CT Board Regulars..Please Read and Comment

Greetings, I need some help and encouragement. I feel like I'm eating all day to get in my protein. I'm on stage five, and I keep a daily food log. Here was today's menu; you will see what I mean. Can someone comment or tell me what I'm doing right or wrong. Thank you so much for all the continued support. And, by the way, I can eat 4oz at a meal, not 2. Maybe my surgeon had giant thumbs??? Are all you really only eating 2oz at a meal??? If I'm doing this right I should be eating 65-70 grams of protein a day, between 600 & 800 hundred calories and 48-64oz of fluid. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I'll be 5 weeks post op next Tuesday and I've lost over 35 lbs. Thanks for the help... Breakfast 10 oz coffee 4 oz yogurt 1oz lf cheese hot tea Lunch 2 oz CIB 3 oz cot cheese water Dinner 3oz tkey chili water ½ protein bar 2oz chicken Snapple 2 viactiv chew Totals: Protein 60 Calories 550 Fluid 48

Hi Paula, You are doing great. Remember that the soft food like yogurt and cottage cheese are not going to fill you up like chicken, fish or beef will. At five weeks you are getting alot more protein in than most people do at that point. Just try to up your fluids some more and make sure you aren't drinking 1/2 hour before, during or 1/2 hour after meals. Don't sweat the 2oz issue as it depends on the food that you are eating. I don't think 2 oz ever really worked for me after the initial 2 weeks. Good luck with your journey. Sounds like you are moving along just fine. Linda

Linda, thanks so much for the reply. I feel like I'm pigging out. Do you count calories? Am I right with the protein and calorie intake? How I agonize, ( ) but I'm so into this and want to be successful. Thank you again, I read your comments often.

Im just ahead of you. I dont count calories honestly at this point. My surgeon and everybody else said thats not an important issue right now it's jus****ching the carbs and getting protein and fluids in. Sometimes I think I can eat too much also, but isn't that a funny thing compared to how it used to be thinking about not eating enough?? (I would fool myself into thinking i needed some chicken wings to accompany the large pizza lol).

Too funny, thanks for the perspective, I must be losing my long term memory with my finger in the peanut butter jar and one hand on the ice cream. Your right, compared to where we were we are eating very little!

Paula: I agree with Linda. You are making great food choices. Do you like seafood or are you allowed it yet? Tuna and shrimp have become a big part of my diet. They are filling and a great source of protein. I do still have a protein shake a day. I can not eat much at one sitting. I still measure when I am home or at work and I stick to 2-3 ounces per meal. I find that is easier to do now that it was a month out. I think it has to do with the pouch still healing and not having full sensation back right after surgery. I don't really count calories at this point but I have a good idea of everything I consume and the nutritional values. Try to up your fluids. I still struggle with this daily!!! Fluids fill me up and throw off my eating so I am still trying to find a happy medium. Best of luck to you. Chryssie

Try Isopur drings, they are at health food stores and GNC stores. They are high in protien and very good, they come in different flavors and are like a juice or flavored water drink. Be careful of the soft calorie diet. All your soft foods can slow weight loss. And also Atkins lowcarb shakes are awesome and good for protien, fiber and have no sugar to upset your stomach. These suggestions are right from my nutritionist. My aunt is 2 weeks post op and I am Jan 24. And they also told us we will be able to eat 4 to 7 oz in the end, so you sound fine. And a biggie they told us is not to eat your meal and drink at the same time wait 30 minutes before you drink. You don't want to stretch that new tummy or get sick. Good Luck!

While is may seem to be eating all day to get in your protein, I don't think you're eating all that much, really. But, if you feel like it's too much, you might ditch some of the CIB and protein bars and just use a good protein shake 1x a day. I assume it probably seems like you're eating all day, especially because you've got to space you eating and drinking out so far! Also, it's not unusual to be able to eat 3 or 4 ounces of soft foods, especially if you do it over the course of 15 or 20 minutes. So, I wouldn't worry about that. Since you seem to be doing well in all other regards, I'd guess that this is working OK for you right now. Just keep an eye on how long it takes you to eat all this food to make sure you're not grazing. Best regards, Lisa C P.S. Viactive chews are not apropriate calcium for us. We do not properly absorb calcium carbonate, so you should be taking calcium citrate. Please look into getting a new form of calcium.

Paula, You are doing very well! I know you feel like you are always eating, but you are getting everything you need in. I wasn't able to do it (enough protein & water****il a few weeks ago! Just eat 3 meals, keep fluid seperate and go with a higher protein drink. I never used the CIB, doesn't taste very good and not all that much protein..... Good luck! Carmen