You can do it!

I'm 15 years post RNY. I have no resources. Haven't seen the nutritionist since pre-op and my surgeon fell off the planet. What advice have you been given by your nutritionist? I'm not sure where to begin. I've definitely begun cutting the crap and trying to break bad habits. But honestly, I'm lost.

Was anyone told the protein - carb - fat ratio and how many calories per day we "should" be consuming?

I'm new to site, but am so glad I found this group! I need all the support I can get. I'm 11 and 1/2 years out from my gastric bypass surgery. I started out at 389 and got down to 223. Then, I started dating again...eating out, drinking alcohol, etc. It's hard to say 'I can't eat there or I can't eat that' when you're trying to impress a guy...lol After all, that was why I had the surgery...I wanted to get married again. I had been divorced just over a year when I had my surgery. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to marry me the way I looked at almost 400 lbs. I gained about 10 lbs. back and leveled out there for several years. Then, I was laid off, my brand new home that I designed was foreclosed, and I ended up jobless and homeless. I lived with my daughter and family for several months until I found work out of state. My weight crept up to 270. Then, I had brain surgery which caused half my face to be paralyzed. The resulting depression and anxiety caused me to return to my high fat, high carb, pre-surgery diet and I'm not at 309. I refuse to go any higher! It's time to do something about it. My teenager grandson has lived with me for 3 years and there's been too much temptation in the kitchen. He's moved out and the bad foods are going with him! I'm going back to the high protein, low carb, diet that my surgeon told me to eat for the rest of my life.

In a previous post, someone asked about the protein/carb/fat ratio or calories our doctors had suggested. My doctor told me to eat protein...a minimum of 65 grams before I ate anything else! Once I had my 65 grams of protein, I was allowed vegetables and some fruit. A minimum amount of fat and sugar was allowed, but it was best if neither was eaten as both could trigger dumping syndrome. No soda as the carbonation would cause stomach cramps. No drinking through straws as it would cause one to swallow too much air with the beverage which would also cause stomach cramps.

Mentally, I couldn't handle the protein shakes, so I ate shrimp, eggs, ham, chicken breast, and other lean forms of protein. I also bought what I called 'protein shots' at GNC. The brand was New Whey Liquid Protein and they came in a plastic test-tube shaped container. Each container was equal to 35 grams of protein. They come in different fruit flavors. I liked the grape, orange, and punch flavors the best. I couldn't simply drink the shots as, again, it was a mental thing, so I poured them into a bottle of water and drank them that way. It was like drinking a flavored water that had just a hint of fruitiness to it.

By the way, my photo was taken when I was at 235 or there abouts. I won't post a picture of me as I look now. I'm too ashamed and self-conscious. It's because of the weight, not my facial paralysis. The facial nerves that were cut during my brain surgery have regenerated and, other than a crooked smile and a lazy eyelid, my face is back to normal.

I had the surgery in 2001 when I was 292 pounds. I lost 70 pounds and regained it until I reached my highest ever weight of 317 pounds. I saw a nutritionist and managed to lose until I got to 220 and over the last 7 years drifted between 260 pounds and 275. I started over on January 15 at 275 pounds and currently weigh 261. Add me. We can support each other. I gained weight through emotional eating, bad habits, grazing, death of parents, etc.