Question:
Was I ready for this surgery?

I feel like a failure and maybe I wasn't ready for this. For some reason I think I doing everthing wrong.I can't get in all that water, the most I drink is 32oz and I try to eat but I don't have much of a appetite.I'm about 10wks out and have lost 40lbs.I started at 246 and know I weigh 206.I have been at this weight for about 2wks now and fill like this is it. Can anyone give me advice on eating,this is what I had today.(1/4 of broiled steak,2 bottles of water,and 1 gramcracker)Should I purchase frozen dinners to try to get all my protein in. I can't tollerate the protein shakes. Another question is do you have to measure your food or do you just stop if you feel full. I was never a breakfast eater and now I really don't like it. I have joined a gym to get on the right track and plan on buying a book with a list of food counter in it. Sometimes I feel thatI have really messed this thing up. Somedays are good when I think that I have gotten in most of the protein and some days I can't. How do you have room for eaten anything else if your full off protein?    — TCP1918 B. (posted on August 1, 2003)

August 1, 2003
Hi, just wanted to say don't be so hard on yourself. I had the same feelings a few months post-op only I thought I was over eating. I know that it is easier said then done but just take it one day at a time. You really need to focus on getting fluids in because I have had several WLS friends have to go back into the hospital due to dehydration. Have you tried sugar free kool-aid or decaf tea? I live on sf tropical punch. I have also found Detour bars to be very satifying. I can eat about 1/2 of one and get in 15 grams of protein. You have not failed! You will be fine, keep your head up and DRINK DRINK DRINK. Plus you do not want your body to go into "starvation mode" from lack of food, so try to get in some more calories.I keep frozen shrimp in the house at all times. Whenever I think about it I grab about 10-12 and some cocktail sauce. They are not very filling and have lots of protein.I know that this is not easy, but when you get discouraged think of how far you've come and how far you are going! This is an amazing tool. Good luck! Reace
   — Laureace A.

August 1, 2003
There is no way that what you described is near enough food. Your body is almost certainly in starvation mode and that is why you're not losing. It's hard, but you ABSOLUTELY MUST get in more protein, and more water. Other people do it, so can you. Also, do not "guess" that you've gotten enough protein in. Count the protein grams that you take in each day (generally, one ounce of protein food = 7 grams), so weigh your food and look at the labels of things like cottage cheese and yogurt for the protein counts of the 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup that you're eating. You can track this stuff on fitday.com, or just keep a food journal. You can get protein in in ways other than shakes (I couldn't stand them, still don't like them). Drink double protein milk (skim milk with dry milk powder mixed in), add milk powder or protein powder to your other food (it mixes well into things like yogurt, soup and cottage cheese). Eat more often--have 6 small, protein-based meals a day, whether you're hungry or not. Drink more--it's absolutley critical, even more important than the protein at the very early stages. And, don't worry about eating other types of food. Get your protein in FIRST. If you have room, then eat veggies, then fruits, then starches and refined carbs (like Graham crackers). Don't put anything else in your mouth until you get your daily requirement of protein, or at least until you've planned adequate protein into meals that you will eat during the day. This takes planning and effort. For your own sake, develop a plan to get in more food and water every day. Your health depends on it! I don't mean to be harsh, but this is way too important to not get control of right now. Everybody has to do this; other people work at it to make it happen, so must you. Today.
   — Vespa R.

August 1, 2003
Hi, you have not failed! Give yourself some time. Some bodies take longer to adjust to this major surgery. You might also try to drink some of the Crystal Light flavors and eating a few peanuts or almonds when you can. You may not be able to eat much at first but keep going. Also a great protein snack is beef jerky. I was able to eat and enjoy it long before I could actually eat regular beef again. Just shop around for the lower sodium ones.
   — Marie S.

August 1, 2003
You're NOT GOING TO FAIL! Hear me? Please don't be so darn hard on yourself. You're still in the beginning phases. It's difficult to adjust to a whole new lifestyle of eating. I think you are doing very well. First off, I've never been able to drink 60 oz of water in a day. I just CANT. I do force as much in as I can and usually wind up around 30-40 oz per day. I'm not dead yet, and I don't expect this to kill me, I've never needed as much fluids as most people. Now, before someone kills me- I don't recommend it. If you are getting dehydrated, you've got to force it in. I'm just saying that we do the best we can. Try using a straw if you have to, sometimes I have to resort to that. It seems to me that based on what you have described eating you are starving yourself (unintentionaly, of course) I found that since I too HATED protein shakes, adding in protein bars was a great way to supplement. Maybe you can try this? Anyway, for what it's worth, I went through the same thing and just had to kick myself in the pants to get on track with eating more. Who would have ever thought we couldn't eat ENOUGH?? :) Best of luck to you and be good to yourself.
   — LMCLILLY

August 1, 2003
I think you have done great and never feel like you have failed. You would have only failed if you never attempted the surgery. 40lb wt loss in 10 wks is wonderful. Just remember that everyone loses wt at a different pace so we can't compare one wt loss to another. Even though you are ane early out post op you can always hit a plateau. But just remember you can and will be successful.
   — Tamara M.

August 1, 2003
Take a deep breath. First of all plateaus happen. You will have breaks when your body doesn't lose. Second of all its very important to get all your fluids and to eat enough. It doesn't sound like you are getting either. I would say start small. If you can't eat in the morning then drink. Try having 12 ounces of skim milk that's 12 grams of protein and 12 ounces of fluid. If you add powdered milk to it as well its 24 grams of Protein. Try to eat three meals a day. And try to get at least 64 oz of fluid with 32 being water. At first you are pretty much a protein machine. What i do is save non protein for between meal snacks. I might have 2-3 chips and some fresh salsa or some fruit. Also, there's a great recipe for protein balls on www.92inches.com. They use peanut butter, powdered milk and protein powder. I can't tolerate shakes but I eat 2-3 of those a day and it really has upped my protein intake. That way I can have a bite of mashed potatoes with my steak if I want it and not feel like such a failure. Also there are some flavored waters out there. One good one is called Fruit 2 o from Veryfine and is sweetened with splenda. That might help you get your fluids in. Hang in there. This will get easier.
   — Amy S.

August 2, 2003
You really, really need to find a way to eat something in the morning. You've heard the saying "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"? It's true. After "fasting" all night, you need to "break" that fast in order to get your metabolism moving. I also was never a breakfast person. Aside from not being a morning person, who just doesn't function very well for the first hour or so, I found, even pre-surgery, my stomach just never tolerated food too soon upon waking. I knew after surgery, I had to find a way around that. Every day, like clockwork, I have a protein drink at 9:00 am (I use Atkins Advantage Shake) no matter what time I wake up. It's filling, but not too heavy on my stomach. After doing this for over a year, it's become a habit, like brushing my teeth. Since you don't like protein drinks (keep searching, thought, as you're bound to find something you like), you can start off with a hardboiled egg or piece of cheese. Both are pretty much "no brainers" that take little effort, so that even if you're in a rush, you can grab it and go. By the way, in the past 9 months or so, I have found myself becoming a morning person. I wake up when the sun comes up, even before my alarm clock. I'm only 45, so I don't think it's an "age" thing. I think it's a result of cutting carbs from my food. I decided to test this theory the other day, and had a "binge" on carbs just before bedtime. Sure enough, the next morning, I slept 45 minutes past my alarm, and was sluggish all morning.
   — Cyndie K.