Super Frustrated with a big bit of Anxiety!

Hey Everyone! 

Hope everyone is doing well this awesome springy Monday!  The sun is out and that is a good thing.......

Now for Debbie Downer!  I am super frustrated.  A bit of background......I am 8 1/2 months our from laproscopic RNY.  I have lost 100 pounds and in the last week have gained 5 pounds....I have had ALOT of salt which can make me retain water and I have been such a crab that I am making myself nuts.  I have also been having these constant panic attack type things.....I get light headed, my heart races and I can feel it in my throat and I feel super anxious - like I can't get enough air in my lungs which makes me take a huge deep breath and I look like a lounatic.

After surgery I was given the following rules:

1 cup of food in volume for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Absolutley NO snacks

Eat your protein rather than drink it (dont want me drinking shakes)

70+ protein and 64 oz of water

Admittedly I suck at getting ALL of my water in.....I am working on it.  I have been tracking my calories and I am getting in about 800 per day.  I also eat too much salt in a day ....I am working on that as well.  Sooooo I learned today from a personal trainer nutritionist that I am not getting enough food in my body and that my body is running out of fuel which could be resulting in these weirdo heart fluttery things. I eat NO carbs other than what would be in a vegetable or dairy.

How much do people eat in volume per meal?  What are some of your favorite meals?  What is a good way to get more good calories in.  What are some good ways of incorporating some carbs into my diet?

 

Thanks all for your help - I know it can be frustrating to have people ask the same question over and over again - us darn newbies :-)......but I thank you! :-)

 

It doesn't sound like you are getting enough calories to me.  I know you should do what your doctor says - but my doctor said to eat 3 meals and NO snacks at all too and that absolutely was not possible for me.  I get anxious, angry and very hungry if I don't eat every three hours.  I make sure my snacks are protein forward and I track what I eat on Myfitnesspal so I don't eat too many calories and I keep track of my protein.  I wouldn't be looking to add more carbs - just maybe a cheese stick or half of a protein bar between meals??

I could't eat a cup at a time until I was over a year out, and sometimes I still can't.
As for getting lightheaded, see your doctor! It sounds like a panic attack, but I am not a doctor. You want a medical professional to check that out.
My number one tip for water intake is ni caffeine herbal tea. It comes in tons of flavors.
Take care and keep us posted.

I'm a little head of you, I had surgery done on 8-17-12 and am down 98lbs. I eat anywhere between 1000-1100 calories and notice if I get 1200 in, I lose a little more weight each week. 

You can incorporate nuts, sunflower seeds, and protein bars. Every surgeons plan is different, I know, but mine requires me to eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks each day. You can call your surgeon and ask if you can have a protein enriched snack or two during the days to increase your calories. 

I don't eat carbs other than what's in dairy and nuts, either. Sometimes I will sneak a little in through pretzel crisp, but not often. Also some of my favorite foods are chili, homemade taco meet and homemade chicken fajitas. Also, keep watching your salt intake. The more you drink the more the water weight will come off. So definitely get your water in!

 

I can eat no more than 1 cup of food per meal.  I'm allowed to have 2 snacks per day depending on how much I'm moving.  For my doc's plan, it seems keeping within the 1 cup volume is the biggie.  I can have some carbs - brown rice, sweet potato, quinoa, half of a whole wheat bagel thin, etc. 

Each surgeon has their own specific eating plan for their patients.  Is there a nutritionist (NUT) at your surgeon's practice you could follow up with?  I specifically mention your surgeon's practice because unlike a personal trainer/nutritionist at a gym, the surgeon's NUT will be knowledgable about what bariatric patients need to be successful.  When I saw the NUT at my local gym pre-op, they gave me all kinds of advice that no longer applies post-RNY.

Once I started working out with a high degree of intensity, I added half of an apple and natural PB as pre-workout fuel or a cheese stick.  I also drink a protein shake as post-workout recovery.  Favorite meals include quinoa stuffed peppers, chili, lentils and chicken sausage.  Check out The World According to Eggface or Bariatric Foodie blogs for recipe ideas.   

 

 

It could be hormone related , I would try magnesium , it helps to regulate your heart rate AND can be used as a calming effect.

You may need to eat regular carbs like a bit of potato or rice and good breads, we really shouldn't cut all foods out of our diets.

I take atenenol for blood pressure and heart rate and valium for panic attacks , but the magnesium works well , don't get the gel cap ones , use the powder ( from health food store) or pills , makes a huge difference.

Sounds like your weight loss it great, don't ( try) let a one week gain freak you out, if you know you are using to much salt , cut that back. Is it that time of month?...get back to lower salt and more water.

I NEVER count calories, just sugar and fats try to stay close to 5 grams each, I eat way more than 1 cup of food 3 times a day, I eat about every 2-3 hours  , breakfast premier protein drink , snack string cheese/almonds lunch yogurt with cottage cheese with fruit in it , snack fruit , dinner meat veggies rice , snack fiber one brownie or 4 crackers ( depending if I had eaten enough protein)...basically I eat anytime I feel like it , but I do have to balance things , have to take morning vitamins after eating a good size lunch or else I get sick , take my night time vitamins after eating dinner. If I don't have enough protein I can't have carbs

I don't think 1 protein shake would kill us , my doc doesn't want me having them either , but if I didn't I would never have breakfast

sounds also like your BP might be dropping then your body goes into panic mode...been there...good luck

Thank you all for your responses!  So I have figured it out......I am not eating enough.  I feel very confident with the information I recieved today. I work out and have been training for 5k's so my output and input are off kilter. I have bee in a bad habit of drinking coffee (regular and decaf) instead of eating because I figured it was better to drink and keep my calories really low.  I do have a nutritionist at my surgeons office and she is a freaking IDIOT  she told me that I should never eat string cheese because it is a very bad food choice and hardly has any protein......ummm ok.  I have all of the faith in the world regarding my surgeon but his nutritionists not so much.  I took a long hard look at myself today and came to the realization that instead of loving my body and giving it the fuel it needs I have been in a sense punishing myself....I need to stop that and eat better so Ietting nutrients.  I did really well at dinner - chili and 4 saltine crackers (I have been NO carb for a long time), half of a banana and 8 oz of soymilk after I waited 45 minutes after eating.  I drank lots of water and i feel human again!  I will be making a counseling appointment soon so I can work out the looniness going on.  I have planned and packed my healthy lunch wit all 4 food groups in it and I am good to go.