notime

At 3 1/2 weeks out, I can only eat something the size of the yolk of an egg. I know because I am eating a lot of eggs lately. I am not hungry but wonder if this going to change.

When I made up my mind to have the surgery and realized my intake would be severely limited, I resolved to always eat food that I really liked. If 6 tablespoons a day is it, let them be great tablespoons!

I'm sorry about your son and hope for the best for him and you. It must be hard for him to understand what has happened to him and what it means. As far as fluids go, although I drink some Water, I also use foods that count as liquids even though I might not have guessed that some of them are--yogurt, sugar free Jello, sugar free fudgesicles, pudding, V 8 juice, soy milk, etc. My whole diet is geared toward getting variety in taste and consistency while getting the required fluids and Proteins.

How much can each of you eat? The size of an egg yolk is the most for me. Are we supposed to eat more as our stomachs heal or is this it?

That recipe sounds delicious. I have all of the ingredients and will make it tonight. It should give me enough to eat for several meals.

Yes, I had checked, too, and was willing to give up the little bit of extra protein in the white. I can't eat the whole egg and I've always been a yolk woman!

You are amazing! I have no idea how you do it, but kudos to you. You active women inspire me.

I want to add my wishes for your trek and for a speedy recovery. Keep us informed.

I don't know how you can work-- and 12 hours at that. You are amazing! I have been accompanying my husband on household errands to various stores and am exhausted by that. One of my main protein sources is Fage yogurt. It has 23 grams per cup. I use one half cup in the morning as a snack and another in the evening. I also have eggs scrambled and sauted and egg salad. An egg is too much to eat, so I just eat the yolk. I do tuna salad and salmon salad. Yesterday I had refried Beans. I also have whey powder prepared with Jello and pudding. The jello, pudding and yogurt also count as fluids. I have started drinking V-8 juice for Fluid. Tomorrow I will try vegetable Soup (no Pasta or rice) and mash the vegetables. I bought an ice cream, ice yogurt and sorbet maker and will try making "ice cream" using one of eggface's recipes which includes some Protein Powder. I'm trying hard to get some variety and to get fluids and protein out of the same food source. Other than the protein added to jello and sometimes pudding, I do not use protein powders or drink Protein Drinks. In my opinion, they are terrible. It's a chore, but I have been meeting my fluid and protein requirements without them. Joni, I used Muscle Milk during my pre-op. It is not too bad.

I was sleeved last week. I plan to answer that query with "a lot." My weight is no one's business just as the fact that I had bariatric surgery. When people ask how I lost my weight, I plan to answer, "diet and exercise." In each case, I am telling the truth, but preserving my privacy.

Yes and it tastes wonderful.

My Greek yogurt is Fage. If you can get it, go for it. It tastes wonderful. I eat it plain and don't know if there are other flavors.

How much Fluid and Protein does your doctor require? My doctor says 64 ozs liquids and 60 grams protein. It is tough getting there, but now I can do it. I'm not drinking protein drinks, other than my one fallback of lime or orange Jello mixed with pina colada flavored Protein Powder. I get a lot of my protein from my Greek yogurt, which has 23 grams per cup. It also counts as a liquid. For a few days, I was not getting the full 64 ozs of fluid and developed the signs of dehydration. Stepped up the fluids and I'm good to go now.

The people at my doctor's office have said to crush my large pills (they consider anything larger than pepcid to be large). Whether that is for life or until some specified time I do not know. I will find out at my next bariatric surgery class. I have been taken off three medicines, but now have pepcid, Vitamins and Calcium to take. I have opted for the Opurity Vitamin because it is only once a day, but it doesn't taste well. Maybe when this bottle is finished I will try something else. My one week appointment with the surgeon was today and he said all is well. I am older (62) and had expected to have more problems getting over the surgery than younger people, but apparently that is not so. Of course, I do not have children to care for and I am retired. That makes for a less complicated recovery.

You are not being whiny. Taking the rest of the week off and getting in 64 oz of fluids a day may help. If not, get back to the doctor!

Joni, I used a little bit of mayonnaise, not anywhere near what I would have used before. Like you, I could only eat a few small bites. I threw the rest of the egg salad out and saved the tuna to eat later. My doctor said to use canned chicked, but it sounds as though you made the equivalent.

Dogmom--That is a great list. Thanks for sharing it. I am puzzled by the pasta. I know it says to overcook it, but I was under the impression I was never again to have pasta, even when on a regular diet.

I like eggface, too. I just bought an ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet maker and plan to use it for some of her recipes! This morning I figured out why I do not have pain when getting out of bed. I keep my right leg straight and bend the left leg to get me up. My soft, moist food diet allows eggs cooked any way I want them, including hard boiled. In fact, it encourages eggs because each one contains 7 grams of Protein. It also includes canned tuna and chicken. I am physically able to eat only part of an egg and a small can of tuna lasts four meals. The diet does not include soft or pureed fruit and vegetables because that takes away from the amount of protein I can get in. I am not drinking protein drinks because of the Proteins I am getting from my soft, moist food and Greek yogurt and pudding. I have made lime Jello with pina colada flavored Protein Powder. It is delicious, but that is the only protein powder I am using.

Today I had soft foods. This is not me gloating. Well, maybe it is. I had egg salad for Breakfast, tuna salad for lunch and dinner. I'm still meeting my liquid (64 oz.) and Protein (60 grams) goals. It took several days to get there, but now I'm zipping along. Tomorrow I hope to eat refried Beans with a small amount of cheese if I can find liquid Beano! I found a great dessert I could eat on my liquid diet. Maybe you will be interested. My husband eats sugar free frozen raspberries. I used the the juice left over from the raspberries and mixed it with yummy Greek yogurt (I use Fage. It has 23 grams of protein per serving and my doctor considers it a liquid.). I don't see why this wouldn't work with the juice from other frozen fruits, too, maybe peaches. I am having no trouble with my new stomach. The last two nights I was even able to sleep on my stomach and found that I had no pain or other problem getting out of bed. I consider myself very lucky.

It's good you are able to get back to the surgeon. Best of luck tomorrow.

My doctor says to go for the refried beans (non fat, of course) and that I don't have to puree them as they are already the right consistency.

kellie, Lucky you. Have a great time. I've decided not to weigh until the doctor weighs me at my first post-op visit.

Sounds just like my diet, but I'm only on it for five days week. I have been so tempted to cheat a little, but have held off. Tomorrow I start soft foods. Two weeks later, regular foods.

I can address your concern about how to explain to friends your changes in behavior. I was sleeved 4/23 and only immediate family members know. When people notice my changes in activities/eating habits and ask about them, I plan to tell them I am dieting and exercising.

Thank you. It is good to be part of a supportive group going through this.