Question:
Only 4 weeks out, feeling down on myself...
I had surgery 4 weeks ago today, and have a couple of issues. I cannot bring myself to puree something like a hamburger or whatever, so I eat soft things and chew forever. I know that is a no-no, but I just can't bring myself to throw food in a blender. I feel like I'm already failing! Also, since I've gone back to work this week, it's been alot easier to get in the small meals and water I'm supposed to, but I also have been gaining and losing the same 3 pounds since last Friday! Is that normal this early? I feel like I'm eating so much, even though I get really full if I eat a half a baked potato...Help! Would keeping a food log help me feel more in control? I just feel like this is it, I've lost my 35-39 pounds, and I'm going to go back to eating like a pig. Do I sound normal, or totally paranoid? My husband is a great suppport, but he just can't understand these feelings. — vittycat (posted on April 17, 2003)
April 17, 2003
I'm pre-op, but my nutritionist says that if we don't want to puree we
don't have to. We can choose soft foods - like tuna salad and egg salad.
She showed slides of pureed foods, and nobody found them appealing!
As for your feelings, you sound normal from what I've seen here at AMOS and
at my support group. Hang in there!
— JoSyrNY
April 17, 2003
Krista, congratulations on your weight loss! I'm five weeks post and have
lost 28 pounds, so you are doing great! I do keep a food journal on
fitday.com and find that this is really helping me to feel in control of my
food. It also helps to give a clear picture of exactly what is going into
my mouth, which helps prevent the head games you are talking about. How
much are you eating? At 5 weeks, I'm eating 3 meals and 2 snacks. In the
morning I have an 8oz protein drink, for a snack I have 1/2 cup of fruit,
for lunch 3 oz protein (today it's chicken) and 1/2 cup veggie (if I have
room), and then another snack about 2:30 (1/2 cup yogurt or n/f-s/f
pudding), and then for dinner I will have 3 oz protein and 1/2 cup veggie
(again, if I have room). This is my doctor's eating plan, so don't think
you have to do what I'm doing, but I listed it so you have an idea of the
quantity I'm getting in. Don't lose heart, and start keeping a food
diary/log. I think you will find that this really helps you a lot! Best
of luck to you. Many blessings, Robin
— rebalspirit
April 17, 2003
I never pureed anything and I never used any protein supplements. I just
couldn't do it. You are not at the end of the weight loss - far from it.
Having a plateau this early is very common and it happened to me. It should
only last for a short time. Try weighing yourself only once a week or if
you continue to weigh daily, just remind yourself that it's not always a
slow steady process. I'm now 6 months post-op and lose in 'chunks' now. For
2 weeks in a row, I'll lose a pound each week. The following week I'll lose
5 and the week after I'll lose 3. But the weeks that I lose the least
amount are the weeks that I get the most comments about my weight loss.
It's weird. You know how you get compliments on the day you are scheduled
to get your hair cut because it's driving you crazy? It's like that. Good
luck.
— Yolanda J.
April 17, 2003
Krista,
I had to do the puree thing according to my nutritionist and surgeon. I
could not tolerate the consistancy of puree, so I would add everything to
instant mashed potatoes. For instance, I would dry puree my meat, add
cheese and seasonings, and put it in mashed pototoes. If you also need
extra protein, my nutritionist has you add powdered milk to your mashed
potoatoes to add protein but not volume. This works in eggs or anything
else you want to add it to. Since you said you are eating a half a baked
potato, try this alternative...it reminds me of shepards pie. Hope it
helps. 2.5 months post op lap RNY down 52 lbs.
— rwormington
April 17, 2003
My nutritionist said to get non-flavored protein powder and mix them with
mashed potatoes.
— Katerina M.
April 17, 2003
35 pounds in a month is anything but a failure. You will have periods over
your weight loss journey where you will gain and lose the same few pounds
and other weeks where you lose no weight and some weeks where you lose
several pounds. Just the way it is. A food log is a good idea if you can
be consistent, and www.fitday.com is a perfect place to do that. I, for
one, hate writing down everything I eat-main reason I always quit weight
watchers! Don't worry about the puree. I couldn't stand the thought of it
either and like the others, just ate soft foods and chewed well during that
stage. It sounds like you are doing fine, and it is not unusual to have a
little fear during this journey-after all, we have all gained and lost and
then regained in the past and have never kept it off, so its not difficult
to understand that we all have a bit of fear that we will not lose the
weight, or the stage I am at at 14 months post-op, can I keep it off?
— Cindy R.
April 17, 2003
My surgeon was very strict on what we can and can not eat after surgery -
we are all on a clear liquid diet for one week until our drains come
out...(we go home with stomach drains to make sure there is not any leaks),
then we move on to CREAMY FOODS - for 6 weeks... which consists of only
cream soups, cream of wheat, no popsicles or pudding as they !! That is
about it.... it is hard to do but seroiusly he wants your stomach to heal
before you put anything too heavy in it ---- and he is STRICT about NO
PROTEIN DRINKS at all-- his reasoning makes sense, because we are not
getting enough water in us at this time to FLUSH the kidneys and protein
tends to make kidney stones if not properly flushed out... so this is why
he won't let us do protein... he wants us to get protein from FOOD!! Then
we move onto the next level - which is SOFT foods... this consists of
things like mashed potatoes, soft veggies, tunafish, soft baked fish, crab
legs, soups, scrambled eggs with cheese, corned beef hash, just simple soft
foods... nothing hard!!! And still NO PROTEIN DRINKS!! Then we can move
onto regular foods if our tummies allow it... but I have NEVER pureed any
foods and frankly I would never even think about eating a hamburger - that
is what got me here in the first place!! So please just choose your foods
carefully...measuere your food too... that helps you to not overeat... I
can't eat a half of baked potatoe NOW - 4 months out... your tummy has to
have time to heal and you really only to deal with the stictness of the
special diets for a little while (all doctors are different) but all the
patients here in Houston who use my doc are doing pretty well with this
diet.. we support each other, and try to help each other get through the
hard days... most people experience HEAD HUNGER... we are so used to eating
what we want - that we think we still have to have it.. but that soon
passes.... I promise! I've lost 87 pounds in 4 months sticking strickly to
this diet!! So it does work and I haven't had ONE PROBLEM at all with my
stomach!!!! So if it helps please use it OK...... Good luck, your doing
great with your weight loss - don't fret that!! Be strong and do not give
in to the head hunger and put things like burgers and stuff into your tummy
right now... remember how you got here in the first place OK... You can DO
IT!!!! I know you can!!!!!! And do not worry about plateus... they come
and go - I've lost the same 3 pounds before over and over and over - for
days... then all of a sudden I wake up and have lost 6 pounds.. it is a
WEIRD ROLLER COASTER!! But it does come off!!! Cheers, Tammy
— Tammy T.
April 18, 2003
I was only on soft foods for a week or so and then I went to a more solid
diet. I would cook up ground turkey or beef once I could handle it and
then make it very fine in the food processor. Not pureed but very very fine
and mix with mashed potatoes or a mashed up baked potato. I never pureed
anything and as time went on I slowly moved away from the soft stuff. I
didn't have a strict guideline as to when to puree or when to start solids
so I experimented over time. My taste buds are very weird and I have days
where I have food aversions to things I normally like and other days where
I feel like I can eat anything. What worked for me might not work for you
so as you read posts on here take what you like and leave the rest. Learn
how you and your body reacts to different things. I would suggest keeping
a food log on fitday.com and I would suggest staying off the scale. As for
everything else, your taste buds and ability to eat certain things and
quantities will change over time. I experience change from day to day.
It's a process and you will find out how to handle yours. It's very
natural for all of us, after failing at every single diet, to believe we
are failing at this too. Cut yourself some slack. You're doing great.
Hang in there and congrats on a terrific weight loss.
— susanje
April 18, 2003
Try keeping a food log, on fitday.com (it's free!). It'll make you realize
you are far, far away from going "back to eating like a pig."
You are doing great! Also, try to abandon the idea that the scale is a
daily barometer of good eating habits. It won't give you an "A!"
each day of good healthy eating. Sometimes it gives you a loss, or an
"A+!," right after a bad eating day, and sometimes it gives you
an "F" -- plateau, or stupid regain?!? -- after many days of good
healthy eating. Check in with it every few weeks instead of every day, if
you can stand it.
— Suzy C.
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