Does this irk you, too?

I was reading the main VSG board a little just now and read a post from a man who is 4 days post op. He posted what he ate today and I just shook my head. Of course, I did not comment, but what are your thoughts on the following day of eating?

Food today has been a lemon creme lite yogurt and my chewable vitamins.  Lunch, potato soup made with 4 oz of beef bullion, 1 tsp butter, about 1/8 c of 1% milk and 4 spoons of instant garlic potatoes.  So good.  Dinner will be ... possibly some jello and my protein drink.  Water is hard.  But I keep trying.  Just had a sf hot chocolate.  sooooo good.

Perhaps I was a little hard core as a new post op, but I was getting 60 grams of protein every single day for the first week and then, starting day 8 it was a minimum of 80 grams. Instant mashed potatoes? Really?

These posts are all too frequent and are often followed by, "and I don't know why I'm not loosing". Because of my rough start with PICC line, I was admittedly obsessive about following every guideline and getting the most out of what I could eat, once I started my four weeks of liquids, followed by two of purée. These posts drive me NUTS. Breathe....

This one doesn't irk me as much as the one guy that had a taco his first week out because he was shopping at the Mall and got hungry.

This guy isn't making the best choices but could possibly being following proper food guidelines, at least as far as consistency of food goes (I was on liquids at this point and wouldn't have been able to eat yogurt or potato soup.

It makes me sad more than anything...and shake my head, too.  He probably doesn't know any better or doesn't want to know any better.  I was a VSG Nazi my first year (I wish I still was).  I wouldn't dream of breaking the rules or eating something I shouldn't.  I didn't really have much guidance from my NUT or surgeon so I read, researched, followed the advice of the Vets and tweaked to suit my needs.  I had a hard time getting on my protein for the first few weeks because I was whey intolerant and lactose intolerant.  Until I figured that out I was pretty miserable and didn't reach my protein goals. I was given good advice that protein was non-negotiable. My program allowed things like mashed potatoes but I knew better and didn't.  Nutritional info is so important and knowing how you sleeve works is vital. 

So many surgeons start people on these soft junk carbs - it boggles my mind. Nothing but protein drinks and water passed my lips for the first 3 weeks. 

Honestly, it doesn't bug me that much since it is the early days.  I am more bothered by the so good and sooooo good than the food choices.

I had a lot of nausea for the first several weeks and didn't hit my protein targets in those early weeks. My previously loved Unjury powders triggered nausea just by being in my line of sight.  I remember beginning to dry heave walking by a protein drink display at whole foods.  

My surgeon said that my protein shortages were ok, it was a process and I would eventually get to where I needed to be, and I did.   Water, tho, was non-negotiable. 

My plan would have allowed those foods especially if they were protein fortified.  I had already been low carbing  for months and eating low-processed foods for years so the foods he mentioned wouldn't have much appeal.  But, with all the nausea, I wasn't super picky, I just tried to get stuff down fortified with some protein, even if it wasn't much.  I may never have tomato soup again. 

Anyway, I turned out ok :)  

You and I glommed onto the same thing: the reaction of sooooooo good! He was talking about sugar free hot chocolate. Liquid calories, which on my program were a huge NO. It was his reaction (coupled with the food choices) that really triggered my post.

The other thing that got to me was the instant mashed potato because there is no nutritional value in them either. 

I guess the biggest beef I have is that it was drummed into my head that VSG was the opportunity to change eating behaviors and choices while hunger and capacity were greatly reduced, thus making it easier to make those changes AND lose weight. 

I know I have had my experience with regain, and perhaps that makes me more hard line. 

Totally agree with avoiding liquid calories.

I forgot to mention that the bariatric nurse suggested I have crackers to help with the nausea.  I said little but inside I was thinking "worse idea ever."  No nutritional value and a lifetime trigger food. 

Later, I told the dietician about the cracker advise and commented that seemed like really questionable advise to give to any bariatric patient.  She said it really was ok because the VSG restriction would save me from over-doing. 

That was an early introduction to realizing that my actions wouldn't necessarily match recommendations.

I too find these posts frustrating. Although I have to admit different Drs have different food plans. Here in Winnipeg this looks like a typical food plan that the Drs are professing everyone follow.  Now having said that - two things are evident here:

1)  The Drs consider 60% of your weight loss to be a successful; so need to lose 100 lbs you lose 60 lbs and you are on target;

2)  I have not seen any of the people following this food plan ever get to goal and many of them start gaining weight back around 8 months out.

My nephew in law has just had surgery and is on this food plan as well and it just boggles my mind. I have to remember that if he wants my opinion he will ask for it. Everyone here says the Drs know best; so vets opinions don't matter. I have attended many group meetings over the years and the only ones at goal are the ones that follow similar food plans that we use.

I was on clear liquids, then full liquids for at least 6 weeks, then soft foods.  I remember going out to Red Lobster for crab legs when it was permitted and they were glorious!  Still one of my favorite foods.  My son tried one because I was enjoying them so much that he figured that maybe they really are good.  Now he loves them also, but I digress.

When I was finally allowed full liquids, I remember making my dad's Campbell's condensed potato soup with Fairlife milk and a scoop of unflavored Unjury protein powder. 

Our program was to only count protein, ignore carbs, ignore calories, and so I did.  It was hard to get enough protein.  Luckily, I was logging everything with my UP24 app trying to reach my protein goals, so other than this decadent treat that my father would also eat even as it became more and more difficult as his cancer progressed.

Guess what I am now craving.

BTW, I got ripped apart on the board while I was newb for asking what would be the best alcohol drink at only 3 months out because I was going to an event.  It's funny now to look back on because I so rarely imbibe, but it made an impression as it should have.  Sometimes a youngster needs a good verbal spanking to learn the rules.  People look to these boards for advice and are going to think this person's post is what they are supposed to do.  I am glad that I did not lead anyone else astray with my early mistakes and am glad that others probably learned from it also.  In other words, go give that newb some what-for.