Question:
Need advice getting in my water and protien

Having great difficulty getting all the water and protien in that my surgeon wants. Am physically able to swallow, it just seems like since I am not hungry, I don't want to eat! Not losing weight very fast, and I am sure this is one reason why. Am bored with the diet already. Need help!    — Beth S. (posted on April 12, 2005)

April 12, 2005
You need to try very hard to get the water and protein because you will get dehydrated and your hair, skin and nails will be greatly affected in a negative way. You don't want to lose your hair. Sip on protein drinks all day until you get what you need. If you don't want to eat, then sip, sip, sip! You didn't say how many days,weeks or months post-op you are. You will not lose weight if you don't eat, so it would be best if you could eat several very small meals....1 oz every 2 hours. Eat only things of nutritional value...cottage cheese, yogurt smoothies (low carbs), real cheese (mozarella cheese sticks), etc. Good luck to you!
   — csanchez1111

April 12, 2005
It troubles me greatly to read "Am bored with the diet already." Did you do research on this surgery before you decided to do it? You really don't have a choice when it comes to water and protein, it is something you must do! I totally understand how you don't feel hungry, but that is why you must keep water by your side 24 hours a day. Realistically, it is only 4 16oz bottles per day to meet your daily requirement, if you keep a bottle near you at all times, even by your bed, you should be able to get it all in. Remember, any non-caloric, caffine free liquid counts toward your water requirement. Skim milk is also counted and has protein! I know protein is hard to get in when you are not hungry. The surgery is designed to train you to eat correctly, so you must force yourself to eat the meals... even when you are not hungry. You will get used to the schedule and then when the hunger returns you will know what to do. At this point it is mind over matter, you know you must fulfill these requirements for success, so JUST DO IT!!! There are so many protein supplements out there to help, Isopure premixed in bottles contains 40g of protein and GNC's 50 gram slam has 50 grams! Also, GNC sells a liquid protein that contains 18G/3tbsp that may make it easier to do. You have to do it, no questions asked. You may be bored, but this is a fact of life that you can not question or rebel against... it is in your own best interest! Yes, your slow weight loss is definately a side effect of not getting these things in! Just ask yourself this... is it harder to suffer through drinking the water and getting the protein in than it is to fail after such drastic measures? I know you can do it... NOW DO IT!!!!! Best of luck! Amber P.s. If there is any way I can help you, please don't hesitate to email me!
   — septembergirl73

April 12, 2005
Beth, you are a VERY new post-op if your surgery date was 03/29/05. I remember what an annoyance it was to even think about eating when I was that early out and it was a lot of trouble to fix something to eat and even to take the time to eat it. But I KNEW I had to at least get in enough fluid so I did what the other poster suggested. I kept a bottle of water with me everywhere I went, including keeping a bottle beside my bed at night. I still do that and I'm almost 19 months out. I figure I'll probably do that for the rest of my life because it's habit now to swing by the kitchen and get the bottle of water before I go up to the bedroom. I've only forgotten it twice in the entire 19 months. It's not fun but we didn't do this for fun.........at least I didn't. Bottom line, some of this regimen will, at times, be a pain such as taking supplments everyday and drinking constantly, and even exercising for me. I don't particularly like exercise. The high protein diet gets to be a bore sometimes too even after you start feeling hungry again but bottom line is, we just have to suck it up and do it if we're going to be successful at losing this weight and keeping it off long term. I don't want to sound unsympathetic because I'm truly not but you know what to do and you just have to make up your mind to do it. Soon it will be habit and you'll operate on autopilot and move on to more fun things to think about....like being able to sit in an airplane seat and not lap over on your neighbor, and being able to buy little tiny clothes ON SALE, and asking for take out boxes in restaurants because you have tons of food left, and running with your kids or grandkids if you have them, etc. etc.
   — scbabe

April 12, 2005
Try eating on the hour even if it is only 2 bits, and drinking on the 1/2 hour. That helped me in the first few weeks. Good luck it does get better.............Peggy
   — Peggy R.

May 4, 2005
drink ProBlend55. Put a little fruit and a little yogurt in it. Then, just sip. Drink that bottled water with fruit flavor in it. (Fruit 2o?) You'll have to work at it, but you know you have to do it, so do it.
   — Dhelynn