In just a short while I will have my answers to the following questions.  

**Please note**  I am not a Doctor, I just play one on my website...

 

How will your body know to 'stop' losing weight? Every time I am asked this, honestly, I laugh on the inside.  I know there are several post-ops that get concerned and go below their ideal body weight...but I can't see that ever happening to me.  In fact, right now, my body does not want to relinquish 1 1/2 pounds. How rude!  But on the serious side, you up your food/calorie intake to sustain...not lose.  What do you eat after surgery? On bad days, whatever carbohydrate infested food I can get my hands on.  My hospital and dietician gave me a packet of information for each stage after surgery.  You can click here to see that information. Why do you have to wait 1/2 hour in between drinking and eating? You are not allowed to drink with meals for several reasons:   1.  Your new stomach pouch is small and hold only 2 oz. volume at first. It's hard to get in all of your protein/food, let alone fill your stomach with fluid..taking up more space.  2.  If you drink while you eat, you are washing away nutrients that your body needs to absorb.  One of the cons of having RNY is malabsorption.  Your body needs as many vitamins and minerals it can get, so by NOT drinking with your meals, you are not going to wash away valuable nutrition. What is 'dumping syndrome'? Why they called it "dumping" I'll never know. It's such a nasty term. Anyway, "dumping" simply means having an adverse reaction to something that you've eaten, either by vomiting, flu-like symptoms, or diarrhea.  If you eat too much or too fast and throw up, congratulations, you just dumped. If you eat something that is high in fat and it subsequently gives you diarrhea, congratulations, you just dumped. If you eat something that is high in refined sugar and you feel like you have the flu....you're shaking, clammy, nauseous, light-headed, dizzy and sick to your stomach, congratulations, you just dumped. What kind of supplements do you take? I take a multivitamin with iron (CVS brand), sublingual B12 (GNC) and calcium citrate (when I remember). No more sugar/fat....EVER? This is such a controversial issue. Some will say yes, some will say no. Some have no problems, some dump immediately.  This is my feeling:  If you've gone through all this trouble to have Weight Loss Surgery, why tempt yourself.  Just stay away and let your tool work for you. Don't throw a monkey wrench into the machine... What did you have to do to prep before going into the hospital? I was on a liquid diet the day before surgery with nothing to eat or drink after midnight.  I didn't have to do the "cleansing" thank goodness...since I had to drive 2 hours to the hospital. That would have made for a very interesting trip! How small is the stomach? Right out of surgery, the stomach is 2 oz.  To get an idea, that's about as big as a golf ball.  Gradually, over time it gets bigger, but it should never be as big as it was pre-op. Why so much protein? Protein does a lot for your body.  Fresh out of the hospital it's going to help you heal.  It's also going to fill you up and keep you filled up longer.  As the months go on, your body benefits from the protein...it's also a way to keep you away from the carbs. Simply put: PROTEIN = GOOD CARBS = BAD How did you get so smart and good looking? ;-} A highly developed regimen of beauty potions, alcohol, cigarettes and book learnin'. Well, no more alcohol and cigarettes....and not much book learnin' no more either. Hmm. Good question.  Why so much water? I have never, ever in my life been so conscious of how much liquid I take in on a daily basis. I have to admit that I supplement a lot of my daily 64 oz. with Crystal Light.  I'm not saying that this is the right way to do things.  I'm just saying that sometimes, I hate water and I don't want it anywhere near my lips. So there. More coming soon...