Pushing limits on the road to recovery
I shouldn't be pushing my limits. Everyone tells me "don't push your limits." This is rather difficult for me because I never played by the 'rules' before and it is a challenge to do so now. Let's start off with how am I feeling. I feel great. I am 16 days post surgery. My new stomach has taught me a few new rules - Don't drink too much water, don't eat too fast, don't eat too many carbs and especially Don't eat lettuce!
But this is all quite strange for me. All my research said "it took me six weeks before I could eat chicken" or "it took me months before I could handle an egg." I spent a while considering which would come first for me - the chicken or the egg. Frankly neither was an issue. I was eating poached eggs within four days of coming home from the hospital. I tried chicken just a few days ago and again - not a problem. This might be because I am not eating very much. One egg fills me for hours. A piece of chicken breast may be as only as large as a tablespoon.
I think the disadvantage of feeling good is that silly idea that I am invincible. I have to convince myself that going to exercise three times in one day is a bit excessive. And that it makes sense for me to rest.
Resting is important. It has taken me nearly three weeks to be able to just slow down, stop and rest. Yesterday Marla and I had to commit to not doing a whole day where we wouldn't do chores, no errands, just spending the day resting. Marla was a saint about the whole thing because she watched really bad super hero movies with me (which really weren't very good).
So what have I learned - I really picked up that I have to respect my limits because they are not just a set of rules handed down by doctors, dietitians, and experienced WLS'ers, but they are commandments that my body have set up to say "If you want to be healthy; don't screw around!"
On the other hand, I get very contrary guidance from my body. On one hand, or rather stomach, I cannot eat much. Yet, because I am not eating very much, my blood sugars are very low. I don't want to have more sugars but my doctors are telling me to use juices and carbs to get my levels higher. Advice from the forums and friends are going "no, stay away those empty calories and carbs." Everyone means well and everyone has their own story - I will just make this part of mine. But it comes down to this - I need the advice of everyone on the forums and those who help keep my best interests at heart. I also need to rely on the experience of my surgeon and specialists. So let us just take it all one day at a time, and keep moving forward towards an improved healthier me. Those are the only limits I need to push - the ones that make me a better me.
But this is all quite strange for me. All my research said "it took me six weeks before I could eat chicken" or "it took me months before I could handle an egg." I spent a while considering which would come first for me - the chicken or the egg. Frankly neither was an issue. I was eating poached eggs within four days of coming home from the hospital. I tried chicken just a few days ago and again - not a problem. This might be because I am not eating very much. One egg fills me for hours. A piece of chicken breast may be as only as large as a tablespoon.
I think the disadvantage of feeling good is that silly idea that I am invincible. I have to convince myself that going to exercise three times in one day is a bit excessive. And that it makes sense for me to rest.
Resting is important. It has taken me nearly three weeks to be able to just slow down, stop and rest. Yesterday Marla and I had to commit to not doing a whole day where we wouldn't do chores, no errands, just spending the day resting. Marla was a saint about the whole thing because she watched really bad super hero movies with me (which really weren't very good).
So what have I learned - I really picked up that I have to respect my limits because they are not just a set of rules handed down by doctors, dietitians, and experienced WLS'ers, but they are commandments that my body have set up to say "If you want to be healthy; don't screw around!"
On the other hand, I get very contrary guidance from my body. On one hand, or rather stomach, I cannot eat much. Yet, because I am not eating very much, my blood sugars are very low. I don't want to have more sugars but my doctors are telling me to use juices and carbs to get my levels higher. Advice from the forums and friends are going "no, stay away those empty calories and carbs." Everyone means well and everyone has their own story - I will just make this part of mine. But it comes down to this - I need the advice of everyone on the forums and those who help keep my best interests at heart. I also need to rely on the experience of my surgeon and specialists. So let us just take it all one day at a time, and keep moving forward towards an improved healthier me. Those are the only limits I need to push - the ones that make me a better me.
Everyone means well and everyone has their own story - I will just make this part of mine. But it comes down to this - I need the advice of everyone on the forums and those who help keep my best interests at heart. I also need to rely on the experience of my surgeon and specialists. So let us just take it all one day at a time, and keep moving forward towards an improved healthier me. Those are the only limits I need to push - the ones that
make me a better me
Ya' nailed it on the head in this paragraph!
make me a better me
Ya' nailed it on the head in this paragraph!
Never, and I mean NEVER, trust a fart!! 
Everyone's different- and I mean everyone. If I listened and followed every direction my bariatric team and peeps on this forum have provided my head would be spinning. For instance:
I advanced my food stage before my surgeons schedule because I felt comfortable trying ground bison and boiled shrimp and did not have a problem with it.
My NUT said don't drink water 30 min. before and after a meal, but if a meal takes 30 min. to finish and I had the suggested 4 meals per day, well that's 6 hours out of my waking day that I can't get my 64 oz. of fluid in to prevent dehydration and that math doesn't add up for me. So I drink right up to the meal and abstain during and 20 min. after.
I was told it was OK to reintroduce carbs to my diet, but those are the trigger foods that got me here in the first place. One thing leads to another. So I choose to avoid them or in very small amounts.
My pouch tells me when it's time to end a meal, when I've ingested too much sugar or fat, and basically to cut the **** when I'm doing something I shouldn't. I used all information given to me as a guideline, but instinctively listen and trust what my own body is telling me. Just sayin'...
Tim T.
I advanced my food stage before my surgeons schedule because I felt comfortable trying ground bison and boiled shrimp and did not have a problem with it.
My NUT said don't drink water 30 min. before and after a meal, but if a meal takes 30 min. to finish and I had the suggested 4 meals per day, well that's 6 hours out of my waking day that I can't get my 64 oz. of fluid in to prevent dehydration and that math doesn't add up for me. So I drink right up to the meal and abstain during and 20 min. after.
I was told it was OK to reintroduce carbs to my diet, but those are the trigger foods that got me here in the first place. One thing leads to another. So I choose to avoid them or in very small amounts.
My pouch tells me when it's time to end a meal, when I've ingested too much sugar or fat, and basically to cut the **** when I'm doing something I shouldn't. I used all information given to me as a guideline, but instinctively listen and trust what my own body is telling me. Just sayin'...
Tim T.
I agree with your opening line. I did follow all of the rules for my first 3 months post op but then I started to get in more bad carbs. I'm a junk food junkie and I've had trouble with that for years. People who learn not to get back into bad habits end up having an easier time in the long run. Food addiction is one of the hardest to beat. During your "honeymoon" period immediately post-op, you have an opportunity to develop good eating habits. You are satisfied because you feel full on far fewer calories. Make sure you are getting your protein and water. If there is really a problem with your blood sugar, contact your primary or your Nut about which foods to have. Stay away from simple sugars and white carbs. However, you would do well to have complex carbs such as most fruit. You may want to find out which ones are ok for now. Some that provide good vitamins may have too much sugar for the early stages of your recovery.
I know it sounds like a long time while you are waiting to go through the various stages of eating in recovery. You may be able to eat chicken one day and be gagging on it another. If you are having chicken, make sure that the meat is moist. You certainly do not want to be eating dry chicken. You'll probably spit it out. I am a meat eater, but I do like eggs and, separately, various fish. Most fish is cooked moist and shouldn't give you much problem.
You should keep a list of foods you can eat in the earliest stages of your post-op diet. You'll watch that list grow. There are many recipes available from the Recipe Forum and there are a few cookbooks that have been written by WLS members. Remember that most of them are written by women and reflect their slightly reduced caloric and protein needs. Whereas a woman would usually have 3-4 g of protein per meal, you can usually have 5g. This is for about 6-9 mos post-op.
Take your time and be patient. I know that's easier said than done. But, read the profiles and the Latest Posts from the successful members and you will see that your efforts will be rewarded.
I know it sounds like a long time while you are waiting to go through the various stages of eating in recovery. You may be able to eat chicken one day and be gagging on it another. If you are having chicken, make sure that the meat is moist. You certainly do not want to be eating dry chicken. You'll probably spit it out. I am a meat eater, but I do like eggs and, separately, various fish. Most fish is cooked moist and shouldn't give you much problem.
You should keep a list of foods you can eat in the earliest stages of your post-op diet. You'll watch that list grow. There are many recipes available from the Recipe Forum and there are a few cookbooks that have been written by WLS members. Remember that most of them are written by women and reflect their slightly reduced caloric and protein needs. Whereas a woman would usually have 3-4 g of protein per meal, you can usually have 5g. This is for about 6-9 mos post-op.
Take your time and be patient. I know that's easier said than done. But, read the profiles and the Latest Posts from the successful members and you will see that your efforts will be rewarded.
When I was reading your comments about going to the hospital, I remembered that you are the guy who is pushing his limits. You may be able to eat some foods in your early post-op stage that you really can't properly digest. I really don't know. I suggest discussing that with your surgeon's office. Maybe part of the reason we are given a gradually changing diet is to allow proper digestion of our food. Perhaps different organs have to do some of the stomach's old functions.
I don't know if this affects your kidneys or your blood sugar, but I suggest you talk to your doctor(s) before you cause further damage.
I don't know if this affects your kidneys or your blood sugar, but I suggest you talk to your doctor(s) before you cause further damage.
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