...possible to fail at one month out??

Okay, so I'm thinking my doc made my pouch too big and my bypass too small!! I've been allowed soft foods since two weeks, and my doc told me I could progress to a normal diet at my own pace. I'm now eating mostly what my family eats (much less, but still seems like more than everyone else here eats!), and I find there really isn't anything I can't eat. I did learn the hard way that too much sugar makes me dump (and boy, is THAT unpleasant!!!!), but I can eat one or two bites of dessert-y type stuff and be okay. I'm losing weight extemely s-l-o-w-l-y, about 15 lbs this first month. I'm tracking my food on fitday, and most days I'm just under 1000 calories, and between 60-80 grams of protein. I usually get most of my water in. Any ideas? Suggestions? Words of encouragement...? Thanks a Bunch, Nancy in CO

Nancy, There was a good post about this on another board I post on I will have to find for you. But it was coming from someone years out from bypass and was a response to someone a month or so out that was saying they could eat anything.....the gist of it was that just becuase you can eat some sugar or some fats.....doesn't mean you should....why sabotage a good thing. Clearly each DR says a different thing regarding food and progression. Mine still has me on pureed and I am 5 weeks out today. Next week I go for a 6 wk follow up and get to advance to softs. But I also know that some people just lose more slowly. Did you work with a nutrisionist before surgery? If so, you might want to call them and let them know what is going on and they might have suggestions. What about excercise? Increasing your activity might help boost things a bit too. But I would talk to your DR and get his opinion. It would be terrible for you to give up thinking it is not working. Good Luck and don't give up! Donna

Hi, Donna! Thanks for your reply! My surgeon's office doesn't have a NUT (after-care is a little lax), so I've not worked with one, but I'm trying to eat the way most other's are here on the site. I do exercise almost daily. This is actually my 2nd WLS; I had the lap-band converted to a simplified bypass ~ similar to the RNY, but with a banana-shaped pouch and only one limb (think "mini-bypass"). In looking back over fitday, I see that I'm a little carb-heavy, so I'm going to try to cut back. Thanks again for your encouragement! Yours, Nancy in CO

Hi Nancy.. You sound like me! I was able to eat anything right away. (ate all my cream of wheat, post op, in the hospital) Was eating chicken at 2 weeks, etc. And yes..I also lost only 15 lbs or so the first month (12 of it the first week) so i was really disapointed. (but i didnt eat desserts and all..because we are not supposed to!) I also had hunger, that alot of people didnt have. ok.. now fast forward to about 8/9 weeks out..and guess what? im throwing up daily. The things that didnt bother me at all at 2 weeks.. make me sick at 8 weeks. (been living on yogart and string cheeze) Im told it just happens.. whats good today..doesnt work tomorrow. but your calorie intake? my Nutritionalist, at 4 weeks post op, said i should only be eating between 500 and 600 calories. So cut back.. just because you CAN eat it, doesnt mean you should. Suzanne (in Spokane WA)

Hey, Nancy. I too have had no problems with anything I've eaten on the soft food diet. I'm counting this as a blessing, and never would have thought that it meant my bypass was not done properly. I stick to the rules of no more than 2 grams of added sugar per serving of anything, no eating and drinking together, protein first, bites no larger than a pencil eraser, chew everything to death, no more than 10 grams of fat per meal. Everything I have eaten has been fine. That included 3 noodles (LOL). I'm not trying any dessert things, rice, soda, or macaroni & cheese. I measure my food so that I'm never putting more than 1/2 cup on my plate. And I've never actually finished 1/2 a cup of anything. I think this tool is FANTASTIC!!! I am glad I am able to tolerate all the foods I've tried. But I'm super glad that I am never hungry, and I truly am eating to live, not living to eat. It's such a tremendous change for me. I did lose a bit more than you in the first month -- about 32 pounds. I walk a mile a day, and am keeping busy cleaning the house. I still have 2 weeks before I go back to work, and then I'll be on a regular diet, eating for life. Don't be afraid because you're tolerating all foods. The bypass isn't designed to make people sick -- that seems to be a sad side effect for a lot of people though. The bypass is designed to make you 1) eat less; 2) feel full on less food; and 3) not absorb all the calories (or nutrients) in the food you eat. Follow the rules, take your supplements, drink your fluids, exercise, and you'll be just fine!