Question:
I have a couple of questions actually...I am 4 weeks out, foods I can eat?

I don't find myself getting hungry, just wanting something different. I eat oatmeal or grits in the mornings...and potato soup, mashed potatoes or cottage cheese later. I just want something else and the same with drinks. All I drink is Crystal Light and Water. I tried a little regular V8. Also I get cramps bad in my stomach or feel sick after I eat, and I don't eat much. What do you find that makes you feel full? I don't know if I have felt full, I stop eating pretty quick because I don't wanna be sick! What can I do to keep from haveing baggy skin? Then last when can I start going to the gym? Shelly    — shellymarie (posted on February 5, 2008)

February 5, 2008
Hi SHellie: I'm only 3 weeks out myself so I hardly consider myself and expert but I'll attempt to comment based on what I do knw. For me, I still do at least one protein shake a day because they DO fill me up. Basically once I've had one....and I don't really like them...I can feel full for several hours. Also I don't have to wonder about the calories/protein since it's pretty cut and dried. For my other big meal I'll just eat extremely small quanitities of whatever I fix my family....always keeping in mind the second I feel full and also not to overdo it with calories. Baggy skin is caused from not having enough elastin in the skin to come back to shape after losing so much weight. There is more than one factor that effects whether or not and how much you will have. 1. age (younger skin has more elastin) 2. How much weight you lose....less weight to lose generally means less excess skin 3. genetics...some people's skin, no matter what the age, just does better. 4. exercise....is supposed to help you tone as you reduce and result in less skin. I'm not sure how that works exactly but we're supposed to be exercising anyway so it certainly can't hurt. Re your exercise regime...you're 4 weeks out now and can probably do 45 mins. to 1 hour per day...walking, treadmill, weight machines, bicycling. Did you have a 1 month follow up visit with your surgeon? Your surgeon should give you the clearance for more exercise. I've been doing 45 mins. per day on the stationary bike since my second week. I just don';t push it too hard. GOod luck.
   — cjjordan

February 5, 2008
Thank you so much for your help! What do you mix with your protein shakes? I have tried to make a couple of blended ones, but I didn't like them too much. Also are you eating regular foods? I am still eating mushy foods. What kind of drinks do you drink? Yes I went to my 1 month post op, but he just said walk a little...so I wasn't sure! Thanks again, Shelly
   — shellymarie

February 5, 2008
Hi Shelly Looks like you are not eating mostly protein...and the carbs could be causing your icky feelings. Try making a chicken soup and then puree the chicken with some cooked carrots and a little broth to help it go down easier...You can make little freezer ready bags for handy meals. Then add a unflavored protein to broth for a liquid protein drink that isn;t sweet.... Puree some turkey chili and beans...eggs...try lean hamburger with melted chaddar cheese or parmesan...tofu if you like that...yogurt..cheese (any kind) Puree with some soft cooked veggies for a little moisture. Stay away from potatoes and starches and only eat minimal amounts with protein. I still mix a half of scoop of dry protein in a small bowl of oatmeal for breakfast to get some carbs to get me started in the day. It's not that you cannot have carbs, but you need mostly proteins...Peanut butter on some water crackers or whole grain crackers is another good meal that many people can handle well. Tuna with a little mayo...There are tons of things you can try! Hope that gives you some ideas.. Drinking lots of water helps with skin and use a skin firming lotion every day...Doesn'thave to be an expensive one...I have two favorites...Nivea skim firming with Q10 and Neutrogena with active copper skin firming. It's not a miracle, but it helps. I have had no plastics...I am firm enough that I can live with my jelly belly and slight bat wings. Good luck
   — .Anita R.

February 5, 2008
Thank you Anita! I haven't found a protein that doesn't have flavoring. Do you have a name brand you can give me?
   — shellymarie

February 5, 2008
I use pure vitamin E on my skin also use Palmers cocobutter for stretch marks. I've used thepalmers for many years after I had kids and noticed the streatch mrks. They have faded so muchy...they are still there, just not very visible. The vitamin E is supposed to help with the elastins in your skin. NOw, it will only do so mucy and like the other writer said, there are many other factors. Good luck
   — hatda

February 5, 2008
Hi Shelly, You need to stay away from the carbs like grits, potato soup and mash potatoes as they are slider foods that go down easy but are not making the best use of your calorie options. After about 6 months you can go back to a limited amount of complex carbs. Carbs contribute to the sickly feeling as the first third of your intestines no longer processes food and that is the part that handled the sugar, fat and carb before. Now you have to get protein. Try www. Unjury for flavored and unflavored mixes. I like the chocolate with skim milk made in the blender with a few ice cubes. It is like a milk shake. There are several foods you can take after 4 weeks as you can begin to reintroduce more solid foods, like lien meats and fish. Just try small amounts of these solid foods at first. Up to now the soft foods that you have eaten slide in and out of the pouch. These solid foods will stay for a period of time, and will give you a full feeling. If you eat to fast you will feel like there is food in your throat. For beverages, Try Ocean Spray made with Splenda called light or diet ocean spray which is a weaker drink than the light in flavor, more like crystal light, but made with fruit. Also V8 Splash is not available in Diet and has several favors. Stay away from any diet soda's. Because you have lots of internal stitches on your intestines from the surgery, you will get cramps and discomfort when eating, but after about 6 weeks they seem to get better. I had my doctor prescribe an ulcer liquid that I took 1 hour before eating to coat the unhealed parts of my intestines and the pouch to help relieve discomfort when eating. As to baggy skin, I can tell you I got it and I am more proud of that then the fat I use to carry around. I guess when I lose everything I go back and address the removal of the extra skin. As to the gym, as soon as you feel ready, start going. I went after my 4th week and started with stationary bike and the tread mills. I only did 20 minutes the first time and in a month I was going 5 times a week for 1-1/2 hour per day. I never could have done this without my pre surgery weight loss and the 30 lbs I took off in my 1st 4 weeks. Before I could not do a stress test on a tread mill for 10 minutes and today I can do an hour non stop. The sooner you start the more straight you will build up. I been told the exercise will help the sagging skin, but that is something age controls. If your under 35, then there is a good chance, but if you are over 50, there is not much of a chance to remove it all without additional surgery. Best of success to you,
   — William (Bill) wmil

February 5, 2008
Thanks Bill! You were alot of help! So I can drink V8 Splash? I ahve stayed away from it...because I was unsure.
   — shellymarie