Question:
Eating after surgery

I had surgery on 6/26 and lost 26 lbs. but then on the 4th I took a bite of chicken and thought I was going to die, since then I haven't lost a pound. Could I have done something to my stomach and caused it to increase therefore my body thinks it is still hungry?    — * S. (posted on July 9, 2008)


July 9, 2008
Thought you were going to die as in painful? If that is the case, more than likely you didn't chew it small enough. I am 5 years out and still can tend to have trouble with chicken. It is kinda dry and doesn't go down easy. The fact that you haven't lost in a few days is not something to worry about, you will go through plateaus. I guess I should know what surgery you are speaking of as well. RNY or banding. I am speaking of RNY, banding I don't know about. You couldn't have stretched your stomach out that much eating one piece of chicken, and this quickly after surgery. In the next day or so, you will probably decrease by a couple pounds again...are you drinking your water?? Could be some water weight. Just my two cents! :)
   — rjh729

July 9, 2008
I am only 3 months post-op myself. It is a bit early to try chicken for you I think. However I do eat small amounts of chicken but only if it is super moist like chicken and dumplings or a chicken enchilada. Fried or grilled I would not even attempt to eat. Many people have trouble with chicken years post-op. I got down to 30 pounds and that was it for nearly 3 weeks. Next time on the scale (only at my doctors office) I was down 55 pounds...talk about shocked!
   — Gena L.

July 9, 2008
The chicken has nothing to do with your stall or plateau...and no, you did not stretch you pouch...But it was a bit soon to chew a piece of chicken...You didn't chew enough and ate it too fast...Meat must be chewed til it is a paste and eaten sooooo slow or that pain is what happens...Don't give up on meat just yet...You have to keep trying stuff over and over...eventually, you will be healed enough to handle dry dense meat like chicken later...You are doing WONDERFUL!
   — .Anita R.

July 9, 2008
I had my surgery on 6/18 I lost 20 pounds then stopped. I too thought maybe it was because I started on mushy foods, I have tried a couple pea sized peice of chicken the past few days just to try it out. I have to tell you I have had that pain from eggs and even from water when I forget I cant gulp or I dont chew my scrambled eggs enough. But you have to figure it takes a while for the weight to come off or people would have it gone in a few weeks. I got some advice the other day "do yourself a favor and stay off the scale!" its harder then it sounds I know but considering you are down 26 pounds you are doing great!
   — Kimberlin Katayama

July 9, 2008
You haven't lost any weight since the 4th? Today is only the 9th!!! Are you serious? Cut yourself some slack and remember that the average weight loss is about 2.5#/week. I might also suggest laying off the scales a bit. It seems to be that around the 2-3 week mark, people will have a little bit of a plateau... I'm not sure if I consider 5 days a plateau though. Keep doing the right things and it will happen, slowly and steadily. It took us a long time to get obese, it takes a while to lose it as well. Try to keep in mind that this time you are doing this for life, not for the short term success of losing and gaining it all back like we have always done. Congratulations on losing and welcome to the loser's bench, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

July 9, 2008
Hi Andrea, I had my lapband on 6-23 and I am just starting the mushy stuff. I have to admit...I am a little nervous about trying other "real" food. But the stuff I do try, I make dang sure it is mush. My dr said it should still be pretty much like baby food. So good luck and stuff you do eat....make it mush. I also agree about staying off the scale. I have weighed my self only twice--day of surgery and about 5 days ago. But I will tell you what, I have lost because my clothes are lose. Tomorrow I see my dr and I will get weighed then....I know I will be happy with what I see. Save yourself some stress and don't worry about what a scale says everyday.
   — snowlover

July 9, 2008
wow 26 lbs in 2 weeks is amazing. i had rny may 5 and lost 27 lbs the first month. maybe because i lost 30 lbs before surgery but at any rate my dr said i was doing great. Now after reading your post, i'm not so sure. Chicken is dry and if you are going to eat it make sure it is moist and very small pieces and chew chew chew. Right now I am losing about 2.5-3lbs per week and i get a little depressed when it takes 3-4 days to lose anything. i am obsessed with the scale and trying really hard to accept that any loss is a good one. I bet in a few days you will have dropped more than you think. keep up the good work!! Arden
   — bikermama

July 9, 2008
Hey , I'm assuming you had RNY? That's what I had and I am 4 months out and chicken does not agree with me! The only way I can attempt to get alittle chicken in is if it is super moist , like in a casserole or something with liquid. The chicken hasn't caused you to have a plateau. This is normal to go a few days even a few weeks for some to not lose the weight. Try not to weigh everyday. It will get frustrating to you! Angela
   — AuntThat

July 10, 2008
For all of you 'newbies' out there...congrats on your progress. You're all doing good...whether you've lost 26 pounds, 30 pounds or 15 pounds. Just remind yourself you couldn't POSSIBLY be gaining weight right now (immediately post op) based on what you're able to get down. I am 2 years post op, and I still have problems with some chicken. I do think you may be pushing it w/something solid like chicken this early...but even when you graduate up to 'solid' food...be gentle with your stomach. For now, being so close to your surgery...stick to what your dr says. It may seem boring and hard to get the protein drinks down...but remind yourself it's only for a few weeks, then you can eat real food. I have a very hard time eating chicken breasts unless I have a 'sauce' (marinara? ketchup? mustard? SOMETHING - but not mayo - too fatty and doesn't go well w/my pouch) to moisten it...then I'm just forcing it down for the protein. I have a much easier time eating legs and thighs that are cooked in a 'moist' manner...boil it in some soup, roast it w/some veggies and don't let it dry out...wrap it in foil w/some veggies and spices...whatever..just don't let it get too dry. You'll find that even beef, lamb, fish, whatever (I don't eat pork so can't 'testify' to that one), if it's too dense will be hard to choke down. Be sure any chicken you're cooking...skin it. Normally, I always skinned my chicken and just throw out the skin and fat I pull off...but I live in Indonesia where there are wild street cats everywhere. A few weeks ago, I decided to fry up the chicken skin for these cats. I skinned several chickens (I had just gone grocery shopping and was preparing to put them in the freezer) and put the skins and chicken fat in my no-stick skillet and fried it. I didn't add ANY oil to the pan, and by the time I was done frying the skins...there was about a half inch of 'oil' in my skillet! If you don't skin your chicken...you're adding all that fat to your body while trying to get rid of your own fat. Try it next time you buy chicken and see for yourself how much 'fat' comes out of the skin. I was truly shocked...I know Richard Simmons and all the other weight loss gurus out there have always said not to eat the chicken skin...but I think if they SHOWED people the fat that comes out of it...people'd be throwing that skin out big time! Showing it to my son and husband shocked them into leaving the chicken skin alone! : )
   — Hollywog

July 10, 2008
Hey Andrea, everyone's post are right on, chicken needs to be very moist and you have to chew it forever. One thing you might consider is are you getting enough calories. If your intake is too low you will stop loosing weight. Your MD can tell you how many calories you should be taking in at this stage. But I know it made a difference with me. Good luck!
   — Nurzrobin




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