Anyone ever been scared to eat?

When I went for my one week checkup they told me I could start soft foods today. And at the moment I thought yeahhhhhh. Now the time has come and I am scared. Anyone else scared to move to soft foods? I am afraid I will choose the wrong thing or I will over eat. And the weight loss slowed down this week and if I add real food wont that slow it down more? Iknow this is stupid on my part and probably many will laugh but this has been a struggle for me. Now what? I want to eat fish but I used to eat fish with ketchup and I assume I can't eat ketchup since it has sugar init. Any help will be appreciated.  Thanks  Melissa

It is scary. I was equally as excited to move on to soft food, but then I was like what the heck can I eat. It's all trial and error. Think of what sounds good and try. I measure out my portions and weigh it using a digital food scale. That way I know it is exactly 4ozs. I have found that I know when to stop eating. I have eaten a couple of things that didn't taste good after the first few bites and new I should stop and try something different. Your body will guide you... As for ketchup. You should be able to have it. It doesn't have a tremendous amount of sugar and if you use less than the serving size, it'll be even less. I squirt out just a tiny bit and it goes a long way. Try eggs, refried beans, chicken salad, tuna salad, Fage yogurt w/ a little applesauce on top (soooo yummy), grits, or oatmeal. (those are a few things I've tried so far) Hope this helps! Becky

I always am excited to see you post to my questions because I know you are just a couple steps ahead of me. I really appreciate your input and I'm very glad to know I can have ketchup, lol. You really make me feel at ease when I read your posts. You barb, annie, mare and darcie are alot of help to this overly nervous fat chic! I worry too much and I know it but it just so hard not to. Thanks again for you help. Melissa

I'm glad I could help you out a bit. This board has been a lifesaver to me and I plan to try to help out anyone I can. Something else - crackers. I can have those right now and since when you chew them they turn to a mushy blob, I guess it's considered soft. I totally forgot about making sloppy joe's for my husband and eating some w/ a few saltines. YUMM-O. And last night I made eggface's Pizza Bites. Easy and the taste - oh my lord - soooooooo good. You can see food porn at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bekalee/2330074338/ The link to her webpage is listed under that picture and you can adapt that recipe to just about anything you feel like. Becky

I wasn't scared to eat but tried to be very careful.  Start out slow and if it isn't going to agree with you, you'll know it. pretty soon.  At the stage you're at start with yogurt, peanut butter, soft scrambled egg, etc.  Here is a sample diet from the ECU program for level 2.  You'll be fine and will actually enjoy eating real food again.

LEVEL 2

Cottage cheese, low fat (1%)              7.0                   ¼ cup

Egg substitute                                     7.53                 ¼ cup

Egg, scrambled                                   6.76                 1

Egg, boiled                                          6.29                 1

Egg, poached                                      6.27                 1

Yogurt, skim or non fat                      3.25                 ¼ cup

Peanut butter, smooth, reduced fat    4.01                 1 TBSP

Peanut butter, chunky, reduced fat    3.85                 1 TBSP

Cheese, low fat cheddar                     6.90                 1 oz.

Cheese, part skim mozzarella              7.36                 1 oz.

Cheese, swiss                                      7.63                 1 oz.

Couscous, dry                                     5.5175             ¼ cup

Milk, skim                                           2.065               ¼ cup

Soy milk                                              2.745               ¼ cup

Thank you for your help. I am looking forward to having peanut butter again!  Melissa

OMIGOSH!!!!! I would KILL for a scrambled egg right now...LOL AHHHHH!!! I am still on this Optisource crap and last night, I REFUSED to have my last serving!! I did not want any part of it whatsoever!!  YOu can only handle so much watered down strawberry stuff and it starts turning your stomach at the thought of it!! I told hubby I was going on hunger strike till I can have some cream soup or something...ANYTHING!!! I have to wait until next Wednesday to call and talk to nurse to get the okay to move on to stage 2!!! HOW DO YOU DO IT!?? SERIOUSLY?? I am so ready to move on to something with substance after being on liquids for over 3 weeks!! I CANNOT wait to sink my teeth into some cottage cheese...LOL

LOL I understand sorta. I havent been on the optisource stuff but I know I am tired of pudding. I am/was a picky eater I think I am afraid to try new things...no matter how much I fuss at myself and tell myself that if i expect my kids to try new things then I have to also. I guess i just need to put on my big girl pants and get over it! I'm trying I'm trying hard! LOL Melissa

If anyone's looking for stock tips, lemme give you one right now: Sugar-Free Jell-O Pudding.  Buy all the Jell-O Pudding stock you can, because I'm singlehandedly going to blow their sales through the roof in the next few quarters.  They're gonna be rich beyond their wildest dreams, I tell you. I mix a box of SF pudding mix with 1.5 cups Micellar Milk Protein Shake or 1.25 cups Silk Light Soymilk + a scoop of flavored protein powder.   One box of pudding makes 4 regular 1/2-cup servings, but I put them into 5-6 small dishes.  Then I mince or dice some fruit and sprinkle it on top.  Sometimes I add Sugar-Free Cool Whip (stirring in a little more protein powder if I need the protein).   If I'm feeling particularly carb-needy, I'll make a single brownie from Big Train Brownie Mix or No-Pudge Brownie Mix (2 Tb. of either mix, plus 1 Tb. no-sugar-added applesauce or Fage yogurt, then zap in a one-cup container in the microwave for 1 minute) and put a few cubes of that on top of the pudding.   There's a million ways to eat pudding! When I'm having difficulty swallowing, those brilliant little boxes of blessed bounty are a godsend to help me get my protein in without gritting my teeth.

I wasnt scared so I cant relate to that part - but I know many others will. Its a learning process - like riding a bike for the first time, you will fall down and get scrapes but eventually you will get the hang of it - you will quickly learn some foods will work better than others... but you have to check them out to know! Just start slow, measure your portions and eat slowwwwly... oh and chew chew chew! You can still eat ketchup.. you can eat foods with sugar in them - milk has sugar in it :-) you just need to keep an eye on the amount of sugar in the food. I would ask your NUT if you have a guideline - some people are told as low as 6g per serving or less, others are in the 10-15g range.  Typically the small amount of ketchup wont have much effect... especially on that small amount of fish you will be eating :-)