how do you eat?

as you can see i have had my wls 4/18/07.... first off, i have written to my doctor and nut to get their answers, but i wanted to hear from people that actually been throught what we have done. i am never hungry, so i eat only to live and know i have to eat for health. my portions are very small. this week i am in New Mexico visiting with my hubby for the holiday and his birthday. He cooks good health foods and i can barely get a finger size anything down. i think i am scared to eat, for fear of throwing up and not feel good. i am not good with pain or feeling sick. today i only could eat 1 chicken wing for dinner with a few bites of mash potatoes and gravy and cole slaw. this morning i had 1 egg and 2 crispy bacons. tonight 2 sf popcyles. but my question mainly is... how can you enjoy your meals when you have to take such tiny bites? my bites r about the size of a eraser on a pencil. and i chew so much,,, that i just soon not even eat if i can't enjoy it. so will us WLS people have to eat this way for the rest of our lifes? tiny nibbles? how can you ever enjoy a hamburger or taco or pizza or chicken or steak or anything with tiny bites, by the time you get a few pieces eaten, it is cold. i guess i am missing the bigger bites... beats me...i don;t understand how i used to eat and not be hungry, why can;t i do it now? also sometimes i feel empty and weak in my tummy area, is it from losing the weight i carry around and have no more? other then that i feel great... no pains, no dumping. i move around better. i have hard time getting my water in, it makes me gag sometimes,,, and anything i put in it smells and tastes to sweet...i am scared i am not getting enough proteiin in, because i think i do not eat enough and am sick of what i do eat. so i was also wondering, i read somewhere in here that someone puts protein in their water with cystal lite. is there a tasteless protein? crsytal lite and vanilla or chocolate protein sound pukey to me....i have wasted to much money trying something to drink and tossing it away.... and my doctor ok me to eat any foods, but cabbage, celery, salads and a few other things i can;t think of right now, due it is so late abut 2am right now... oh yeah has your smells been different also ok guess i will go...i have rambled on to much and most likely didn't expain myself well either. nite to all hugs glendalee

It sounds like you're eating a little too small if you're going for pencil eraser sized bites. Everyone is different I'm sure, but I use a baby spoon, or only fill a teaspoon 1/2 way per bite of things like beans, puddings, etc. I'm one week short of your surgery date, but i can usually take in around 3-4 oz of food per serving. Chicken is a no-no for me so far, unless it's ground up really good - I think my stomach isn't quite ready for that yet. I'm getting my 80g of protien primarily by taking one shake for breakfast (46-50g of protein depending on the product), then 2 meals and 2 snacks of about 10-20g per meal and 7g per snack. As for tasteless protein products, I've got Unjury (unflavored) and AnyWhey (unflavored). The only problem with them is you can't use them with hot foods or else they get lumpy. For things like crystal light they work great - just make sure to add them to room temp water, then add ice afterwards (helps them to dissolve easier - remember HS chemistry). Good luck with the journey - remember that you'll lose more readily if you're getting your protein in than if you're not!

I understand how you are feeling. I too am to the point where you are WE EAT TO LIFE.....First time in our life for me...and it really stinks...But it will get better when you are getting in more protein...Jeff told you about the flavorless protein....Just take one meal at a time and things will get easier....OMG Yes my smell has changed....Well hang in and I will talk to you later....

well thank you for the replies..... i guess i need to find this unjury protein... i know i need more so i guess i will have to force myself. i am at the point where i do not want to even eat. it is very hard to find foods or drinks without sugars. seems like sugar is in everything. how much sugar can yall have per day? is there a difference from natural sugar and sugar? this morning i was trying to take my meds, and could not even get them down but 2 and then i got to feeling nausea as i was drinking the water. so i said to heck with the other 2 and went back to bed, i even miss breakfast my hubby made me, which was just an egg. seems like laying down helps.... seems like decaf tea is ok, so i will just drink that. gosh i will b glad when i can enjoy foods again, how do you know when you are full? if you never get hungry and can;t eat that much? ok i am done whinning for the day..... hugs and thanks again glendalee

Glenda I think what you are feeling is normal. I went through a very short period of just feeling like I didn't want to even bother eating because it was just too much work. And sometimes when I would try new foods it wouldn't sit right and back up it would come. And taking my vitamins (chewables) everyday is a fight for me. I just don't like the texture or something about my chewables so it's a struggle to get them down everyday. But protein is our friend right now and it's soooo important to get that down everyday. Pick one thing to work on for that week and then the following week add another thing to work on. Like this week work on getting all your protein in... then next week add getting all your liquids in. Take it in little doses so it's not so overwhelming. Pick up some protein bars and try eating a bar a day. You can eat a little at a time and spread the 1 bar out for the whole day. And cottage cheese has been a lifesaver for me. It's and easy 14 grams of protein for a 1/2 cup serving and it goes down easy. Instead of plain water drink the decaf tea instead. Make up a big pitcher of it and put it in the fridge for yourself. You don't have to drink plain water to get your liquids. Water can be heavy & hard on the tummy for some people. Sugar free ice tea is a nice alternative. I was told by my doc that I can have 10 grams of surgar per meal. And natural sugar I can tolerate more grams. And I found lots of things at the local supermarket that is sugar free or low (10g or less) sugar. I even found sugar free hot fudge to go on top of my Bryers sf ice cream and sf jelly to go with my low sugar peanut butter. Hang in there hun, it does get easier and better. But the most important part is to get that protein in. My doc said he doesn't even care so much about calories right now... his main concern is PROTEIN! You should be trying to get about 80gms or more a day! And don't worry, you're not whinning... that's what we are all here for to share our struggles and get encouragment from others! Cheers!

I have to chew chew chew as a lap band pt .. my hubby is a RNY 10 mos post and he can take big bites and then he feels sick so if he puts then in small bite size portion he can eat more and not feel sick.. I also have taken tme to do major dental work to help me with chewing small size food. Just goes to show I need as much help as i can get LOL. dental work planned so far is 8 crown 2 root canals and 2 crown lenghting and not to mention deep scalling .. now this helps me to eat soft food .. small amounts.. not sure what i am gonna do when my dental work is all done .. but Having sore gums and sore teeth remind me i cannot eat much .. sad reailty LOL But it woirks for me LOL be well Lisa