Any Suggestions?

It does feel like science experiments with this, Millie!~  I'm going to keep thinking of it as that.

I hadn't been cleared for beef as of yet at less than 6 weeks out.  I've been doing refried beans with cheese so I'm more than ready for chile when the time is right.  I'm also going to look at protein bars tomorrow, too.  I haven't used them since having surgery.  Connie suggested Pure Protein Bars so I'm going to look for that brand and see what else is out there low in sugar and fat.

Thanks for the support!  Much appreciated.....

Kathi

Kathi,

Your protein intake at this early stage is outstanding to me. My dietician told me it would take 6 months before I would figure out how to get that much in one day, and she was right.

I still have to work carefully to consume enough food to get in enough protein and I don't fill up on many extras such as fruits and veggies even at 20 months out.

I still have 5 - 6 mini meals each day. She advised me to always have my protein combined with a good carb. My favorite at your stage was string cheese and SF apple sauce. Cottage cheese has been one of my staples, ricotta cheese is versitile too.

Ricotta is tasty baked with tomato sauce and a few veggies - very few. Topped with motzarella and a sprinkle or oregano, it is similar to a veggie lasagna.

I recently discovered the Greek yogurt - FAGE. It is very high in protein but tastes best to me when mixed with Splenda and some sort of berry.

I sprinkle Kashi Go Lean on any yogurt or cottage cheese mixture. That gives a protein boost and adds fiber. The "Go Lean" is the highest protein content of the Kashi assortment.

Thin slices of low fat deli meats have been good. You can ask to have it sliced wafer thin, or in thicker chunks and cut into small strips.

Our rule is "no liquids 1/2 hour before or after a feeding". I set a timer in the early stages.

Baby spoons and tiny shrimp forks are still my eating utensils. That slows me down and helps control the size of bites I can take. Put the utensil down between bites.

It was very frustrating and totally confusing at first. Some days I felt like an idiot because it didn't make sense and I had to struggle, juggle and plan so hard to nourish this body.

I don't like many of the suggested foods and the suggestions vary so much. Some days it felt easier to NOT eat at all. Then the weight loss slowed even more.

Have you posted on the CA board to ask for help finding a dietician? Look in the yellow pages? Ask your surgeon for a suggestion? If that fails, call the one from the hospital. Geeze - you need some guidance with this.

Stalls are part of this process. I never lost at one steady rate. It has been a series of steps, some longer, some shorter, and NONE the same each month.

If I lost few pounds, I seemed to lose more inches and vice versa. We measured me every month on my surgery date. Love, love, love the tape measure as much as I detest the scale.

I didn't add much new information

Try not to get discouraged. this is still very new, your pouch is new, and I think you are doing very well. !!!

 

Kisses

Annette

 

 

 

Thanks very much, Annette,

Lots of great suggestions in your post.  I've been using Fage Yogurt ever since I started this trek over a year ago.  Love that.  My taste buds seem to reject ricotta cheese for some reason.  It's all trial and error I guess.

I haven't had any carbs other than what's in dairy because I was directed to 100 percent protein.  I'm going to increase the use of cottage cheese in this as well and see what happens.

The 1/2 hour rule has been my rule for drinking and eating, too.  It was suggested I wait a full hour and see if I might absorb protein better.  I'm also going to try that as it couldn't hurt I wouldn't think!  I do use the baby spoon and I know I need to slow my eating down alot.  So, I have things to work on and will work on them.

GREAT idea about posting on CA board for a suggestion for a dietician!  I hadn't thought of them.  I will if I can't get anywhere with the hospital's dietician.

Most importantly, thanks for taking your time to help me with this.  It is frustrating but knowing I can ask questions and get answers helps alot.

Hugs,

Kathi

Kathi,
I accused the surgeon of doing a taste bud transplant - things did and still do taste weird. Likes and dislikes come and go.

One method I used to slow down: I bought the most difficult crossword puzzle book, take one  bite, chew and chew, but not another bite until I wrote in the clue.

It slowed me down at first, then I got better at the difficult puzzles and had to practically SIT on my hands.

You will get the hang of this. It is a major learning process.

Annette

Thanks, Annette,

I've been able to drag my food out to 25 minutes to eat.  I love crossword puzzles so that's a great idea!

The tastebud changes haven't been too bad from what I can tell with other people.  You are so right -- this is a very difficult thing to conquer and right now I am filled with regrets.  It will pass I'm sure.

Off to eat more protein!

Kathi

Lots of excellent suggestions. Kathi, it will get better! I still like tuna, mayo, and chopped up boiled eggs. Seems like the bit of mayo helps me to keep the other stuff down. Anything dry is still a problem for me at times. I ate a lot of cottage cheese early on. I still drink a Champion Pure Whey Chocolate each morning. But, I don't have any problem with sugars or milk products and I still really like it. Hugs.

Thanks very much, Karen,

I do use a touch of mayo with the tuna.  I figure it's the only fat intake and helps get it down.  I also don't seem to have a problem with sugars and can tolerate protein shakes very well.

Hugs,

Kathi

hi kathi...wow you are having a time aren't you....omg!!! what i did was use the sf carnation instant breakfast mixed with 1% milk and a scoop of any whey protein powder...i bought it at GNC...anyhow you can even use it to bake with!!! it isn't sweet so if you hate sweet tasting things this is good for you!!! if i remember right having this for breakfast every morning i got 29 grams of protein in with just one meal!!! then imixed the any whey in my cottage cheese for lunch...went down great!!! there are so many ways you can do this protein...i know one woman even put the any whey in her coffee each morning...it doesn't clump up either...mixes very good in anything!!!! wish i could be more of a help to you....good luck and keep trying several meals each day and see if that helps you....hang in there it will get better soon!!

hugs

Thanks, Judy!

I did mix unflavored protein powder in applesauce and then stirred that all in cottage cheese yesterday afternoon.  It worked okay, too.  I'm going to continue to experiment with the unflavored protein powder, too!

Take care and thanks for the support.  I wish you lots of luck in your job search, too.  I'm sure something will happen very soon.

Hugs,

Kathi

Kathi,

Everyone has given you great suggestions, but I wanted to mention an idea I got somewhere on OH of adding fat free powdered milk to other foods (like oatmeal, protein shakes, cottage cheese).

Good luck.

Jean