3 weeks post op - eating questions (Surgery was at TWH so I am on their plan)

Hi Everyone

Today is my 3 week post op anniversary.

So far things have been going very well - in fact - I think maybe too well if that makes sense...lol

If I didn't have the scars to prove it - I seriously wouldn't believe I even had the surgery :)

Here are my questions:

• My weight loss seems to have slowed down immensely - usually about .2 to .4 lbs a day (I know we aren't supposed to focus on the scale - but I have all my life - and it's a comfort thing - I will always continue this) - my question is - is this normal?  Should I be losing more?  I've lost 29.6 since starting shakes - and 15.2 since surgery morning.
• I am now on pureed since Thursday - I was told int he hospital 1 tbsp every 5 minutes when eating - which I have followed - but I now notice it does not say that in the instructions for pureed - so how much how often should I be eating now?
• I see people on here saying they can only eat 1 TBSP or maybe 2 - then they are done - can't eat anymore - this is not the case for me - I have been able to eat my full 4 to 6 TBSP no problem (following the guidelines in sample diets provided) - I am not saying I need more - I seem to be satisfied with that - but I am wondering if maybe I don't wait the 5 minutes between bites - this will change.
• So far there is nothing that I cannot tolerate - water plain - isn't the best - but it's only the taste that I don't like anymore - but it still goes down without issue

I think that is about all I have for now.

Hope everyone is doing well

Looking forward to hearing from you

I'm only 2 days behind you.  My plan said I could start pureed after 2 weeks, so I have been eating for a few days now.

My experience sounds much the same as yours.  For the most part, it doesn't even feel like I've had surgery.  I can drink mouthfuls, not sips.  I can eat way faster than I supposed to - I have to constantly remind myself to slow down.  

I started by eating only 1/4 cup of pureed because I thought that I had read that at even 6 months out it was the most, but when I went back and re-read my plan it said 1/2 to 3/4 cup each meal.  I wonder if because it's pureed it goes down easier and faster.  Maybe when we get to solid foods we will only be able to do 1/4 cup.

I've been fine with 1/2 to 3/4 cup portions.  In fact, I'm quite pleased about it because I have been able to get my protein in without protein shakes.  I hate protein shakes!!  I am having 3 meals and 2 snacks (I guess you could argue that's 5 meals since they are all pretty small).

As for the scale, mine seems to be fluctuating all the time.  Down 2, up 1, all over the place.  I don't trust my scale much.  I've decided to only go by what the doctor's scale says.  My family doctor weighed me last week and next week I have an appointment with the nurse at the hospital so I'm guessing I will be weighed again.

Thanks for your reply - this makes me feel better - I really thought that I was a freak or something - being able to eat everything without any problems - I do agree - maybe when we get to the soft food - and all food stages - it will be different - but I too can eat the 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food no problem

This sounds similar to me! I recovered really fast out of TWH as well and also weigh myself daily (still do!). But around 3-weeks out I did slow down on the weight loss for a bit, but then it picked up again.

To be honest, I kind of melded the pureed stage + soft foods stage together. I never, ever pureed meat - the idea of it makes me want to throw up - so I just chewed it a lot. But did have things like carrots and mashed potatoes or veg. I found things that were pureed were EASY to eat - and honestly it makes sense if you think about how our new body works. When I moved to soft foods I started to find things that were more difficult to eat - you'll run into those things for yourself as time goes on.

I'd eat 3 meals a day + a couple of snacks. In general, I usually eat every 2-3 hours or so. You're probably not eating more than 500 calories or so a day even though it seems like you are eating all the time! 

I add lemon to my water - it's good for kidneys and in general keeping your body healthy. Some people add artificial flavours (Mio etc), but I don't eat anything artificial. 

Thank you - glad I am not the only one :)

I miss my lemon water - was told no fruit - including lemon in my water because of the sugar - but it was ok to use "real Lemon" brand juice - which I hate.

I will try the lemon in the water - because like you - I hate the mio and crystal light flavours

:)

I used to 2 wedges of lemon, squeeze the juice out into my water, put in the wedges and add a little bit of Stevia to cut the bitterness and add sweetness. Some people don't like Stevia and it's probably because of the kind they use. I used to buy the packets and found them bitter. I buy the pure powder bottle and it comes with this tiny little spoon and I find there is a big difference in taste.

do you know the brand, and where to buy this? I have never tried Stevia because everyone says the taste is terrible

I've tried a few kinds before finding the one I use. It's from the brand NOW and it's a small bottle of pure stevia powder that comes with a tiny little spoon. I've tried the packets and another powder form that was combined with silica powder and hated it. I've also tried a liquid form from the Skinny Girl brand and it was ok. 

The key is to find your balance in how much you need for your coffee or other things where it's sweet enough. If you put too much you'll find that is bitter and I find the pure powder form is less bitter than other kinds. 

It's also a taste people need to get used to. My husband doesn't use sweeteners and can tell right away if he tastes something I made that has stevia in it (although he bought the new Coke with stevia a month ago and didn't mind it). 

sound pretty normal to me.  I think i was eating about 1/2 cup of food per meal at that stage.  15lbs in 3 weeks is pretty amazing.  sounds like you are right on track.  I actually stalled (gained a lb) when i started purees/soft foods. A stall in the 3rd week is very common for most people.  sounds like you've avoided it..so congrats. 

my recovery was smooth sailing as well.  lucky we had skilled surgeons. Mine was a lapband revision so I was expecting it to be tougher.  nope.

Thanks

Mine was a lapband revision as well - I too was expecting the worse - I remember those first few weeks after that surgery - where every meal was a gamble...lol

Comparing the 2 - this is a walk in the park - night and day