, you can hit me up through email at
[email protected] I would love to help in anyway i can. have a good
day and GOD bless
— jackie L.
July 18, 2009
Hi, I was >400 and 'down to' 397 when I started my WLS journey... I had
my lap BPD/DS 6/11/08 and am currently at 194... So yes, there are those of
us who start out as 'Super Morbidly Obese' (BMI ~54, 58" waist - I'm
6' 0"), who end up much farther down on the scale (I'm at a BMI of
26.3, size 14). I'm hoping to get to 'normal', but I'm still pretty happy
at 'over weight'... Check out the various sites geared to your type of
surgery for some good 'diet' ideas... For me, I've been living on
"Protein First, Don't drink with meals, Eat good food". If I like
what I eat, I don't mind having it again some other time... so I eat my
chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, eggs, cheese, nuts... and I do eat my spinach,
squash, beans, etc... and there is some pizza crust, pasta, bread along the
way, too. All in all, I eat 'normal', just not so much and heavy on the
protein. It's a little scary that you're 'too weak to exercise
much...", so protein drinks are probably not a bad idea... when in
doubt, though - contact your surgeon's office.
— RachelA
July 18, 2009
lol I am 5'9 1/2" I weighed 332 pounds when I started my journey. I
had the gastric sleeve in the DOminican Republic on June 17th. I have lost
42lbs so far. The doctor said that there will coma a point that I will
plateau and possibly gain a few pounds. However he said during this period
do not get worried b/c you will be losing inches and your body will be
changing in other ways. So just keep that in mind! Hopefully you are just
losing inches =)
— callen3640
July 18, 2009
I started the weight loss program in Feb of this year and I was 373 pounds
I had my RNY on May 12th and I had lost 40 pounds before surgery I am now
283 pounds
— matigian
July 18, 2009
Anitha,
You MUST get yourself over to the site called BARIATRICEATING.COM. They
have a wonderful support group and forum over there. Plus, they sell the
most delicious protein drinks you will ever find. You will make many new
friends online at that site and will feel inspired each and every day!!!
Also, as far as protein drinks go, you can drink them every day. You can do
that forever and it will never hurt you. You need to make sure that you are
getting your nutritional information from a good source. A LOT of doctors
really don't know what their patients should do post-op. They tell us to
start eating carbs a little at at time. White potatoes, rice, bread etc. is
poison to our bodies. It stalls our weight loss for one thing.
If you want to chat, you can e-mail me anytime. My email address is
[email protected]. Big hugs to you. Liz
— Elizabeth_Ann
July 18, 2009
300,u r a lite weight.My starting weight was 446,I lost 265 lbs in 15
months.have maintained the loss for 5 1/2 yrs.It does get more difficult as
time moves on,i will have to work this 'tool" the rest of my life but
now i have a life.I eat protein first and for many many months that was
just about all.Once i got to the place i could eat 3 oz of protein i added
a couple spoonful of veggies,no bread no potatoes no carbs that i knew.I
wanted to maximize the loss because i had no idea how long my honeymoon
would last and i had lots to loose.I take my vitamins,supplemenyts still do
2 protein suppliments a day,am regular about my labs and have never been so
healthy or so slim.I do not eat all foods at all timesSometimes just a
bite is enough.I must make what i consume count and my interest now is in
making what i eat count in the nutrition dept.I am never hungry but find it
necessary to eat at regular times.This is one of the important new habits i
followGood Luck do not be discouraged find a support group to attend and
ask for help here
— Bette Drecktrah
July 19, 2009
Hi I hope all is going well congrats on your weight loss so far!!! I
actually weighed more than you and I'm shorter so I am faaaar from a light
weight lol. I weighed 354 when I first started my journey but I am only 5
feet 4. I lost 12 lbs by my surgery date (laproscopic gastric bypass
10/22/08) so was down to 342. I am now a couple of days from my 9 month
anniversary and have lost 99 lbs since surgery so I'm @ 243. I don't think
you're wrong about the protein drinks I have one every day. I just think it
depends on the surgeon whether they want you to have them or not. I read
some of the other posts and I too love theworldaccordingtoeggface.com she
has had wls and has fun recipes and bariatriceating.com. Also there's a
book I love Before and After by Susan Maria Leach (also had wls) she too
has recipes and it was just a good read. As for the cream cheese unless
you're having a really big serving I don't think cream cheese has much
protein does it? Maybe that's why you're so weak-not getting enough
protein. Can you talk to a nutrionist? As far as exercising I think that's
very important too. Walk, ride a bike, skate, swim, hike, water aerobics,
Curves, find something you like (or can tolerate lol) and do it. It'll help
with the weight loss and tightening things up. If you'de like some recipes
from the book I have email me and I'll send you a few.
([email protected]) Take care and good luck on your journey.
— a_voluptuous_one
July 20, 2009
I am 7 1/2 mos out. Dec. 3rd, 08 was my new birthday. I weighed 352lbs. I'm
5'3". Now I weigh 229lbs. 120lbs+ gone. At 8 weeks out, you should be
on mostly proteins. Grilled, baked, steamed. Chicken, turkey, eggs, etc.
Chew like crazy, and take your time eating. Take your vitamin supplements
religously too! Cottage cheese is great. Talk to your nutritionist and they
will head you into the right direction. Be super careful at this point
because your pouch and anastamosis are very new and tender. This is a very
hard time in your journey, so try to take it minute by minute. This surgery
is making it impossible for you not to focus on yourself, body, spirit,
etc. All of you! Pay attention to your body and learn your new ways...be
easy on yourself too. Too often we are hard on ourselves when we have come
sooooo far. 50lbs is huge, but its only the tip of the iceberg. Much OH
love to you girl. BTW the cream cheese is pretty high in fat and can be
part of why you are weak. Some of the symptoms or feelings of dumping are
like that. It leaves you feeling blah to sick as a dog. So, just listen to
you body.
— jamabowers
July 21, 2009
i started at 377. you're a lightweight compared to me!! ;) i had lap rny
six months ago, and am down 128 lbs since surgery. at eight weeks i was
doing a lot of walking. i felt pretty weak, but walking was okay. i started
out doing a very short amount (to the corner and back) and just tried to
add a little each day or every few days. unfortunately i am not currently
very consistent and it's showing in my weight loss, which has slowed down a
lot.
your diet instructions sound, from this, very vague and very different from
what i was told. i'm certainly not qualified to question your doctor, but
here's what i was told to do (and have been doing!):
get a minimum of sixty to eighty grams of protein each day. i personally
was told 75 - 115 because of my height. i could only possibly do that with
protein drinks every day. to this day, i still have a large one a day,
which i mix up and it comes to 50 grams of protein for about 16 oz.
fat seems to cause dumping syndrome for me, as does sugar, though sugar
isn't as bad as fat for me.
i would NOT stop protein drinks at week three. i have no idea why you'd be
told to do so. i know plenty of people that drink protein drinks even years
later, though maybe not every day. it's a great way to keep up your protein
intake. without protein, you'll face things like hair loss, etc. you don't
want all of your muscle to waste away either! i wouldn't be surprised if
lack of protein would contribute to you being weak. i didn't even start
protein drinks until week two (though i was told i could have them sooner
in the beginning, i couldn't tolerate anything but clear liquids for a
while longer than planned), so stopping them at week three would have just
been silly.
there's lots of info online about diet guidelines. they should also be
telling you to avoid certain things, like celery or lettuce or carbs in
general, bread, etc. do a search for bariatric post op diet or similar. in
my experience they differ at least slightly from each other, but they'll
give you a better guideline than what you have!!
— rachieo
August 2, 2009
Hi, Anitha. I'd say proteins first and be sure to get in your fluids and
your vitamins. Hope you feel better soon. Nancy Smith
— hopingintx
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