Diet progression INSANITY!

No offense, but I thought that is why some people where on here, was to share what they went through and what their doctor's diet was/is, or just personal experience through surgery. More or less that is opinion. The OP was putting it out there and of course people are going to respond, just like you did. Comments like yours is why some people never post asking for advise or opinions...


Just my two cents and not trying to cause an issue.. just saying.. and that is all I have to say on this...

I'm all in favor of sharing personal experience. The problem is that opinion very often comes across as researched advice! Any person on here can say "you should do XYZ," but none of us (AFAIK) have medical training, and none of us know the specifics of a poster's medical history and surgical situation.

It's very common to see posters asking, "I'm one week post-op, what can I eat?" and the answer is ALWAYS, "what your doctor told you to" because it varies between surgeons. Maybe I was OK to eat cottage cheese at a week out per my doctor's advice with how my surgery was done... and then I tell Poster B that it's unequivocally OK. So Poster B eats it at a week out, but their surgery was done differently, their surgeon doesn't want them eating it until 3 weeks out, and because of how the surgery was done, Poster B gets food stuck in a staple line, blows a leak, and gets terribly sick because of something I told them was OK.

Totally hypothetically example. Totally out there. But that's the idea of it.

When (as I understand it), the OP said "I am ignoring my surgeon's post-op eating plan, please tell me what I should be eating," I am disagreeing with it. If it means other people never ask for advice on how to ignore their doctors? Maybe that's not such a bad thing.

First and foremost, I am the DEACTIVATED member, and I deactivated my account because I thought, 'I really don't need that kind of advice, negativity, etc'. But then I reconsidered, after all, I DID ask for it. Let me first say that no where in my original post did I mention eating crap, over eating, or eating beyond my means. I simply stated that I had surgery in Mexico by a surgeon who was vague on post op plans. I trusted him enough to have the surgery. I also am very clear now when I say- I am following the Cornell plan because it makes the most nutritional sense TO ME. I did have protein pre op. You know why?? Because FOR ME, it makes no sense to eat/ drink a bunch of artificial junk to shrink your liver. My stomach was empty and I made sure my body was in ketosis. I have tried to respond positively to everyone's comments because I asked for opinions. But after those comments really hit me, it hurt my feelings. I am new to WLS. I may be a nurse, and I do have some medical mindset, that is why I chose to follow a plan that better suits me and my expectations regarding nutrition. I do not just want to lose weight, I want to be healthy! I have lost the weight before, and felt horrible. Diet pills, yo yo dieting, beating myself up. But this website should offer positive outlooks for people seeking  advice. There's no point in sugar coating things, but why not read things and think about how YOU really truly felt before your surgery, and after if you didn't have such a big support group. My original post may not have been clear enough. It was a fleeting moment of curiosity while I was hanging out with my husband- lesson learned for sure. But again I say- I follow a plan, no it's not my surgeon's plan, because- while I think he was a great surgeon, he is not my long term practitioner. Now, I am having trouble getting in enough protein, I have found some things make me sick, especially milk products. And I am feeling unsure whether I will be able to do this, keep it off, etc. I appreciate everyone's time to comment and make suggestions etc, but don't get it twisted- I'm choosing to follow a plan I thought made the most sense. I'm not eating junk, carbs, sugars (added) etc.  One thing I have learned from this post- I will THINK before I speak to anyone or give advice about WLS. this is really hard y'all. If it is so easy for some of you, I commend you. But it's not how I ended up being almost 300 lbs- and I am sure not about to knock anyone with half a brain on here looking for friendship and support. 

Although I would never suggest that someone NOT follow their surgeon's plan, as I pointed out to one of the other respondents (above), many surgeons have their patients move to soft foods right away with no ill effects (and with the added benefit that they often have far less trouble eating than people who are on liquids and purées for a lengthy period).  One of my huge pet peeves here is when people claim that if you don't do liquids or purées only for a certain period of time you are risking physical damage to your pouch!  Ok  eating steak at a week out might be a problem, but eating refried beans or eggs or soft cheeses aren't "dangerous".

Unfortunately, there are times when some doctors DON'T know best, especially when it comes to nutrition and vitamins, and we have to take responsibility for making our own decisions.  

I am sure that no one *****sponded here intended to pass judgment on you.  You need to understand, though, that those of us who have been here for many years have also seen many people who abandoned their surgeon's rules early out and then failed to get the weight off and keep it off.  We see that far more than people who make informed choices and do just fine, and the "tough love" approach is usually the only way to get through to someone who may (and I am not saying this applies to you, because I don't know you) be rationalizing their post-op eating behaviors.

i just thought it might help you to know where people here, especially the "vets" are coming from in their responses.

Lora

Thank you, you are very kind in explaining/rationalizing other's responses. I was/an looking for support here, because very few know I even had the surgery at home. I have a doc, he's fabulous and supportive, but knitted little about the sleeve. I have a surgeon who's agreed to care for me if complications occur, but otherwise, I'm left to my judgement and the Cornell plan. I would never jeopardize my health to eat a food. Now I have made a few bad decisions like mashed potatoes, low fat frozen yogurt,  but that's about it. I'm finding it much much easier to find foods that are goodand good for me being on a soft diet, I still struggle with head hunger, and the unrealistic expectations of weight loss, and the fear I may fail. Thank you again for the support, and congrats on your success!

I thought I would never like soy milk, but I tried it and did. I eat cream of wheat made with soy milk and now I can eat oatmeal made with soy milk. Also, buy the PB2 powdered peanut butter to add to chocolate protein shakes. If you buy protein powder mix it with soy milk to up the protein. You can also buy powdered fat-free milk to boost protein in yogurt or anything as it's pretty much taste-free.

Thanks Lori! I have heard of the PB2 powder but haven't found it yet. I have tried the lean shakes, special K (whoa on the sugar), Isopure, Wheybolic 60(which seems to be the best right now. I can get in about 1 a day- but it is a real struggle. Since I have been able to do more food protein I have been hitting between 30-40 a day. I just get the worst heartburn/reflux with all the protein drinks. I have the kefir- not too bad, I am going to try the soy though :) One thing I have been doing is mixing my own protein with the nurtibullet thing- spinach, kefir, tuna...it's really not bad- just.. not great either. 

I haven't tried the Isopure post surgery. Pre-op I tried the fruit punch - tasted like sweat. The grape was doable. I LOVED the Unjury choc. splendor before surgery - gag when I try to drink it now and I have 1/2 a tub left. Unjury does have a sample box that they sell on their website that includes powders: unflavored, chicken broth, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. Good luck.

Have you or anyone tried the unflavored protein? I have given it some serious thought- but it is so expensive, I hate to buy MORE gross protein and not like it! Oh if I could find a decent unflavored protein, the possibilities would be endless!

I would buy the sample packet of Unjury unflavored. I bought it on the Unjury website. As someone else once said 'it's unflavored but not without taste". I have added it to yogurt, pudding. As long as there's a high ratio of real food to protein powder it's not too bad. For instance for a 5.3 oz. Dannon lite and fit green yogurt, I'd put in a teaspoon to start, mix it and try it. If you can stand more then add it. I think it would do good in anything that has stronger flavors, spices.  I also always drink protein shakes from a container with a lid that you can drink through. Not smelling it is 1/2 the solution.

As far as the PB2, I found it in one of our huge grocery stores in with the regular peanut butter. They even had small sampler size packs so you could try it. Of course the health stores have it but it's more expensive.

As to the few bad apples on this site - snarky, condescending, rude - I blocked them (9 of them for me). One of my first posts on this site was about the long-timers acting irritated that newbies ask the same questions. Hey, if you don't want to keep answering them, then don't. It's a shame because someone really looking for help - as you were - get aggravated and then give up on the forum. Or someone with less self-esteem feels bullied and stays away. There are more decent, kind people here than aren't.

I'll send you a friend request then we can PM if you want.

Take care & good luck!

Lori