Arabesque

Calories are always going to fluctuate a little anyway simply because you don’t eat the exact same foods every day. It’s why I focussed more on appropriate portions for what I ate & number & frequency of meals & snacks. I believe it always averages out. Like there’ll be days when you eat more protein & others when you’ll eat less. Same with fluids. Remember too though, your portions & calories are going to slowly increase as you progress until your weight stabilises & you’re in maintenance. I was told I would eat 1/4-1/3 cup from purée increasing to a cup at 6 months. You can always check with your team for additional guidance about what it appropriate for you at this stage. There are still days I can eat more than my appropriate portion or want an additional snacks. I tell myself I’m eating enough to meet my needs & if I want to eat more something else is going on (hormones, boredom, emotions, stress, etc.) & it’s not real hunger. Of course it took time to learn this. At times I still can’t eat all of my appropriate portion too. I’m simply not hungry, my tummy is being a bit odd or fussy, what I ate is sitting more heavily or is more dense, etc. I always believed it’s fine because I’m listening to my body which is more important.

Ask for some bloods to be taken to check your levels. Even with taking your vitamins it’s easy to be in a nutritional deficit simply because you’re eating so little at the moment. You may be anaemic. Try to get more protein in too when ever you can. I know it can be tough. I supplemented mine with a high protein yoghurt/yoghurt drink (I hated those shakes). Are you allowed carbs? Even some rolled oats (not instant) every day can be helpful (a complex whole grain carb, that’s low processed). My levels were okay, but I was lethargic & hard energy drops for a while. I found an electrolyte drink helpful for a boost of energy especially if I had a lot to do that day.

Yes, it may be just too much for you at this time & trying a smaller portion may be worth a try for a little while. That feeling full 30-45 minutes later is why it’s so important for us to eat slowly. It takes time for the full signals to register & more so with our cut nerves that are also healing. Eat slowly & stop when you’ve had enough (do you need the next bite or just want it), not full. You don’t have to eat all your portion if you don’t need to eat more, I still take 30-45 minutes to eat, sometimes longer & there are still meals where I don’t eat all my portion.

OMG that pumpkin **** latte has 50g of sugar 😱 That’s double the daily recommended intake of sugar for an adult. It’s funny how that is so horrifying now but before it wouldn’t even have been a consideration. What actually is in pumpkin spice? We don’t have it here. Is it just cinnamon & nutmeg?

We get them as a bar here as well too now. Back in my high school days (40+ yrs ago) it was just the cereal & it wasn’t the best choice back then either but better than those super sweet or high sugar ones we had then (cocoa pops, fruit loops, etc.) - at least it was made from whole grains - lol! The thought of eating them today actually turns my tummy. I’ll stick with my rolled oats - you just can’t eat it straight out of the box 😂😂.

Water can seem heavy at first & can seem to take odd. I was always a big water drinker but after surgery I struggled for months. As @summerseeker suggested try other liquids - they all count including your shakes, soups, etc. Warm drinks were also more soothing & easier to drink for me too. I drank a large mug of green tea every day (still do) & would let sparkling water go flat (remove the lid for a day) & to room temp (I enjoyed the mineral taste of it). I also drank electrolyte drinks (diluted them by doubling the water when making them) as well as plain water. Dehydration is a serious issue. I just had my 83 yr old mother in hospital for two days with dehydration & related complications. Keep sipping.

One thing you can count on is that we all lose at our own rate - what’s right for us & our body & that’s a perfectly fine rate. There are averages & outliers ( those who lose faster & those who lose more slowly) but I always thought if my surgeon was happy with my lose I would be happy too. Your surgeon is happy so you can be too. You may also be experiencing a stall. The first is usually around week 3 but can be before or after that & usually can last 1-3 weeks. They can be extremely frustrating as the scale doesn’t move down at all & can even move upwards a little. Our bodies respond to the weight loss differently. Some people even say when their weight loss is stalling they notice their clothes are getting lower. After my weight stabilised my remaining fat seemed to resettle around my body. I went from having no shape to having a waist & hips again but the scale never changed. Maybe take body measurements & track those as well as the weight on the scale & see changes that way too. Maybe weigh& measure yourself less frequently so the drops are more noticeable. Celebrate every pound you lose. You’ll get where you need to be in your time.

The egg salad may not have been runny enough & so was difficult for your healing tummy to digest yet. Keep your purées pretty runny - slip off a spoon dollopy at least. Thin foods with stock, gravy, milk, water, etc. Even though you were approved for purées, you may not be quite ready. Maybe stay on liquids for another day or two or introduce only one purée meal at a time. We all heal at our own rate & our tummy/digestive system is pretty sensitive while it is healing. I second @summerseeker’s suggestion of milk & high protein yoghurts. For example Chobani has 14g of protein & uses sugar as a sweetener (check though it may not be in all their yoghurts). You can turn the yoghurt into a yoghurt drink too by simply blending with milk. You get bonus protein from the milk & you can sip it for as long as you need because it’s considered a liquid as well as a food. Your energy will come back. Usually when you’re eating a broader variety of foods. Try an electrolyte drink to give you a boost. My energy took a while to come back & I had a doughy head for a couple of months but my blood pressure was very low which contributed. PS - Artificial sweeteners are in almost everything these days & so many worrying health issues linked to them too so I understand your challenge. I try to avoid as much sweeteners & sugar as I can. I know there’s some sweeteners in my yoghurt & protein bar but not much - no way can you describe them as tasting sweet. Lol! If I want sweet I eat fruit.

Once the two week liquid stage ended that was the last protein shake I had. Food aversions (taste or texture) are pretty common but they pass & they’re usually just for a couple of foods (eggs, chicken breast & steak can be frequent culprits). Sometimes something you eat one day without issue is repulsive the next & then a couple of days later it’s fine again. This is also a great time to try foods you previously didn’t enjoy - you may find you lime them after your surgery. It’s related to the temporary changes to our senses of smell & taste & our tummy being a fussy tantrum throwing two year old while it’s healing. It can be a weird time. It’s best if you start to introduce real foods as soon as you’re able & just supplement with shakes if you’re worried about your protein goals. (I ate high protein yoghurts & drank high protein yoghurt drinks instead.) We can’t live on protein shakes alone. Real food aids your healing, provides a broader nutritional sources & supports your digestive system to recover & get used to any changes in your system better. Also helps you to start working on & learning about portion sizes & making better food choices.

At high school I’d eat dry nutrigrain in a cup late at night while doing assignments. Do you have Nutrigrain or is it just an Australian cereal? It was promoted as Ironman food by our champion surf lifesavers. Crunchy with a sweet slightly sticky when dry outer. Mmmm. Now I want nutrigrain. Lol!

From purée I was advised to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food. (I was able to eat a cup at about 6 months.). So yes only a few bites. I could eat one golf ball size rissole (meat ball). It’d take me about three days to eat 2 scrambled eggs & the same for a single serve of instant rolled oats. I just portioned up the eggs or oats & reheat the portion each day. I did that with everything I ate. I still do this a lot 4 years out. It’s great I still only cook every three or so days & I cook almost every thing I eat. I freeze a lot too. My freezer is full of single serve meals for whenever I can’t be bothered to cook from scratch - just prep some veges or salad & reheat the protein & dinner is ready in 5 or so minutes. Handy to take to work for lunch too. You need to start including real food into your eating from the purée stage. It benefits your healing (getting your digestive system to work properly) & supports your learning to make better food choices in the long term & being more conscious of portion sizes. I never touched a protein shake after I got to purées. Have you a list of allowed foods you can eat at each stage? If not ask your team for one to get you started.

The texture of purées is a real issue for many. And then throw in some taste aversions it can be a nightmare. Texture want an issue for me but taste oh yes. You can purée most things just use enough stock, gravy, milk, etc. to keep the purée still runny enough.. I used to purée thick meat & vegetable soups. A friend pureed steamed chicken with gravy. I was allowed to eat instant rolled oats, runny scrambled eggs & yoghurt. I also mashed boiled eggs with Mayo. I had baby food a couple of times for some variety in flavour.

I was given them to put on as part of my pre surgical prep the morning of my surgery. I had to wear them for a week I think. But this is in Australia. You can buy them on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_bc_aui_C_4?ie=UTF8&node=23461500011

Were you given a plan to follow? Have you started meeting with a dietician/ nutritionalist yet? I know weight loss pre surgery (additionally to the specific pre surgical diet)is a requirement for many surgeons & insurances in the US. But the reality is we’re seeking weight loss surgery because we haven’t been able to lose the weight alone. If the surgeon isn’t happy ask for some help with an eating plan & referral to a dietician. This should show you really want to do something about your weight & are committed to the process. Start tracking everything every day too so you can show them what you have been doing. Fingers crossed for you.

I reheat all the time. I cook one night then eat the leftovers for the next two or three nights. Just portion everything up into single appropriate portion sizes. My freezer is full of leftover meals I’ve made & frozen to defrost & reheat to eat at other times. (I call my freezer my local take away.😉) The only thing is they recommend you only chill/freeze then reheat the same food once but that’s for everyone not just bariatric patients (because of the bacteria in food & possible food poisoning). Maybe that’s what was meant?

Oats are a great whole grain & complex carb to add to your diet. I was allowed instant from purée - just had to be runny so I made it with extra milk which gives extra protein - yay! A single serve sachet was three meals for me at first. The instant is more processed so goes down more easily in the beginning After a while (can’t recall when now) I switched to regular rolled oats because they’re considered better being less processed. Check with your team though to be sure because plans can be different. PS: I still eat rolled oats for breakfast everyday with a tablespoon of mixed seeds & blueberries. Funny thing is I eventually was able to eat a regular serve (1/2 cup dry oats) from close to almost 2 years out I think but then last year I started not being able to eat the serve. Then this year I’m only eating a half serve (1/4 cup dry oats). Don’t know why. Funny how our tummies works sometimes.

@hills&valleys hit the nail on the proverbial head about adjusting eating techniques. Eating slowly, taking small bites, watching portion sizes, avoiding food that is too dry or coarse, etc. is very important. otherwise discomfort or the foamies may occur. And yes your tummy may not tolerate certain foods, textures or flavours for a little while longer so food choices can be a little more challenging in the beginning. Difficulty with eggs, chicken breast, steak, etc, in these early weeks aren’t unusual. Six weeks is still pretty early out really. While able to eat soft foods then too, I could only manage my recommended 1/4 - 1/3 cup portion. Often that would be the protein only & it would usually take at least 20 - 30 minutes to eat. It does get easier & eating does become enjoyable again but you do have to learn the eating strategies that work best for you & your tummy. My tummy is a bit quirky & fussy but it was before surgery too. I still eat slowly taking 30 - 45+ minutes to eat what of course is a much larger portion size now, and take smaller bites. If I don’t because I’m distracted or not focussed on my eating behaviours, yep, discomfort & the foamies will occur.

No, I think you did the right thing. Yes, your surgery may be delayed while you have some additional appointments with your therapist, but you will be in a better place & mentally stronger to get the best from the surgery. As we often say, the surgery changes your tummy & digestive system but doesn’t change your head & your thinking. That’s the work you have to do. You’ve already started by recognising your issue & seeking help. Many surgeons & insurance companies require approval from a therapist before approval for surgery is granted. Also many have successfully continued with the therapy or started additional therapy after their surgery to help them work through their disordered eating & emotional issues which easily & quickly can sabotage weight loss success. All the best.

Your weight loss is never a straight line downwards. You’ll notice ups & downs & plateaus along the way. All perfectly fine & to be expected. I’d expect fluid retention at the moment too. I remember I’d put on a couple of kilos starting the day before my period & then have a day just peeing it all out just before it finished. (I’d also get constipated for a couple of days.)

Oops I meant to write whose plans don’t follow the same stages. Oh, yes you were lucky to not have to do it. It wasn’t the best. I changed tastebuds made so much just taste disgusting didn’t matter what I pureed some days. But God bless soups. They saved me many times and still are a favourite meal.

I did keto as the 2week pre surgical diet but my dietician said keto is a short term diet, best for kickstarting weight loss. It shouldn’t be followed long term. (Check research on effects on diabetes & insulin levels, cholesterol, etc.). Most post surgery diets are high protein, low fat, low carbs so probably closer to Aitken’s if you’re looking for a more formal recognised diet. One of the most important learnings I’ve had is that there is no one diet/way of eating that works for everyone. If there was the dieting wouldn’t be a billion dollar industry. Speak with your dietician, do your own research, & listen to your body & needs & the work out a way of eating that works & is best for you. As to your weight loss so far, you’re doing fine. The only people who lose very large amounts pre & immediately post surgery are those who began at a very high weight. There is really no right or wrong rate of loss. There are averages which only give you an idea of what you might lose. We all lose at our own rate. How many stalls you experience,how often & how long they last are individual too. And everyone’s’ rate of loss slows as they get closer to their final weight. I decided I would only worry about how much I was losing if my surgeon was upset but he wasn’t ever. All the best.

You won’t feel a lot of your old signals & your new restriction for a while (solid food usually) because a lot of nerves are cut during surgery & they have to heal. Secondly, liquids go through your tummy much more quickly so you don’t get full especially as you’re sipping slowly. When your signals do start to get through, they are often different to how they used to be to you. For example when your hunger returns, you’ll likely realise real hunger is not wanting/craving a specific food, flavour or texture (that’s head hunger). I feel restless as if something is wrong & there is a reason I am hungry & not because of emotions, boredom, habit, etc. I was advised to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food from purée slowly increasing to a cup by about my goal at 6 months. Initially because of the lack of signals so I wouldn’t strain my healing tummy, & then to guide appropriate portions. Check with your team for portion sizes if you’re unsure - weight alone doesn’t always work or is easy to measure. But never worry if you don’t eat all of your portion - it all balances out & it means you’re listening more closely to your body & it’s needs. And in the beginning, same with hitting all you goals - as long as your making an effort & are close & getting closer you’ll be okay. It’s always harder in the first weeks. The goal is not to feel full or to feel your restriction, but to learn when you’ve eaten enough or what your body needs not what you want to eat. Of course you don’t learn this overnight. I found asking myself if I need the next bite or just want it very helpful. Still do this 4 years out. And finally, another thing you don’t learn overnight. It takes time for your full message to get through when it fully come back. So when you feel full you’ve already eaten too much & more than you need. Sorry long post.

Surgeons/teams have different plans. There is no right plan. Yes, a lot of us tend to go through a two week cycle through liquids, purée then soft. But there those who do 4 weeks liquids (2 of clear liquids) & then those like @BabySpoons who don’t have to follow every stage. Always best to follow the plan you’re given.

It is hard to hit fluid (& protein) goals at first but it does get easier. As long as you’re making an effort & getting closer it’s fine. Keep your drink beside you. I have water in my bedroom, on the kitchen best, on the coffee table by the tv, etc. so I just pick it up & sip wherever I am. I also found setting routines very helpful. Set a timer to help remind yourself to sip. Drink every time you do a certain thing. For example one I do is drink every time I get in or out of my car & at every traffic light. A friend to,d me recently she used to play the drinking babe in work meetings - sip every time someone said a particular word or words ( originally she said she sipped every time someone said something stupid but couldn’t keep up 🤣🤣🤣.) I also drink at night - every time I get in or out of bed I drink - it can be quite a lot because of all that peeing - lol! I also find it all balances out in the end. You may drink a little less today, but drink a little more tomorrow. Same with your eating. Don’t forget your soups & shakes count towards your fluid goals too. I used to dilute my shakes for more fluid & just kept sipping so no distinction between eating & drinking, All the best.

Amazing & inspirational!