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In May 2022, Remco Renes underwent Gastric Bypass surgery. With a healthy dose of nerves, he was mostly glad it was finally happening. Remco talks about the first days after the operation and whether he had any complaints. He also shares what food he ate and gives smart eating tips.
Finally the moment is here. You're having surgery! Do you remember the night before?
“In that period I wasn't sleeping well, and certainly not that night. I was full of nerves and energy, but above all I was really happy it was finally happening. I was ready. Bring it on, I thought.”
Then you arrive at the hospital. What does the day of the operation look like?
“Yes, you check in and get a nice wristband. Then you get measurements and they check your blood values. I remember thinking before the anaesthesia: Remco, you can do this. You're just going to do it. Then I was out. When I woke up, I felt so proud.”
“That first week I walked to the end of the street and back every day. Luckily you also get medication and the pain lessens.”
Were you in pain, too?
“I knew I had to bite through the pain, but that first week was intense. Because of the operation I had to sleep on my back. I never do that, and my back and legs started to hurt. The first days I couldn't walk either. The operation simply has an impact on your body, so you do feel it.”
What did that first week look like?
“I live alone, so I got help from a friend and my mother. Climbing stairs was difficult and I struggled to get around. But you have to keep moving; your body has to get used to it. That first week I walked to the end of the street and back every day. Luckily you also get medication and the pain lessens.”
“I was very mindful and stopped eating when I was full. Very different from before, when I finished everything because I thought throwing food away was a waste.”
Was eating nerve-racking too? Whether it would sit well?
“Because I had already lost weight before the operation, cut back my sugar intake and ate 7 times a day*, I was allowed to start solid food quite quickly. That first week I carefully tried all sorts of things. I had quark, a slice of chicken fillet or a small soup. It all went down well. I also ate toasted bread - that's still sacred to me. If I don't toast it, the bread becomes a kind of sponge in my stomach. It expands, so I feel full quickly and take in too little. Luckily I didn't suffer from dumping syndrome. I was very mindful and stopped eating when I was full. Very different from before, when I finished everything because I thought throwing food away was a waste.”
Could you eat everything else?
“Barbecued meat doesn't sit well; it lies heavy on my stomach. Just like fries. I chew each bite about 20 to 25 times. If you do that with a fry, at some point you're really just chewing starch. It tastes of nothing. That was a disappointment. Though of course I didn't eat fries in the first weeks - I tried that a while later.”
“I lost weight and my face changed. After the first 2 months I had lost about 20 kilos.”
When could you go back to work?
“At the time of the operation I was transitioning to a new job, so I could ease into it gradually. I built up my hours slowly. That was necessary, too - you're tired and your body has taken a hit from the procedure. You really need about 6 to 8 weeks to recover, no sports or heavy lifting. Recovery is so important.”
Did you notice other changes already?
“Yes, I lost weight and my face changed. After the first 2 months I had lost about 20 kilos. In the beginning you're focused on the kilos; luckily that faded later. I also became more and more active and kept trying new things with food. You don't want to be on a diet - you want to eat as normally as possible, of course with enough important nutrients such as calcium and protein. I kept close track of how much protein I needed each day and went looking for desserts with as much protein as possible. I was very conscious about my eating pattern and also tried to eat at the same times every day.”
What else did you do to pick your healthy lifestyle back up after your recovery?
“The operation makes you lose muscle mass. So when I was allowed to exercise again, I started with a training schedule and went to the gym 3 times a week. I also tried to take 10,000 steps every day. So I made healthy food choices and found it important to start enjoying my life again. Swimming with my nephews, for example.”
Did you also get guidance from the hospital with that?
“Yes, the aftercare in the Netherlands lasts 5 years. In the first year they check your blood values every 2 months and you have conversations with the dietitian, surgeon and an exercise coach. From the 2nd year that's every six months, and after that an annual check-up.”
Did you also take multivitamins as an addition to your diet?
“Yes, I started right after the operation, though I was rather stubborn and chose a cheap, standard multivitamin brand from the drugstore. When it turned out my blood values weren't good, the dietitian helped look at what I needed. Since I've been using multivitamins from FitForMe, my blood values are good. A few months after the operation and many kilos lighter, I was also allowed to stop my diabetes medication after my check-up**. I was so happy about that! Now I only take multivitamins and calcium every day.”
Do you have one last tip for people who have just had surgery?
“Be aware of what you're doing and how it makes you feel. Are you full? Then stop eating. That helped me avoid dumping syndrome. Every person and every body is different, so above all, feel what works for you.”
*Usually the advice is to eat 6 times a day after a stomach reduction. Your dietitian or doctor may advise something different, and you may need more or less food. Reasons for this include your weight and whether you are a man or a woman.
**Always consult your treating doctor about your medication use and what you need in that respect.
The interview was originally a Dutch FitForMe podcast. Using AI, the interview was translated and written down so that Remco's story could be shared with all FitForMe customers.
