Need HELP with my diet

Okay so I feel like I am doing this completely wrong. Rice, noodles, and bread. Are they always a no no or are they okay after the month mark. Water... I am only able to drink 26oz of water a day. How can I take in more? Protein shakes.. This is the worst part. I can;t find one that taste good. I found that I Can't take in the vanilla ones. I have roadside lemonade by nectar. Anyone have any suggestions. 

I am just so confused. Plus I am not eating a tbsp and feeling full. Its usually 2 or 3 tbsp to fill me up and that is with tomatoe soup. Anything else I can only eat 2 tbsp. I am not sure if that is accurate for this stage (about 3 weeks out). 

I also don;t feel my self loosing weight. Will I ever notice or is this because I am not doing diet right. 

Please help 

Hey Katherine
I am sure some of the farther out'ers will be more help for you than I but for me, I still have not touched rice. I can do very minimal pasta, like less than an 1/8th of a cup and that is with the sauces or anything else included and as far as bread... I have only had 1/2 of an english muffin occasionally. Carbs for me, pre op, were my downfall. I was married to an italian and become a lover of any thing that had a sauce and could be sopped up with a piece, or 2 or 10, of bread. So now, I am still a bit scared of eating them.

As far as the protein shakes. My surgeons office suggested Carnation Instant Breakfasts, no sugar added, and I use skim milk with extra dry powdered milk, for extra protein. I am sure that there are tons of more protein rich drinks out there but for me, it's a matter of smell. I smell everything I consume and can't get past that.

Keep sipping. A little more each day. Also try sugar free popsicles. Each popsicle is 2 ounces of fluid and they do count towards your fluid intake. And are a nice change to water!

You are still early out. The nerves have not fully healed as of yet and that could be why you aren't feeling full as of now. Eat the amount recommended by your surgeon until you are able to have that full sensation.

I am sure you are losing weight but can relate to thinking you aren't. Heck, I'm down 120'ish lbs and still see the 318 lb person that I was 6 months ago. Don't weigh every day, and remember down the road... When you see that the scale isn't moving, the inches are probably dropping.

Good luck with your journey and don't get discouraged. You are doing great!

My opinion only in this post....

Yes...having rice, pasta and bread this early out is a major no-no.  Are they on your approved list for foods from your surgeon?  They are bad carbs and unneeded calories.  I still cannot touch rice at all, have very little pasta and do have bread now...but I was almost three years post op before I even tried it.

You probably will not feel full for quite some time.  Your nerve endings at your new pouch have still not healed yet and will not really allow you to feel full.  This is where measuring comes in really handy.  Stick to it and to a schedule.  I know it is hard but you will get there!

As for protein shakes...keep trying!  Buy the sample packs from the various vendors or go to stores that allow returns (vitamin shoppe and gnc do within 30 days and with a receipt).  Also, try RTD instead of mixes.  They are more expensive but I find I tolerate them a lot better than ones that I have to mix.  I still drink two a day at 3.5 years post op.  I prefer the EAS Advantage chocolate.  I only do chocolate flavored ones.  As Theresa said, CIB sugar free mixed with 8 oz of skim milk and 1/3 cup non-fat powdered milk is equal to 20 grams of protein.  My surgeons office only allows three to four shakes per day for two weeks and no food.

I am sure you ARE losing weight.  It is VERY difficult to see yourself but soon people will comment to you.  Your mind takes a long time to catch up to your body, but it will happen.  Make sure you take pictures to document this journey so that eventually you CAN see the changes!

Rice, Noodles and Bread - consult your surgeon's office and nutritionist on their plans.  Most people say no.  I can do pasta, in lasagna, in very small quantity.  I can do 1 slice of bread to make a 1/2 sandwich.  Both are allowed in my plan in moderation.  Rice, I'm too nervous about.  If it's cooked in a sauce I think it's fully expanded, but I worry about it so I steer clear.

Water - try SF pops, or I used to make me crystal light ice cubes and suck on them.  :)

Protein - If you like Nectar - try Nectar Naturals Orange (Vitalady carries it) - it's my favorite fruity protein - kind of like Sunny D.  Try to get as many samples as you can.  There are SO many products out there.  It's all trial and error.

Three weeks out I was only on puree's for a week.  A couple of tablespoons did it for me.  Perhaps it is the consistancy of soup (being more like a liquid) that doens't leave you satisfied?  Check your list of pureed's to see what other more semi solids you can do Tbsp's of.  :)  I enjoyed mashed potatoes, pureed beef stew, and various baby foods.

Are you weighing and measuring yourself?  What you may not be "feeling" may be happening and you don't even know it!  Measurements are particulary helpful when the scales not moving.  You will feel the results in your clothes and such.

Keep plugging away.  Enjoy the ride!  HUGS!

Hey Katherine!  Good questions.  Rice, noodles & bread, you should check with your surgeons office.  I do eat these things now.  With bread I stick with the white wheat, try to do wheat pastas, & limit my rice as it does fill me up.  Some carbs are good for the body but they do tend to fill you up faster & then you can't get in what you need too.  Be patient with the water & keep trying.  I too had a hard time early out & just had to keep pushing it.  Keep some with you at all times & just keep sipping.  I found that if I wasn't getting in enough then my weight loss was slower.  Keep trying on the protein drinks too.  My fav has always been Isopure Zero Carb Dutch Chocolate, mixed with milk.  Right now your nerves are still healing & it may be a few months before you get the full feeling.  Just keep measuring & sticking to what you are supposed to be doing.  Also your full feeling now may be really different than before so be careful. 

Going out on a limb here --- First let me say I had NO problems with gas or swallowing air causing any problems.  So, when I had problems with the smell of my protein drinks and the feel of them on my lips, at about 1 month out, I starting using -- gasp! - yes a straw!

Most protocols say use of a straw is a no-no.  For me it wasn't a problem. You have to follow your doctor's protocol or carefully consider how any changes will affect you!  Be careful!

You'll get there! It's very, very hard to see yourself losing weight - I'm down 100 lbs. and often don't see it. If you're feeling full on a few tbsp., but it's staying down then it sounds to me like your pouch is just really working for you right now. Your body is probably such a mess recovering from surgery and getting used to all the new stuff it doesn't even know what to think or what signals to send you right now!

My dr. doesn't like us doing a lot of protein shakes, so I can't help you with that one, but the water thing.... water still doesn't sit well with me so I have a hard time drinking it. Are you just doing water, or are you doing Crystal Light type things? For me, sugar free Kool Aid works the best. Or caffeine-free iced tea. When it tastes good, it's easier for me to keep drinking all day.

My surgeon is ok with a little bit of bread, but warns me away from it b/c it doesn't have a lot of good nutritional stuff. His big thing is "You can't eat very much. You really have to make it count." But every surgeon is so different...

Don't worry. I know right now it all feels overwhelming, scary, and new. Don't give up - you'll be great

 Thank you everyone for all this great advice. I didn;t know that the vita shop takes back powder protein. Anyone know where you can get sample?  I am def going to try to take everyones advice. My next appointment is NOV. 20th for my one month appointment. So I will also bring these issues up to him as well.


Again.. thank you. I was feeling really lost.


So next Question... When is a good time to start having sex again? How long does it take>

LOL.  Sex?  You want to have sex again?  Didn't they tell you, you would never have sex again!  ;)

Just kidding.  Honestly, how soon we forget because I can't for the life of me remember if they even covered that with me.  I would just judge it on how comfortable you are.  Unless you are an acrobatic queen I don't think a little bit of sweet loving will hurt anything.  :)  Just be gentle on the tum tum while your lap/open site is healing.

You can get samples at various websites although I am not sure which ones.  It has been so long since I have ordered thae samples....


As for sex...I ASKED before surgery because, well...you know!

The advice from MY surgeons office was as soon as you feel like it.  Each office is different, so would call and ask.  I know for me...it wasn't very long after surgery at all.  I do recommend that you use "extra" protection since whatever method you were previously using may not be effective right now and getting preggers this soon after surgery is not really a good idea in my opinion. 

HAVE FUN!  As the weight drops you will want it more and more.