One month out and I miss food

Fuzzy brain could be due to your low caloric intake, but then again it could be due to the fact that you had surgery less than a month ago.  It can take weeks to feel normal again.

FWIW I still haven't had beans, and I decided early on to avoid sugar-free pudding and such because it reminded me too much of the bad old days. I am starting to crave beans, but just on principle I won't eat them yet, if ever.  I don't eat nuts because they are a trigger food for me, so it's not worth the risk.  However, the lean dense proteins?  I'm all over those, baby!  :)

Can you have canned chicken?  Eggs?  Ham?  Turkey sausage?  Plain nonfat Greek yogurt?  Deli turkey (the 97-98% fat free type)? 

How are you getting your protein?

How are your fluids?

The portion of your postop guidelines book referring to losing 25% of excess weight in that time period isn't applicable to everyone, IMVHO, me not being a doctor or anything.  Some people have this surgery when they weigh 200 pounds, 225 pounds, 250 pounds.  Those of us who post in this forum have to have different expectations, I think.  You might want to discuss that with your surgeon to make sure that you aren't setting the bar too high for yourself by comparison.

You are doing wonderfully well and have a lot to be proud of.

You will be able to see your weight loss before long, and you should already be feeling it. 

I had gallbladder surgery in August and was hospitalized for the same amount of time and the recovery was comparable but I didn't have the fuzzy brain after that. That's the only reason I'm hesitant to blame the fuzzy brain on the surgery. However, previous low-carb diets that I tried (and ultimately failed) did leave me feeling fuzzy-brained. That's why I'm thinking it might have something to do with my diet. 

Nuts and beans have never been a trigger food for me, which is why it's so strange to me that I'm craving them now. I wonder if there is some nutrient in those foods that I am lacking and am trying to make up for somehow. I am also craving a nice, green salad, but am not allowed to have leafy greens until 3 months post-op. I also REALLY miss cauliflower. My husband is great at making cauliflower into ANYTHING else. Want some pizza? BAM! Here's some cauliflower pizza. Want some mac and cheese? How about cauliflower and cheese! I know I'll be allowed to have cauliflower again in 2 months, but it was one of those foods that we relied on so much on my pre-op diet and I'm having trouble finding something else as versatile.

I am getting PLENTY of lean, dense proteins, but they're just leaving me feeling heavy and tired. I regularly eat canned chicken, eggs, and deli turkey. I am not allowed to have ham, and I tried a turkey kielbasa yesterday and it was too salty for me. I can have plain non-fat greek yogurt, but I don't really like it so I steer clear of it. A typical day's diet for me is a Kroger Carbmaster yogurt for breakfast, half a turkey burger patty and a light babybel cheese (if I have room) for lunch, 3 ounces of chicken with some canned carrots or green beans on the side (but I only get a bite of the vegetables down before I'm too full to eat.) My fluids are good. I drink 60-70 ounces of water every day. I haven't had any caffeine at all since at least a week before my surgery. 

I think I'm really just already getting sick of the few things I am allowed to eat and would like some variety. I do miss being able to have chocolate every once in a while and would love to have some sugar free pudding, or one of these cool recipes I find online, but they have more than 5 carbs, which is apparently the upper limit of what I'm allowed to eat in one of my 3 meals per day. 

Got it.  Thanks for providing so much detail about your plan!  It is pretty rigorous, at least at first.  I'm guessing they don't want you challenging your staple line with harder-to digest foods? 

I can see where you have the blues over lack of variety.  Like you, I steer clear of those sugar-free things because they are still so carby.  As I'm still limiting myself to 700 or less calories a day, including my protein, that doesn't leave much room for such things.

I wish I could say something more helpful than "hang in there," but at least you have that broader food plan to look forward to in the relatively near future.  In the meantime you should look for and celebrate both your SVs and your NSVs, which should be coming along at a good pace because you are compliant with your plan.  They really can help.  :)

Thanks. I think what I really needed was to just kind of whine and moan at some people who might know what I'm going through. Also, with the weight loss, I'm having weird mood swings, presumably from the hormones being released. I know I weigh myself too frequently (twice a day) but I just keep hoping that the weight will come off faster. Truth be told, I'm struggling a lot more than I thought I would. 

I just want to give you a great BIG hug and say it's going to be ok...because it is. I had the RNY, and I have to say the most difficult thing for me was learning to eat after surgery. I totally understand wanting a small healthy salad, but your new tummy can't handle it yet. I remember crying thinking I would never be able to eat subway or salad again in my life. And you know what? it's not true. I just had to wait until my new tummy could handle it. Just think of this as a time for your body to heal before you ask it to digest all the other foods you're craving. It sucks in the beginning and that's the truth! I would be so stressed out after having one meal I would have to go take a nap. I thought, OMG...I have to do this 3 times a day??? The thought of a snack...lol...that was like opting to have my finger nails torn off.

Your body needs time to heal...and slowly, but surely, it will get better...you will have more choices...and it won't seem like a lifetime sentence of doom. Keep whining...screaming...complaining...have a fit. Then, go grab some water...take a walk...have some deep breaths, and go eat something on your plan...repeat...repeat...repeat...and before you know it...it will get better. I promise you...it will get better. Be patient with yourself. Remember, when we were able to pick and choose what we wanted to eat, look where we ended up! Hang in there....you have just given yourself the greatest gift that keeps on giving...and besides, there's no return policy....You're going to be great...and successful! You can do this!

THank you. It's so hard for me to recognize that I'm still healing because I feel healed up. I am back to working and exercising and aside from the acid reflux, I feel more or less fine. 

Trying to be helpful.......I looked at some bariatric websites and most of them don't breakdown the nutrient values of their recipes.  But maybe you can calculate them if they appeal to you.  Eggface has great recipes for small "bites" (quiches) that may fit your needs.   Your allowances are very low, ie 500 calories a day and 5 carbs per meal.  Also, I just took a look at cookinglight . com.  I found that you can search recipes by nutrients -- so I entered 200 calories per meal and less than 10 carbs (would not accept a lower value) -- and came up with loads of recipes which would meet your guidelines.  You can also limit the search by food item such as chicken recipes, etc. I'm sure many of them won't fit into your program (I don't know what all your "can eats" are) -- but maybe you'll find some that will help you through the tough times.  Adding some variety may help. 

BTW, I know I won't have a GREAT post-op experience. I'm sure I'll have cravings like you.  But I'll do my best not to make myself miserable. I'll know ahead of time what my guidelines will be and research so I'll be able to plan meals and menus; I don't want to fall into the trap of eating the same thing all the time.

Hope things improve and you feel better soon.