what do you eat

What does everyone eat. I can eat anything. Except sugar and stuff like that. I never went with the baby food stage. Do you snack though the day. I feel bad when i do and now that i can start exercising i do even more and push myself when i do. but when i snack it is something like fruit or cracker with peanut butter. is this bad am i doing some thing wrong? What do you think Kristine 337/303/185

Hi Kristine, The one major thing I've learned in 2 months on the board is that every doctor seems to have a different post-op routine. I had 1 week of clear liquids, followed by 6 weeks of soft proteins, lunch meat, and a protien shake a day. For the next four months I get to add soft veggies, skinless fruit and firmer protiens. After that, until I reach goal, I get to add everything but processed carbs (you know bread, pasta, etc.) For the rest of my life I'm to eat a 3:1 ratio of protein to everything else. I have 2 major rules when it comes to how I eat. NO snacking!!! I get 3 meals a day, and I have 20 minutes each to eat them. I also am not to drink anything until an hour after I eat. Personally, I think the rules should be followed as they make perfect sense for everyone. The no snacking keeps your calories down, which of course is the whole point of the surgery. If you let yourself, you can eat the same amount of food post-op as you did pre-op if you snack all day. The 20 minute rule is for the same reason. The no drinking is to help your food stay in your stomach longer so that you don't get hungry quickly. Oh, and the 3:1 ratio is again because protein keeps you full longer and it's the most densely packed nutrient we can get. So, after all that... are you doing anything wrong? Only if it doesn't agree with YOUR doctor's post-op instructions. Dawn

I'm allowed 3 meals and 3 snacks. I'm suppose to get in about 60 g. protein a day, but it's virtually impossible right now. I drink protein shakes and Isopure drinks to try to get in most of my protein. My doctor has me on 1st week liquids, 4 weeks pureed/blended, then soft foods, then solids foods. I would try to break the habit of snacking so that you can develop better eating habits that will help you to stay on track once you're at goal. Good luck! Jackie B

The only thing that taste good to me is peanut butter. I drink tons of water but I haven't found anything that I don't tolerate except the protein drinks. I eat lots of yougurt and drink milk. I try to melt cheese into everything cream of wheat, mashed potatoes and refried beans. All I really want is a grilled cheese sandwhich. Oh well pipe dreams. Oh yeah I drink my water. I don't keep track but as long as my out put is good I figure I am getting enough liquids. I try not to snack but right now. It is hard for me to remember not to drink right before and after I eat. So I end up having to break up my meals. Also I try not to snack because I am a big chicken. It is hard though.

Hi Kristine, I am about 2 months post op and am also wondering if I am doing well food wise. I am taking my vitamins and everyone says that I am losing well but sometimes...well most of the time I can't tell the difference. My normal day is to make sure I eat something, because that has been my problem I am not tolerating food well at all. So my theory is if it stays down I eat it. I know thats not very good but I gotta eat something. I eat either an eggbeater omelet, or tuna on a leaf of romaine or some form of hot cereal. I can't tolerate milk anymore so cold cereal is out of the question. lunch is normally soup or salad. and dinner has to either be rice with ff gravy or ground beef or fish and mashed potatoes. Unfortunately I can no longer eat chicken of any sort, or lunch meats so protein is a huge struggle right now. I make sure if nothing else I get my water in, and I exercise daily. I just try to make sure that I get 3 good meals a day with as little carbs as possible. and sf popsicles are my friend . So just to let you know you are not alone. Jadona

I am 4 weeks post op today...... dr's rules..... 1st day clear liquids then onto full liquids for 1 weeks. then onto mushies for weeks 2 thru 3 now I am allowed soft foods. baked chicken & fish, plus the sof foods.. also I am allowed a little toast & a few crackers now and then. not to exceede 10 carbs per meal ... not including veggie carbs. I eat canned friut, you can buy low carb kinds. veggies, cream soups, salads.. chicken & fish, tuna..veggies, excluding celery & asparagus, they are to fiberous to digest. I drink the slim fast low carb shakes, they are good and have 20 grams of protien each. If I feel I need a snack, I eat something with alot of protien to fill me fast. a couple crackers with peanut butter or cheese, or maybe some cold chicken. I am NOT allowed any kind of beef, even ground beef until 8 weeks post op. if you eat things that are to hard to digest they will not go thru the band and can get stuck and casue the band to slip. that can mean big problems. follow the dr's rules they are given for a reason.

I am 8 weeks out, and my surgeon told me to go ahead and start experimenting, and I am having a hard time with beef, I usually just stick to seafood. I eat a lot of baked potatos and peanut butter. I tried cooked veges, and broccoli didn't settle well with me. But the one thing I really like is the south beach protein bars, they are really good and one has like 20 grams of protein, I try to eat at least one a day. Good luck.

Gene, I tried the southbeach protein bar/meal replacement the other day and loved it. I found it at WalMart but they only sold them individually not by the box. WalMart sells their snack bar by the box but they only have 10 grams of protein. Where did you find them? Lynne

Lynne, I got mine at Payless/Kroger, a local grocery store, they had them 2 for $3, I love the cinnamon creme and peanut butter, they also have a chocolate one, but I haven't tried it yet. South beach also has the breakfast cereal bars which are only 10 grams of protein, but they are really good also, I love the cinnamon raisen one. I don't know if you could go on line and get them by the box or not, I'll check into it and let you know. Good luck. Gene

I'm 6 weeks post-op and am still in the puree stage. I find it interesting how each surgeon has different time frames on diet progression. I was on a week of clears, followed by 2 weeks of full liquids, whi*****luded dairy-based proteins. Now I'm into my 4th week of puree which will last for another 3 weeks. Once I'm 2 months post-op, I can move onto soft foods. I think my puree stage is lasting longer because I am having esophagial spasms (taking Levsin for it) and chronic constipation. I also had adhesions removed during surgery as well as a chunk of small bowel. I am dying to CHEW something! I, too, have noticed that I am snacking, but have really tried to curb that by getting as far away from food as possible. I'm looking forward to joining a gym, but right now my incision is still draining so still have a few more weeks before I can even think of a gym. I try to walk at least 1 to 2 miles a day and have lost 37 pounds since my surgery (8/17). Toni