Food issues, now in reverse.

[Tiffykins 673]

I'd be up for a cruise as well. I've never been on a cruise and think it would be fabulous ! ! !

I don't eat cottage cheese (it's a consistency/texture thing), and I was eating cheddar, and colby jack cheese with deli meat that caused my Constipation.

You'll do great. Like Vegas said, just stay positive, and you'll get there. Just take it day by day, sip by sip, bite by bite.

[LAN2k 18]

I'd be up for a cruise as well. I've never been on a cruise and think it would be fabulous ! ! !

I don't eat cottage cheese (it's a consistency/texture thing), and I was eating cheddar, and colby jack cheese with deli meat that caused my Constipation.

You'll do great. Like Vegas said, just stay positive, and you'll get there. Just take it day by day, sip by sip, bite by bite.

That right Tiff, it's all I can do really!

[MacMadame 81]

Well, starvation mode is a myth. If you maintain a calorie deficit, you lose weight even though your metabolism slows. Study after study has shown that.

But you can lose good weight -- fat -- or bad weight -- muscle and organs. So you don't want to be on an impossibly low calorie diet for a very long time and you need to get your Protein in. If you get your Protein in, the calories will follow naturally, so that's good. (One less thing to worry about. )

I wouldn't stress over following all the rules 100% at this point either. When you are 0-3 months out, your stomach is swollen enough that it makes everything hard. No sense making it even harder on yourself by trying to be super-strict. It's better to get all your Fluid and protein in than to be "pure" about your eating.

In the early days, I would make sure everything I put in my mouth had protein in it. If I drank it, it was a Protein shake or drink. If I ate it, it was high protein. I bought the special bariatric foods that have 12-15g of protein each and I drank protein hot chocolate like it was going out of style. I never drank plain Water -- at a minimum, it had South Beach Tide me Over in it -- but, if I could stomach it, I'd make a Protein Drink instead.

The one week I tried to drink a lot of plain Water is the week I ended up in the ER passing a kidney stone, so I learned my lesson there!

Now, once I got farther out, it got easier and I could drink plain water and not everything I ate had to be high protein. But in the early days I had to really work at it.

More on so-called starvation mode:

Fatty Fights Back: MTYHBUSTERS: Starvation Mode

[DownInSocal 12]

I went and talked with my therapist about my issues yesterday. I was given some things to do. First was basically to eat, something, anything. I bought some cottage cheese and ate it after the appointment. I didn't realize how bad I looked but the front desk was so worried about the way I looked physically she got my psychiatrist (meds doctor) out of a meeting to come take a look at me and talk. Then my therapist got to me and I got a talking to! They also threatened to call my surgeon who would give me a good talking to also, he might even call my husband. So I am back on the plan. No more of this nonsense. We talked about some of the reasons I am doing these things. I will elaborate later when I am not at work. Maybe it will help someone down the road.

I did not realize how foggy I was thinking and how bad I looked until I was marched in front of a mirror. :crying:

Today I have had my morning shake (7 am) and I just ate my "snack", 2 slices swiss cheese with 3 oz hummus. I am full but I am trying. I have two meatballs and a shake to go before 5 :ohmy: We will see.

[Josephine 1]

You can do it!! I'm so proud of you for taking the REAL control back!!

[Malaika 50]

I went and talked with my therapist about my issues yesterday. I was given some things to do. First was basically to eat, something, anything. I bought some cottage cheese and ate it after the appointment. I didn't realize how bad I looked but the front desk was so worried about the way I looked physically she got my psychiatrist (meds doctor) out of a meeting to come take a look at me and talk. Then my therapist got to me and I got a talking to! They also threatened to call my surgeon who would give me a good talking to also, he might even call my husband. So I am back on the plan. No more of this nonsense. We talked about some of the reasons I am doing these things. I will elaborate later when I am not at work. Maybe it will help someone down the road.

I did not realize how foggy I was thinking and how bad I looked until I was marched in front of a mirror. :crying:

Today I have had my morning shake (7 am) and I just ate my "snack", 2 slices swiss cheese with 3 oz hummus. I am full but I am trying. I have two meatballs and a shake to go before 5 :ohmy: We will see.

SoCal - I am SO GLAD you have someone to talk to about this and that are helping you to see the light - you're doing great so far - you'll get the 2 meatballs in (that's what I just had for lunch) and your shake and I bet you'll begin to feel less foggy -- and start to look better, too. This surgery is to help you take your life back, not to make yourself sicker -- I know how you feel about being afraid to eat - bjut in order to get better you need to do it -- you'll see, soon, that you aren't going to eat too much - you just CAN'T so then you'll feel more comfortable and in control of what you do eat.

Please keep us posted and definitely post anything you can to help others who might have this battle too.

One day at a time - sometimes one hour or one minute at a time - that's all you can do!

[LAN2k 18]

Here i go guys I'm about to endeavor on some cottage cheese and applesauce. Lets hope it sits well...it's my first actual soft food and my surgeon just told me to chew the heck out of the cottage cheese so it's like a liquid. I guess it's cos I'm only 14 days out. Hmm I am just so hungry I hope this won't hurt.

[cajun 46]

So how did your sleeve like the cottage cheese lan2K?

[LAN2k 18]

I enjoyed it and my sleeve kept me in check while eating it. There was some sensation in the center of my chest (like air or something) and that signaled me to go s l o w, take a break and try to burp. I am begining to understand what "head hunger" means...for me it means eating something a little bit too fast. So I cautiously ate about 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese and applesauce and it was delicious. So far I think I'm OK. Thanks for asking Cajun. So how are you doing?

[Tiffykins 673]

Lan - Think of it as a huge victory, and you're definitely headed in the right direction ! ! !

[Malaika 50]

Lan - one thing that I found I could get down - and turned out it was good - even Ruthi liked it and ate it alot, too - was to blend a hard boiled egg yolk with some cottage cheese - I have a stick blender and it blended it very creamy -- it was high in Protein and was easy to eat -- You could add a little low fat mayo if need be and some pepper ... just a thought!

Glad you did well with the cottage cheese and applesauce ... each day will get easier!

[MacMadame 81]

I'm glad you have people looking out for you, DownInSoCal.

[LAN2k 18]

I went and talked with my therapist about my issues yesterday. I was given some things to do. First was basically to eat, something, anything. I bought some cottage cheese and ate it after the appointment. I didn't realize how bad I looked but the front desk was so worried about the way I looked physically she got my psychiatrist (meds doctor) out of a meeting to come take a look at me and talk. Then my therapist got to me and I got a talking to! They also threatened to call my surgeon who would give me a good talking to also, he might even call my husband. So I am back on the plan. No more of this nonsense. We talked about some of the reasons I am doing these things. I will elaborate later when I am not at work. Maybe it will help someone down the road.

I did not realize how foggy I was thinking and how bad I looked until I was marched in front of a mirror. :crying:

Today I have had my morning shake (7 am) and I just ate my "snack", 2 slices swiss cheese with 3 oz hummus. I am full but I am trying. :001_cool: I have two meatballs and a shake to go before 5 :ohmy: We will see.

I am helped already just seeing how important it may be to have a support system in place as you do. Since this surgery my mind has been racing round the clock. I'm finding complex issues surfacing with regard to food and eating. I was warned when considering surgery. After reading this I've decided to make an appointment with the psychologist I met with previous to the surgery. This is his area of focus. I hope to hear more from you.

[cajun 46]

I enjoyed it and my sleeve kept me in check while eating it. There was some sensation in the center of my chest (like air or something) and that signaled me to go s l o w, take a break and try to burp. I am begining to understand what "head hunger" means...for me it means eating something a little bit too fast. So I cautiously ate about 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese and applesauce and it was delicious. So far I think I'm OK. Thanks for asking Cajun. So how are you doing?

Good for you!

I am doing well this evening. Had some lower GI problem still today but hopefully that is all done.

[LAN2k 18]

Lan - one thing that I found I could get down - and turned out it was good - even Ruthi liked it and ate it alot, too - was to blend a hard boiled egg yolk with some cottage cheese - I have a stick blender and it blended it very creamy -- it was high in Protein and was easy to eat -- You could add a little low fat mayo if need be and some pepper ... just a thought!

Glad you did well with the cottage cheese and applesauce ... each day will get easier!

That sounds delicious, high in Protein and easy. I have a "magic bullet" blender. I will try that out and let you know. I really appreciate the recipe. It's so great to be able to share on here. Thanks so much.