Getting-used-to-new-me

I'll have to try the avocado and sauces. I can tolerate cream of chicken soup. I just don't want to stay in the pureed stage with chicken.

Speaking of salads, what salad ingredients are the easiest to pass the "ouch pouch" test?

Thanks! I checked out their website. I'm going to see if I can make some of that stuff at home.

Thanks but I tried the chicken salad and I guess the pieces just aren't small enough, even after I chew them 30 times each. There's just something about chicken that doesn't work with me right now. Maybe ground chicken.

Thanks! I'll have to try that too.

I've concluded that I'll most likely have to keep drinking protein shakes for the rest of my life. I'm trying the protein shake recipes on theworldaccordingtoeggface's blog to add variety.

My NUT said to try it in soup. The fat from an Alfredo could make you dump. I poached mine with garlic and lemon, and it was soft and yummy. I'll have to try that. Thanks!

Yesterday a co-worker wanted to have lunch with me at Subway. He knew I couldn't eat like him, because of my RNY. I decided to try the oven roasted chicken sandwich. Since it's Subway's Janu-ANY promotion, I got a foot long. I had them toast the bread TWICE as long as normal. I ate two very small bites while at the restaurant. It took the rest of the day, but I finished it! It even had shredded lettuce and tomato. That was all the veggies I wanted to experiment with. I did have pouch pain at a couple of small bites halfway into the sandwich. But mostly it was reassuring that I might be able to eat the things I liked pre-surgery. Just in TINY quantities! And with a lot of time between those tiny bites.

I'll have to try that. Almost any white fish was the easiest to eat pre-surgery.

"Lube"--that's funny! But isn't the avocado fat kind of defeating the benefit of the chicken breast? I like your ideas, especially the slow cooker one. I might even try one of the oven baking bags to seal in the juices.

Speaking of fish, what's the most palatable? And what's the best way to prepare it?

I've tried it plain, with plain yogurt, with alfredo sauce, and lightly breaded so far. All no good. I'm thinking it's going to be one of those foods that I'll come back to and try every so often. Just to see if if still causes the pain, or if it's palatable. It's disappointing since chicken breast is one of the best protein sources. I still have my back up whey protein shakes, YUCK!

Speaking of chicken, every time it causes pouch pain. I think it's because it ends up being too dry, or the meat fibers might be too long. I don't know. Any ideas on how to prepare it so it doesn't cause pain?

Any good way to make chicken breast palatable? Every time I try it I get pouch pain.

I've been in the December Surgery thread of the Pre-Surgery Forum. But I wanted to know from the men here if any of you, who've had the surgery, have had buyer's remorse. My surgeon's dietitian told me everyone has it, but they mostly get over it by the time they're eating soft foods. The idea of doing this to my internal organs FREAKS ME OUT!

Thanks for those! That helps!

I was taking psyllium husk fiber (Metamucil) before my RNY, and I've been taking it since surgery too. Wal-Mart's Equate brand is cheaper than the Metamucil brand. I add a tablespoon of the sugar-free orange flavored Equate to my morning protein powder shake. BM's have definitely changed since surgery. But the psyllium husk fiber keeps me regular.

I haven't. I'm afraid the lettuce might get stuck no matter how much I chew it. Do people just eat salads without the leafy greens after RNY?

I'm glad to hear from all of you too. I believe we each have serious pros and cons with this RNY. It was medically necessary. But what a heaven and a hell it has been! On the pro side, we're physically healthier now than we've been in many years, maybe all our lives. On the other, what traumas we've had to endure. It's my hope that we each get to where we enjoy life, because I believe life is to be enjoyed, not endured.

I know what you mean!

I'm a guy who before surgery could go out in snow in shorts and shirtsleeves. Now I have to have the thermostat up, an extra blanket, and even have to wear jammies to bed! I'm cooking my wife and teenage daughter out of the house! All this after surgery. What the what???

I'm sorry but those sweet flavored protein shakes make me gag now. It's like drinking syrup. Sour and bitter things actually taste the best to me now. Isn't that strange? My NUT says it's our bodies trying to prevent dumping syndrome, by making sweet and fat foods taste bad.

Sounds good enough that I'll have to try it.

I've been adding lemon juice to my water to be able to drink it. Water tastes different. I'll try the crystal lite lemonade. Also, I'm so tired of the flavored protein drinks that I looked at Unjury's chicken flavored protein powder. Then I thought I'd mix my chicken broth with the GNC unflavored protein powder I have. It is easier to take that the other flavored protein shakes. Thank heaven I go to soft foods tomorrow!

I don't know if there's already a thread of this kind. But how's everyone using the time they now have that they used to use surrounding food? Any new hobbies? Interests?