I’ve selected three great recipes from our contributor Kabuki Dancer. They are easy to prepare, picnic portable (properly chilled of course) and high-protein low-volume nutritious goodness. Enjoy them this weekend and Happy 4th of July!
Marinated Beef Salad
Garden Veggie Deviled Eggs
Jell-O Dessert
LAWLS Bookstore
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Since WLS Eating Makes Me Sleepy. Why?
Have you noticed since your WLS and return to regular eating a meal often causes you to become sleepy? Seriously sleepy. Drop your head in your plate sleepy.
This happens to me all the time. And there’s a good reason for it. When we eat the body produces a rise in blood sugar and a surge in insulin production. This chemical activity sends tryptophan to the brain where it becomes serotonin that signals the body “Take a nap!” Here come the nods, the yawns and the blinking eyes. WLS patients are highly susceptible to post meal sleepiness because of the shortened route to the small intestine. From there the tryptophan has a fast ride to the brain shouting almost like Paul Revere “The Sleepies are coming! The Sleepies are coming!”
Now, I don’t want any of you emailing my husband, but quite frequently I dramatically play the “I’m so sleepy” card and go to bed after dinner leaving him with the dishes and evening chores. (Feel free to try this at home!) In fact, he's in the kitchen now doing tonight's dishes!
This is fine for the evening meal, but what about a noonday meal? For example the business lunch. How can we socialize at our mid-day meal and not become a victim of the “Tryptophan Express” to Sleepytown?
A wise nutritional strategy for maintaining a sharp mental edge after lunch is to eat foods that give a gradual, steady release of food energy throughout the afternoon while placing only a light burden on the digestive system. Consider these strategies:
1. Emphasize healthy protein choices, like cold-water fish, beans and legumes, or a non-cream-based main dish soup or stew. Consume 60% of your volume from this group.
2. Choose a minimal serving of low-glycemic-index carbohydrates, like green salad, root vegetables in their skins, mushrooms, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, or artichoke. Consume only 20% of your food volume from this group.
3. Be sure your food choices contain healthy fats, such as cold-water fish, flaxseed oil, olive oil vinaigrette (the vinegar helps slow the release of food energy), nuts, seeds, or avocado
4. Absolutely avoid sugary, starchy, or fatty foods like soft drinks, non-whole-grain pasta, fried foods, and rich or creamy sauces and dressings
5. Skip dessert.
Rest assured, (pun intended) by making wise food choices we can be alert, responsive and LivingAfterWLS! Just say no to the Sleepies by making wholesome healthy food choices.
Nighty-night!
Kaye
This happens to me all the time. And there’s a good reason for it. When we eat the body produces a rise in blood sugar and a surge in insulin production. This chemical activity sends tryptophan to the brain where it becomes serotonin that signals the body “Take a nap!” Here come the nods, the yawns and the blinking eyes. WLS patients are highly susceptible to post meal sleepiness because of the shortened route to the small intestine. From there the tryptophan has a fast ride to the brain shouting almost like Paul Revere “The Sleepies are coming! The Sleepies are coming!”
Now, I don’t want any of you emailing my husband, but quite frequently I dramatically play the “I’m so sleepy” card and go to bed after dinner leaving him with the dishes and evening chores. (Feel free to try this at home!) In fact, he's in the kitchen now doing tonight's dishes!
This is fine for the evening meal, but what about a noonday meal? For example the business lunch. How can we socialize at our mid-day meal and not become a victim of the “Tryptophan Express” to Sleepytown?
A wise nutritional strategy for maintaining a sharp mental edge after lunch is to eat foods that give a gradual, steady release of food energy throughout the afternoon while placing only a light burden on the digestive system. Consider these strategies:
1. Emphasize healthy protein choices, like cold-water fish, beans and legumes, or a non-cream-based main dish soup or stew. Consume 60% of your volume from this group.
2. Choose a minimal serving of low-glycemic-index carbohydrates, like green salad, root vegetables in their skins, mushrooms, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, or artichoke. Consume only 20% of your food volume from this group.
3. Be sure your food choices contain healthy fats, such as cold-water fish, flaxseed oil, olive oil vinaigrette (the vinegar helps slow the release of food energy), nuts, seeds, or avocado
4. Absolutely avoid sugary, starchy, or fatty foods like soft drinks, non-whole-grain pasta, fried foods, and rich or creamy sauces and dressings
5. Skip dessert.
Rest assured, (pun intended) by making wise food choices we can be alert, responsive and LivingAfterWLS! Just say no to the Sleepies by making wholesome healthy food choices.
Nighty-night!
Kaye
Monday Message From Kaye
Monday, June 27, 2005
Welcome Back from the weekend everyone! And to the many new subscribers who jumped aboard the LivingAfterWLS boat this weekend - thanks for joining us – glad to have you aboard as we try and stay afloat in the crazy world after gastric bypass.
Today I’m pleased to present Kim Stover’s article, “Tastes Like Candy” in our guest contributor column. You may remember Kim from her inspiring success story. Today she shares her quest for protein bars – Kim's article is full of information, personal experience and good dose of humor. Great way to start the week of right! Thanks Kim.
Speaking of success stories, I’d love to add yours to our site. We have many pre-op subscribers who need some inspiration and reassurance as they enter their new lives. When you're ready send your story to share with and inspire others.
Topics on deck to cover this week are:
In addition our weekly “Kabuki’s Kitchen” feature will be posted Thursday. On Friday look in your Inbox for the July edition of “You Have Arrived” our exclusive subscriber newsletter. Don’t miss it! I have an exciting new addition to the WLS community to tell you about! Subscription & Privacy Policy.
Normally on Monday I send a call-out for well wishes for community members having surgery this week. My database pulled no names, so if I’ve missed someone please let me know. In the meantime let’s all send warm thoughts to one another as we are LivingAfterWLS.
Have a Great Week,
Kaye
Welcome Back from the weekend everyone! And to the many new subscribers who jumped aboard the LivingAfterWLS boat this weekend - thanks for joining us – glad to have you aboard as we try and stay afloat in the crazy world after gastric bypass.
Today I’m pleased to present Kim Stover’s article, “Tastes Like Candy” in our guest contributor column. You may remember Kim from her inspiring success story. Today she shares her quest for protein bars – Kim's article is full of information, personal experience and good dose of humor. Great way to start the week of right! Thanks Kim.
Speaking of success stories, I’d love to add yours to our site. We have many pre-op subscribers who need some inspiration and reassurance as they enter their new lives. When you're ready send your story to share with and inspire others.
Topics on deck to cover this week are:
- Men & WLS-The Social Stigma
- A Comparative look at Post-Op Programs
- Examination of Artificial Sweeteners
In addition our weekly “Kabuki’s Kitchen” feature will be posted Thursday. On Friday look in your Inbox for the July edition of “You Have Arrived” our exclusive subscriber newsletter. Don’t miss it! I have an exciting new addition to the WLS community to tell you about! Subscription & Privacy Policy.
Normally on Monday I send a call-out for well wishes for community members having surgery this week. My database pulled no names, so if I’ve missed someone please let me know. In the meantime let’s all send warm thoughts to one another as we are LivingAfterWLS.
Have a Great Week,
Kaye
Conventional Diet Advice That Works For Us After WLS
In many cases conventional dieting wisdom simply doesn’t work for WLS patients – we’ve changed the rules. For a refreshing change take a look at what Stephen P. Gullo, PhD, President of the Institute of Health and Weight Sciences in New York City and author of Thin Tastes Better has to say. I believe you’ll find the counsel he gives his patients works well for us too:
1. Know your behaviors, not just your calories. If you find that you’re constantly regaining weight you’ve lost by abusing the same types of foods, either stop buying them or find replacements for them.
2. Remember that weight loss is about liberation, not deprivation. It’s about a change in perspective. Eat fewer calories and cut down on the amount of fat you eat in the spirit of liberating yourself from the discomfort of the pounds that you’ve been carrying instead of depriving yourself from certain foods.
3. Don’t forget that being thin is a life management skill. It’s normal to experience setbacks and periods of feeling defeated. But in the future, when you turn 40 or 50 or 60 at a healthy weight, it won’t be by accident, because aging well is not an accident. It’s the gift that those who care deeply give to themselves. It will be because you planned and honed your skills at weight management.
WOW! This is a must-print post and a read it soon book! Thanks, Dr. Gullo, for your insight. (Quoted from “Prevention’s Ultimate Guide to Women’s Health & Wellnes” 2002, Rodale p. 94).
1. Know your behaviors, not just your calories. If you find that you’re constantly regaining weight you’ve lost by abusing the same types of foods, either stop buying them or find replacements for them.
2. Remember that weight loss is about liberation, not deprivation. It’s about a change in perspective. Eat fewer calories and cut down on the amount of fat you eat in the spirit of liberating yourself from the discomfort of the pounds that you’ve been carrying instead of depriving yourself from certain foods.
3. Don’t forget that being thin is a life management skill. It’s normal to experience setbacks and periods of feeling defeated. But in the future, when you turn 40 or 50 or 60 at a healthy weight, it won’t be by accident, because aging well is not an accident. It’s the gift that those who care deeply give to themselves. It will be because you planned and honed your skills at weight management.
WOW! This is a must-print post and a read it soon book! Thanks, Dr. Gullo, for your insight. (Quoted from “Prevention’s Ultimate Guide to Women’s Health & Wellnes” 2002, Rodale p. 94).
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Got Food Cravings?
Try a Little Exercise
Studies show that while you work out the body suppresses digestion and release glucose and fatty acids into the bloodstream for energy. This prevents a person from feeling hungry. In fact, after exercise you won’t feel (physiologically) hungry until your body reaches a state of rest and energy fuels are back in storage. If you find yourself hungry from boredom get up, take a walk, move, stretch & bend. Physiologically you’ll curb your appetite, and hopefully that will help with the “head hunger” too.
Give it a try – can’t hurt!
Give it a try – can’t hurt!
“Tastes Just Like Candy!”
My Affair with Protein Bars
by Guest Contributor Kim Stover
Mmm…tastes just like candy! Well, sort of. This was my reaction when introduced to my first taste of a protein bar. The WLS pre-op support group that I was involved with held a “Protein Potluck”. Everyone needed to bring some form of high protein supplement. There were ready-to-drink shakes, powders, bars and some homemade goodies as well. This was the best meeting yet! I was still pre-op, so quantity consumed was a non-issue.
I started in on the left side of the table and worked my way to the right…sort of like an all you can eat buffet. At 373 pounds, I was exhausted by the time I got done working the line. Now I had to scope out the armless chair in the room. Found it! I plopped myself down and started in on all of my samples. Some bars were chewy, some chocolaty, some crunchy. The shakes were chalky, thick, gritty or just plain icky.
The homemade goodies were good, but I’m a good cook and have made better deviled eggs in my own kitchen. Okay, back to the bars. As I started in on these little bites of “candy”, I thought to myself…recovery will be a breeze if I get to eat these all day long. Perhaps not. After consuming what was on my plate, I went back for seconds. Then thirds. Okay, I’ll admit it; I probably ate a pound of the darned things by the time the meeting was over. And I suffered from the excessive consumption of sugar alcohol shortly after the meeting. Let’s just say that I didn’t make it home in comfort.
Lesson one. Protein bars have many components. First and foremost being protein. Protein is a gastric bypass patient’s best friend. Second, they also contain either sugar or sugar alcohol. Third, most of them are vitamin packed and some even contain fiber.
Lesson two: Learn and understand what your own body needs and can tolerate.
One of the MANY rules that my bariatric nurse set for me was that I was to only eat three meals a day. The only thing that I could snack on in between meals was protein bars with less than 5 grams of sugar. No limits. Her theory was that nobody ever binges on these low sugar protein bars. She was correct in her theory. Usually by the last bite I’m glad to toss the wrapper in the trash. They satisfy me and assist me in getting the much needed protein that I need on a daily basis. Right after surgery, I survived on protein shakes. As soon as I was on solids, I made the switch to the bars and have had them for a snack every day for a year and a half.
There are hundreds of protein bars out there on the market. If you follow the “less than 5 grams of sugar” rule, it narrows down the playing field of choices. I had the benefit of a protein potluck to do my sampling, but since there seems to be a new bar on the market every other day, I’ve done some shopping and studying on my own. I went to my local health food place and stood in front of the wall of bars that were on display and read the fine print on buckets of bars.
It is important to know how much sugar alcohol you can tolerate. I know that the most that I can stomach is 12 grams.
So now I’ve narrowed down my choices quite a bit. Some of those bars have 25 grams of sugar alcohol! A person with a normal stomach and gut would have a hard time handling that much sugar alcohol in one sitting. Usually the bars with gooey caramel stuff are the ones that are packed with the sugar alcohol. I also like to stay away from trans fats. These are bad, as we have all heard. My final criteria is the source of protein. I prefer whey protein over soy protein. I’ve read that whey is a higher quality protein source. Soy can end up causing gas and I try to stay away from anything that causes me to be any gassier than I already am! I don’t look at calories, fat or sodium. You might want to, but to me these are less important at this time in my weight loss progression.
At this point in the sampling game, I can see that I’ve got about 8 different brands and flavors in my basket which I take up to the checkout. Most of these bars run about two dollars a piece, so it is going to be a small initial investment to run your own potluck. Are you worth it? You bet you are! Once you find which bar works best for you, I highly suggest shopping around the internet to find better prices.
The one thing that I’ve learned with the online shopping is to ask what the expiration date is on the bar. I discovered this when a box of Atkin’s bars that retails at my local Trader Joe’s for $27 was selling online for $12. I bought 5 boxes since it was such a great deal. When they arrived at my house, I discovered that they were going to expire in two weeks. Lesson learned. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is a short coded product.
There isn’t any perfect protein bar. It’s all a matter of personal preference, so get out there and do some sample shopping. But don’t over do it on the sampling when you get home…just cut off little pieces to taste and if you like that particular bar, drop it in a Ziploc baggie and save the rest for your next snack. If you gag when you try one, throw it away and write it down as being a “never buy it again” so that you don’t forget. I have three of four that I really enjoy. I have yet to binge on them and I have satisfied my protein needs every day since my surgery.
Happy sampling!
Kim Stover
LivingAfterWLS Guest Contributor
© 2005 Kim Stover - All Rights Reserved
I started in on the left side of the table and worked my way to the right…sort of like an all you can eat buffet. At 373 pounds, I was exhausted by the time I got done working the line. Now I had to scope out the armless chair in the room. Found it! I plopped myself down and started in on all of my samples. Some bars were chewy, some chocolaty, some crunchy. The shakes were chalky, thick, gritty or just plain icky.
The homemade goodies were good, but I’m a good cook and have made better deviled eggs in my own kitchen. Okay, back to the bars. As I started in on these little bites of “candy”, I thought to myself…recovery will be a breeze if I get to eat these all day long. Perhaps not. After consuming what was on my plate, I went back for seconds. Then thirds. Okay, I’ll admit it; I probably ate a pound of the darned things by the time the meeting was over. And I suffered from the excessive consumption of sugar alcohol shortly after the meeting. Let’s just say that I didn’t make it home in comfort.
Lesson one. Protein bars have many components. First and foremost being protein. Protein is a gastric bypass patient’s best friend. Second, they also contain either sugar or sugar alcohol. Third, most of them are vitamin packed and some even contain fiber.
Lesson two: Learn and understand what your own body needs and can tolerate.
One of the MANY rules that my bariatric nurse set for me was that I was to only eat three meals a day. The only thing that I could snack on in between meals was protein bars with less than 5 grams of sugar. No limits. Her theory was that nobody ever binges on these low sugar protein bars. She was correct in her theory. Usually by the last bite I’m glad to toss the wrapper in the trash. They satisfy me and assist me in getting the much needed protein that I need on a daily basis. Right after surgery, I survived on protein shakes. As soon as I was on solids, I made the switch to the bars and have had them for a snack every day for a year and a half.
There are hundreds of protein bars out there on the market. If you follow the “less than 5 grams of sugar” rule, it narrows down the playing field of choices. I had the benefit of a protein potluck to do my sampling, but since there seems to be a new bar on the market every other day, I’ve done some shopping and studying on my own. I went to my local health food place and stood in front of the wall of bars that were on display and read the fine print on buckets of bars.
It is important to know how much sugar alcohol you can tolerate. I know that the most that I can stomach is 12 grams.
So now I’ve narrowed down my choices quite a bit. Some of those bars have 25 grams of sugar alcohol! A person with a normal stomach and gut would have a hard time handling that much sugar alcohol in one sitting. Usually the bars with gooey caramel stuff are the ones that are packed with the sugar alcohol. I also like to stay away from trans fats. These are bad, as we have all heard. My final criteria is the source of protein. I prefer whey protein over soy protein. I’ve read that whey is a higher quality protein source. Soy can end up causing gas and I try to stay away from anything that causes me to be any gassier than I already am! I don’t look at calories, fat or sodium. You might want to, but to me these are less important at this time in my weight loss progression.
At this point in the sampling game, I can see that I’ve got about 8 different brands and flavors in my basket which I take up to the checkout. Most of these bars run about two dollars a piece, so it is going to be a small initial investment to run your own potluck. Are you worth it? You bet you are! Once you find which bar works best for you, I highly suggest shopping around the internet to find better prices.
The one thing that I’ve learned with the online shopping is to ask what the expiration date is on the bar. I discovered this when a box of Atkin’s bars that retails at my local Trader Joe’s for $27 was selling online for $12. I bought 5 boxes since it was such a great deal. When they arrived at my house, I discovered that they were going to expire in two weeks. Lesson learned. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is a short coded product.
There isn’t any perfect protein bar. It’s all a matter of personal preference, so get out there and do some sample shopping. But don’t over do it on the sampling when you get home…just cut off little pieces to taste and if you like that particular bar, drop it in a Ziploc baggie and save the rest for your next snack. If you gag when you try one, throw it away and write it down as being a “never buy it again” so that you don’t forget. I have three of four that I really enjoy. I have yet to binge on them and I have satisfied my protein needs every day since my surgery.
Happy sampling!
Kim Stover
LivingAfterWLS Guest Contributor
© 2005 Kim Stover - All Rights Reserved
Saturday, June 25, 2005
After Surgery: What’s Your Incentive?
We have several brand-new post-ops visiting this site regularly. A few of them have written to ask, “How do you deal with the loss of food?”
Do you remember the first few weeks out of surgery when all you could eat was Jell-O or protein shakes or broth or whatever your center recommended that was bland? During the post-op healing phase most of us didn’t feel well enough to do anything and so it was easy to focus on the foods we loved but were now divorced from.
How did you distract your thoughts from food? Here are a few suggestions, why not add a few of your own strategies and let’s help our “Newbies” get past this stage!
Add your suggestions by clicking the comments link! Thanks, Kaye.
Do you remember the first few weeks out of surgery when all you could eat was Jell-O or protein shakes or broth or whatever your center recommended that was bland? During the post-op healing phase most of us didn’t feel well enough to do anything and so it was easy to focus on the foods we loved but were now divorced from.
How did you distract your thoughts from food? Here are a few suggestions, why not add a few of your own strategies and let’s help our “Newbies” get past this stage!
- Read fashion magazines and daydream about your new body in the season’s latest fashions.
- Practice accepting compliments graciously so you are ready when the cheers start coming your way.
- Read a book about nutrition so you are well informed and ready to take care of your new body.
- Visit gyms in your area, meet trainers and consider how you are going to exercise the minute you get released.
- Read the LivingAfterWLS websites for information & inspiration. (Ok, so I had to plug my own site – SMILING!)
- Network with other WLS people and share your common experience.
- Begin a journal of your weight loss experience. Be sure to include statistics like weight, BMI and measurements.
- Begin your walking program – most patients are instructed to start walking the day after surgery.
- Enjoy yourself! This bland phase of eating is the start of your brand new life.
Add your suggestions by clicking the comments link! Thanks, Kaye.
Reminder: Calcium
Have you taken your supplement today?
Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets; the average daily intake is 500 milligrams shy of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams.
Gastric bypass patients are even more unlikely to intake adequate dietary calcium and without supplementation they may become calcium deficient which ultimately results in osteoporosis. Weight loss surgery patients are limited by the volume of calcium rich foods they may consume. In addition, the malabsorption issue resulting from gastric bypass presents another problem. Since the bowel does not readily absorb calcium and the stomach is drastically shortened there is limited opportunity for the calcium to be absorbed in the body.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body – we have two or three pounds of it, most of which is located in the bones and teeth. In addition to building bones and teeth, calcium is an electrolyte required for transmitting nerve signals, water balance, acid/alkaline balance and maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps the blood to clot and is necessary for the heart muscle function. It’s long been known that calcium will aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, but new studies are identifying calcium for it’s anticancer actions within the colon.
Most dietary calcium comes from dairy products but can also be found in sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables and tofu. The National Academy of Sciences has raised the calcium guideline to 1,000 milligrams a day for people under 51, and to 1,200-1,500 milligrams a day for people over 51.
Gastric bypass patients can do three things to better assimilate calcium in the
body:
First, take a chewable calcium supplement twice daily.
Second, exercise consistently.
Third, enjoy sunshine every day.
Chewable supplements taken twice daily will more rapidly dissolve and assimilate into the body than hard pills. They should be 500 milligrams each; the body cannot absorb more than 500 milligrams at a time. The best supplements are calcium citrate, calcium carbonate and calcium lactate. Some nutritionists believe that calcium citrate is the only acceptable supplemental option for gastric bypass patients, however opinions vary among bariatric centers. Some centers also recommend new post-op patients take chewable antacids with calcium in the first month following surgery.
Our LivingAfterWLS affiliate, Puritan's Pride, carries a variety of calcium supplements that are gastric bypass friendly. I've been taking the chewable calcium, 500mg, twice daily since surgery and my calcium stats and bone health are very good. Here is the link to Puritan's Pride calcium products:
Next, studies show that people who exercise regularly better assimilate calcium into the body than sedentary individuals. Even though US Astronauts take calcium supplements in orbit, they return to Earth calcium deficient; NASA believes lack of physical activity prevents their bodies from assimilating the calcium.
Finally, get some sunshine. Twenty minutes a day of direct or indirect sunlight will give the body plenty of natural vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, which is necessary for calcium assimilation.
Doing these three things will make you feel great today and will contribute to healthier aging. Osteoporosis is an epidemic in this country and is directly attributed to calcium deficiency. We all know that when an elderly person falls and breaks a hip death is imminent. Osteoporosis is nearly always the reason why hipbones break when older people fall. In the case of osteoporosis there is nothing the body can do to defend itself from the loss of calcium associated with aging. Supplementation is necessary throughout adulthood to prevent chronic calcium deficiency.
Get Low Prices & Quality Vitamins@Puritan's Pride®
Gastric bypass patients are even more unlikely to intake adequate dietary calcium and without supplementation they may become calcium deficient which ultimately results in osteoporosis. Weight loss surgery patients are limited by the volume of calcium rich foods they may consume. In addition, the malabsorption issue resulting from gastric bypass presents another problem. Since the bowel does not readily absorb calcium and the stomach is drastically shortened there is limited opportunity for the calcium to be absorbed in the body.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body – we have two or three pounds of it, most of which is located in the bones and teeth. In addition to building bones and teeth, calcium is an electrolyte required for transmitting nerve signals, water balance, acid/alkaline balance and maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps the blood to clot and is necessary for the heart muscle function. It’s long been known that calcium will aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, but new studies are identifying calcium for it’s anticancer actions within the colon.
Most dietary calcium comes from dairy products but can also be found in sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables and tofu. The National Academy of Sciences has raised the calcium guideline to 1,000 milligrams a day for people under 51, and to 1,200-1,500 milligrams a day for people over 51.
Gastric bypass patients can do three things to better assimilate calcium in the
body:
First, take a chewable calcium supplement twice daily.
Second, exercise consistently.
Third, enjoy sunshine every day.
Chewable supplements taken twice daily will more rapidly dissolve and assimilate into the body than hard pills. They should be 500 milligrams each; the body cannot absorb more than 500 milligrams at a time. The best supplements are calcium citrate, calcium carbonate and calcium lactate. Some nutritionists believe that calcium citrate is the only acceptable supplemental option for gastric bypass patients, however opinions vary among bariatric centers. Some centers also recommend new post-op patients take chewable antacids with calcium in the first month following surgery.
Our LivingAfterWLS affiliate, Puritan's Pride, carries a variety of calcium supplements that are gastric bypass friendly. I've been taking the chewable calcium, 500mg, twice daily since surgery and my calcium stats and bone health are very good. Here is the link to Puritan's Pride calcium products:
Puritan's Pride Calcium Products
Next, studies show that people who exercise regularly better assimilate calcium into the body than sedentary individuals. Even though US Astronauts take calcium supplements in orbit, they return to Earth calcium deficient; NASA believes lack of physical activity prevents their bodies from assimilating the calcium.
Finally, get some sunshine. Twenty minutes a day of direct or indirect sunlight will give the body plenty of natural vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, which is necessary for calcium assimilation.
Doing these three things will make you feel great today and will contribute to healthier aging. Osteoporosis is an epidemic in this country and is directly attributed to calcium deficiency. We all know that when an elderly person falls and breaks a hip death is imminent. Osteoporosis is nearly always the reason why hipbones break when older people fall. In the case of osteoporosis there is nothing the body can do to defend itself from the loss of calcium associated with aging. Supplementation is necessary throughout adulthood to prevent chronic calcium deficiency.
Get Low Prices & Quality Vitamins@Puritan's Pride®
Friday, June 24, 2005
Rumbly-Tumbly-Talking
Why the Inactive Stomach Growls
If you’ve been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you will know exactly what I’m talking about. That rumbly-tumbly stomach growl that’s more bark than bite. It’s the inactive tummy talking, the lower part of the stomach that was bypassed. And it growls at the oddest moments seldom accompanied by hunger pains. My inactive tummy is particularly talkative at bedtime, I think it remembers the refrigerator front bedtime binges from my previously life.
Remember the surgical diagrams you studied before surgery: a tiny stomach portion we call the pouch was separated from a larger portion, which is the inactive or bypassed stomach. In the gastric bypass procedure the stomach is left in place with blood supply – it is still and active organ yet no longer a reservoir for food. In some cases it may shrink slightly and the muscles may atrophy, but for the most part it remains unchanged. In fact, the “inactive” tummy is quite active. The inactive tummy is an around-the-clock chemical factory keeping your body in balance.
And for all it’s hard work what do we do? We don’t feed it. No wonder it’s talking!
The lower stomach still contributes to the function of the intestines even though it does not receive or process food - it makes intrinsic factor, necessary to absorb Vitamin B12 and contributes to hormone balance and motility of the intestines in ways that are not entirely known. So when you hear that rumbly-tumbly stomach growl you can smile happily knowing your body is hard at work keeping you chemically healthy and well.
Does your inactive tummy talk? Can you feel the difference from when your pouch talks vs. the inactive tummy? Ever been embarrassed by a tummy-growl? Click Today’s Topic and share your thoughts.
Remember the surgical diagrams you studied before surgery: a tiny stomach portion we call the pouch was separated from a larger portion, which is the inactive or bypassed stomach. In the gastric bypass procedure the stomach is left in place with blood supply – it is still and active organ yet no longer a reservoir for food. In some cases it may shrink slightly and the muscles may atrophy, but for the most part it remains unchanged. In fact, the “inactive” tummy is quite active. The inactive tummy is an around-the-clock chemical factory keeping your body in balance.
And for all it’s hard work what do we do? We don’t feed it. No wonder it’s talking!
The lower stomach still contributes to the function of the intestines even though it does not receive or process food - it makes intrinsic factor, necessary to absorb Vitamin B12 and contributes to hormone balance and motility of the intestines in ways that are not entirely known. So when you hear that rumbly-tumbly stomach growl you can smile happily knowing your body is hard at work keeping you chemically healthy and well.
Does your inactive tummy talk? Can you feel the difference from when your pouch talks vs. the inactive tummy? Ever been embarrassed by a tummy-growl? Click Today’s Topic and share your thoughts.
Great Responses: Snacking: Fear & Greed
We’ve had some great responses to the “Snacking: Fear & Greed” message thread we started last Friday. Take time to click over and read some very insightful thoughts. Be sure to add your own ideas as we continue learning about living after weight loss surgery.
Thanks,
Kaye
Link to the original article.
Thanks,
Kaye
Link to the original article.
Published Today:
You Have Arrived Independence Day Issue
Our third edition of “You Have Arrived” the LivingAfterWLS newsletter was delivered to inboxes today. This subscriber’s only special Independence Day issue includes three WLS friendly menus for celebrating our country’s independence. Enjoy!
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Thursday, June 23, 2005
Kabuki’s Kitchen:
Romantic Anniversary Dinner
Today is Thursday, which brings our weekly feature Kabuki’s Kitchen – thoughtful WLS specific recipes from our contributor Kabuki Dancer. Tomorrow is Kabuki’s 27th wedding anniversary and I’m confident she and her beloved will celebrate many happy memories and toast to many good years to follow. Read what Kabuki wrote about relationships and her marriage:
Happy Anniversary Kabuki Dancer!
Today I present two special occasion recipes from Kabuki’s Kitchen, a main dish and a dessert. I belive they will pair well to create a satisfying romantic anniversary dinner. Enjoy!
Curried Chicken and Nectarines
Carrot Cake Muffins
“You know the key to a good relation is communication and realizing that intimacy does not begin in the bedroom but in the sharing and talking and doing for each other, way before one takes one's clothing comes off for the big sex act. It should be a culmination, rather than an end of itself. Loving someone is not just a feeling but an action. And only by actions can one really show love. Feelings remain in the giver's head but it is in the actions that true giving takes place. Love is wanting the best for your beloved. There is no defense for higher love than to just keep loving. Liking your mate helps a lot too---I am smiling. We met when I was 17 and he was 21. We waited till we were both out of college and then married 6 weeks later. We celebrate 27 years next Friday. The time has flown and yesterdays have become memories. Marrying him was my pivotal hinge moment in my life and I believe his also. He is a good person and he cannot help being a perennial "normie" slim man. hmmmm!!!”
Happy Anniversary Kabuki Dancer!
Today I present two special occasion recipes from Kabuki’s Kitchen, a main dish and a dessert. I belive they will pair well to create a satisfying romantic anniversary dinner. Enjoy!
Curried Chicken and Nectarines
Carrot Cake Muffins
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Suffering From Gas & Bloating?
Sugar Alcohol May be to Blame
Sugar intake is a real concern for people who’ve had gastric bypass, in fact most patients fear sugar. The foremost fear isn’t weight gain, it’s dumping. Foods containing sugar pass too quickly through the small pouch, they are rapidly absorbed and cause insulin levels to drop resulting in dumping.
Very unpleasant. Instead of taking chances with sugar many of us reach for “sugar free” sweets or diabetic candy to satisfy our sweet tooth. Many of these products contain sugar alcohol, a natural sweetener derived from fruits and berries. Unlike artificial sweeteners that contain no calories, sugar alcohol has about half the calories of sugar. Diabetics are able to have food with sugar alcohol because it’s converted more slowly to glucose and require very little insulin to be metabolized.
While sugar alcohols are low in calories and slow to convert to glucose, the down side is they can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. I learned this the hard way. One day that devil we call temptation seduced me into buying a bag of sugar-free jelly beans. Jelly beans are dangerous because they are little bites of soft food which means a gastric bypass patient can eat too much volume. I ate the entire bag in about an hour (true confessions of the closet snacker). I soon became uncomfortable with a small tummy ache. The tummy ache turned to bloating, cramping and gas. Extreme cases of all three symptoms. Painful “take me to the hospital I think I’m gonna explode” symptoms. It took a couple of days for my body to return to normal, a couple of stressful and uncomfortable days.
The jelly beans I ate contained Mannitol, a common sugar alcohol extracted from seaweed. I know they contained Mannitol because I read the package mid-way through the crisis. The package contained this warning, “Warning: excessive consumption can cause a laxative effect” Fine time to be reading labels I told myself! Mannitol is found naturally in pineapples, olives, asparagus, sweet potatoes and carrots. It’s about 60% as sweet as sugar, so more product is needed to replicate the sweetness of sugar. “Mannitol lingers in the intestines for a long time and therefore causes bloating and diarrhea.” Yup! That’s exactly what happens all right.
What other names are sugar alcohols called?
From the Yale-New Have Hospital Health Advisor here’s a list of common sugar alcohols:
Sorbitol is found naturally in fruits and vegetables. It is manufactured from corn syrup. Sorbitol has only 50 percent of the relative sweetness of sugar which means twice as much must be used to deliver a similar amount of sweetness to a product. It has less of a tendency to cause diarrhea compared to mannitol. It is often an ingredient in sugar-free gums and candies.
Xylitol is also called “wood sugar” and occurs naturally in straw, corncobs, fruit, vegetables, cereals, mushrooms and some cereals. Xylitol has the same relative sweetness as sugar. It is found in chewing gums.
Lactitol has about 30-40 percent of sugar's sweetening power, but its taste and solubility profile resembles sugar so it is often found in sugar-free ice cream, chocolate, hard and soft candies, baked goods, sugar-reduced preserves and chewing gums.
Isomalt is 45 - 65 percent as sweet as sugar and does not tend to lose its sweetness or break down during the heating process. Isomalt absorbs little water, so it is often used in hard candies, toffee, cough drops and lollipops.
Maltitol is 75 percent as sweet as sugar. It is used in sugar-free hard candies, chewing gum, chocolate-flavored desserts, baked goods and ice cream because it gives a creamy texture to foods.
Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH) are produced by the partial hydrolysis of corn. HSH are nutritive sweeteners that provide 40 - 90 percent of the sweetness of sugar. HSH do not crystallize and are used extensively in confections, baked goods and mouthwashes.
Should Gastric Bypass Patients indulge their sweet tooth with sugar alcohol?
The American Diabetes Association claims that sugar alcohols are acceptable in a moderate amount but should not be eaten in excess. In addition, weight gain has been seen when these products are overeaten. Personally, I’m not dipping my sticky fingers into sugar-free candy again. For gastric bypass patients generally the key, as in all eating, must be moderation, not a full bag of jelly beans. And of course, we can always rely on the old advice of conventional dieters, “Hungry for something sweet? Reach for a piece of fruit.”
Good luck with your sweet tooth!
Have you had experience with products containing sugar alcohol? Post your story to Today’s Topic!
Very unpleasant. Instead of taking chances with sugar many of us reach for “sugar free” sweets or diabetic candy to satisfy our sweet tooth. Many of these products contain sugar alcohol, a natural sweetener derived from fruits and berries. Unlike artificial sweeteners that contain no calories, sugar alcohol has about half the calories of sugar. Diabetics are able to have food with sugar alcohol because it’s converted more slowly to glucose and require very little insulin to be metabolized.
While sugar alcohols are low in calories and slow to convert to glucose, the down side is they can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. I learned this the hard way. One day that devil we call temptation seduced me into buying a bag of sugar-free jelly beans. Jelly beans are dangerous because they are little bites of soft food which means a gastric bypass patient can eat too much volume. I ate the entire bag in about an hour (true confessions of the closet snacker). I soon became uncomfortable with a small tummy ache. The tummy ache turned to bloating, cramping and gas. Extreme cases of all three symptoms. Painful “take me to the hospital I think I’m gonna explode” symptoms. It took a couple of days for my body to return to normal, a couple of stressful and uncomfortable days.
The jelly beans I ate contained Mannitol, a common sugar alcohol extracted from seaweed. I know they contained Mannitol because I read the package mid-way through the crisis. The package contained this warning, “Warning: excessive consumption can cause a laxative effect” Fine time to be reading labels I told myself! Mannitol is found naturally in pineapples, olives, asparagus, sweet potatoes and carrots. It’s about 60% as sweet as sugar, so more product is needed to replicate the sweetness of sugar. “Mannitol lingers in the intestines for a long time and therefore causes bloating and diarrhea.” Yup! That’s exactly what happens all right.
What other names are sugar alcohols called?
From the Yale-New Have Hospital Health Advisor here’s a list of common sugar alcohols:
Sorbitol is found naturally in fruits and vegetables. It is manufactured from corn syrup. Sorbitol has only 50 percent of the relative sweetness of sugar which means twice as much must be used to deliver a similar amount of sweetness to a product. It has less of a tendency to cause diarrhea compared to mannitol. It is often an ingredient in sugar-free gums and candies.
Xylitol is also called “wood sugar” and occurs naturally in straw, corncobs, fruit, vegetables, cereals, mushrooms and some cereals. Xylitol has the same relative sweetness as sugar. It is found in chewing gums.
Lactitol has about 30-40 percent of sugar's sweetening power, but its taste and solubility profile resembles sugar so it is often found in sugar-free ice cream, chocolate, hard and soft candies, baked goods, sugar-reduced preserves and chewing gums.
Isomalt is 45 - 65 percent as sweet as sugar and does not tend to lose its sweetness or break down during the heating process. Isomalt absorbs little water, so it is often used in hard candies, toffee, cough drops and lollipops.
Maltitol is 75 percent as sweet as sugar. It is used in sugar-free hard candies, chewing gum, chocolate-flavored desserts, baked goods and ice cream because it gives a creamy texture to foods.
Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH) are produced by the partial hydrolysis of corn. HSH are nutritive sweeteners that provide 40 - 90 percent of the sweetness of sugar. HSH do not crystallize and are used extensively in confections, baked goods and mouthwashes.
Should Gastric Bypass Patients indulge their sweet tooth with sugar alcohol?
The American Diabetes Association claims that sugar alcohols are acceptable in a moderate amount but should not be eaten in excess. In addition, weight gain has been seen when these products are overeaten. Personally, I’m not dipping my sticky fingers into sugar-free candy again. For gastric bypass patients generally the key, as in all eating, must be moderation, not a full bag of jelly beans. And of course, we can always rely on the old advice of conventional dieters, “Hungry for something sweet? Reach for a piece of fruit.”
Good luck with your sweet tooth!
Have you had experience with products containing sugar alcohol? Post your story to Today’s Topic!
Special Edition "You Have Arrived"
Coming Friday to Inboxes!
The next special edition of LivingAfterWLS newsletter "You Have Arrived" will be delivered to inboxes Friday, June 24. This Independence Day special features three WLS specific menus for summer celebrations including Summer Holiday Brunch, Picnic/Barbecue and Romantic Dinner for Two. Also a special essay, "Let Freedom Ring". Don't miss it! Subscribe today.
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What’s for Dinner: Kaye’s Swedish Meatballs
Here’s a great recipe for meatballs using ground turkey and pork with the added nutrients from yogurt. Complete the meal with steamed broccoli or carrots – it’s quite satisfying and there’s no need to include a starch. Enjoy!
LivingAfterWLS
Our Vision, Our Future
Lately I’ve been studying “how-to build a web community” because that is the long range plan for LivingAfterWLS. In my studies I read it is important to keep the audience, you my loyal readers, informed about future plans. I sent a newsletter earlier this week to the subscriber list, but if you are new and didn’t see the email here’s a little summary of where the site is going.
We say it all the time, "WLS is only a tool." Lots of times we resign ourselves to thinking it’s the ONLY tool we have in weight loss and weight maintenance. But actually, our best chance for long-term success is when we use many tools including the support of our family and friends, the counsel and support of our bariatric centers, and the involvement of our primary care physician and mental health community.
It is my goal and dream that LivingAfterWLS will become a multi-purpose tool in the on-going battle against obesity, against self-loathing and against self-sabotage. It will also become a source of celebration and validation one with another. It will be a place for bonding because we are all in this together. While the site may seem young and crude at the moment I anticipate it becoming a full-fledged community by early 2006.
- LivingAfterWLS Vision:
To provide an online safe haven community where members can support, interact and celebrate one with another in this LivingAfterWLS life. The community will include:
Public forums
Personal messaging
Public and/or private journalizing
On-line chats
Private and/or public profiles
A comprehensive food/nutrition database whereby members can track caloric intake, protein and nutrient intake
A vitamin minder to ensure we are taking the vitamins we need for health/wellness
An exercise diary for tracking calories burned, sets/reps and overall exercise progress
A health diary to record vital statistics including blood pressure, Diabetes readings and annual blood test results
A comprehensive library of WLS specific articles, links and resources
A national directory of WLS Centers and Support groups
A news source for up-to-the-minute information regarding obesity, weight loss surgery and general health
A collection of WLS Success Stories
A database of WLS specific recipes and products
Health and fitness calculators
It is my hope, my dream, my passion that LivingAfterWLS becomes one of the tools you use to succeed in this, your new life. So, that’s where we are headed. Thanks for joining me early in the process, I’m glad each and everyone of you are here.
If you have an idea for something you’d like to see in the emerging LivingAfterWLS community please send me a note. I will be taking a rough plan to the web developers next month and would love to include your ideas/suggestions.
Thanks again & Happy LivingAfterWLS!
Kaye
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
We're Affiliated: Puritian's Pride Quality Vitamins
I am pleased to announce LivingAfterWLS has affiliated with Puritan’s Pride Quality Vitamins. This is exciting for two reasons:
First, I have been taking Puritan’s Pride vitamins since my gastric bypass in 1999. My husband has taken Puritan’s Pride vitamins exclusively for many years. Prices are reasonable (Check out the Buy 1 Get 2 Free Sale) and service is consistently efficient. I am a believer in the Puritan’s Pride product and attribute my state of balanced nutrition in part to my Puritan’s Pride supplements. For quality, consistency and value you can’t beat Puritan’s Pride.
Secondly, an affiliation with Puritan’s Pride will generate revenue for the site which will support continued growth as we expand our community into a full-fledged interactive community tool for living after weight loss surgery.
When it’s appropriate I’ll link to Puritan’s Pride products that I know are effective nutritional supplementation after gastric bypass. Be assured I will only recommend products in which I have personal knowledge and faith. Please link through the site and give Puritan’s Pride a try. I think you will be quite pleased.
Best Wishes,
Kaye
First, I have been taking Puritan’s Pride vitamins since my gastric bypass in 1999. My husband has taken Puritan’s Pride vitamins exclusively for many years. Prices are reasonable (Check out the Buy 1 Get 2 Free Sale) and service is consistently efficient. I am a believer in the Puritan’s Pride product and attribute my state of balanced nutrition in part to my Puritan’s Pride supplements. For quality, consistency and value you can’t beat Puritan’s Pride.
Secondly, an affiliation with Puritan’s Pride will generate revenue for the site which will support continued growth as we expand our community into a full-fledged interactive community tool for living after weight loss surgery.
When it’s appropriate I’ll link to Puritan’s Pride products that I know are effective nutritional supplementation after gastric bypass. Be assured I will only recommend products in which I have personal knowledge and faith. Please link through the site and give Puritan’s Pride a try. I think you will be quite pleased.
Best Wishes,
Kaye
Summer At Last!
Celebrating the Longest Day of the Year
As some of you know I live high in the Rocky Mountains on a country ranch with my husband. It’s a beautiful place and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else, although I think I’m a city girl at heart. The high mountain winters are long here sometimes lasting 13 months out of the year! For that reason today’s Summer Solstice is cause for celebration at our home.
I love the legends and lore associated with this time of year. As quoted from “The Longest Day: Traditions for the Summer Solstice By Virginia Johnson “June has long been associated with marriages, and much midsummer lore has arisen from the greening time. The act of silently gathering nine kinds of flowers and placing them under a pillow is supposed to reveal in dreams the identity of the person to be wed. The honeymoon to follow was originally a time when the newly-weds would share foods prepared with honey so that their lives together might be sweet.”
I hope to spend some time in the gardens perhaps collecting some magical flowers and herbs. Ms. Johnson writes, “Herbs and flowers harvested on Midsummer Day were believed to have magical qualities. Specially gathered fern seed was believed to make people invisible and guide them to buried treasure, and wreaths and garlands of flowers were created to bring health to households and ward off evil.”
In the past my husband and I have hosted great feasts, in the Nordic tradition, to celebrate Midsummer Day. This year we’ll celebrate with a romantic evening, cooking dinner on the grill and enjoying every last drop of warm sunlight until darkness falls and stars twinkle in the sky.
Whatever you do today, please take time to celebrate. Celebrate summer, celebrate your health and celebrate all that is right in your world.
Best wishes,
Kaye
I love the legends and lore associated with this time of year. As quoted from “The Longest Day: Traditions for the Summer Solstice By Virginia Johnson “June has long been associated with marriages, and much midsummer lore has arisen from the greening time. The act of silently gathering nine kinds of flowers and placing them under a pillow is supposed to reveal in dreams the identity of the person to be wed. The honeymoon to follow was originally a time when the newly-weds would share foods prepared with honey so that their lives together might be sweet.”
I hope to spend some time in the gardens perhaps collecting some magical flowers and herbs. Ms. Johnson writes, “Herbs and flowers harvested on Midsummer Day were believed to have magical qualities. Specially gathered fern seed was believed to make people invisible and guide them to buried treasure, and wreaths and garlands of flowers were created to bring health to households and ward off evil.”
In the past my husband and I have hosted great feasts, in the Nordic tradition, to celebrate Midsummer Day. This year we’ll celebrate with a romantic evening, cooking dinner on the grill and enjoying every last drop of warm sunlight until darkness falls and stars twinkle in the sky.
Whatever you do today, please take time to celebrate. Celebrate summer, celebrate your health and celebrate all that is right in your world.
Best wishes,
Kaye
It's A GIRL!
We have exciting news from our member, Maxine! Her daughter had a baby girl yesterday. Maxine writes,
Our happy grandma is also Elizabeth's mother, another community member who had her surgery a few weeks ago.
Please join me in heartfelt congratulations for Maxine, Elizabeth and the whole family!
"Hi Kaye..we are so estatic to learn that less than an hour ago Jen gave birth to a healthy baby girl..they named her Maya Elizabeth...and according to Eliz who was present for the delivery she is just the prettiest little thing..I am just so happy that mommy and baby are doing fine."
Our happy grandma is also Elizabeth's mother, another community member who had her surgery a few weeks ago.
Please join me in heartfelt congratulations for Maxine, Elizabeth and the whole family!
Monday, June 20, 2005
Reminder: Meal Process & Fluid Loading
Our darling reader/contributor, Kabuki Dancer, sent me a great article this morning titled “Pouch Rules for Dummies”. The article is a bit dated (1980s) but the fundamentals have not changed. It was good for me to review the “Ideal Meal Process” and “Fluid Loading” topics as I have fallen into the habit of taking fluids with meals. Take a look and consider this process against your own eating practices. Thanks Kabuki!
IDEAL MEAL PROCESS (rules of the pouch):
1. The patient must time meals five hours apart or the patient will get too hungry in between.
2. The patient needs to eat finely cut meat and raw or slightly cooked veggies with each meal.
3. The patient must eat the entire meal in 5-15 minutes. A 30-45 minute meal will cause failure.
4. No liquids for 1 ½ hours to 2 hours after each meal.
5. After 1 ½ to 2 hours, begin sipping water and over the next three hours slowly increase water intake.
6. 3 hours after last meal, begin drinking LOTS of water/fluids.
7. 15 minutes before the next meal, drink as much as possible as fast as possible. This is called “water loading.” IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN DRINKING OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS, THIS ‘WATER LOADING’ WILL NOT WORK.
8. You can water load at any time 2-3 hours before your next meal if you get hungry, which will cause a strong feeling of fullness.
FLUID LOADING
Fluid loading is drinking water/liquids as quickly as possible to fill the pouch which provides the feeling of fullness for about 15 to 25 minutes. The patient needs to gulp about 80% of his/her maximum amount of liquid in 15 to 30 SECONDS. Then just take swallows until fullness is reached. The patient will quickly learn his/her maximum tolerance, which is usually between 8-12 oz.
Fluid loading works because the roux limb of the intestine swells up, contracting and backing up any future food to come into the pouch. The pouch is very sensitive to this and the feeling of fullness will last much longer than the reality of how long the pouch was actually full. Fluid load before each meal to prevent thirst after the meal as well as to create that feeling of fullness whenever suddenly hungry before meal time.
Article written by: Mason. EE, Personal Communication, 1980. Barber. W, Diet al, Brain Stem Response To Phasic Gastric Distention. Am J. Physical 1983: 245(2): G242-8 Flanagan, L. Measurement of Functional Pouch Volume Following the Gastric Bypass Procedure. Ob Surg 1996; 6:38-43
IDEAL MEAL PROCESS (rules of the pouch):
1. The patient must time meals five hours apart or the patient will get too hungry in between.
2. The patient needs to eat finely cut meat and raw or slightly cooked veggies with each meal.
3. The patient must eat the entire meal in 5-15 minutes. A 30-45 minute meal will cause failure.
4. No liquids for 1 ½ hours to 2 hours after each meal.
5. After 1 ½ to 2 hours, begin sipping water and over the next three hours slowly increase water intake.
6. 3 hours after last meal, begin drinking LOTS of water/fluids.
7. 15 minutes before the next meal, drink as much as possible as fast as possible. This is called “water loading.” IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN DRINKING OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS, THIS ‘WATER LOADING’ WILL NOT WORK.
8. You can water load at any time 2-3 hours before your next meal if you get hungry, which will cause a strong feeling of fullness.
FLUID LOADING
Fluid loading is drinking water/liquids as quickly as possible to fill the pouch which provides the feeling of fullness for about 15 to 25 minutes. The patient needs to gulp about 80% of his/her maximum amount of liquid in 15 to 30 SECONDS. Then just take swallows until fullness is reached. The patient will quickly learn his/her maximum tolerance, which is usually between 8-12 oz.
Fluid loading works because the roux limb of the intestine swells up, contracting and backing up any future food to come into the pouch. The pouch is very sensitive to this and the feeling of fullness will last much longer than the reality of how long the pouch was actually full. Fluid load before each meal to prevent thirst after the meal as well as to create that feeling of fullness whenever suddenly hungry before meal time.
Article written by: Mason. EE, Personal Communication, 1980. Barber. W, Diet al, Brain Stem Response To Phasic Gastric Distention. Am J. Physical 1983: 245(2): G242-8 Flanagan, L. Measurement of Functional Pouch Volume Following the Gastric Bypass Procedure. Ob Surg 1996; 6:38-43
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