A Slave To Food - Help!

[ReeseMae 8]

Hello,

I was sleeved on 4/19, so I'm 1 month post op. For the most part things have gone smoothly. I was reading in another post that after having VSG that we are no longer slaves to food. I partially agre with this statement. But sometimes I still feel like a slave to food. I feel like I constantly have to eat in order to get in my daily Protein. I get full so quickly even when I eat slowly. I've been sticking to the diet my doctor has advised. If I don't constantly have something to be eating, I won't get in all in. So, sometimes I still feel like a slave to food. I don't want to eat all day, especially when I don't feel hungry. But, I also want to make sure my body gets what it needs. I had the surgery to be healthy, but if I can't get in the proper nutrients, I won't be.

And I have such a struggle trying to get in all my Water. On a good day, I can get 32 oz in. Adding the 8 oz from my Protein shake that's 40oz, but I feel like I should be doing better and I don't always get in 32 oz. And sometimes Water gives me acid reflux. Does anyone else experience that? It seems weird to me.

Perhaps I need to be a bit more patient. I know being only a month out is still very early. But, I hope that at some point I will be able to eat a 1/2 cup of food in one sitting and not feel like I can never finish it. It seems like I waste so much food because I can never finish it.

There are times when I am hungry and I'm learning to understand what my body is saying. But, I eat so little and I'm full. Sometimes 1/4 cup is a challenge to get down. But, I do have to say that I am very grateful that I no longer have the instense sugar cravings I had pre-op. That is such a blessing!

Any feedback from you experienced sleevers would be much appreciated.

[7carol3 212]

Reese,

You are still very new to figuring out what it is your body needs. Just do your best to follow your doctor's orders. In time you will have more room. I can manage to get plenty of Protein and my Water in at the 6 month mark. And believe it or not I don't have to drink Protein shakes or add Protein to my foods. I just watch my labels and choose wisely!! This didn't come until probably the 5 month mark. The first few months I felt like I wasn't doing the right things. I worried all the time. This journey isn't just physical, it is mental too. The mental portion has been MUCH harder on me than the physical. The only bad side effect I had from not having room to get all my protein and Water in for the first few months was some hair loss. My blood tests still came back with good results. Now at the 6 month mark my hair is doing "better". I have less and less falling out everyday.

Just keep your head up, follow doctor's orders as best you can. You will get there!! Good luck!!

[ReeseMae 8]

Thank you for the advice and encouragement. I'll have to try and remember that it will all come with time. And you are so right that it's very much a mental process too.

[MyGastricSleeveLife 180]

I was just sleeved on Monday & am still on Clear Liquids, so I don't really know yet. However, the positive that I see now is that even though I have to drink stuff all day long, the food doesn't control me anymore. I still have some pain from surgery & normally I'd seek food to deal with pain, but I don't anymore. I am consuming because of necessity instead of because of want/ addiction/cravings. For me, that is a huge difference!