6 moth post op
- Thread starter hopeful32
- Start date
This is so important, kindness to self is a must in this process!!! Hopeful, I hear that you are afraid, and feeling discouraged, but you've come to the right place. There are so many here that can really help with just about any aspect of this situation, but also just send good wishes, and just warmth and support. This is a difficult process, honor your courage and effort that got you this far. 40 lbs is a lot, I know it makes such a difference for me already in how I feel and look, I'm sure it is for you also.
missyinacage
Member
missyinacage
Member
I have shared this a million times. As you you can see AVERAGE weight loss is much slower than many of us expected or were led to believe. Those who started out heavier tend to lose more faster, of course. Those who don't have as much to lose lose slower. You are right on track or close, right?
I was told I could reasonably expect to lose 60-80% of my excess weight in a two year period. Do people lose ALL of their excess weight? Yes. Did that happen for me? No lol Nor has it happened for anyone I personally know who has had the surgery. I know at least a dozen people personally, in real life, who have had WLS.
Now days surgeons are much more experienced in this surgery and are unlikely to leave you with a too small pouch. Or bypass a little too much intestine, which left so many earlier patients with malnutrition. Although they did end up skinny. But at what cost?!
Follow the process and take this time to learn healthy lifelong habits that you can use, along with the tool that is surgery, to keep it off. Eventually you may be able to eat more, so you want to put healthy habits in place now. Like fruits and veg as snacks. Not everything actually has to be protein based once your able to meet your protein goals.
If you're able, speak with your programs nutritionist, or find one of your own, to help put a healthy, sustainable plan in place for lifelong eating.
And try to stress a little less and give yourself some grace. Allow your journey to progress as it will. As long as you're doing the right things, you'll get where you need to be.
I was told I could reasonably expect to lose 60-80% of my excess weight in a two year period. Do people lose ALL of their excess weight? Yes. Did that happen for me? No lol Nor has it happened for anyone I personally know who has had the surgery. I know at least a dozen people personally, in real life, who have had WLS.
Now days surgeons are much more experienced in this surgery and are unlikely to leave you with a too small pouch. Or bypass a little too much intestine, which left so many earlier patients with malnutrition. Although they did end up skinny. But at what cost?!
Follow the process and take this time to learn healthy lifelong habits that you can use, along with the tool that is surgery, to keep it off. Eventually you may be able to eat more, so you want to put healthy habits in place now. Like fruits and veg as snacks. Not everything actually has to be protein based once your able to meet your protein goals.
If you're able, speak with your programs nutritionist, or find one of your own, to help put a healthy, sustainable plan in place for lifelong eating.
And try to stress a little less and give yourself some grace. Allow your journey to progress as it will. As long as you're doing the right things, you'll get where you need to be.
amyfife71
Member
It won't be forever! You haven't failed, either. However, if you have stopped losing you need to take a look at what you're eating and drinking g and talk to your bariatric doc or a nutritionist. I have a friend d who stopped losing because within a few weeks of surgery, she was drinking wine again! She was drinking her calories which is far too easy to do. Evaluate your diet, talk to a nutritionist and switch up your exercise routine. You'll get back in track and you will succeed!
Reallypurple
Member
Oh gosh honey. I feel ya. I have had times of those feelings. 40# is such a victory. They keep telling me focus on nonscale wins. And gosh you missed NO MARKS. I kept comparing myself to friends who "totally succeeded," and it sent me into a depression. I felt exactly like you, I'll be fat forever. I missed this important magical window. So for however much it helps, you are NORMAL. I sure hope you can get to a good nutritionist. Mine did help me. Turns out you have to watch FAT. Gee, why did NO ONE tell me that at first. And the literature does not mention this enough. For instance, they almost never tell you how much to have. I was eating too much cheese, even diet cheese. Once I started tracking fat, the needle moved. I sure hope you'll discover a little thing that snuck in. The science of this can be really demanding sometimes. Maybe get with some friends who can really love up on you and remind you how great you are. Coz you are. You are brave and courageous and vulnerable. That is beautiful.
GiantsLola
Member
As my surgeon has said to me multiple times, there is no average. Everyone is different. Keep at it, you can do this!
How do you guys go about meal prep? I feel like I don’t have my stuff together enough to do that well. And I feel overwhelmed when it comes to it. So I end up eating out a lot. Smaller portions of course because that’s all I can manage but I feel my meal prep is lacking a little.
Like how do you keep from falling into old habits?
Like how do you keep from falling into old habits?
GiantsLola
Member
For me, I keep in mind the easy to grab stuff for things like lunch (yogurt, etc). For dinner, I tend to listen to what my stomach wants. Sometimes I have an idea for dinner but then that changes that day. I try to keep at least a few things in the fridge that I could make. Although, I've learned I do better with fish when it is fresh and not the frozen. I don't think eating out occasionally is too bad as long as you're sticking to what your surgeon/med team say is ok to eat and like you said the smaller portions.
I haven't done real meal prepping per se, however I do keep lots of options on hand at all times. I have cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned tuna, cooked chicken, protein pudding, protein shakes, bars, snacks, etc. Yogurt, walnuts, grapes is a favorite breakfast on days I do a big work out. I make a pot of lentils and freeze them in small 2 oz portions to be able to have some easy food. Tasty Bites makes Madras Lentils, really delicious. Recently I mixed canned chicken with Better Than Bouillion roasted turkey gravy, then put it over cauliflower that I had boiled in chicken broth with seasonings. It was really tasty and felt like eating a comfort casserole. That I can also freeze in small containers. I ordered 2 oz containers, and 3 oz containers from amazon, they've been extremely helpful. I measure and portion everything by weight or volume and track everything. A favorite meal right now is tuna mixed with mayo, spread on gluten free wasa crisp bread with a slice of colby cheese and broiled in the oven. That totals 187 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 17 grams of protein and 11 grams of fat. (2 oz tuna, 1/2 tbsp mayo, 2/3 oz colby cheese, 1 Wasa crisp)
GiantsLola
Member
Please don't
missyinacage
Member
For me, if I don't plan and prep, I'm more likely to backtrack. Restaurants add fat and sugar in copious amounts. That's why it tastes so good.
I meal plan and prep. I make a menu and buy only the groceries on my list. Then I come home and prep my breakfasts and whatever snacks, veg etc that can be prepped. I bought a bunch if 1/2 cup containers and fill them with pudding, an ounce of nuts or cheese cubes, cold veg salads, whatever. I don't always use the individual containers anymore, since I am not currently working. So I don't have to pack my meals to go. But I DO keep a scale and my measuring cups right next to the fridge.
Its pretty simple once younger used to it. I eat mostly the same breakfast, lunch and snacks for a week and I like not thinking about it. I have a busy life, as I'm sure most of you do. I'm not trying to make 4-6 food decisions a day.
I meal plan and prep. I make a menu and buy only the groceries on my list. Then I come home and prep my breakfasts and whatever snacks, veg etc that can be prepped. I bought a bunch if 1/2 cup containers and fill them with pudding, an ounce of nuts or cheese cubes, cold veg salads, whatever. I don't always use the individual containers anymore, since I am not currently working. So I don't have to pack my meals to go. But I DO keep a scale and my measuring cups right next to the fridge.
Its pretty simple once younger used to it. I eat mostly the same breakfast, lunch and snacks for a week and I like not thinking about it. I have a busy life, as I'm sure most of you do. I'm not trying to make 4-6 food decisions a day.
missyinacage
Member
Here's an example of my menu and prepping for this week.
Breakfast: I prep 5 days of overnight oatmeal and eat it everyday with a latte.
1 C Banana 1 C low sugar Greek vanilla yogurt 2 C high protein milk 2 C rolled oats 1/4C dark cocoa powder. ( I get cranky without my oatmeal lol)
Snack: homemade chickpea dip eaten with radishes and cucumber slices. I soak and cook my own beans but you can use canned. Clean and slice radishes and keep in baggie with a damp paper towel. Dip is chickpeas, garlic, balsamic and a bit of olive oil on top.
Lunch: Turkey wrap. Deli turkey, Swiss cheese, dijon, lettuce, red onion.
Snack: Cucumber Salad I dice cucumber, zucchini, red onion, garlic, shred carrots and mix with light Italian dressing.
Dinner always makes at least 2 meals. I slow cooked chicken and salsa with black beans. So we'll be doing 2 days of chicken tostadas.
Poached Eggs and turkey sausage is dinner for 2 nights. (Hubs out of town and poached eggs are mine and my moms FAV!!)
2 days of BBQ Pork with slaw.
My kids come by once a week so day 7 is usually pizza YAY!
Any leftover chicken or corned beef will be used for wraps instead of turkey.
I shopped and prepped today. So the rest of my I don't have to think about what I'm eating or feeding my family.
Breakfast: I prep 5 days of overnight oatmeal and eat it everyday with a latte.
1 C Banana 1 C low sugar Greek vanilla yogurt 2 C high protein milk 2 C rolled oats 1/4C dark cocoa powder. ( I get cranky without my oatmeal lol)
Snack: homemade chickpea dip eaten with radishes and cucumber slices. I soak and cook my own beans but you can use canned. Clean and slice radishes and keep in baggie with a damp paper towel. Dip is chickpeas, garlic, balsamic and a bit of olive oil on top.
Lunch: Turkey wrap. Deli turkey, Swiss cheese, dijon, lettuce, red onion.
Snack: Cucumber Salad I dice cucumber, zucchini, red onion, garlic, shred carrots and mix with light Italian dressing.
Dinner always makes at least 2 meals. I slow cooked chicken and salsa with black beans. So we'll be doing 2 days of chicken tostadas.
Poached Eggs and turkey sausage is dinner for 2 nights. (Hubs out of town and poached eggs are mine and my moms FAV!!)
2 days of BBQ Pork with slaw.
My kids come by once a week so day 7 is usually pizza YAY!
Any leftover chicken or corned beef will be used for wraps instead of turkey.
I shopped and prepped today. So the rest of my I don't have to think about what I'm eating or feeding my family.