How do you force yourself to eat?

[cherice95403 13]

I am 3.5 weeks out and really have no desire to eat. Yesterday I had 4 club crackers with cream cheese around 10am and then a Protein Shake made with fat free milk at 7pm. That was it for the day. I know I should be eating more, and I am actually a little hungry, but don't really feel like eating. How much are people really eating at this point?

[sleeve 4 me 910]

Everyone is different...I've been right where you are...it's such a terrible feeling. I didn't realize this would be one of the most difficult issues to deal with after surgery. You just can't imagine it, when you love food. All I can say is it will get better. I don't stress myself out any longer. I try to eat as much as I can, and if for some reason I don't, I don't. I do notice if I don't eat, I'm super tired. So I do try and get down as much as possible, and make sure to take my Vitamins ...IT WILL GET BETTER

[Lillie24 2]

As for me I was probably didn't really focus on eating until around a month. When I did eat I only ate a few small small bites and then pushed it to the side. I think that fluids are very important to help with healing and how you feel. Just eat a few bites and do what you can do.

[juliarh 35]

Cherice -- I was where you were too -- I just looked at eating like taking medicine -- I had to eat every 2 hours whether I felt like it or not, so I did. I didn't eat much, and most times didn't enjoy it at all, but I did - eventually your tastes slowly come back -- so take it one day at a time and know that we're here for you if you need it

[Krista2653 5]

I am 7 weeks out and still have that problem! I always make myself do a Protein shake in the morning and then I find myself at the end of the day and I haven't had ANYTHING (Fluid or otherwise) since that morning and haven't even missed a thing...not one ounce of hunger or thirst. I emailed my physician and asked if I should be FORCING myself to eat. My thought was - overeating and eating when I was not hungry is what got me here!! My surgeon's office told me that I just need to do the best I can....not to force myself to eat, but not to consume less than 40g of Protein to stay healthy. For me, this was a catch 22 because in order to even get 40g of protein, I had to force myself to eat.....but 40g is much easier to do then 70 when you have absolutely no desire to eat.

Like another poster said, little protein + few calories = no energy. I have felt better about eating this past week (I think my monthly visitor is coming) and although my weight loss dropped this week compared to what it was for the weeks I was not eating, I do feel much better and have much more energy. Last weekend I went grocery shopping after a whole week of battling with eating enough and by the time I was done, I was standing in the check-out line, feeling so sick....cold sweats, nausea, jello-legs....I didn't think I was going to make it to pay and get to my car....and grocery shopping is not that serious! That was a scary feeling that I don't want to experience again, so I try to be more diligent!

It is certainly hard to balance this delicate "dance" of calories, protein, carbs and calories!

[My New Life 0]

Try getting a nonflavored Protein Powder to sneak into your Soups etc. I also exchanged some of my Water for milk which I am tolerating fine and a spoon of whipped cream cheese either plain or melted in my soups (stirred into pudding. These calorie dense additions made all the difference to my mood and energy. I keep my calories around 600-800 a day and I feel tons better than when it was at 300-500. food is just medicine now. BUT 15 lbs down already and at day 13!

[StaySea 2]

I was doing a-okay with my eating and getting 60-70 grams of Protein in a day up until this weekend. The last few days food makes me feel nauseous and I have to force myself to eat and get in as much protein as I can tho I have not made it to my goal for protein either. Argh! I hope this is a phase and I hope it passes soon.