cedesigns

Rain,
Yes it was my dream to have daughters, I could only have one child, and I have a son who is 30. I adore my girls although they have been quite a handful. I adopted them at ages 13, 11 and 9. They had all spent 10 years each in Russian orphanages, so they had never had a family, parents, a home. It was quite an adjustment for all of us. They are now 19, 17 and 15. My oldest is developmentally delayed and has a lot of challenges, my youngest two are developementally on target although each one has difficulties in some areas. They are all sweet, loving and good kids, and they are the love of my life.

I did the Orange County ASID Philharmonic Houses of Design throughout the 90's. I always did a living room, dining room or master suite. They were always incredible experiences. Maybe someday I will get involved again, who knows.

I too have battled with my weight since I was a little one. 50 years of battling with something is definatly too long. I was so ready to get some help with it. I have been on every diet ever invented. Hundreds of pounds lost and gained, and tons of money in weight loss programs. Finally a chance at getting control, I am very pleased.

I would like to come to your support group. I am not sure if I can make it on the 25th, I am going on a cruise a few days after that and we are going to be getting ready. But, I will see. Definately if not this time the next time. I know where Oceanside is, I love it. We used to go down there all the time on weekends. Before we had kids! (o:

Talk to me more about it.


Carol 7wks post op / laproscopic GBS

HAMPTON5555

Good to hear from you. as far as telling you more about it, all I know is Christina and Stuart said they would lead it and a few people have responded with an interest to come.

I happened to noticed you replied to someone regarding fruit. I was hoping you could give me a sample of your daily food intake as I feel I am not getting enough protein. I am getting tired of beans and cheese. I have also found crackers to be easy to handle, maybe too, easy. Fruit is good, same as you, canned and soft, however, I can eat fresh melon and apple. Of course, we are speaking of one or two bites of these foods. Then I am full for a couple hours. What kind of meats are you eating?

Rain

By the way, how much have you lost so far?

cedesigns

As far as meats are concerned I have done the best with eggs, tuna, fish, shrimp, turkey, and chicken (moist meat not dry). I have had a real problem with bacon, I can't process it, it is way too fatty, or something. I have had some tiny bites of fresh cooked pork that didnt seem to bother me so the bacon must be the salt and the curing. With chicken I mostly eat the dark meat, the same with the turkey. My stomache is not ready for dry white meat yet, it's still too fibrous. I made a crock pot with a 7 bone roast with tomatoes, zuchini and other vegies this week. It is the first time I tried beef or red meat. I minced the beef for myself and had it with some vegies from the crock pot. My tummy did OK with that too.

My comfort foods have been mashed potatoes, yogurts, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, and crackers with a little cream cheese. When all else fails and my tummy won't accept anything else these have been comforting and therapeutic, they have never hurt my tummy.

Another thing I learned is I have a very big problem drinking water! IT HURTS! That really sucks because I am supposed to drink it throughout the day. Although my post op package says not to use straws, I have found they are the only way I can control liquids coming into my mouth without getting air at the same time. So if you have a problem with drinking water (or other liquides) try a straw, but try it very very slowy and cautiously. I sip a drip at a time, until I feel comfortable with the amount that is coming through the straw.

So far I have lost 40lbs (267/227 as of Friday this week).


Carol 7 wks post op/ laproscopic GBS

HAMPTON5555

Thanks for the info. Were you eating those meats @ 4weeks or after 6 weeks? I have been able to handle super mushy meat like in chili and soup. I was going to try ground turkey. I was told tuna was a difficult one but then I see others have done well with it. Oh gosh, I am so confused??? I think I am going to have to go by trial and error. Have you had salad yet? Sorry to pick your brains, but it helps. At the rate I am going I will never reach 40 pounds in 6 weeks. I am down 27 in 4...yuk!

I don't get it?? It can not be from eating too much, I eat about 400-500 calories, maybe not even that???

As far as water, it is a bit uncomfortable, but I drink about 1 med. bottle per day as I know how important it is. I start a new bottle each day and sip through out. I do better with diet teas and such, but I try to get the water in, too. Good luck!

Rain

cedesigns

I couldnt stand any of the pureed meats, they all may me gag, so I started experimenting with my own meats around 3-4 weeks. At first I tried to pure' my own meats in my cuisinart, but every one I pureed made me puke! So I gave up and minced the meat by hand. Then I would mix it with a little pureed vegies or mashed pototoes or cottage cheese. Everything is definately by trial and error. I read a few people say they were eating egg salad, so I tried to make some turkey salad and I got so sick from the mayo. So mayo is not on my list yet. I also really sick from bacon, so that is not on my list yet either. Anything dry I have a hard time with so I make sure what I eat is very moist, that definately helps. Soups are great, I never had problems with soups. I just made a homemade clam chowder (New England style) with diced potatoes and clam bits, and that was really good. No problems. I'm too afraid to try salad! the idea of raw vegies just makes my tummy hurt, so I am not trying that yet. But I have made cooked vegie salads (broccolli, cauliflower, pototaoes, beets, carrots) and those don't bother me.

Don't pressure yourself on how much you are losing! You are doing great and your body is letting go of the pounds at its own pace. Everyone loses differently. I will hit a plateau and be there forever soon I know it, and you will be losing like crazy. Just enjoy, and let it come off as it will.

Carol 7 weeks post op/ laproscopic GBS

HAMPTON5555

THANKS FOR YOUR INFO

I am going to try some of your suggestions.

rain

Dara

Rain and Carol:

Just a couple of notes to consider...

Please be very careful when choosing to eat breads or pasta so early after surgery. Carol, you seem to be doing okay with it. However, a lot of post-ops cannot tolerate the high carbs.

Also, when deciding to change your eating habits to healthier choices, breads, rice and pastas may not be the best choice. This is your honeymood period--the time when you can choose to adopt new healthy food choices and avoid the old high-calorie, high-carb choices. It is definitely to your advantage to start NOW, when you're open to new choices and are developing your new lifestyle.

Personally, pasta and bread were my most favorite foods in the world. I have chosen (keyword--CHOSEN) to avoid them like the plague. The first time I ate pasta post-operatively was at six months and, thank God, I haven't eat it since then. It just didn't taste the same to me. The only bread I eat now at nine months post-op is pita (or flatbread), and I only eat it occasionally. Bread and rice also tend to expand in your pouch.

It is very common for post-ops to avoid sugar. However, please also think about adding breads, rice and pastas to the avoidance list.

Just food for thought...

__________________

Dara
Open RNY 4/27/04 Dr. Callery
10-15 lbs. above goal weight and okay with it

cedesigns

Wow Dara~

I read your post and had to go back and review my nutritional guidlines just to make sure. My guidlines allow for "crackers, toast, or well cooked noodles" starting with 5-6weeks post op. Of course that means 1-2 tblspns of these, but they are still allowable.

Breads that have leavening (yeast) are definately very difficult (the yeast expands), but flatbreads are basically flour and water with some kind of oil or fat to bind them. Crackers and flatbreads are definately carbs though, so if you have a potential for problems with carbs because of the sugar breakdowns then definately be careful.

Our nutritionalist also warned against rice, part of the reason was carbs the other reason is because of the air that is swallowed with rice. Apparently rice does not break down and compact like other grains, potoatoes etc, and has a lot of air space that goes down with it. I havent tried rice because of that reason.

One breakfast item that I have really enjoyed, and is very tummy soothing, is cream of wheat. Again that is a carb, so if you are carb sensitive that might need to be avoided. For me it has been so comforting. My tummy is usually a bit raw in the morning and I was having a hard time with eggs and other proteins.

I know everyone's metabolism is different. I have never been diabetic, pre-diabetic and it does not run in my family. So that may be part of the reason I have not responded to carbs negatively.

I am really enjoying having fun with cooking for myself now that I have some leeway. The hardest part is learning how to cook appropriate portions when all I am going to consume is a couple of ounces. Oh well, it is all a learning process, and the sooner you can make it interesting and palatable the less likely you will be to getting bored.

I remember my first "bariatric" dish! I was 3 1/2 weeks post op and we had a Christmas party at our clinic meeting. I made pumpkin souffle' (pureed pumpkin, cream, eggs, cinnamon&nutmeg) it was a hit, and it didnt seem like a "special diet" food.

Another thing I love to make is the "mock mashed potatoes". It is made with cauliflower instead of potatoes. Not so carby, and very light. I put just a dash of light sour cream on them with salt. Very yummy! (oh I also do not have a lactose intolerance of any kind).

Carol 7wks post op/ laproscopic GBS

Dara

Carol:

You're absolutely right--breads, rice and pasta are not off limits. However, I always try to adhere to the rules of the pouch--protein first, then vegetables, fruit, and, if there's enough room and calories, carbs last. I believe that the sooner the rules of the pouch are implemented, the better, because it becomes a good habit early.

Of course, I pay particular attention to the carbs in breads and pasta because they were trigger foods for me. My version of chocolate, I guess! But not any more--YAYYY! I don't obsess about them and I rarely eat them. For me, about 95 percent of the time, they're unnecessary calories.

Everyone is different. You're the only person who knows your body and you should do what's best for you. As a post-op at goal, I try to pass along some of the techniques that have been successful for me. Good luck in your journey. You're obviously doing a great job!

__________________

Dara
Open RNY 4/27/04 Dr. Callery
10-15 lbs. above goal weight and okay with it

HAMPTON5555

Dara,

Thank you for your "at goal" support. I have not eaten any bread and have followed Dr. C's nutrition guides to the letter. I am finding about a million ways to get protein in, even if it is in the form of beans, beans, and sometimes, beans. Lucky me I have not had any negative reaction to lactose, or carbs, also, not lucky for me because I need to be careful!!
I am 99% of the time eating the protien first, veggie, then fruit. Usually no room for carb. Rarely I have a cracker. I think I miss the crunch.

Glad to have seen you in person on Thursday, you truley are an inspiration you tiny lil' thing you!!

Rain