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Semi-Natural Bariatric Diet, Water Valley, MS (2025)

11/28/2022

Made pancit for the first time since moving back to MS. I was craving Filipino food and this seemed somewhat healthy and easy to make. I’ve linked the recipe I used for guidance. I substituted chicken instead of pork, coconut oil instead of canola, vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and frozen stir fry veggies instead of the cabbage and carrots- all because it’s what I had on-hand. I used more meat than what it called for because I’m *trying* to get more protein. 🤤

https://www.lifesambrosia.com/grandmas-pancit-recipe/ -recipe-container-26926

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving y’all!!! This is what it looks like for me this year- not able to eat everything, but getting to eat a bit of each of my favorites- green beans, deviled egg, dressing with cranberry, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese.

11/19/2022

The weight continues to come off slowly. My newest issues are hair loss and constipation. Decreased protein and water intake are causing these, I know. So, I guess these are the new additions to my ever-growing list of ‘things to work on’. 🙄

10/23/2022

It’s been a LOOONG time since I’ve been on here so here are a few updates:
- The nausea and vomiting resolved after I did 2 weeks of protonix. Now the only times I feel nauseous are when I overeat, which I still struggle with occasionally.
- My energy is THROUGH THE ROOF!!! I can now function on 6-7 hours of sleep and no longer need my all day nap on Sunday. I have energy to walk and move naturally (gardening , tending to chickens, etc.) and my endurance is much better- I can now EASILY walk 3 miles and not be sore the next day.
- I’m down 42 lbs total since I started my pre-surgery diet. Technically, I should’ve lost more…🤷‍♀️…but, IIWII!
- I’m learning so much- how much I can eat, what foods I can/can’t tolerate, how often I should eat, etc.
- I still can’t drink ice water…BOO!!! I love ice cold water, but it makes my stomach cramp up. Still baffled on that one.
- I’m posting a couple of pics of things that i’be come to like- stevia-sweetened goodies. No artificial taste, very little aftertaste. They are, of course, not cheap, but if eaten in small amounts they are totally worth it.

09/08/2022

I had been super struggling since surgery, but finally feel like things are getting back to normal- normal-ish eating, though in smaller amounts; back working, though not back with my primary patient who requires a bit more lifting; back to cardio exercise, though I can’t lift weights yet. I am still not able to eat beef, pork, raw veggies, some cooked veggies, or most fruits yet. I am also discovering some foods don’t settle well, like broccoli, which I LOVE. My energy has gone through the roof- like, early 20’s energy…and stamina and recovery, too! Like, we walked down a ton of steps at the baseball game Monday, then I woke Tuesday ready for a hike so we hiked up and an Indian mound (154 steps). My knees used to swell up and kill me after going down stairs, but two acetaminophen Tuesday morning after the hike took care of it. It’s truly unbelievable how much better I feel. I also hit a milestone today- every attempt to lose weight for the past year has gotten me down to, but never below, 253 lbs. Today I hit 249!!! Also, I’m wearing a 2XL scrub skirt today, which I haven’t been able to do in about a year. I‘m so super excited about seeing progress!!! I’m posting some pics of my weight chart. I’m going to weigh less often because, as you can see, post-surgery my weight has been very up and down and I’m hoping that weighting less often will help me to stress less over the # on the scale.

08/22/2022

Update

08/10/2022

It’s been a minute because I continue to struggle with nausea and vomiting, neither of which are normal this far out from surgery. I saw the surgeon this morning. He doesn’t think it’s anything physically wrong, just that my body is taking longer to adjust. He prescribed some stronger nausea medicine and gave me some tips for preventing the hunger pains that often illicit the nausea and vomiting. As anyone who has ever had a stomach bug knows, vomiting causes strain of head and neck muscles. This has resulted in horrible headaches. When I saw his this morning he said he’d give me a toradol shot (anti-inflammatory medicine- I can’t take these orally cuz they can upset the stomach and cause ulcers); however, he does my keep that in-office. So, I then went to my dr’s office and got a shot. When I’m not nauseated, I do my best to drink lots of water, herbal teas and broth-based soups (puréed). I’m currently nursing a mug of puréed hot & sour soup. It’s one of my favorite soups, so comforting and flavorful. I will be able to advance to poultry, seafood, fish and soft cheeses next Monday. I’m looking forward to eating fish!!! So, prayers appreciated for progress, healing, and a calm tummy. ❤️

08/05/2022

I’ve been terribly nauseous today, plus muscle cramps and throwing out PVC’s like crazy! Self-diagnosed as dehydration and gas. I have been craving 🍉watermelon🍉 and *finally* asked my mother to bring me some. (Utilize your support system!) About 1/2 cup, tiny bites, chewed to nothing (use your rule of 30’s)- chewing action helps the body release gas (stimulates peristalsis), carbs give energy, and it’s FULL of water. I feel tons better! No more nausea, no more hunger, no PVC’s in several minutes, no more muscle cramps. Now I know. I am *technically* not cleared to advance to watermelon, but I took a chance and it paid off. We all have to listen to our bodies- listen to your cravings, listen to your tummy grumbles, go slow so you know if your body is tolerating it. Coincidentally, it’s Watermelon Carnival weekend so they’re in abundance and DELICIOUS!!!

08/03/2022

My surgery was Monday, August 1. It was outpatient so I was home by mid-afternoon. I had LOTS of nausea when I came out of anesthesia. They removed the scopolamine patch, as it can sometimes increase nausea. (Who knew?!?!) I did vomit a few times Monday and Tuesday. I found that popsicles seemed to increase the gas, which then made me vomit. As the nurse at the dr’s office said- everyone is different- what soothes some peoples stomachs, upsets others. Walking, moving, rolling as much as possible has been huge in getting the gas out. My intake has been Outshine real fruit bars, bone broth, and a bite of sugar free gelatin here and there. Found flavored gelatin that is made with stevia instead of artificial sweeteners. I will be able to progress to fuller liquids in a day or two. Looking forward to making a cream soup…maybe onion. My cravings have definitely changed- I truly am not craving sweets or salty snacks, but now want fresher foods. When you can’t have anything at all, fresh foods sound very appetizing. I’m postin my day of surgery ‘before’ pictures.
Highest weight: 280.2
Surgery weight: 265.2
Current weight: 260.2

07/29/2022

It’s been a ROUGH week! I started the liquid diet Monday. I was supposed to drink four protein shakes a day, plus drink lots of water…or sugar free liquids- sugar-free drink mixes (like Crystal Lite); flavored, sugar-free water; and diet sodas were acceptable to fulfill half your liquid needs for the day. Well, that was a no-go! Every time I’d try to drink a protein drink and the one time I tried drinking a diet soda, I’d get super nauseous. I figured out it was the artificial sweeteners. I try to eat pretty high-quality foods and have not had diet drinks or sugar-free anything for 15+ years. My body DID NOT like my throwing all those pseudo-foods and artificial sweeteners into it! I called the surgeon’s office Monday and spoke with the nurse. She seemed shocked to hear that someone didn’t react well to the protein shakes. It made me wonder- in this day and age of overly-processed diets and the FDA telling us that corn flakes are healthy but avocados aren’t, it’s no wonder that this nurse has never encountered someone that can’t tolerate a shelf-stable dairy product packed with fake vitamin, minerals, and flavors. Everyone she’s ever run into has been on diet after diet and, like most Americans, believe that “diet”, “sugar-free”, “zero calorie”, etc, are healthier than what God gave us. Sad. Anyway, I told her I would track my macros, make sure I was staying within my allowed carbs and getting plenty of protein, and I would do it my own way. I’ve been drinking lots of broths, bone broths, acorn squash soup, and strained soups, all with unflavored, unsweetened protein powder or collagen powder added to them. I’m going to post a few pics from the week in the comments.

07/22/2022

I started my pre-surgery diet Wednesday. The diet plan given to me by the surgeon sounds simple enough- a protein shake for breakfast, then 4 oz lean meat and 1 cup steamed/2 cups raw veggies for lunch and dinner. Here’s the hard part:
- Cutting calories and carbs that much was ROUGH- not gonna lie! By the first night I had a horrible headache and zero energy. I’m still dealing with low energy.
- I have to follow the rule of 30’s- nothing to drink 30 min before each meal, during the meal or for 30 min after the meal; chew each bite at least 30 times, putting your fork/spoon down between bites; make your meal last 30 minute.
- I don’t like veggies that much so getting them in is difficult.
- I hate the flavor of artificial sweeteners and I loathe the use of artificial chemicals to make something “healthy”. Reading the ingredients on the pre-made shakes is sickening!

So, how am I dealing with this?
- Tylenol is my friend. I know my body will adjust so I’ll just medicate until I can handle it. No, it’s not very natural, but it’s only for a few days.
- I don’t usually drink during meals so that wasn’t too hard. I am setting alarms to know when to start/stop drinking water. I’m also watching a stopwatch while I eat- this keeps me from using my phone while eating (mindless eating is a no-no) and helps me keep tabs on how fast I’m eating.
- I am sticking to the few veggies I like, which, thankfully, are mostly summer veggies so I can get them fresh and local. I am not trying to torture myself with salads. I am also supplementing a small amount of my allowable veggies with fruit instead. I LOVE fruit!
- I did break down and buy a box of pre-made shakes in case I oversleep or something and I need to be able to grab and go. Otherwise, I am making my own shakes. The surgeon’s instructions gave specifics on how to make one. MY breakfast shakes have been 8-12 oz almond milk, 1/2 cup cherry-berry frozen blend, 1 scoop organic protein powder (high protein, low carb, no artificial sweeteners), and about 2 Tbsp chia seeds. It’s delicious and filling. I bought myself a little individual size blender for my shakes- I can mix and go because the lid has a drinking slot. Super convenient.

I’m a work in progress. Stay tuned for any other helpful tips/tricks.

07/21/2022

Here’s the emotional process:

When I started trying to get approved for surgery I found myself eating more than ever, wanting to eat everything ‘I’ll never be able to eat again’- a friend described these meals as “food funerals”. I talked with my doctor about it (she’s had gastric sleeve, as well) and my counselor. They both helped me to understand that I WILL be able to eat all (or most of) the foods I enjoy, just in smaller portions and possibly in different preparations. My counselor is also helping me to deal with what I’ll do to occupy my mind when I’m emotional or bored, so that I don’t turn to food. Seeing my counselor and talking to people who have been through this have helped so much!

07/21/2022

Here’s the technical process:

I began my approval process is February 2022. I attended the Bariatric Boot Camp and a Bariatric Support Group meeting at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford. Then I started the whole process- lots of paperwork, four monthly dr’s visits, nutrition eval, psych eval, and submitting health history documentation. Once everything was received by the Bariatric Weight Loss Center at Baptist, they submitted it to insurance. I was told to allow the insurance company at least two weeks to make a decision, but I heard back in two business days- I was approved! I had appointment with the surgical NP, who did a physical exam and made sure I understood what the surgery entailed and that it wasn’t reversible. Once she approved me, I had an appointment with the surgeon. At that appointment I saw a nurse who spoke with me about the specifics of the diet; then I saw the surgeon who went over my health history, showed me where my incisions would be, and gave me my surgery date; and then I met with another nurse who gave me all the pre-op instructions- went over the diet again, gave me the cleansing cloths for my morning-of shower, told me who I should expect to call for info and with instructions, etc. So, on June 19 I was scheduled for surgery on August 1- you’re supposed to be on the pre-surgery diet for two weeks and this was not even two weeks away! Doctor said, ‘Meh, close enough.’ 🤷‍♀️😝 I’m super excited and nervous!!!

07/21/2022

When I started exploring having bariatric surgery I found a gross lack of information on how to do a more natural diet to prepare for and recover from surgery. Yes- I am willing to have surgery to lose weight, but shouldn’t overall HEALTH be promoted, not just weight loss??? Nobody ever told me about the mental and emotional issues that would arise while trying to get approved. Nobody outlines a liquid diet that doesn’t include artificially sweetened, chemical-laden protein drinks. Even the material from the surgeon encourages sugar-free drinks & fat-free pseudo-foods with no concern of the damage that the chemicals that make these products palatable can pose to your long-term health. So, I’m on a mission to find some alternatives to the surgeon-recommended diet.

Semi-Natural Bariatric Diet

11/28/2022

11/24/2022

11/19/2022

10/23/2022

09/08/2022

08/22/2022

08/10/2022

08/05/2022

08/03/2022

07/29/2022

07/22/2022

07/21/2022

07/21/2022

07/21/2022

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