When Eating Sucks!

Next Thursday will be seven weeks post-op.  A day in which I thought I would never get to!  In the first two weeks post-op while trying to satisfy my ravenous "head hunger" on stuff like yogurt and suger-free jello, I was counting the days until I could eat some meat and other foods of substance. For at seven weeks the bar is lifted and I am allowed to introduce any and all foods into my diet. But the thing that's changed along the way is that at about the week and a half or two week mark my head hunger subsided and my "longing" to eat has become a "loathing" to eat.  Not a bad thing for somebody who's life revolved around the next binge!  You would think. But even though I've gotten myself on a regualr exercise routine, and have lost probably 60 pounds(or more) in six weeks, I feel like a mess. I feel completely exhausted most of the time the last week, I haven't been able to get much water in, and I know that my protein intake is way below what it should be.  Although I know that I have to get more diligent with the water and protein supplement (to get it from food at this point is impossible because I can't eat), I wonder if there's anything else I should be doing. I try and chew at least 2 multi-vitamins a day, but I've fallen off of the calcium carbonate (tums) because a couple of guys here said that it basically does nothing. Why am I always so tired and without basic energy after losing all this weight? It's getting depressing because even the necessary daily obligations are beginning to seem like mountains lately. Any advice?

Ok Tim, Congratulations on your 60 pound loss. Now, I’ll “weigh-in.” And with some “Ice-Water” in the face Observations… (I support you, and I’m Pulling For You! But Sorry, No Coddling to push you further down the road you’re on…) You got it. It is a “Daily Obligation.” It’s right up there with Breathing (and you don’t hear anyone biotching about that one.) When I first thought about the major “Re-Think” That seems to come standard with WLS.. (And it’s a “Re-think” of everything…) The very first thought that came to mind? Success comes with a Backbone, NOT a Wishbone! It’s a “catch-phrase” of a very successful Post-Op friend of mine. Checkout- There's No Crying in Baseball (PDF) by Leilani Seven weeks post –op? Dam!  Wish I could be more sympathetic/supportive. At seven weeks post-op I was still NPO. (profile) Nothing!  A Freakin’ Sponge to moisten my tongue. At 8 weeks out? TPN seemed a pretty good alternative to ANY food. But that’s not Livin’. That’s slowly “Dying Lighter.” 70% of WLS Post-Ops reach and maintain success. That means 3 out of every 10…. (and just count the guys on the Board?) End up, either- 1.) Not reaching Goal Weight… (Because they didn’t “Work Their Tool, and take advantage of this awesome opportunity.) 2.) Having substantial Regain… (same reason) OR- 3.) Suffering from Mal-absorption or Eating Disorder that reduces their Quality of Life… Ever read those posts from people at 2 years out, living on shakes and boiled eggs And biotching about a Life of Constipation and Weakness? You’re a few steps down that road…. DON’T BE THAT GUY! Even as a Thin, Normal-Looking-Man, Neuropathy, Weakness, Atrophied Bowels, etc… All of those SUK. Step Up Dude! Use these first 6 Months to Learn to- EAT Like a Healthy Normal Person, That’s a Balanced Diet with Fiber and Vegetables and All… And then?  Enjoy Health and Happiness from Now on…. That’s It. It Suks to take all those Vitamins, It Suks to make sure you get in your Water, It Suks to make sure you get in your Protein…Tough! The alternative Suks Worse.  It Ain’t the “Easy Way Out.”  Literally. This!  Is the Hard Part. Overcome Nausea, and “Food Fear” by trying new things… Don’t “Retreat” from “Normal Eating.” Now is the time to tackle this new challenge. If you’re dealing with Post-Op Depression? Hey! You’re among the 80%+ that deal with that! Call the Doc and get something to get you “Over the Hump.” Many Successful Post-Ops started right where you are. Sorry if this seems a little “Tough Love” or harsh…. For Support? If you want recipes to make those transitions to “Real Food” easier? Man, I’ll type All Night…. Need suggestions or Tips on how to “Sneak in” Some extra protein? I can Post Pages… But, right now? Get your head back in the game, And Fix You! Pre-Op, the Challenge is to get approved and do the Pre-Op Diet, You’ve Made it… At 3 days Post-Op, the Challenge is to walk and pass gas, You’ve Made it… At 3 weeks Post-Op, the Challenge is to overcome Head Hunger, You’ve Made it… Now?  The Challenge is to get in your Nutrition, and make the slow transition to “Normal.” You’ll Make It! But only by working just as hard or Harder than you did With the previous Challenges. Just Wait….Around year one when you realize you can Eat or Drink Whatever, without serious instant repercussions? Whole new Battle. Sort of like a Video / Computer Game… Each Level has new, more intricate challenges… This Dam Surgery!  All it does Is make the distance from your mouth to you’re a-hole a lot shorter, And/or make eating Too Much, pretty Unpleasant. Everything Else is Up to You. Whole Bunch of Strangers, you’ll never know, Are here Pulling for you, and ready to offer any help they can, But it’s up to you. Go get it….. Best Wishes- Dx

 

it gets better. i had a hard time for the first 3 months. i kept trying to eat things i loved before. i have learned to like new things and see eating a somthing i have to do. it gets better when your mind figues out that you can't do the things you did before. your taste buds do change try new things and see how they work. i love cucumbers now and lamb and i hated them before

Hey Beast..... look like Dxe unloaded his hard drive...all is true....but the being tired....maybe the water, maybe the protein.... but I think you have a 18 wheeler body, and tring to run in on moonshine.... you are still carrying a wide load and not putting any fuel in....it happened to me.....about 4 months the energy started to come back...it will get better.... now sip tha****er bottle Russ

Thanks guys!  I needed a swift kick in the butt to get me thinking again. You guys are great!  A really informative and thoughtprovoking reply Dex, and I will keep it stored in my memory for some time.

B³, About that offer to pass on any “tips or tricks,” That helped make the challenges easier? I’m serious as a turd in the punch-bowl! In fact, there’s a whole Board of guys out here who have Some info to swap. From “Best South-Beach-High-Protein-Bars” to “How to cook a Chicken Breast so it’s not too dry.” Use this Board! There’s a whole crowd of guys out here, Eatin’ and ****tin’ and Livin’ like Pros! Once you get to the “How’s this exercise sound?”- Posts, I’m more useless than most. But Nutrition? I might not know it all, But I bet five American dollars, I know someone who does. (or I can find ‘em right quick!) I’m looking forward to a long line of success stories coming from you! Best Wishes- Dx

 Bro nut up at 7 weeks post op I was working on a costruction site in the heat of summer not thinking if I  liked food or not. Think of your protien and water as a most do everyday .Sometimes everyone needs a boot in the ass just do it

In addition to amening what the other guys have said, I just want to check and see if you're getting B12 through some method other than your multivitamin.  Shots, sublingual tablets, liquid sublingual, or nasal spray?  These are the methods that work for RNY patients.  If your energy is low and you're not doing any of these, that would be the first stop. After that, I'd say get your protein and exercise.  I was pretty lethargic the first couple months post-op, but I just kept making myself do aerobic activity (recumbant bike, in my case) and eventually that seemed to help get my energy back.  At first 100 minutes total a week was a challenge; this week I clocked 300.  The more you do, the more you can do, and simpler daily tasks seem effortless by comparison.

Tim, I went through the exact same thing.  If you are not on a chewable iron, make sure you get on one.  That helped me a lot with the energy...or at least it did in my head.  Here is a good one here at www.bestbariatricsupply.com  You might be able to find the same thing somewhere else cheaper but this one works great for me...and the pill is one of the sweetest things you get to eat. 

You get there bro.  Eating does suck.  I had the ok to go balls out at 4 months and I tried steak that first night and I thought I was eating roadkill. It tasted like I walked out back, carved the cow in the backyard, and threw it on the grill. It was disgusting. I was so bummed that now all meat except chicken (which I ate for 2 months every night and now hated) sucked. Then all of a sudden it flipped and now I am eating it all. Now fish is my problem. I never ate tuna before surgery, but I ate fish, shellfish, almost everything but lobster and now all seafood sucks....EXCEPT TUNA. I love it now. You'll goes through ups and dowsn every week. That's why guys refer to this as the "ride" of a lifetime, because it really is a roller coaster.  I would have a great week eating and people were happy I was finally eating "normal". the next week I would try the same stuff and have to revert back to yogurt, cottage cheese, and shakes because I wasn't getting the right amounts in. Just make sure that the water is in, the protein gets in, and stick with foods that work. Sure you'll get sick of something but replace it with something else for a week and then you'll realize how much you miss it or how sick you really were of it. All that counts is water, protein, supplements (try the Twin Labs calcium citrate. I was a candy fiend and they are my "sweet tarts" now), and exercise. Everything will fall into place eventually.