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Post by historytracker on Nov 30, 2014 6:43:36 GMT -5
Last Wednesday my school does a potluck and in the past I have always participated. This year I chose not to because I am watching what I eat. My close friends know this. So coworkers sought me out later that day and the conversation was about weight. Coworkers: Well how much have you lost? Me: Enough. (Really none of their business) Coworkers: How much more do you plan to lose? Me: I like another 40 pounds Coworkers: 40 pounds - you can't do that - you won't be healthy. Give me a freaking break! Besides going into talking about low carb diet and how I am not eating stuffing (dressing) this Thanksgiving and my butt will be in the gym both Thursday and Friday (which I did) I am following the rules for the DS. God do I love this surgery! Hands down was the best decision I could ever make. The first picture is from February 2014 (this is what my coworkers are used to seeing for the last 5 years) and the second taken yesterday - 9 months later. Our weight loss goal I believe is very personal. Greenbaum said 150 would be normal for me, but last week's visit. He made the comment "he did know if I would get there". I wish I knew what he meant. But I am not going to dwell on it. I turn 49 this year and I am not on any other medication other than vitamins. If I can be healthier as I age and miss the heart disease and type II diabetes that plagues my family - then I will be very fortunate. I would like to get to a number that I agree with and that I am comfortable in my own skin. I not there yet, but only 5 months post op - THIS ISN'T BAD. It has been a great ride and I am ready for more of the journey. I am in the gym 3-4 times a week and I work with a trainer once a month. I am doing 45 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training each time. I can see a difference in my arms and in my legs. I feel great! You know that muscle takes up less volume in the body than fat. So when do you know when you there is enough weight loss? When you meet your goal or just let the DS do its job and see what you could lose?
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Post by newyorkbitch on Nov 30, 2014 7:51:17 GMT -5
Cindy there is no answer to this question. It has to be completely up to you - you will know when you get there. You have to feel that you look good, feel good in your own body, clothes, how you move, etc. This is not connected to any number - you have to forget about the number. You will just have to see what you think and how you feel as you get there. Nobody, not your doctor, nobody can tell you what is enough or what the "right number" is - only you can know what is right for you and your body.
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Post by caprice on Nov 30, 2014 8:06:46 GMT -5
If food was your only objection to the pot luck why not take a crock of meat and indulge heavily in that? For brunch potlucks, i take a crock of cooked canadian bacon, sausage links and kielbasa, with a bit of grape jelly and maple syrup mixed in. for lunch or dinner, it could be some kind of shredded meat, throw a bag of buns next to it, others can make it a sandwich, YOU can just pile the meat up. Easy peasy.
if you don't want to discuss your weight loss goals, you need to practice telling people that it's none of their business. I just said I didn't know, I was just going to see what my body did. And, lo and behold, I stopped losing weight before I disappeared.
which kind of addresses the rest of your post..... if you polled everybody who'd gotten the DS, I'm not sure there would be a single one who had picked a number at the start of their journey, lost down to that number, then stayed right there. You do have control over what you do and what you eat, but you don't really have control of what your body does with it. As you are experiencing right now, you are losing weight, and that's a wonderful thing, but, it will slow, then stop, and there may not be a thing you can do about it. Nor would want to do about it, probably. Most (not all) who are pretty diligent during the initial phase of loss get to their goal. It sounds like you are being pretty diligent, why not just enjoy that?
You are WAY more energetic than me, I applaud that, but I would encourage you to focus less on a number on a stupid scale.
Wishing you a successful journey....
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Post by west4thavenue on Nov 30, 2014 9:45:29 GMT -5
Last Wednesday my school does a potluck and in the past I have always participated. This year I chose not to because I am watching what I eat. My close friends know this. So coworkers sought me out later that day and the conversation was about weight. Coworkers: Well how much have you lost? Me: Enough. (Really none of their business) Coworkers: How much more do you plan to lose? Me: I like another 40 pounds Coworkers: 40 pounds - you can't do that - you won't be healthy. Give me a freaking break! Besides going into talking about low carb diet and how I am not eating stuffing (dressing) this Thanksgiving and my butt will be in the gym both Thursday and Friday (which I did) I am following the rules for the DS. God do I love this surgery! Hands down was the best decision I could ever make. The first picture is from February 2014 (this is what my coworkers are used to seeing for the last 5 years) and the second taken yesterday - 9 months later. Our weight loss goal I believe is very personal. Greenbaum said 150 would be normal for me, but last week's visit. He made the comment "he did know if I would get there". I wish I knew what he meant. But I am not going to dwell on it. I turn 49 this year and I am not on any other medication other than vitamins. If I can be healthier as I age and miss the heart disease and type II diabetes that plagues my family - then I will be very fortunate. I would like to get to a number that I agree with and that I am comfortable in my own skin. I not there yet, but only 5 months post op - THIS ISN'T BAD. It has been a great ride and I am ready for more of the journey. I am in the gym 3-4 times a week and I work with a trainer once a month. I am doing 45 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training each time. I can see a difference in my arms and in my legs. I feel great! You know that muscle takes up less volume in the body than fat. So when do you know when you there is enough weight loss? When you meet your goal or just let the DS do its job and see what you could lose? First, you have to love what you are seeing in the mirror, Cindy. You are looking fabulous. Congratulations and my sincerest admiration for all the work you are doing in the gym.
I think you are right. It is nobody's business but yours, and discussing it with people opens up a can of that strange social behavior currently being discussed on another thread. People "want" what is best for you...until you change, right? I think it was goodkel who suggested an excellent answer to those questions your coworkers are asking you: "That's between me and my doctor." A little softer than "Mind your own business," but achieves the same effect. I'm seeing some peculiar reactions to my weight loss among people I know, too. They'll get over it in time.
There is a lot of quasi-hype in our society about being goal-oriented, setting goals, etc. That works well in many arenas, but doesn't apply to everything in life, and it isn't a good paradigm for DS weight loss because there are too many changes over the long term. Focusing on "a" weight goal, as in a certain number of pounds, is probably a bad set up for us mentally. At some point, the weight loss slows, then stops, then we have to maintain it. Or, perhaps you decide you don't look good or feel good when you reach a certain weight, and you want to put on a few pounds. Then, I have read many posts in which the vets say they lost weight, then in time they regained some, then leveled off. After we get where we are going, wherever that is, we are going to be like most "normal" people. You gain a few pounds during the holidays or on vacation, then you work to take it off again. The nice thing is that we'll be able to do that, whereas for most of us pre-DS, taking it back off wasn't always possible.
Clearly you are already meeting the goal of getting yourself out of the high risk groups for heart disease and diabetes! You are already a winner, Cindy. The rest is icing on the cake. Forget about the scale and enjoy how you look and feel!
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Post by goodkel on Nov 30, 2014 13:53:00 GMT -5
If you follow the DS rules, your body will ultimately end up where it wants to be. For awhile that may mean that you weigh less than you'd like, but trust your body. It will bounce back to a weight that you will be able to maintain by watching your carbs like a normal person.
The only goal I made for myself was for a normal BMI. It took the full two year window, but I kept me nose to the grindstone and got there.
Your DS and your body will decide your ultimate weight. You assist that by your compliance. Don't try to force it to stop until you have reached an underweight BMI, you will bounce back to the weight you need to be.
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Nov 30, 2014 18:24:44 GMT -5
Cindy, you look great, I'm looking forward to seeing you next Saturday night!
I believe it is personal, too, but the truth is I think people are happy for us and want to talk to us about the success we are having. Noone knows I had the DS when I had the erosion fixed so they really probably would love to lose the weight, too. I do share with people who are struggling with their weight and would benefit from looking into the DS. I have a friend who is looking into it now and I'm hoping it will save his life.
I have no idea how much I want to lose, I feel I'll know it when I hit that weight. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the compliments and, even the comments like, you can't lose much more, you need to stop losing. I play tennis two nights a week (one with my husband) and go to the gym two nights a week (with the husband, we love going, and, honestly, I love watching his muscles!) I'm really enjoying the renewed exercise and being able to walk the entire Longwood Gardens display without getting tired. Life is good!
Glad to read your post and hear you are doing well, Kelly
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Post by west4thavenue on Nov 30, 2014 20:05:06 GMT -5
Cindy, you look great, I'm looking forward to seeing you next Saturday night! I believe it is personal, too, but the truth is I think people are happy for us and want to talk to us about the success we are having. Noone knows I had the DS when I had the erosion fixed so they really probably would love to lose the weight, too. I do share with people who are struggling with their weight and would benefit from looking into the DS. I have a friend who is looking into it now and I'm hoping it will save his life. I have no idea how much I want to lose, I feel I'll know it when I hit that weight. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the compliments and, even the comments like, you can't lose much more, you need to stop losing. I play tennis two nights a week (one with my husband) and go to the gym two nights a week (with the husband, we love going, and, honestly, I love watching his muscles!) I'm really enjoying the renewed exercise and being able to walk the entire Longwood Gardens display without getting tired. Life is good! Glad to read your post and hear you are doing well, Kelly Kelly and Cindy, please take photos at the Christmas party to share with us!!!
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Post by Simba on Nov 30, 2014 22:39:39 GMT -5
this question is so individualized, I dont think BMI is a great indicator or health in itself and other factors are important also as a BMI 30 can have more comorbids than a BMI 45 depending on patient. I do understand skipping the party, but pot luck you can bring what you want to eat and it is easier, make a big batch of wings, or scallops wrapped bacon, or grilled chix, I love when it is pot luck, but when it is pizza I eat the toppings only and mostly meat lovers pizza, but it is doable but requires some planning. I hate the how much have you lost and how much more do you want to lose. first how many people who have had bariatric surgery are underweight with a bmi of less than 18 after 2 years? I havent found one (not counting patients with complications etc) so lose all you can in the first 2 years you can pretty much guarantee you will not stay there if you get there, once you undergo intestinal adaptation after about 2 years, things will change. The human body is an amazing thing. contiued sucess to you
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Post by historytracker on Dec 3, 2014 5:27:52 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! The decision is ours as far as how much more weight we want to lose. I will shoot for 40 more pounds, but if I get to 160 and I am comfortable with it - then I will be good. I guess I am just going to follow the rules and see what happens. In the end - it's all good. Better to be at this weight than where I was before.
I enjoy coworker's comments, but there has been a lot going at work and the stress eating that I have done in the past - I am trying to deal with in other ways. If the food is there - I will only eat it. I could make something for the potluck, but I have just been so busy there was no time to throw something together.
I have been asked to have the cookie swap that I have been doing for years. So this year - I will research maybe a "healthier" cookie. I have coordinated this cookie swap with other teachers and I usually bring the cookies to my mother-in-laws party on Christmas Eve. Nothing will change this year. I may be doing more exercise during the holidays and just watching the carbs.
Kelly - I am going to have a glass of red wine Saturday night. I am staying down probably Mt. Laurel and the dress/shoes and everything I need is packed away. I am bringing a camera and it will be so good to see all the people. We certainly will have a good time.
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Post by Simba on Dec 3, 2014 6:10:26 GMT -5
Just my experience, depending on where you start also has a lot to do with it. When I was bmi >50, you start out with little goals, first to get to <200, then, I can get to <150, oh wait I think I will feel better at 120 etc, so my goal adjusted as time went on, you dont know how you are going to feel at those weights so you adjust as you go along. I have osteoarthritis, osteopenia and scoliosis. I felt a whole lot better at 120'slbs than 160'slbs, I feel better at the lower end of my bmi, so it is very individualized, depending on your comorbs and if/when they are resolved plays a big part in that final goal also. I think you will know when you are there. btw I have a great easy low carb pbutter cookie recipe, the kids love them, I will post below, enjoy:
1 cup sf peanut butter 1 egg 1 tbsp vanilla 1 cup Splenda
Mix and roll into balls (about walnut sized) and flatten with fork dipped in Splenda. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
TIPS -Do NOT overocok -- they will get crumbly since there's no gluten -I've also made them with small amount of dark chocolate
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 3, 2014 11:24:06 GMT -5
Dunno why i tried to make these since p.b. has soo many calories but i had to. I could only get 22 cookies out of the batch (was hoping for 32 but they would have been tooo small). So at around 1560 calories a batch of 22 thats about 70 calories a cookie. Thats a tiny amount of food fir 70 calories.. i used stevia which says to only use half the amount but they didn't seem sweet enough to me. I didnt over cook them and they were still crumbly. I didn't care for them but my 4yr old granddaughter is eating them. They did look just like p.b. cookies though. . Will see what the 5, 11 and 12 yr olds think when they get home from school. Thanks fir the recepie So update. . I cooked the second batch the whole 12 min and sprinkled some stevia on top and i think they are better.. either that or i just got used to them ha ha Ha ha
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Post by caprice on Dec 3, 2014 12:14:52 GMT -5
Dunno why i tried to make these since p.b. has soo many calories but i had to. I could only get 22 cookies out of the batch (was hoping for 32 but they would have been tooo small). So at around 1560 calories a batch of 22 thats about 70 calories a cookie. Thats a tiny amount of food fir 70 calories.. i used stevia which says to only use half the amount but they didn't seem sweet enough to me. I didnt over cook them and they were still crumbly. I didn't care for them but my 4yr old granddaughter is eating them. They did look just like p.b. cookies though. . Will see what the 5, 11 and 12 yr olds think when they get home from school. Thanks fir the recepie So update. . I cooked the second batch the whole 12 min and sprinkled some stevia on top and i think they are better.. either that or i just got used to them ha ha Ha ha Since calories don't matter nearly as much as protein/carb ratios, why not use a peanut butter that is just peanuts and oil (no sugar added) and, instead of calories, see how many carbs that makes per cookie. I think that's the point of that particular recipe, to lower carbs and increase protein and fat.
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 3, 2014 13:59:07 GMT -5
Dunno why i tried to make these since p.b. has soo many calories but i had to. I could only get 22 cookies out of the batch (was hoping for 32 but they would have been tooo small). So at around 1560 calories a batch of 22 thats about 70 calories a cookie. Thats a tiny amount of food fir 70 calories.. i used stevia which says to only use half the amount but they didn't seem sweet enough to me. I didnt over cook them and they were still crumbly. I didn't care for them but my 4yr old granddaughter is eating them. They did look just like p.b. cookies though. . Will see what the 5, 11 and 12 yr olds think when they get home from school. Thanks fir the recepie So update. . I cooked the second batch the whole 12 min and sprinkled some stevia on top and i think they are better.. either that or i just got used to them ha ha Ha ha Since calories don't matter nearly as much as protein/carb ratios, why not use a peanut butter that is just peanuts and oil (no sugar added) and, instead of calories, see how many carbs that makes per cookie. I think that's the point of that particular recipe, to lower carbs and increase protein and fat. I did use a natural p.b. but i do not buy into this calories don't matter mentality. . It just does not make sence. . You can't tell me i can eat 3000 calories and lose weight. . Just makes no sense. . I understand about the malobsoeption but that is just speculation and not everyone gets that great if malansorption
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Post by Girlrocker on Dec 3, 2014 16:28:02 GMT -5
Cindy, sorry I'm so late to the party! You got a lot of good feedback already. I can say that one thing I learned with at my first time at the rodeo with the RNY, was the actual scale number became less of consequence - other than the fact with the RNY I could not get to a healthy weight no matter what I did as we know - and the BMI to me really isn't an accurate measure. I realize the medical institution relies on it, we do what we have to so we get our surgeries, but really, I never considered my BMI any kind measurement of my success or otherwise.
Learning where our bodies are comfortable is kind of hard to do until we get closer, is what I've learned since my DS revision. It's a much different vantage point from which to assess, once a substantive weight loss is behind us. I adjusted my 'goal' number many times. My 'dream weight' used to be 140. And when I was in the depths of despair with the RNY I thought 170s would even be great for me, once I got under 200 lbs (for the nanosecond). And when I hit the 180s, than the 170s with the DS revision I though ok, cool. I was pretty surprised when I dropped down to the 150s, and now hover between 158-162. It's a great weight for me, would be supberb if I could have the rest of the skin taken away, I don't even think of losing another pound. It's such a huge process of seeing ourselves differently, getting to know ourselves again, and not thinking from a morbidly obese perspective, but one of someone who doesn't have that much weight to go. Give yourself time, because some of that perspective will just come in time. In the meanwhile, everything you are doing in terms of re-learning how to eat, exercise, are all the great habits that will sustain you for life. I'd like to say when you get to your goal you'll know - and you might. Some people struggle for a long time still seeing the fat person. I suspect you will be one who knows though; and then there's a transition time when our bodies kind of shift, realign themselves, we 'grow' into them. I know it sounds wacky, but it happens, 'things' redistribute.
I don't want to derail historytracker's post, but your statement requires addressing for those who lurk and wonder if what you say is true. People who are more active here already know it isn't. You clearly do not understand the surgery you have, the malabsorption we live with in regards to protein and fats. Yes, the degree of the malabsorption efficiency, metabolic reset varies among us based on many personal, individual facors; but the bottom line is with a DS, we malabsorb half the protein we take in and even more of the fat. 15 years plus of people having this surgery posting here and other places, and that fact hasn't changed much. You want to waste the gift of the surgery tool, knock yourself out, count calories.
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Post by goodkel on Dec 3, 2014 21:18:14 GMT -5
I did use a natural p.b. but i do not buy into this calories don't matter mentality. . It just does not make sence. . You can't tell me i can eat 3000 calories and lose weight. . Just makes no sense. . I understand about the malobsoeption but that is just speculation and not everyone gets that great if malansorption The entire point of the DS is malabsorption. There are images in the Data area that will explain it to you, if you can't wrap your head around it. Meanwhile counting calories is the sure path to a lackluster weight loss. Your body requires adequate calories or it will go into starvation mode and stop your weight loss entirely. There have been no published studies that I have found on our malabsorption of anything except fat. This is true. But, there is plenty of empirical knowledge from our shared years of labs and our knowledge of the DS and how it works to state unequivocally that calories don't matter. For the rest of your life. Eat all the fat and protein your heart desires and your stomach can handle. The ONLY thing you need to be counting are carbs. Again, for the rest of your life.
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 4, 2014 6:54:18 GMT -5
I did use a natural p.b. but i do not buy into this calories don't matter mentality. . It just does not make sence. . You can't tell me i can eat 3000 calories and lose weight. . Just makes no sense. . I understand about the malobsoeption but that is just speculation and not everyone gets that great if malansorption The entire point of the DS is malabsorption. There are images in the Data area that will explain it to you, if you can't wrap your head around it. Meanwhile counting calories is the sure path to a lackluster weight loss. Your body requires adequate calories or it will go into starvation mode and stop your weight loss entirely. There have been no published studies that I have found on our malabsorption of anything except fat. This is true. But, there is plenty of empirical knowledge from our shared years of labs and our knowledge of the DS and how it works to state unequivocally that calories don't matter. For the rest of your life. Eat all the fat and protein your heart desires and your stomach can handle. The ONLY thing you need to be counting are carbs. Again, for the rest of your life. Just because a person coumts calories does not mean they are going to fail. If i eat 2000 calories just the fact that i know i am eating 2000 calories makes no difference. . Now if i said i was restricting calories to 800 or something that might be a different story. I say might cause everyone's body is different.. the calorie intake required for me to lose weight and the calorie requirement fir you to lose weight are going to be different.. not only cause if body type and metabolic differences but also because of the ds. One person might beca revision and another not. One might have a 50cc while another has a 200cc. One persons stomach might hold 3 oz where another holds 16oz. Based on what i have read from others on how much they can eat and knowing how much i can eat already at only 5 months i need to watch my calories. I could easily eat 2000+ calories in a day if i did not count my calories.. I wish people would stop being so judgmental to people. . There is not a dr in the world that would tell people to eat hords of fat yet people do it and ot works for them.. i am happy for thrm but that doesnt make it right for someone else.. The bottom line is there is no proof this malansorption is across the board. . There is no set numbers to follow for fat/protein/carb . Believe me i have tried to get many drs to give me a goal to work for. . But unfortunately everyone has to find what works for them.. Unfortunately at 5 months i still have not found what works for me. For the first 4 months i did fine on a fat/carb/protein ratio of 50/45/5.. but i burnt out. Living on less than 20 grams of carbs was too hard. Right now im trying our 50/40/10 to see if keepubg under 30 grams will work. It is hard cause it seems like eating any carbs just sends me down a carb avalanche so making sure even if i am overdosing on carbs if i have an eye on my calories it gives me something to hold on to. I don't think it right to be slammed for doing something to try to keep things in check. Thanks for your support
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Post by newyorkbitch on Dec 4, 2014 7:22:42 GMT -5
You do not need to watch your calories, ever. You need to watch your carbohydrates. That is what you do not seem to understand.
Keep your carbs at a max of 50, eat 150g of protein, plenty of water, and do not worry about anything else, except enough fat to keep your digestive system moving along.
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Post by goodkel on Dec 4, 2014 13:01:15 GMT -5
Frankly, I consider "calories" to be a curse word. "We don't use those words in this house, young lady!" Now go wash your mouth out with soap.
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 4, 2014 15:01:48 GMT -5
Frankly, I consider "calories" to be a curse word. "We don't use those words in this house, young lady!" Now go wash your mouth out with soap. Ha ha ha how many calories does the soap have
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Post by Simba on Dec 5, 2014 0:33:38 GMT -5
The entire point of the DS is malabsorption. There are images in the Data area that will explain it to you, if you can't wrap your head around it. Meanwhile counting calories is the sure path to a lackluster weight loss. Your body requires adequate calories or it will go into starvation mode and stop your weight loss entirely. There have been no published studies that I have found on our malabsorption of anything except fat. This is true. But, there is plenty of empirical knowledge from our shared years of labs and our knowledge of the DS and how it works to state unequivocally that calories don't matter. For the rest of your life. Eat all the fat and protein your heart desires and your stomach can handle. The ONLY thing you need to be counting are carbs. Again, for the rest of your life. Just because a person coumts calories does not mean they are going to fail. If i eat 2000 calories just the fact that i know i am eating 2000 calories makes no difference. . Now if i said i was restricting calories to 800 or something that might be a different story. I say might cause everyone's body is different.. the calorie intake required for me to lose weight and the calorie requirement fir you to lose weight are going to be different.. not only cause if body type and metabolic differences but also because of the ds. One person might beca revision and another not. One might have a 50cc while another has a 200cc. One persons stomach might hold 3 oz where another holds 16oz. Based on what i have read from others on how much they can eat and knowing how much i can eat already at only 5 months i need to watch my calories. I could easily eat 2000+ calories in a day if i did not count my calories.. I wish people would stop being so judgmental to people. . There is not a dr in the world that would tell people to eat hords of fat yet people do it and ot works for them.. i am happy for thrm but that doesnt make it right for someone else.. The bottom line is there is no proof this malansorption is across the board. . There is no set numbers to follow for fat/protein/carb . Believe me i have tried to get many drs to give me a goal to work for. . But unfortunately everyone has to find what works for them.. Unfortunately at 5 months i still have not found what works for me. For the first 4 months i did fine on a fat/carb/protein ratio of 50/45/5.. but i burnt out. Living on less than 20 grams of carbs was too hard. Right now im trying our 50/40/10 to see if keepubg under 30 grams will work. It is hard cause it seems like eating any carbs just sends me down a carb avalanche so making sure even if i am overdosing on carbs if i have an eye on my calories it gives me something to hold on to. I don't think it right to be slammed for doing something to try to keep things in check. Thanks for your support Cheryl dont feel attacked, but I do understand why you feel the way you do, we are hopefully all here for the same reason, to do the best we can and learn from others, with a DS, only about 2% of WLS being DS proportionally there are not many of us so we need each other. Take the good and learn from the not so good. You are very right we are all different but we also share similarities this is what we learn from and adjust our differences it really is no different than someone taking 2K of ca citrate while another patient needs 6k of ca citrate to get the same result-the takeaway is we all need ca citrate. In other words we all need to watch our carbs, the DS absorbs 100% or simple carbs so we should stay away from those as the DS will not help us, but and yes you are right btw depending on how well you are malabsorbing you can eat more protein, peer reviewed journals list it as about 50% absorption so does that mean some will absorb 60% and others 40%, it sure does, but with a DS you know no one will absorb 100% of the protein intake and no one will absorb 0% of the intake. I am not sure what you mean by eating hoards of fat, but I dont restrict fat but I also dont intentionally add fat, while we malabsorb fat at about 75%, there is no free rides in life and we also have to think about enteric hyperoxaluria. Lowering carbs increasing fat and carbs also has a satiety effect on our body, so you essentially "eat less", so work with your DS not against it. In your post you state: " For the first 4 months i did fine on a fat/carb/protein ratio of 50/45/5" I hope you have your carb and protein reversed, if you were actually consuming only 5% of your calories from protein for any length of time, protein deficiency is very likely People are trying to help you, maybe sometimes it comes across as attacking but DSers in general tend to be older people, more educated, been around the block a few time, personally I would rather learn from others mistakes and not make anymore myself, you are only 5 months PO, your body is still trying to adjust to the trauma the surgery has caused it, it will take time. But no matter what your cchannel length, carbs will always be absorbed at a higher %, so we stay away from them as best we can. try to do what is best for you, learn from others, and try not to make the same mistakes we have and adjust for your body, lifestyle and capability. I wish you only continued success, read, learn, etc.
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Post by historytracker on Dec 5, 2014 5:33:58 GMT -5
Cindy, sorry I'm so late to the party! You got a lot of good feedback already. I can say that one thing I learned with at my first time at the rodeo with the RNY, was the actual scale number became less of consequence - other than the fact with the RNY I could not get to a healthy weight no matter what I did as we know - and the BMI to me really isn't an accurate measure. I realize the medical institution relies on it, we do what we have to so we get our surgeries, but really, I never considered my BMI any kind measurement of my success or otherwise. Learning where our bodies are comfortable is kind of hard to do until we get closer, is what I've learned since my DS revision. It's a much different vantage point from which to assess, once a substantive weight loss is behind us. I adjusted my 'goal' number many times. My 'dream weight' used to be 140. And when I was in the depths of despair with the RNY I thought 170s would even be great for me, once I got under 200 lbs (for the nanosecond). And when I hit the 180s, than the 170s with the DS revision I though ok, cool. I was pretty surprised when I dropped down to the 150s, and now hover between 158-162. It's a great weight for me, would be supberb if I could have the rest of the skin taken away, I don't even think of losing another pound. It's such a huge process of seeing ourselves differently, getting to know ourselves again, and not thinking from a morbidly obese perspective, but one of someone who doesn't have that much weight to go. Give yourself time, because some of that perspective will just come in time. In the meanwhile, everything you are doing in terms of re-learning how to eat, exercise, are all the great habits that will sustain you for life. I'd like to say when you get to your goal you'll know - and you might. Some people struggle for a long time still seeing the fat person. I suspect you will be one who knows though; and then there's a transition time when our bodies kind of shift, realign themselves, we 'grow' into them. I know it sounds wacky, but it happens, 'things' redistribute. Sharyl - I hear you loud and clear. I do not know what my weight will be and that's why I am not going to get hung up on a number. The truth is I am losing inches when I am not losing pounds. I spent $300 on bras at Nordstrom only to find out 6 weeks later - then were going to be too big in the band size. The surgery is expensive. I had some clothes given to me by a friend and they were all Gloria Vanderbelt jeans in different colors (size 12). I looked at these tiny things on the bed and thought - I will put them up in the attic. Then a purple pair (my favorite color) caught my eye and I decided to try them on. They were tight, but I got them button. I definitely am still living in my other body mentally and I do not see myself as I should now. It almost not recognizing yourself when you walk past a window or a mirror. My husband is not used to seeing me this thin. I am thinner than when I was in high school. I do not really count calories - just carbs and I make sure I get enough calories so that I am not starving myself.
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 5, 2014 6:40:36 GMT -5
Sorry i did have them reversed. 5% was carbs. I was soo excited when i first started this journey. First cause after gaining weight back after my rny i finally grlt hopefull. Second i had a friend who was doing it the same time so i wouldn't be alone and third cause i love meat and thought it would be easy to stick to the diet. Well a month after surgery my friend moved away. Than the weight loss slowed and now i am sick of meat and want carbs. . Rice spaghetti bread .. sigh. I DO NOT like not having a cslorie guide. I DO NOT like that there is no nutritionist who knows amything about this surgery. I have scale goals and I feel hopeless that i will not reach them if i do not find an eating plan i csn live with. 11lbs to my first goal which i wanted to hit by 6 months and not going to make it. This has me frustrated. My eating goal is 1200 calories 120grams of protein 30 grams carbs and whatever fat happens to wind up at. I used to have no problems with this (actually i used to have no problems with even a stricter plan but now even have a problem with this).. but then i look at it and think even being generous after malansorption it comes to around 650 calories.. how the weight cannot be pouring off me is frustrating.. I hate it when people say dont count calories. I need a guideline. . I feel i absorb all my calories or why else would the weight not be pouring off me. This isca daily struggle feeling so lost and out of control. Sorry i come here and whine but i am trying people need to understand that
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 5, 2014 6:41:24 GMT -5
Cindy, sorry I'm so late to the party! You got a lot of good feedback already. I can say that one thing I learned with at my first time at the rodeo with the RNY, was the actual scale number became less of consequence - other than the fact with the RNY I could not get to a healthy weight no matter what I did as we know - and the BMI to me really isn't an accurate measure. I realize the medical institution relies on it, we do what we have to so we get our surgeries, but really, I never considered my BMI any kind measurement of my success or otherwise. Learning where our bodies are comfortable is kind of hard to do until we get closer, is what I've learned since my DS revision. It's a much different vantage point from which to assess, once a substantive weight loss is behind us. I adjusted my 'goal' number many times. My 'dream weight' used to be 140. And when I was in the depths of despair with the RNY I thought 170s would even be great for me, once I got under 200 lbs (for the nanosecond). And when I hit the 180s, than the 170s with the DS revision I though ok, cool. I was pretty surprised when I dropped down to the 150s, and now hover between 158-162. It's a great weight for me, would be supberb if I could have the rest of the skin taken away, I don't even think of losing another pound. It's such a huge process of seeing ourselves differently, getting to know ourselves again, and not thinking from a morbidly obese perspective, but one of someone who doesn't have that much weight to go. Give yourself time, because some of that perspective will just come in time. In the meanwhile, everything you are doing in terms of re-learning how to eat, exercise, are all the great habits that will sustain you for life. I'd like to say when you get to your goal you'll know - and you might. Some people struggle for a long time still seeing the fat person. I suspect you will be one who knows though; and then there's a transition time when our bodies kind of shift, realign themselves, we 'grow' into them. I know it sounds wacky, but it happens, 'things' redistribute. Sharyl - I hear you loud and clear. I do not know what my weight will be and that's why I am not going to get hung up on a number. The truth is I am losing inches when I am not losing pounds. I spent $300 on bras at Nordstrom only to find out 6 weeks later - then were going to be too big in the band size. The surgery is expensive. I had some clothes given to me by a friend and they were all Gloria Vanderbelt jeans in different colors (size 12). I looked at these tiny things on the bed and thought - I will put them up in the attic. Then a purple pair (my favorite color) caught my eye and I decided to try them on. They were tight, but I got them button. I definitely am still living in my other body mentally and I do not see myself as I should now. It almost not recognizing yourself when you walk past a window or a mirror. My husband is not used to seeing me this thin. I am thinner than when I was in high school. I do not really count calories - just carbs and I make sure I get enough calories so that I am not starving myself. And how many calories would you say qualify for "not starving yourself"
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 5, 2014 6:49:04 GMT -5
Last Wednesday my school does a potluck and in the past I have always participated. This year I chose not to because I am watching what I eat. My close friends know this. So coworkers sought me out later that day and the conversation was about weight. Coworkers: Well how much have you lost? Me: Enough. (Really none of their business) Coworkers: How much more do you plan to lose? Me: I like another 40 pounds Coworkers: 40 pounds - you can't do that - you won't be healthy. Give me a freaking break! Besides going into talking about low carb diet and how I am not eating stuffing (dressing) this Thanksgiving and my butt will be in the gym both Thursday and Friday (which I did) I am following the rules for the DS. God do I love this surgery! Hands down was the best decision I could ever make. The first picture is from February 2014 (this is what my coworkers are used to seeing for the last 5 years) and the second taken yesterday - 9 months later. Our weight loss goal I believe is very personal. Greenbaum said 150 would be normal for me, but last week's visit. He made the comment "he did know if I would get there". I wish I knew what he meant. But I am not going to dwell on it. I turn 49 this year and I am not on any other medication other than vitamins. If I can be healthier as I age and miss the heart disease and type II diabetes that plagues my family - then I will be very fortunate. I would like to get to a number that I agree with and that I am comfortable in my own skin. I not there yet, but only 5 months post op - THIS ISN'T BAD. It has been a great ride and I am ready for more of the journey. I am in the gym 3-4 times a week and I work with a trainer once a month. I am doing 45 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training each time. I can see a difference in my arms and in my legs. I feel great! You know that muscle takes up less volume in the body than fat. So when do you know when you there is enough weight loss? When you meet your goal or just let the DS do its job and see what you could lose? Now that i made a mess of your thread (sorry).. people say your suppose to just follow the program and let your body wind up where it is comfortable at. But see your exercising a lot.. the problem is unless you're going to exercise that much for the rest of your life your going to reach a point where your not exercising enough to work with the eating plan your used to. This was my problem with my rny. I got arthritis and couldn't exercise and the weight just poured on. I know the ds is different but i think it is a rather simplistic view to think your body is just going to be what it is and you just need to accept it.. Not that I have ever had any luck making my body do what i want so who knows Oh yah and you look awsome. . You've done a great job.. i am the same distance post op as you but if you looked at my before and after pics you wouldn't have even known i lost any weight. Your pics are like night and day
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Post by newyorkbitch on Dec 5, 2014 7:03:12 GMT -5
Sorry i did have them reversed. 5% was carbs. I was soo excited when i first started this journey. First cause after gaining weight back after my rny i finally grlt hopefull. Second i had a friend who was doing it the same time so i wouldn't be alone and third cause i love meat and thought it would be easy to stick to the diet. Well a month after surgery my friend moved away. Than the weight loss slowed and now i am sick of meat and want carbs. . Rice spaghetti bread .. sigh. I DO NOT like not having a cslorie guide. I DO NOT like that there is no nutritionist who knows amything about this surgery. I have scale goals and I feel hopeless that i will not reach them if i do not find an eating plan i csn live with. 11lbs to my first goal which i wanted to hit by 6 months and not going to make it. This has me frustrated. My eating goal is 1200 calories 120grams of protein 30 grams carbs and whatever fat happens to wind up at. I used to have no problems with this (actually i used to have no problems with even a stricter plan but now even have a problem with this).. but then i look at it and think even being generous after malansorption it comes to around 650 calories.. how the weight cannot be pouring off me is frustrating.. I hate it when people say dont count calories. I need a guideline. . I feel i absorb all my calories or why else would the weight not be pouring off me. This isca daily struggle feeling so lost and out of control. Sorry i come here and whine but i am trying people need to understand that Cheryl you do have a guideline. 150g protein, 40-50g carbs, lots of water, all your vites, and enough fat to keep your system humming. It's just not a calorie guideline and it never will be. What was your starting weight and what is your weight now after 4 months?
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 5, 2014 7:16:45 GMT -5
Sorry i did have them reversed. 5% was carbs. I was soo excited when i first started this journey. First cause after gaining weight back after my rny i finally grlt hopefull. Second i had a friend who was doing it the same time so i wouldn't be alone and third cause i love meat and thought it would be easy to stick to the diet. Well a month after surgery my friend moved away. Than the weight loss slowed and now i am sick of meat and want carbs. . Rice spaghetti bread .. sigh. I DO NOT like not having a cslorie guide. I DO NOT like that there is no nutritionist who knows amything about this surgery. I have scale goals and I feel hopeless that i will not reach them if i do not find an eating plan i csn live with. 11lbs to my first goal which i wanted to hit by 6 months and not going to make it. This has me frustrated. My eating goal is 1200 calories 120grams of protein 30 grams carbs and whatever fat happens to wind up at. I used to have no problems with this (actually i used to have no problems with even a stricter plan but now even have a problem with this).. but then i look at it and think even being generous after malansorption it comes to around 650 calories.. how the weight cannot be pouring off me is frustrating.. I hate it when people say dont count calories. I need a guideline. . I feel i absorb all my calories or why else would the weight not be pouring off me. This isca daily struggle feeling so lost and out of control. Sorry i come here and whine but i am trying people need to understand that Cheryl you do have a guideline. 150g protein, 40-50g carbs, lots of water, all your vites, and enough fat to keep your system humming. It's just not a calorie guideline and it never will be. What was your starting weight and what is your weight now after 4 months? Yes that is kind of a guideline but that could be as little as little as 1000 calories to who knows 2000 or 3000 calories.. a 1000 calorie meal plan cannot be equal to a 3000 meal plan. As for me. Well pre ds i weighted 279lbs currently at 5 months i weight 211. Its not totally the weight loss that has me stressed as it is the inability to find an eating plan i can stick with.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Dec 5, 2014 7:30:23 GMT -5
Cheryl you do have a guideline. 150g protein, 40-50g carbs, lots of water, all your vites, and enough fat to keep your system humming. It's just not a calorie guideline and it never will be. What was your starting weight and what is your weight now after 4 months? Yes that is kind of a guideline but that could be as little as little as 1000 calories to who knows 2000 or 3000 calories.. a 1000 calorie meal plan cannot be equal to a 3000 meal plan. As for me. Well pre ds i weighted 279lbs currently at 5 months i weight 211. Its not totally the weight loss that has me stressed as it is the inability to find an eating plan i can stick with. You have lost 68 lbs in 5 months….that is wonderful. You have every reason to be satisfied with your DS thus far. But you are ignoring the advice of the experienced vets here and I am not sure why. You do not need an "eating plan" that counts calories and you have to stop that kind of thinking if you are going to be healthy and successful. It doesn't matter how many calories….you just need to stick to 150g of protein, 50g of carbs…just what I said in my post. However many calories that ends up being is fine, whatever it is. You are still very much in the head of "diet" and you need to work on that. The DS brought me freedom from all of that oppressive thinking. I haven't been on a meal plan or a diet in 14.5 years….I will be 15 years post DS in March. If you are back to eating spaghetti/rice/bread then yes your loss is going to slow - but guess what - eventually it's going to slow anyway and that is NORMAL as you get further and further out from surgery. But you have to control the carbs - that is the key to weight loss during the first couple of years. But Cheryl I urge you to stop with the calorie counting - STOP. Worry about 150g of protein and 40-50g of carbs, and make those carbs complex carbs. Drink at least 64oz of water every day and take all your vites. Are you in therapy? I think you could use some help dealing with your eating and food issues - I know I sure did during the first couple of years. You have to stop being afraid of food. The DS means you don't have to diet and be afraid of food and calories ever again. You have to learn to embrace that, and shed your old ways of thinking about food. What would an "eating plan" look like for you? You mean like a specific diet? If you need that, then create it - figure out what 150g of protein is and what 40-50g of complex carbs is and write that down in an eating plan, and then add to it - add dairy, other fats, cooked veggies…like for example create a few breakfasts that contain 20g of protein and 10g of complex carbs. Are you drinking protein shakes? How many g of protein and carbs in the shakes?
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Post by historytracker on Dec 5, 2014 8:30:58 GMT -5
And how many calories would you say qualify for "not starving yourself" I make sure I hit more than 1200 calories a day. I am only 5 months out and I can still get full eating a yogurt or 2-3 meatballs. Big meals are impossible for me. I focus on no more than 50 carbs a day (coming from plants) and I do not care how much fat I eat. I am a huge fan of cheese and it is a staple in my house.
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Dec 5, 2014 9:25:44 GMT -5
This is a great thread, all sorts of information! Just adding my two cents for what it's worth... It was very hard to wrap my head around not counting calories, but that's a thing of the past. I watch my protein and carbs to make sure I get the right numbers in by the end of the day. I try to get in extra fat to help with my bathroom issues (or should I say lack of bathroom issues since it's hard to go) and make sure my protein is high, close to 150 each day. I really do follow NYB because she's so far out and really seems to know her stuff, I respect that and read everything she writes to get good advice.
I'm not much of a cook, but love Cindy's ideas regarding DS friendly foods. I share her information with my husband he cooks for us with my DS in mind always. I think this forum is phenomenal and love all the ideas I get from it. Gotta share my excitement, a lady yesterday referred to me as skinny and inferred that I would never know what it's like to have a weight problem. She wasn't being mean, a group was talking about weight loss and I was saying high protein low carbs is the way to go. Everyone else in the group has known me for years and they all kind of laughed, at which time I told her I'm down 114 pounds since 2008, most of which was lost since July of this year. Honestly, she wasn't heavy or I would have taken her aside and told her about the DS. I'm far from skinny but looking healthy, I went from a size 24 to a 12, I love this DS!
Have a great weekend everyone, Kelly
PS - looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night, Cindy!
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Post by cherylbaker on Dec 5, 2014 10:30:35 GMT -5
Yes that is kind of a guideline but that could be as little as little as 1000 calories to who knows 2000 or 3000 calories.. a 1000 calorie meal plan cannot be equal to a 3000 meal plan. As for me. Well pre ds i weighted 279lbs currently at 5 months i weight 211. Its not totally the weight loss that has me stressed as it is the inability to find an eating plan i can stick with. You have lost 68 lbs in 5 months….that is wonderful. You have every reason to be satisfied with your DS thus far. But you are ignoring the advice of the experienced vets here and I am not sure why. You do not need an "eating plan" that counts calories and you have to stop that kind of thinking if you are going to be healthy and successful. It doesn't matter how many calories….you just need to stick to 150g of protein, 50g of carbs…just what I said in my post. However many calories that ends up being is fine, whatever it is. You are still very much in the head of "diet" and you need to work on that. The DS brought me freedom from all of that oppressive thinking. I haven't been on a meal plan or a diet in 14.5 years….I will be 15 years post DS in March. If you are back to eating spaghetti/rice/bread then yes your loss is going to slow - but guess what - eventually it's going to slow anyway and that is NORMAL as you get further and further out from surgery. But you have to control the carbs - that is the key to weight loss during the first couple of years. But Cheryl I urge you to stop with the calorie counting - STOP. Worry about 150g of protein and 40-50g of carbs, and make those carbs complex carbs. Drink at least 64oz of water every day and take all your vites. Are you in therapy? I think you could use some help dealing with your eating and food issues - I know I sure did during the first couple of years. You have to stop being afraid of food. The DS means you don't have to diet and be afraid of food and calories ever again. You have to learn to embrace that, and shed your old ways of thinking about food. What would an "eating plan" look like for you? You mean like a specific diet? If you need that, then create it - figure out what 150g of protein is and what 40-50g of complex carbs is and write that down in an eating plan, and then add to it - add dairy, other fats, cooked veggies…like for example create a few breakfasts that contain 20g of protein and 10g of complex carbs. Are you drinking protein shakes? How many g of protein and carbs in the shakes? Yes i drink a protein shake with 2 scoops of unflavored unjury made with almond milk cocoa and stevia. Like 43 grams protein... i just feel if left without a calorie max i could eat way way way to much. I do hate food and eat the same things and am bored of them.. I have an eating plan set ahead of time each day but then i dont feel like eating that and someone in the house will have sonething carb full and ib eat that. . I really think though that the problem is my 4 grandkids moved in and so all of a sudden the house is full of the carbs and my plan was to just get through this without gaining weight til they leave but everyday i learn more that chances are not good of them leaving as soon as was originally presented to us. So now i am scrambling to try and find an eating plan i can live with with all these carbs around. . And yes i have a therapist for my problem with food but that also is a long journey
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