Ralph thanks for your reply I am having the gastric by-pass done. I would be lying if I said I'm not having second thoughts. I've come to realize I really enjoy food. I know things will change for me, but it looks like a big change. I am really happy to hear that you've lost 50 lbs that must be relieving. What proteins do you suggest I should get and should I stock up on them now?
Hello,
We all enjoyed food. We can STILL enjoy food. However, not in the quantities we used to do so.
I just returned from a full week vacation in New Orleans with a whole lot of time spent in the French Quarter. So what do you do in New Orleans? You party! My wife and I went with friends. We had a blast. We ate at many fine places. So what did I have. Forget about southern fried food. Whenever I ordered, I ordered a special preparation such as plain grilled chicken lightly seasoned or a medium rarer filet mignon. At Commander's Palace I had turtle soup and chicken. I had a sample of the bread pudding soufflé. I managed to enjoy all the tastes and stay within my 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup total quantity at each meal.
You don't drink and eat at the same time. So, I had sips of cranberry juice ( one night I even added a shot of vodka in a tall cranberry) before the meal. The turtle soup was delicious the bread pudding (all one bite of it) was outrageous and so on and so forth.
Then we went over to Coops, a drinking establishment. I was the designated driver and I watched my wife and two friends get polluted/pleasantly high while I sucked on a cranberry juice or pineapple juice. I could have added a shot of vodka to it, but I was the designated driver and alcohol gets to you quickly post op.
So there you go, life does work after surgery. As time progresses I will be able to consume a bit more too based on everything I understand. However, I am enjoying the health benefits much more than the "losses" of overeating fantastic food.
So protein products, yes stock up. I ordered Isopure grape flavored from Amazon. I also went to Costco and bought Premier Protein Shakes (vanilla) by the case. Also, go to bariatric advantage and order up your chewable calcium and chewable multi-vitamin. Have all this in stock.
I haven't gotten around to protein whey powder, but I will soon. This can be added to cereals such as oatmeal (which I make with the Premier Protein Shake) and assure you get the protein required.
Generally, I have 30grams of protein via the shake. I manage to do the rest (50g) with eggs, milk and meats at our limited quantities.
The most important thing is to get the 80 grams of protein everyday. Secondly, drink as much liquid as you can up to the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. It doesn't have to be all water. I have a couple of glasses of milk each day, which is liquid and also some protein. I also have apple juice during the day rather than water. I also have water. I have the juice to get some more calories in. Don't be concerned by the lack of calories. You are challenged to get 800 to a 1000 calories per day in at the beginning.
Eventually, you will be able to consume more foods (post op a couple of months or more) and get up to 1200 calories easily. Right now, I average between 800 to 1000 calories a day; sometimes less; rarely more.
Hope I have helped.
Ralph
