4.5 weeks post-op & don't agree with doctor

I know he's the professional, and know he's been performing weight loss surgeries, solely, for over 13 years, but my surgeon has instructed me that I can now start eating "regular"food with caution. I'm 4.5 weeks out! I think that seems really early - especially after all the reading/research I've done. When were you given the go-ahead to eat "regular" foods post-op?

3 weeks out as long as I chewed it into a mushy consistency.  I'm down 150 lbs in 11 months so it must be working.  When they say "regular" they don't mean go forth and eat cake or pizza.  Everything you eat right now should be protein forward.  If you start each meal with protein you won't have room for veggies or starches/carbs right now.  

 

I've heard of some people being on regular diets right out of the hospital. I would follow your surgeon's instructions for you - he knows what he's talking about for his particular patients. I would, as he advised, proceed with caution. Eat soft foods at first to see how you tolerate it, then slowly progress. Eat mindfully, chewing every small bite to mush. You're gonna do fine!

Thank you, ladies for your words of wisdom and encouragement! I am proceeding with caution and putting my protein needs ahead of everything else.

Did your Dr. not give you a food plan to follow? Sounds like his goal is for you to get your protein  from food not shakes, that is how a lot of Dr's roll, and your protein first should be your mantra for the rest of your life.

I was on stage 3 for my center, as of 3 weeks after my surgery.  I am still not allowed fresh fruits and veggies, seeds and nuts, and I was advised to try one new food at a time.  I also try anything new at home  so if there is a problem, at least I am at home when it happens.

My surgeon had her patients start soft foods on Day Three (as long as there were no problem with full liquids on Day Two), and we were eating things like moist chicken and fish and easy to digest veggies on Day 8 (again, assuming no trouble with soft foods the first week).  By 4 weeks, the only things we couldn't eat were a handful of hard to digest things like broccoli and pineapple.

FWIW, my surgeon abandoned the two weeks of liquids plan she originally used and went to this plan after she talked to another surgeon and read something that indicated that many people had MUCH less trouble reintroducing food if they did not "baby" their pouches with weeks of liquids and purées.  In our support group of about 2 dozen people (including a couple of people with bands), only one person ahd any trouble starting regular food so early (and she ended up having her gallbladder out just a few weeks post-op).

Lora

I was on regular food by 4 weeks. As others have said, protein first followed by veggies/fruit then grains/starches. You most likely will be full on the protein only for now though :) Just be sure to chew, chew, chew & take your time & be sure your meat is moist!

I was on a regular diet by 2.5 weeks. I was told to progress as tolerated.  The only thing I had difficulty with was pork, it took much longer no matter how I tried.  Of course I wasn't eating full meals but I was eating solid food, though it was chewed VERY well.

 

I was on soft foods (which was regular food but nothing hard/crunchy) at two weeks out and one  regular diet (pretty much any foods tolerated, in moderation) at six weeks.

If you don't agree with your doctor, though, you don't have to follow his advice.  You can stick to liquids or pureed food for as long as you want to.  I'm assuming your docs patients generally do well on regular food at 4 weeks out or he wouldn't recommend a regular diet for his patients, but you can choose to eat pureed foods for as long as you want to, if you prefer or feel safer that way.