Reality check 5 weeks post Band-VSG

i had my revision 5 weeks ago.

My surgeon has no pre-op diet ... going in my weight was 212 and my BMI was 35.

Currently I am drinking 60 grams of protein (2 Premier Protein shakes) and 64+ ounces of water a day.

Most days I have a yogurt and a few bites of fruit or vegetable. I have had some chicken soup with veg and soft meat.

I am not hungry -- and I see no point in cooking when I eat 2-3 bites and feel satisfied.

I feel good but am concerned about going for months on only 350-450 calories a day ..... am I setting myself up for an even slower metabolism?

My scale has me at 192 today --- so 20 pounds of my excess of 70 seems like a great first month.

I welcome comments, suggestions -- 61 years old and walking for exercise .... around 7,500 steps a day, working up to 10K

It won't always be like this, make the most of it and lose the weight the best way you can. There's no such thing as too fast. I had an RNY but lost all my excess weight (100lbs), plus an extra 20lbs in just over 5 months. My RMR is 1860 at 56, which is pretty good.

Keeping active will keep you healthy while you lose the weight. Keep up with your fluids and you'll be fine!

Congrats on the 20lbs!

Thanks, Kim

"I feel good but am concerned about going for months on only 350-450 calories a day ..... am I setting myself up for an even slower metabolism?"

I had the same concern! But before long you will be eating more.

I'm glad you feel good, but you should be following the diet plan you were given and I highly suspect it wasn't what you're doing currently.

First, 350-450 calories a day is not healthy, nor sustainable long-term. If you tell your surgeon or nutritionist what you're doing, you will likely end up with a lecture. Just taking your multivitamins and calcium won't get you the micronutrients you get from eating real foods. You are a bit older than me and I think very carefully about my food choices at my age and you should, too!

So here are some of the things that most surgeons and nutritionists will tell you that you should not be doing long term:

• Drinking your calories. That includes protein shakes. Consider trying to wean yourself off of them and starting to work in some lean meats/fish/low fat cheeses instead. Continue eating fruits and veggies. If you are still on soft foods, fish is a really good starting place for adding in low-fat protein.
• Don't eat "slider" foods. These are things that easily slide through your stomach and won't fill you up and include ice cream, yogurt, smoothies, etc.

One of the things you should keep in mind is the lack of hunger you have now will not always be there. It's normal to not feel hungry in your first weeks out and that is a great time to start establishing good eating habits to sustain you when your hunger returns. It won't come roaring back with a vengeance if you're following your diet plan.

Do keep up the good work on drinking water and getting exercise. That's fantastic! Congrats on your weight loss to date. You can still lose weight and eat a more "normal" diet that will be healthier for you.