Question:
Please help me I am close to tears
I had a revision Feb 14th, 2008. I started at 300 pounds and am I down to 278 pounds. It's been six weeks and I feel like I have not lost enough and can eat too much. My favorite thing right now is Cream of Wheat. I can eat shrimp, crab dip, no sugar added ice cream, and fish. Chicken does not go down well. I went to GNC today and got some protein shakes. I've started Jazzercise and have been going about 2-3 times a week. On average I can eat about 1,000 calories a day. What's wrong with me? I feel like a failure and that I should have lost more weight by now. — mdf1us (posted on March 30, 2008)
March 30, 2008
From what I can see, the Cream of Wheat and the no sugar added Ice Cream
are your BIGGEST enemies! The Cream of Wheat is basically just Carbs and
the Ice Cream is primarily just fat. You need to reduce consumption of
those and focus on healthier options. You need to focus more on proteins
like Cottage cheese, yogurt, beans, Tofu, Vegetarian burgers may be an
option for you and if you want some carbs try fruit and cooked veggies.
— hubarlow
March 30, 2008
I had my revision from stomach stapling over to RNY on February 1st, 2008,
2 weeks before you. I think your weight loss of 22 pounds is pretty darn
good, but you're heading in the wrong direction with what you are eating
and how much. Throw the cream of Wheat and no sugar added ice cream in the
garbage and do not buy anymore. Try to eat only 2 to 3 ounces of food at a
time, to avoid stretching out your stomach pouch. Stop drinking a 1/2 hour
before you eat. Don't drink liquids for 1/2 hour to an hour after you eat.
Eat 2 to 3 ounces of food about 4 times a day. In between meals, keep a
water bottle, or Crystal Light with you at all times and keep sipping. I
buy the the box of Crystal Light or sugar free Hawaiian punch that has
individual packets inside, and I buy bottled water. You just pour one
packet in to a bottle of water and shake it, very easy. The Hawaiian Punch,
Crystal Light Strawberry are my favorites. I even keep a bottle by the bed
at night, and when I wake up, I take a sip, (gotta keep hydrated). Now, and
for the rest of your life, protein foos should be your first and main food
choice. You need about 70 - 80 grams of protein per day. I buy Tuna
pouches, canned white meat chicken (located by the Tuna at the grocery
store) and low-fat cottage cheese. All are good sources of protein. A
typical meal for me would be 2 ounces of tuna with 1 ounce of cottage
cheese. If you look in the meat section of the super-market, along with the
typical uncooked meats, you'll find pre-cooked chicken bites, white meat,
with no breading, those are so convenient. If you have trouble eating
chicken, try smaller bites and chew very well. An easy no-hassle protein
shake is made by Slim-Fast, yes, I said slim fast, HOWEVER, I am referring
to Slim Fast's Shake they have out now that is no sugar added and very low
fat. It is called "Slim Fast Low Carb Diet". It has 20 grams of
protein. You can also try Atkins low carb shakes as a protein supplement.
These shakes are convenient because they're pre-mixed. I also suspect you
are "head hungry" as we like to say here, as opposed to really
being hungry. Consider calling the Hospital where you had your revision,
asking to talk with the Hospital's Registered Dietician, and ask him or her
to recommend a Counselor you can start seeing who specializes in Compulsive
Over-eating. You may need to deal with emotional issues related to
over-eating. Try not to bring unhealthy foods in to the home, and try to
eat only 2 or 3 ounces at a time. Keep in touch with other people who have
had these types of surgery, here on this website, and try to find a support
group to attend, it will help. I think it is great that you've lost 22
pounds and I am so impressed that you are going to Jazzercise, you can and
will lose the weight, if you've lost 22 pounds this quickly, do the math -
how much will you have lost on your 1 year surgery anniversary??? ALOT is
the answer, you'll be ok, just cut out the ice cream and only buy protein
foods and healthy foods and eat smaller portions. God Bless!
— Gina S.
March 30, 2008
Thank you for your responses. I went to the grocery store and got some
canned tuna & chicken. Cream of Wheat is in the trunk of the car! :)
Thank you! Thank you!
— mdf1us
March 30, 2008
I developed low blood sugar after being diebetic for 25 years, following
surgery, and if I touch a few carbs to keep my blood sugar from crashing,
like just 2 oz of white rice, or a slice of bread, my weight loss stops for
two weeks or more. Give up those carbs. They will not help you loose.
You are doing great at 22 lbs in 6 weeks, considering your diet. You will
do even better when your correct the items on your diet to getting 70% of
your calories from Protein, and the balance from just frest fruit and
Veggies. Read the packages on anything that is packaged. Chickn is hard
for the first 8 weeks for many. Don't know why but I could not handle it
either. OK to have some dairy, but make sure it is fat free!
— William (Bill) wmil
March 31, 2008
It's interesting that your posting came out just after I had read some
things about softer foods and how they will actually make us gain weight,
or keep us from losing. We think we're eating more than we are, but the
issue is, that they just basically slide down and don't give you that sense
of satisfaction. I was reading "Pouch Rules for Dummies" and one
of the things it stated was that a lot of WLS patients will continue to eat
soft foods, such as cottage cheese, yogurts, and fish, and not try to eat
or develop their pouch to tolerating well chewed up proteins, such as
chicken, tuna, or even more solid proteins. That's where you'll get more
of a sense that your pouch is doing what it's suppose to be doing and that
will give you a better feeling of fullness. It will also help you lose,
because I discovered recently that although I thought I was taking in too
much, at barely 6 months out, that in fact, I was eating too many
"easy to go down" foods, and since I got more on track with my
proteins, chewing very very well, I didn't start dropping weight again
until this past couple of weeks. I went nearly 5 weeks without losing and
was going up and down. Now I just dropped 8 pounds in about a week and
half. So follow the advice of the other responders to your post. Get away
from those softer foods and get some real food in your new pouch! Best of
luck and keep up the great work with exercising and don't feel like a
failure. You're just setting yourself up for disaster that way. Keep the
faith dear! Hugs....Cheryl
— Cheryl K.
March 31, 2008
Hi Michelle, thanks for writing. I am sorry for your discouragement, but
hang in there and keep fighting for your weight loss. It just won't be
easy. It never is. I would be sure and skip the ice cream. You have to
find a distraction with eating, you are not nearly as hungry as you
"think" you are. Head hunger feels the same as real hunger, it
is a trick of the brain, and when you find a distraction it helps. I eat
about 2 pounds of shrimp a week, good protein, low fat. Stick with basics,
no "dip", just the meats of proteins. I think cream of wheat is
ok, just in small doses, and remember it expands int he pouch. Here is the
really tough news though Michelle. From what research I know of regarding
revisions, they are not nearly as successful as the original surgery for
weight loss. You have lost 28 pounds, and just stick with your program and
I think you can lose so much more, but you may just have to fight for every
pound. Be sure you drink lots of water, and just be faithful to the task.
That is the most important thing obese people fail at. Just be faithful to
the task, believe that being faithful will pay off, it will if you are
patient. Take care, and I wish you well. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
March 31, 2008
One of things we all have to remember is that our bodies are not use to
being at lower weights. At times it wants to rebel and hold onto the fat.
1000 calories is at starvation level for a body that is used to comsuming
much more than that. Another thing you may want to try is increasing your
calories to about 1300-1500 and increase your exercise by adding a day of
30 walking. Good Luck
— pjlewis1
April 1, 2008
Hi Michelle,
I can really empathize with your frustration. Like some of the other folks
have said, the no sugar added icecream still has sugar. There are over a
hundred different types of sugar. And it still has fat. My experience
with splenda or sucralose is that it makes me crave more food and makes me
hungry all the time. I try to stay away from it although unfortunately
there is some in my chewable calciums. When I first started out with soft
foods after surgery, I was able to tolerate pureed roasted chicken and
pureed scrambled eggs or egg beaters. I also really like tofu with a
little tamari on it for flavor. I don't know what's in your crab dip, but
I'm willing to bet there is some flour and sweetened artificial crab that
is probably making you hungry too soon also. Congrats on your exercising
and getting the protein shakes going. Although I have switched to a soy
protein isolate, I think the protein shake twice a day is a lifesaver. I
read a lot of posts here where folks talk about their frustration with
plateaus and not losing quick enough. I just like to look at as my body is
in transition. It will come off when it's meant to come off as long as I
am giving it what it needs and I'm taking care of it with good healthy food
and exercise. I think so many people are just too hard on themselves.
Keep your chin up! Best wishes, Regina
— Bigwyfan1964
April 2, 2008
Michelle,
Don't be so hard on yourself. Revisions don't have the speedy weight
loss as the first surgery. I had a revision almost 4 months ago, I have
lost 52 pounds. That isn't alot, but at least it is going. Be patient,
you can do it.
— Jean Hitchcock
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