Question:
Long lasting foods?

I am 17 days post op and have been eating salads (Taco Supremo from Wendy's)but I notice that that doesn't stay in the pouch for very long. What can I eat, besides deli meat, that will stay in the pouch long enough to make the full feeling last and won't make me feel that I need a swallow of water? I have also noticed that I have to salt my food now. What is going on with that?    — Diana D. (posted on May 23, 2003)

May 23, 2003
I am only one day behind you in my recovery. I know that all doctors handle the post surgery diet differently, but I am surprised that you are eating salads already. I had 2 wks of protein liquids, broth and water and just this past Wed. I was advanced to blended foods for 4 wks, then I am onto soft and blended foods for another 2 wks. I have been told to incorporate a protein (meat, fish, egg substitute or low fat cottage cheese), a veggie and fruit and at 1 or 2 meals add a starch (creamed corn, mashed potatoes sweet or white, peas, squash, oatmeal). When I eat any of these foods I eat my protein first, then the other foods and I only am eating 1 tbls of these foods. I can advance to 1 more tbls of food when I feel I can handle it. In the end I will be only eating 1/2c of food at a meal for the rest of my life. You may want to try and eat a protein first, this will give you a feeling of fullness that will stay with you, the feeling stays with me for a few hours and of course I am sipping water or Crystal Lite inbetween and that continues the feeling of fullness. I hope this helps you. I too find that I need more salt.
   — ChristineB

May 23, 2003
Diana, every doctor is different, but did your surgeon or nutritionist give you guidelines as to what to eat? I wasn't allowed to eat something like a taco salad until atleast 3 months post-op. Like I said, every doc is different, but at this point, almost every doc recommends you being on pureed or soft foods, if not just liquids. So eggs, cheese, yogurt, even fish would be good. And hope you don't take offense to this, but the reason for having WLS is to change eating habits. And ofcourse it takes months to establish good ones, that's part of the process. And eating fast food on occassion isn't bad either, but it shouldn't be something you eat right after surgery and a few times a week, know what I mean? It's fine to allow yourself treats and snacks, etc. but healthier food should take precedence. Goodluck to you :-)
   — Lezlie Y.

May 23, 2003
I am 11 days post op and can't imagine being able to handle a salad at this point. My surgeon recommends soft protien foods (soft deli chicken, sf yogurt, ff cottage cheese, ff refried beans, string cheese, etc. Only at month 5 are we allowed salads. He said the protiens will provide "satiaty" where as even veggies move through too quickly. I hope this helps.
   — Happy I.

May 23, 2003
Depending on what your surgeon allows, mine had me on solid foods before I left the hospital, I would suggest tuna, chicken, cheese, cottage cheese, sf yogurt, and things like that. This early out you wont be able to eat much so make your meals mostly protein and you will feel fuller longer. Best of luck to you! Mary, RNY 6/4/03
   — maryburton

May 23, 2003
Salad are mostly water and there in lies the problem. Try tuna, scambled eggs, peanut butter high protein high density foods. I my doc let us eat anything right out that was soft. I ate a lot of fish.
   — Oldsoul

May 23, 2003
Salad are mostly water and there in lies the problem. Try tuna, scambled eggs, peanut butter high protein high density foods. I my doc let us eat anything right out that was soft. I ate a lot of fish. If this post twice please forgive me my computer glitched:-)
   — Oldsoul

May 23, 2003
AMOS MOD HERE. Theres a board bug that seemingly makes the boards posts disappear and reappear. I have reported it.
   — bob-haller

May 23, 2003
I am also surprised you're eating salads already. But every surgeon's program is different in some way. We had to be on liquids for 10 days, then move to pureed diet for 6 weeks. Actually toward the end of the 6 weeks you can start adding softer foods, gradually introduce other things little at a time. Wendy's chili was a mainstay at this point, as well as yogurt (Blue Bunny Lite 85), cottage cheese, and in the area of pureed - Italian Beef is totally yummy.
   — Anna L.

May 24, 2003
Nuts, cheese, jerky, chili, tuna on a cracker (heavy on the tuna).
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 24, 2003
That's interesting about salt. After my WLS (I had the DS), I found that for weeks and weeks post-op, everything tasted TOO salty... or too sweet... or too bitter... or just too strong in general. I remember having to throw out a lot of restaurant food (dishes I'd loved pre-op) because it all seemed so over-salted. I wonder what causes our tastes to change so dramatically? My tastes adjusted back graduatlly, over a period of months. I'm almost a year post-op now, and everything is pretty much back to tasting the way it did before surgery.
   — Tally

May 24, 2003
I am 15 mo out- and you are right- salad does not stay with you very long- It is mostly water- BTW- the salads at FF places are fine IF YOU DO NOT ADD DRESSING! By adding dressing to the taco salad- you up the calores from 180 to over 600! it would be better at 17 days po to be eating cottage cheese, tuna fish, egg salad, scrambled eggs, soft white fish, Wendys Chili, refried beans (taco bell's are fine),shrimp, cheese, ricotta, canned chicken. My program did not allow salad until I was 8 weeks out. Proetin in solid forms will stay longer. Good Luck
   — ~~Stacie~~

May 24, 2003
First, are you following your doctors orders? i wasnt allowed salad untill week 8. Second the seccret to feeling full is eating protein, salad will not do your body any good at this point. Protein Protein Protein!!! alex-250-175 12/18/03
   — Alexandria D.

May 24, 2003
My instructions was no raw fruits or vegatables until 8 weeks post-op. They tend to irritate the stomas and make them swell up- causing discomfort and possible narrowing. I'm passed 8 weeks now and I love lettuce, baby shrimp, cut-up imitation crab meat and Italian dressing!!
   — Sally P.

May 24, 2003
I am surprised you are eating salads this early,too! I was on pureed foods for the first four weeks, then on soft foods. Try eating some lean protein - roasted chicken, lean beef, turkey, etc. what about some fruits and vegetables? Are you getting in plenty of water? Are you eating every 2-3 hours? I guess the big question I have is whether or not you had any dietary instruction before surgery. You seem to be kind of doing whatever seems to work. Please check the library; you'll find lots of help there with food issues and ideas. Good luck!
   — koogy

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