Oatmeal...?

Protein pudding, protein hot chocolate, protein coffee all good stuff

Great idea on the cottage cheese & soup/yogurt with protein powder.

There is absolutely no reason to stop the protein powder. They are wrong. I drank a protein shake every day for breakfast for the first two years of surgery, the rest of the day I ate food. Right now so early out its so hard to get in enough food to reach the protein goals and you need to use either protein shakes or add in protein powder to your food. Sorry but I disagree with your centre on not using protein powder. I would continue to use it if I were you. They don't own you, you can make your own decisions they are trying to guide you yes but if you want to use the protein powder you go right ahead.

Great job on the water, keep up the great work, you are doing fantastic!

I tried looking it up but got mixed answers around how much protein powder per box of pudding mix. Vacillates between one and two scoops - what did you use/recommend?

The dietician said to stop the protein powder for a few days due to constipation, hadn't had a bowel movement in 8 days...I started re-adding it in today so hopefully things stay okay. I wondered how much of an impact protein powder would really have on that area but figured I should do what she said. It's hard when you're just starting out to know how much to trust what they say or not.

I would just do one scoop of protein powder in your pudding. Err on the side of less is more.

Ok now I get why the Dietitian said to stop due to constipation. No doubt about it high protein diets are VERY constipating. Sorry to hear you are dealing with that.

I have always suffered from constipation my whole life, even pre surgery and it just got worse post surgery. I started using Restoralax daily, a capful in my morning coffee since year three. Both my RNY Surgeon and my family doctor approve of using it daily. If you do decide to go with Restoralax (I get mine at Costco, comes in a huge bottle) it needs a few days to start working but then you will go fine. I now go daily. But if I stop the restoralax for a few days I get backed up. Its because I eat a very high protein, very low carb diet.

I do know some people here on OH use veggies and fruits as a way to keep them regular but when you are so early out and mostly just eating protein it can be hard to fit in the veggies and fruit and you need "help."

Best of luck, I am no stranger to constipation so I know what you are going through.

Thanks! I am also doing the restoralax, and the two soflax prescription stool softeners daily. It has definitely helped. I just don't know when to go full force again with protein powder...figured I'd start with one tablespoon added to yogurt and see if I can remain somewhat regular then I'll add to the soup as well. Thank you for your guidance tonight.

I've had instant oatmeal a couple of times but find it sits really heavy made a smoothie this morning but I used a full scoop of protein powder so it kind of tasted off was probably too big as i felt bad after wasn't thinking of the volume. I very also been vaguely nautaus so took some gravol so I can get more soup in today. I'm looking forward to moving onto puree jusrto add more variety.

I've also found it frustrating how long it takes to take my meds I'm still at 17 pills a day and it can take half an hour to get them in and then ive been drinking so need to wait half hour to eat

A couple of things...you're right the oats are heavy. I was worried about making my own protein shake too, it is hard to control volume when first starting but I think I could leave half in the fridge for later....maybe.

The pill timing is hard and I'm not even doing calcium yet (another thing they told me to stop for constipation). But I have to pace out a couple of the meds over time and it's frustrating. But to help you, and maybe check with your centre because it's different but the Windsor clinic was very clear that we do not have to wait a half hour after drinking while on liquids, because it all goes through at the same rate. Now if it was a really thick yogurt I?d wait 15 mins or so but they told me that I would increase water input if I don't wait the half hour until I am in purées because it's not necessary.

Side note...not only are we surgery day twins...we have the exact same surgery weight and current weight right now. Noticed that tonight.

Gee you must be shorter than me though at 6' tall my goal weight is a normal bmi more would be nice but at 145 I'd be borderline underweight not something I've seen since a teenager when I was 130 with a eating disorder.

Haha...good point. I'm 5' 2.5" so much shorter. So I'll still be overweight in the bmi scale at my goal weight but I can't imagine myself smaller and that seemed somewhat reasonable.

I figure the important thing is to come up with a realistic goal at which you'd be comfortable, I can't picture myself being "thin" at this age.

they are referring to instant oats. I prefer steel cut, but in the full liquids stage. they mean instant.