please help

i am 1 month and 1 day post op and i see that i am eating more than my 4 oz and keeping it down for the most part the only time i have trouble is if i dont chew it real well i lost 40 pounds when i went 4 my 2 weeks check up but now i dont think i have lost anymore i have a hard time getting in all my protein but i get a little over half of it in but not all my water please help me tell me what i am doing wrong i have cried but that dont help i am just going to mess up my surgery i know and i dont want to be a failure but it looks like i am going to be i have til the 16 th of this month to lose a little before i go back to dr wright i dont want him to think i am a failure also so all input will be greatly appericated hugs kristie

Kristie, Let's think about this...you've lost 40 lbs in a month! That is huge! I've lost 27 lbs in 3.5 weeks. Your body is probably just adjusting, but if you are truly worried, try to keep track of what you are eating. I use www.fitday.com to monitor my calories/protein/etc. You really need to make yourself your #1 priority and make time for your protein and keep a water bottle in your hand all day. If you won't like water, try crystal light or sugar free koolaide. You are not a failure and this will work for you. You have to believe this! It's a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you are still having problems, consider seeing a nutritionist or a psychologist to help you over this hurdle. It is not about what we think of you or what the Dr. thinks of you...it's about your need to be successful and healthy. You took this huge step to have the surgery and you need to continue to put yourself first. You deserve it. Cara W.

Kristie, Please take a deep breath and relax!!! You are going to be okay. I just went to the Dr. yesterday for my one month check (today I am 4 weeks and 2 days post-op). I am able to drink about 6oz. in 10-15 min and able to eat more sometimes than others. He said that is normal this early in the stage. Don't completely overdo it, but understand that any kind of liquid or thin food like soup and cream of wheat will go thru faster than tuna and things like that. That is why we feel like we are able to eat more than 4 oz. at a time. He said to remember to eat slow and put your fork down in between bites wait about 2 min. before taking the next bite. Also do not drink 1/2 hr before or after eating and definately not during, this can cause food to go thru faster and can also cause some stomach pain with vomiting which I have personal experience with (not very fun). I have only lost 33 pounds and I feel so much better already. I am going to do everything that they say to do, and if you have any questions call the Dr. or dietian. They are a really big help. Please keep in mind this is what my Dr. told me, your Dr. may have a different view on it. Ask them if you are concerned, let them help you. Good luck with everything, Angie.

Angie, Thank you for that post. I am only 2 weeks post-op and have lost a total of 18 pounds. I was very upset tonight when I sat down and ate the whole bowl of oatmeal!. I thought was about to drop. I did not get full or even feel close to it. I jumped up and it made me feel better that there was only .98 oz of oatmeal in the package but it sure looked like more once I pu****er in it and mashed it all up. I read your post and it made me feel alot better, thank you for that. I really need not to drink before I eat, that may be my problem. If you have any more advice for me, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you so much! Christina

Hi, Kristie. I'll echo what everyone else has said. RELAX! You are on the road to wellness, you just are having some of the doubts a lot of us have. One thing that has helped me is that, on the advice of one of the authors whose book I read, I bought some 4 oz. ramekins so that I could have something to measure my food in and eat out of as well. I also bought some baby spoons so that I would take smaller bites. The only really hard thing has been learning to eat slower (I've always wolfed my food!). Remember it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to process that your stomach is full. Besides putting your spoon or fork down between bites there are several things you can do to keep your mind occupied. I have been told to concentrate on the flavor and texture of the food, but that isn't doing much for me. After you've chewed it so many times it no longer has a lot of flavor or texture. SO...sometimes I concentrate on counting chews. Other things I have done are (if I'm eating alone, and this might sound silly) concentrate on my posture. Imagine myself at my goal weight and think "this is how a thin person eats". Remember that tiny little stomach. Visualize it, look at a picture of it, and think how little it takes to fill it up. Invent diversions. If its helping you, it really isn't silly. You are going to have to practice thinking positively! Every time you tell yourself something negative, get into the habit of saying to yourself "That's not true. This is just a lie my negative self is trying to tell me to make me fail. I am not a failure. I am a winner." And believe it, because you ARE a winner! Paddling right along with you, Carla

I suggest that you go back to basics. If you're able to eat more than 4 oz, then measure 4 oz and eat nothing more. Also, eat your protein first. Then you have no excuse for not getting in yor protein.

I don't think you have anything to worry about Kristie. You are doing AWESOME! One thing I can tell you from experience is that your body is trying to catch up with that major procedure you just had! I went through that I think at 3 weeks, and after about a week and a half I dropped 4 lbs in 2 days! Just try to get ALL your water in, I think that's the most important thing. I started losing the weight again when I started taking in ALL of the water requirements of 64 oz a day. People are not kidding when they say that crystal lite helps. I love the orange flavor. As for eating more than 4 oz, I know what your talking about. I have the same problem. I read about alot of people who eat a few shrimps and their full. I don't. I to this day haven't gotten the full feeling, but I do get a somewhat satisfied feeling. My trick is to just put my food into a very small bowl about half way. I eat as slowly as possible. chew chew chew. and I don't refill on seconds.