Question:
have problems getting calories in????

Im having problems getting in more then 250 calories a day. Did anyone else experience this the first week or so. I try and eat more but Im just not hungry. Kathy    — Kathy P. (posted on August 7, 2004)

August 6, 2004
Until your on your 'full foods' I wouldnt worry. Being on liquids or soft its almost down right impossible. One of the hard things to learn to is eating without being hungry. You may need to get on a schedule. We had for YEARS been taught NOT to eat unless hungry... but with surgery it may be months before hunger pains return. So you need to eat for nutition. set up a sechedule. BUT again as far as low calores this early out dont worry about it. If your allowed 'milk' try Carbocountown (avail at walmart in the milk secton) it has 70 - 130 cal depending on the type you get skim vs whole and 12 grams of protein. BOTH will do you good.
   — star .

August 6, 2004
Kathy, you will not be hungry for a while yet being so new PO. I would be a little hungry when I was still on full liquids the first couple of weeks PO. Enjoy the sensation of not being a slave to hunger like you were pre-op. I rarely get hungry and I am 15 months PO. I really have to concentrate on having that sensation of hunger. It is different for every PO patient. Now, my husband is also PO open RNY like me and is almost a year out, he gets hunger pangs a lot and has to eat when he feels them or his pouch causes him a lot of pain (if it is the pouch, maybe it is the intestinal track). Welcome to the other side. Christine
   — ChristineB

August 7, 2004
I don't think I got enough calories in even by my 6th month. This is why we lose the weight and the surgery works. I say don't worry about it enjoy the weight loss as your appetite will eventually come back.
   — ZZ S.

August 7, 2004
I am almost five weeks post-op, and I average just under 600 calories a day, which I track at fitday.com. I would probably be having even less calories, but I drink milk at least once a day for the protein. During my first two weeks post-op, I basically drank water...I was sick of jello and broth. I think 250 calories is just fine this early out. When you start soft foods and move to solids, you'll notice an increase in your calories (because protein has calories).
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 25, 2004
I am six weeks out and I too worried obsessively that I was not getting in as much as I needed to. My concerns came from the dieticians telling me all of this food and liquid I needed to get in. I finally realized (through talking w/ my doctor) that the dietician gives you a perfect example and that not many people can live up to that. So I tried to quit obsessing and just relax. I also was not hungry at all. In the morning I drank 8 oz of skim milk with sugar free carnation instant breakfast. Then I would make myself eat 3 oz. of something (usually pureed soup) at lunch time and at supper. In my opinion the most important thing is to drink throughout the day, not obsessively measuring, just make sure you have water (or whatever) with you and sip on it all the time. I personally started feeling much better after I wasn't sooo dehydrated. Don't worry, for me it has started to get better and seem more "normal" now that I am beginning to eat regular food. You are going through the hardest time right now, you will start relaxing with it and feel much better in the next 2 weeks or so. At least I did anyway. Hope this helps!
   — Faith B.