Question:
Am I eating enough?
I am 2 weeks out today. I am down 32 pounds. I don't think I am eating enough. My surgeon says we need to eat 4 meals a day. I only eat like 2-3. I'm told I need to eat a cup of food at a meal. I can't get it in. I try I just can't do it. a Typical day goes like this. breakfast- 5 bites of oatmeal Lunch- 4 rice crackers with peanut butter (1 tbsp total) Dinner- egg salad. I drink water throughout the day I beleive I am up to 35 oz now I try and increase it everyday. I cannot do protien shakes they make me really sick. Do you think this is normal? I think it is. last week I was only eating a total of 10 spoons of food a day,and that was a realy good day. Any pointers what should I do? — nicole79 (posted on October 5, 2002)
October 2, 2002
One thing I can suggest, is to try and get your fluids up. I know the days
I don't quite make the 64 oz. of water, I feel like crap the next day. So
I always try and make the extra effort to get in the water if I can. You
might check out liquid protein if you cannot do the shakes. I use a
product by Sci-Fit called Amino Infusion 5000 that is sweet and works well
in juice. I also use a tart flavored product called Proteinex that I spoon
into my Crystal Light. That helps get fluids and protein in at the same
time. But be sure to bring it up to your doctor and make sure so your mind
will be at ease.
— Cathy S.
October 2, 2002
I started sofr foods 12 days post-op and could only eat about 2 tablespoons
of oatmeal or cream of wheat at first. I could eat about 1/2 of a small
scrambled egg. There is no way I could eat a cup of food 4 times a day.
At that point, I had three meals a day and drank a lot of V8 Juice between
meals. I also drank Crystal Light. I don't think I was getting 64 ounces
that early either. I was on full liquids for one week after being
discharged from the hospital and then started soft foods. While on
liquids, I got about 40 ounces of liquid a day. It decreased a little when
I started food, but then with in two weeks I was up to 64 ounces.
I don't know what to tell you about the amounts. Just do the best you can.
— Patty_Butler
October 2, 2002
Are you absoluely sure your doc wants you eating a cup of food four times a
day? That does sound like an awful lot, and if I were you I would not be
concerned if I couldn't do it. For the first three or four weeks post-op I
also ate about four times a day, and I was eating about 2-4 ounces/meal,
depending on what I was eating - also primarily liquids and then softs.
AND, I was NEVER one of those people who had difficulty eating. I am 7.5
months post-op and I still don't eat a cup of food at a sitting. I'm not
going to lie, there are definitely times I feel like I can, but I don't
think I am supposed to so I don't. My advice: continue with the oatmeal
and egg salad, add some tuna, cottage cheese or yogurt. Go back to liquids
if you have to, maybe some ff cream soups. Eat as much as you can until you
are satisfied. For the short term, your protein intake is not the ultimate
concern. Hopefully when you are able to eat more (remember at two weeks you
haven't even healed yet!) you will be able to get protein from food and you
won't have to drink protein drinks. Take it easy on yourself, and speak to
your doctor to clarify his instructions. Best wishes, sounds like you are
doing okay for such a newbie. :)
— PaulaM
October 2, 2002
I am 3 months postop, and I have the opposite problem. I think I eat way
too much(realistically, I don't, it's just the small meals throughout the
day that make me feel that way)-but, I could never get a cup of food in.
My dietician told me no more than 1/2 a cup per meal (of course, that
depends on the consistency of what you are eating, if you follow the
protein first rule, 1/2 to 3/4 cup max should be plenty of food). Please
check with your dietician. The goal is to keep our pouches small in the
long run!
— Courtney S.
October 2, 2002
You've had the RNY surgery so I can't imagine you eating a cup at a time at
a few weeks out. The dr should have only made the pouch an ounce or so and
you are still swollen inside! I still can't eat a cup of food sometimes and
I am 17 mos out. My dr recommended eating every 2-3 hours--just small
amounts that you can tolerate--and drinking plenty of water in between. At
this stage you are probably not going to be getting in a whole lot of
protein or nutrition for that matter, but eating frequently will keep your
metabolism going so you don't slip into starvation mode.<p>You might
want to call the dr just to verify whether he really expects you to eat a
cup of food at a time. If he does, well, you'll have to make a judgement
call. Just remember that dr's aren't infallible or always good
communicators even though they may be great in the OR!
— ctyst
October 2, 2002
Hi Nicole:
I know how difficult the first few weeks are, trying to maintain the right
balance of food and liquids, with such a small pouch. Maybe your surgeon
means 1 cup of food per DAY. In other words, 1/4 cup 4 times per day.
That would make more sense at your stage of the game. Do you know any
others who have had the same surgeon as you? If not, look up your doctor
under surgeons, and email another one of his patients. There is no way you
are going to be able to eat a cup of food 4 x per day. When I was at the
point you are now, I just tried to maintain the 64 ozs of fluids, and
really pushed the shakes. They are not for everyone. I cannot stand them
now, and I am only 6 weeks postop today. If all else fails, call your
surgeon's office to clarify this point.
Whatever you are doing, you are doing great. Imagine 32 pounds in only two
weeks. Keep up the good work. I hope this helps.
Love Grace
— Grace H.
October 2, 2002
Hey there~ Congrats on your 32 pounds. That is WONDERFUL!!!! Just to
give you some input, I am 3.5 months and I have lost 56 lbs. So you are
doing great!!!! My doctor has us on 2 oz. of nothing but meat three times
a day, 64 oz. of any drink that is decaff and sugar free and one protein
shake. Now I don't folow his diet as close as I should because I love
veggies and fruit. But it try to watch everything that goes in. I think I
would call the office and see what they suggest. Maybe he meant one cup a
day, that is what my two oz. comes out too.
Good Luck and keep up the good work!!!
Candi
— Candi B.
October 2, 2002
Nicole, if that is all you can get in, then I think you are doing fine.
You are only two weeks out and you are probably still swolen. My concern
is if this is all you are eating and you aren't taking protein shakes then
you are probably not getting in enough protein. You can try protein bars,
but personally I find them worse then the shakes.
— Lisa N M.
October 3, 2002
The 4 meals a day part sounds right, but a cup of food at each meal must be
wrong. Unless he is referring to liquids, like soup? What I am concerned
about is that you are not getting in enough protein. Now at 2 weeks out,
thats not a problem yet, but you should start trying to think of having
some protein at each tiny meal. For example, for breakfast, try a slice of
cheese or some yogurt or a soft scrambled egg for breakfast instead of
oatmeal which doesn't have much in the way of protein in it. As for
protein shakes, have you tried the protein powders that you can sprinkle
into your food, like soups? Your a very new pre-op, so as the weeks go
along, try to eat a little more often and a little more protein at each
meal. Keep up the water and vitamins and you'll be fine.
— Cindy R.
October 5, 2002
Your eating really good for two weeks. Your doctor is crazy if he thinks
you can eat a cup of food this early. I can eat a cup now but I am 4 1/2
months post op. If you say protein drinks make you sick try Real Meals it
doesn't taste like most protein drinks. It is really thin and tastes good.
It has 60 grams of protein and 40 other vitamins and nutrients. You can
get it at www.protein-solution.com. It really helped me a lot.
— Linda A.
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