Question:
4 weeks post op and confused

Ok new friends it seems that I have alot of questions lately and I apologize in advance!! I am 4 weeks post op from having an open GBP and am confused in what my day should look like with food intake! My doctor told me ok to start introducing new regular foods but I am scared because I get sick often and don't like that feeling! I realize that everyone is different but I was wondering if y'all could give me some sample meals and tell me what I should be eating a day!!! I have lost 32 lbs to date an don't want to stay eating and stop losing but I realize I M going to have to ear again!!! Hope this makes sense and Im not just rambling!!!    — amgentry (posted on December 31, 2009)

December 31, 2009
You can try some refried beans with sour cream.Just remember if the food doesn't agree with you then it may be too soon.Try again later.I tried scrambled eggs and egg salad at 4 weeks out and it made me sick.I tried again about 2 months out and it was fine with me.Cottage cheese,yogurts,deli meats with some cream cheese spreaded across it did fine for me also.You will get plenty of post on what has worked for others.Best wishes to you.
   — carolyn1970

December 31, 2009
If you are 4 weeks, then it sounds like you should still be on liquids or at least thick liquids, like split pea soup, etc. If you are getting sick, then you aren't chewing your food well enough and you aren't ready for real food yet. Your pouch is still very tender and swollen and sore. You need to baby it. Try thick liquids. Which if you look in the Q&A section and there is a list of previously posted questions, most people just click on the click here to post your question, but all the topics are all there. Click on post op diets. But thick liquids are soups or foods that don't have any chunks in them. you can water down mashed potatoes, refried beans, but those are usually the pureed/soft phase. blend up any soup in the blender is what I did. But you should really still be on the early phases of food. Make sure you are getting in your water intake and your protein intake as that is part of the liquid phase.
   — Kristy

December 31, 2009
There is a great site called Bariatric Eating that has a meal plan and sample menus. You can also google "Post gastric bypass meal plan" and you'll get some good information. The bariatric eating site is Bariatriceating.com. Good luck on your weight loss journey.
   — Elizabeth_Ann

December 31, 2009
I couldn't have met my minimal nutritional needs or protein goals without protein shakes at your stage. Those usually are the primary part of your diet at 4 wks out. My surgeon's eating plan allowed us to introduce ONE new food per day to see how we tolerated it when we progressed from liquids to soft foods to solids. You should still be on soft foods at most at 4 wks out. I found potato soup to be soothing and handled easily by my pouch. Like others have said, soups or anything you can whiz up in a blender qualifies as a soft food. Try just a few tablespoons at a time and wait. Yes, it means you're eating more frequently throughout the day but that's just how it is in the beginning until you're fully healed inside and can handle solids and switch back to a more 3-per-day type meal plan with 1-2 snacks. Hang in there. It will get easier.
   — Arkin10

December 31, 2009
At my clinic you should be no more than 2 ounces of food..1 is more ideal. And it should be anything soft at first. chew chew chew and be sure to be waiting the full five minutes between bites. try heated v-8 juice (i put a lil garlic and blk pepper) it isn't food..its a liquid. But I always liked it..lol I would try scram eggs, mashed taters, soft cooked scallops even. Sea food is a great thing for good grams vs calories, I know calories are not a worry for you now, but you may need to know about them in the future. beans, cottage cheese, melted cheese, I would take melted mozzer and salsa togther. cream of wheat, soft wheat toast, peanut butter, p butter on toast, sizzle steaks if soft, baby meat sticks-sounds awful , but they are good and low cal. Hope you get some ideas here. Best of luck and congrats! hugs,kim
   — gpcmist

January 1, 2010
I'm a few days shy of 4 weeks out from a laproscopic GBP and I am not allowed any starches at all, so I don't understand how anyone is able to eat potato soup or mashed potatoes or refried beans at this stage. The first two days for me, it was ice chips and water. Then the 3rd day it was clear broth and sugar free jello. The 4th - 14th day I could add pureed protein (anything but beef) and cottage cheese, and eggs. At 2 weeks out I was allowed to eat solid proteins but I need to chew everything until it's mush. I eat a lot of scrambled eggs, soft cheese, and chicken. Once in a while I'll have shrimp or scallops. I've even had bacon (but only a strip that was wrapped around the scallop). At 4 weeks, I can add beef (choice cuts only) and lettuce with full fat dressing. But absolutely no starchy vegetables and no fruit at this point. I also have to have 1 - 2 protein drinks (15g of protein or more) inbetween every meal
   — cntrynt