“One should eat to live, not live to eat” – Benjamin Franklin

Yesterday was class two of three before we can submit my paperwork to Cigna for approval (see this post for what the current requirements are for my insurance plan). The class was on grocery shopping and how to read labels in order to make smarter decisions post op. This is super important post op (especially for gastric bypass patients because of the malabsorption part of that procedure) since you physically wont be able to consume a normal volume of food.

The recommended program for nutrition post op for RNY/Gastric sleeve are as follows:

• Eat 5-6 small meals per day
• 60-80g of protein per day
• 64 oz sugar-free and caffeine-free fluid per day
• No drinking during meals and for 30 minutes before or after meals
• Take a Multivitamin daily
• Take 1500 mg Calcium Citrate (no more than 500-600 mg at a time)
• Take Iron daily (separate from calcium)
• Take B-12 daily
• Limit calorie dense foods (sugar, fat)

Avoid

• Carbonated beverages (soda, beer, fizzy water etc.)
• Nicotine use/exposure
• Alcohol consumption during the rapid weight loss period (12-18 months)
• High fat and high sugar foods
• Straws
• Chewing Gum
• Getting pregnant for at least 18 – 24 months.

The class starts by everyone introducing themselves, what procedure they are having, what class they are on, and any struggles they are having. Then our nutritionist had us “go shopping” by selecting from a wall of food (empty food packages). She then would create a days worth of meals composed of the things people selected to see where we would land for our daily goals. She did this different times once for sugar, fat, sodium, and protein. After she would create the plan that put us over the daily limits she went back and selected things that were smarter alternatives.

Most of this information was review for me however I thought the class was beneficial, and I did learn a handful of new things. I didn’t know that fruit doesn’t count toward your daily allowed grams of sugar which makes me feel a lot better about the days that I was over for sugar on My Fitness Pal because I ate fruit for multiple meals.

I was a little shocked to see how many people in this group didn’t know how to read nutritional labels. Obviously we are all there because we could use a little help with our food choices, I just don’t understand how you can have made attempts at weight loss without knowing how decipher this information. I was also blown away by how many people didn’t know much about any of the surgeries or which one they were considering. Granted we had some people who haven’t meet with surgeon yet, however by the time I decided to go in for the consultation I had already done days of research and pretty much had my mind made up about what I wanted. Now I know I am an over preparer for sure but one would think you would gather some basic details before considering going under the knife.
After my class I had a physical with my PCP, I recently switched to her and she is fabulous. She was also blown away by how stellar my labs were. The only things that she’s worried about is that my HDL level is still low, but she thinks that the surgery should help with that since weight loss will bring that number up.

Cholesterol 123 (140-200)

Triglycerides 113 (35-135)

HDL 29 (40-75)

LDL 72 (60-100)

Estimated Average Glucose 103 (68-126)

Hemoglobin 5.2% (4.o – 6.0)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone .657 (0.465-4.680)

“The food we eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” – Ann Wigmore

One of the things that has always made me upset about food in this country is the accesses to affordable organic food (or food as our grandparents used to call it). It saddens me to see countless children being raised on Franken-foods because it’s cheaper than grass fed organic beef and vegetables.  What if we could make it so affordable that it would make it accessible for the cost of a soda or a coffee?

I don’t often find products that I am so passionate about that I want to give it away like I am Oprah on one of those favorite things episodes everyone would field goal kick a baby to get into (I am totally going to give it away see below). I don’t even watch her show but I used to fantasize about getting to go to one as a kid.

I had decided this week that my next blog was going to be about Skoop, and last night I got the opportunity to be able to share it so I figured well now it can’t wait. The more people I see try Skoop, and they immediately notice a benefit I can’t help but think that this could really help a lot of people.  Skoop is a supplement containing “the mad science of mother nature,” and 10 servings of fruits and vegetables in one serving for only 50 calories and 3 grams of sugar. Skoop’s proprietary blend contains 41 obsessively researched ingredients that have been formulated to maximize nutrient synergies. The result is a surprisingly tasty, nutrient dense Superfood powder – rich with antioxidants, probiotics and adaptogenic herbs that reduce inflammation and acidic build-up, increase energy and resilience, and supercharge your immune system’s ability to fight disease.

Having worked for a company that specialized in organic products for nearly 7 years I am pretty careful about ingredients (and how they’re labeled) and try to shop as organically as possible.  When my sister was first trying to get me to try it back in January my only hesitation was that I couldn’t find their complete ingredient list on their website. However after further research it looks like all if not most of the ingredients are organic. So I figured what do I have to lose?

The recommend way to try Skoop is to do a 5 day challenge. It comes in a folder with 5 samples (it’s a dehydrated powder) and it’s recommended that you have it first thing in the morning. I drink mine with 8 oz of water, but it can be added to your choice of milk or milk like product, yogurt, protein shakes, pancakes, smoothies etc. It’s not meant to replace a meal but it’s often the only thing I have for breakfast and I am not hungry until lunch.

I was a little skeptic at first about the fantastic claims from the few people I knew that had started their challenges before me. I had given up soda about two or three week prior to starting Skoop and had still been thinking about the bubbly devil at the beginning of the challenge. I was shocked when  day 3 of the challenge came around I stopped craving sugar. I noticed that the mental fog I had cleared and I had more energy. In addition to not being groggy all the time it has seemed to really help with my insomnia. My Skin is looking fantastic, and I keep finding more things that are improving the longer I take it.

I really credit Skoop for helping me be soda free for 74 days so far, and for helping me stay within my calorie goals because I am not starving and snacking all day. One of my best friends was hooked after her 5 day challenge and says she’s went from drinking 12 cups of coffee to just one.

I love it so much that I want to give away 5 free five day challenges to my readers. Please see this page for more information on Skoop including a complete ingredient list and price. My readers will receive $10 off a 30 day supply if you purchase it through this link.

If you would like to be entered into the drawing for a 5 day challenge comment pick me on this post by 5:30pm MST Friday March 28th when I will select 5 lucky winners.

I am going to check this week when I go to my nutritionist meeting to see if it’s safe for post surgery bariatric patients, which I am really hoping it is. How awesome would it be to be able to get 10 servings of fruits and veggies post op mixed in with your protein shakes?

“Knowledge is love and light and vision” – Helen Keller

First and foremost I would like to extend a giant hug to everyone that offered their support, it means so much to me, I am filled with tears of joy every time I think of it. Sharing this blog with the people I know is probably one of the scariest things I have ever done. Isn’t funny how we often don’t care what strangers will think but it terrifies us to be judged by those we know and love? I was shocked to see how many people actually took the time to read it. Before I kind of felt like I was alone trying to find my way in the darkness with only a head lamp. Your support is like love and light guiding my path which is much brighter now.

It feels so much better now that everyone is aware of what’s going on, and that I don’t feel like I have this huge secret I am hiding. I am very independent, and not the type of person that likes to ask for support or help, so admitting I have a problem and that it’s going to need outside help to solve it was something that was weighing on me heavily. It was also something I was afraid to admit because it makes me feel like a bit of a hypocrite to have preached love your body, that numbers on a scale don’t define you, and sexy comes in every size for so long that people would think that I don’t believe in that because I am dramatically altering my body. I still believe all of those things. I am not doing this because I hate my body, I am doing it because I love it and I don’t want it to give out on me. Don’t worry kids I haven’t come to hate myself I am still the bubbly spirit you have come to know and love.

Since I have shared my big news I have found out from many friends and family members that they don’t actually know much about Gastric Bypass, or the different bariatric surgeries that are available. I figured I would use this post to provide a little information about them. I will explain each procedure but the graphic provided by nordbariatric.com contains much more information but not much about the procedures.

Gastric Bypass – also known as Roux-en-y, is considered the gold standard for weight loss surgery and is performed more than any other weight loss surgery. It also has been medically researched more than the other options. The procedure is done laparoscopically and takes about 90 minutes to complete. The surgeon will make several small incision to access the stomach and intestine. They will then reduce your stomach by 90% by creating a small pouch that is roughly 15-30 ml in volume or about the size of your thumb. The second part involves removing 45 inches of your intestine and then connecting it to your new pouch. The surgery works by restriction and malabsorption. Not only are you able to eat less you also only absorb a small portion of the food that you consume.

Lap Band – Is a restrictive surgery where the stomach is reduced in volume (to about 100 ml) by an adjustable band. It is done laparoscopically and takes about 40 minutes. The reduction in size allows the patient to feel full more quickly thus reducing the amount of calories consumed. The band has a reservoir filled with saline which is connected to a capsule under the skin. This allows for the band to be adjusted as needed after surgery.

Gastric Sleeve – Is a restrictive laparoscopically performed procedure where the stomach is reduced by about 75% creating a tube or sleeve like new stomach. The surgery works by restriction but they also remove the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin (the hormone that tells you your hungry) greatly reducing the amount of ghrelin you produce. The surgery takes about 2 hours to complete.

I have chosen to go with Gastric Bypass because it’s the most successful of the 3 surgeries (see the graphic below), even though it poses the biggest lifestyle changes. More people reach their goal weight with bypass than with the other bariatric surgeries. To read more about where I am in the process of getting approved and scheduling my procedure see this post.