February 2014 post op losers

[hmjdreamingbig 93]

Thanks y'all! Protien....has NOT been my friend. Pretty much no matter what it is..(besides yogurt) makes me yak! Especially chicken, tuna, eggs, ... I'm very frustrated. I also can confirm that I am still struggling to get in liquids. I feel like "a bad patient". But drinking has never been a big thing for me....except for meals which I miss terribly. I do try...really...but in the mix of the busy days I do tend to forget and not get in even nearly enough.

I tend to eat a lot (well maybe not A LoT) of fruits and veggies but...not much Proteins at all. Some days are better than others...but...I want to be healthy...not just skinny. I go back to the dr on June 3rd so we will need to have some serious conversations about things and my concerns.

[clairec 44]

Thanks y'all! Protien....has NOT been my friend. Pretty much no matter what it is..(besides yogurt) makes me yak! Especially chicken, tuna, eggs, ... I'm very frustrated. I also can confirm that I am still struggling to get in liquids. I feel like "a bad patient". But drinking has never been a big thing for me....except for meals which I miss terribly. I do try...really...but in the mix of the busy days I do tend to forget and not get in even nearly enough.

I tend to eat a lot (well maybe not A LoT) of fruits and veggies but...not much Proteins at all. Some days are better than others...but...I want to be healthy...not just skinny. I go back to the dr on June 3rd so we will need to have some serious conversations about things and my concerns.

Oh dear Dreaming,

You sound really frustrated and fed up! I am concentrating on fluids so much more after the surgery but I find that I really need to focus on it and as you say life is busy. If I had been doing my old role finding time to go to the rest room had to planned carefully once during the day otherwise it didn't happen. So drinking more would have been an issue and I wouldn't have found it easy to find time to drink either. Now, I try to have periods during the day when I focus on drinking, basically when I am nowhere near a mealtime. I really miss drinking with food too and also being able to drink a whole glass at once to catch up.

As for proteins, they are the least likely things that I can cope with, particularly on a bad day. As you say some days are better than others, and again I try to ficus on having as much of those type foods whenever I can. Some days they hardly work at all, but I am never sick, thank goodness, I just can't get them down. I relied on Protein Drink type foods earlier on, made into ice cream type consistency, or added to other foods. That kept my levels up more at that stage. I haven't done that recently, though maybe sometimes I should.

Stay positive Dreaming I am sure that things are going better than you think. The priority for me would be to stop being sick, I really hate that. Then to focus on proteins you can cope with and on fluids at times of day when you can.

Don't know if that helps at all but I am thinking of you.

Claire

[hmjdreamingbig 93]

Ok...so...I haven't posted on FB or told anyone other than my family...but we are moving...again!! We moved last summer to northern NY from Oklahoma (my husband was given a promotion and relocated here) this was good because I had really missed my family (I am from NY originally) Now...his job is relocating us (to a warmer and larger city where I can hopefully get back to my career of being. Teacher!) So...as of August 1st, we will be living in the Greater Richmond VA area! I am so excited to get out of the frozen for 6mo. Northern NY!! I'm so glad I can share this on here with y'all...we hope to tell the rest of our family n friends soon, but man holding things In is hard for me lol!

[JanetteH 80]

Ok...so...I haven't posted on FB or told anyone other than my family...but we are moving...again!! We moved last summer to northern NY from Oklahoma (my husband was given a promotion and relocated here) this was good because I had really missed my family (I am from NY originally) Now...his job is relocating us (to a warmer and larger city where I can hopefully get back to my career of being. Teacher!) So...as of August 1st, we will be living in the Greater Richmond VA area! I am so excited to get out of the frozen for 6mo. Northern NY!! I'm so glad I can share this on here with y'all...we hope to tell the rest of our family n friends soon, but man holding things In is hard for me lol!

Hi dreaming big. First of all I agree with the other responses - fluids and Protein should be a high priority - both you and Clare might benefit from having at least one Protein Shake a day - both Fluid and protein all at once : ) - at least until you can tolerate more solid protein. I really miss drinking with meals too - but I carry a water bottle with me all the time so I can sip in the car etc etc.

Secondly - sorry to find out now that you're leaving Upstate New York. I live near Rochester, where are you?

Hang in there - things will get better as your digestive tract settles down. Glad you're going to see your doc soon. I have had no problems in the last 2 weeks (I'm 3 months out now). Sometimes I wish I had more problems - eating is too darn easy for me now.

[JanetteH 80]

JanetteH

What do you have your calories set to on my fitness pal?

Thanks for the weather tips!

Deanna

Hi Deanna

It's set for 1200 calories a day - did that based on my height, weight and goal of 2 lbs a week. Haven't found a way to set it lower or increase my weight loss goal. Do you know the trick?

Janette

[ryn2bthin 87]

Hi Deanna

It's set for 1200 calories a day - did that based on my height, weight and goal of 2 lbs a week. Haven't found a way to set it lower or increase my weight loss goal. Do you know the trick?

Janette

Janette

To change the calorie goals..on the main page there is a section goals.. go into that and scroll down.. touch calorie goals and that should allow you to manually type in your number. I have mine set to 600.. that may be too low but that's about the max food intake that I can tolerate. Hope this helps

Deanna

[clairec 44]

Hi,

Dreaming that sounds like good news for you. Yes Janette, a Protein drink might help occasionally, but I don't like them really and generally my protein levels even out to where they should be. I think that we are all told different levels to aim for but my dietician seemed to think that what I was doing was ok, despite the fact that I am normally only averaging 50gms/day. I know many of you are being told to aim for more than that though. They seem to be too much for me to digest in terms of consistency.

Hopefully I can carry on managing without them.

Claire

[JanetteH 80]

Hi Claire

Sorry - I forgot you didn't like shakes! I don't mind them - I occasionally still have MetRx chocolate (sometimes with a banana & ice whizzed into it) for a healthy snack or Breakfast.

Another trick I found was to put a scoop of unflavored Protein into mashed potatoes, cream of chicken Soup etc. I even have a recipe for sugar-free high protein oatmeal Cookies and pumpkin or sweet potato pie that incorporate protein powder!

Luckily for me I'm not having a problem with most Proteins - eggs, cottage cheese, soft tender chicken (dry or tough chicken makes me throw up), white soft fish and even ground beef and lamb are all good. I can't deal with steaks, pork chops, "firm" fish like swordfish or mahi-mahi etc yet, but I'm lucky that there's enough variety I can handle - I'm managing 60-80 g of protein a day as advised by my dietician (although it seems their advice varies!). Good luck to those who are struggling.

Are you still in Hawaii, Claire? Thanks for the tip about sashimi - I'll bet it's fantastic over there. I had to go out twice for lunch recently and managed to persuade one group to go to a Japanese/Vietnamese restaurant so I could have my raw fish. Why does raw fish go down so much easier than cooked? : )

Edited May 29, 2014 by JanetteH

[DELILLIEFLOWER 13]

It has now been 3 months since my surgery and I am down 90lbs....20lbs before surgery. I am so excited, I still have a long way to go but I will get there.

Starting weight 459

Day of surgery 439

As of May 28, 2014 370

[kimr 37]

Dellieflower, you are doing amazing! Way to go.

Jeanette you are so creative with your recipes and non flavored Protein Powder. I am in a rut and need to spice things up and start to cook more.

My weight loss is going slow the last couple of weeks. Hoping to start exercising more next week and get back into losing consistently.

[clairec 44]

Hi,

Janette, I will trying adding banana to the shakes. With the extra consistency and taste that might help the taste and the texture. Adding the Protein mix to food is an idea but I ony have chocolate and they come in such large tins. We have tried making it into an ice cream wth low everything custard and fat free fromage frais and that works fairly well too. Thanks so much for the suggestions.

Dellieflower, what a wonderful weight loss, congratulations! I am slowing down a bit now, like Kim. However I have not weighed for over a week so who knows what the effect will be of holiday eating. I will weigh in a day or two at Longs and let you all know! Yes we are still in Hawaii and loving every moment of it. It is just so beautiful.

Eating is a challenge, some meals seem to be fine, very small amounts but the range of foods is excellent. Other meals, not so much! However I have not been sick, or had problems with things getting stuck so that is great. Just some mealtimes nothing really works and despite hardly having anything my intestines sound like a drain for hours afterwards, I swear there is a little alien busy working inside me! Most days one meal is like that, and occasionally all three. I am really lucky with my range of foods and lack of sickness though but it is difficult to enjoy eating. I have not had much sashimi because it seems very filling but as Janette says it does tend to go down better than cooked fish. Only 4 more days here which is a shame. I could stay here forever but we all need to return to the real world I suppose!

Take care all of you

Claire

[JanetteH 80]

Hi everyone - I'm so excited - the scale actually moved this week - I've been "stuck" for a while. 13 weeks out and 54 pounds down - I'll take that!

FYI - I love this group - all so positive and encouraging - just read another thread where everyone is complaining about people who want to eat KFC, smoke, drink vodka (on the liquid phase) etc. Very funny but not very supportive. Keep up the good work!

Claire, enjoy your last few days in Hawaii!

[clairec 44]

Hi Janette and everyone,

I know what you mean! There is a really positive group on here and it is so good to share things with others who are at the same stage and understand and have good ideas.

Well I did weigh at Longs yesterday and it was after Breakfast and clothed (thankfully for everyone else in the store!). I have now lost 5 and a bit pounds since being here which is 2 weeks. That is faster than it was at home. The flights home will make a difference in Fluid retention so that is very encouraging. I won't change my ticker until that has all settled down and I am using my usual scales. I am getting to the point where I will be less than I have been in decades so that will be wonderful. My newly altered summer sun dresses are getting too big again but thankfully my swimsuits are still just about decent. I am hoping to carry on with them because they can't be altered but the slippage factor (!) could start to be even more of a problem in which case swimsuits won't work. TMI I know, but I know that you all know what I mean.I do love being able to be in the pool or sea. Fingers crossed.

Take care all of you

Claire

[ryn2bthin 87]

JanettH..

I agree with you this is the best group! When I first joined this site I thought it wasn't going to be a good fit for me. I know everyone needs to vent sometimes..but not all of the time. Everyone here has been very supportive.

Great job on the weight loss!

Delillieflower

Great job!!

Claire

Enjoy your last few days!!

It's been a struggle to get pass the stalls but it's finally moving! I am having a problem with wanting to eat anything. I seriously have to make myself eat my three meals. Then afterwards I feel sick.. anyone else having this issue?

Have a great day everyone!

Best wishes

Deanna

[clairec 44]

Hi Deanna,

I am also feeling like you are. Meals are a struggle, but also unpredictable. I have never been sick, thank goodness, but I can feel nauseous and just unwell about half an hour after a meal for the next hour. Why that is i don't know, the same food was fine at another meal. I do struggle to eat and try to eat the Protein first because I often won't manage anything else. I would love to know BEFORE I eat something whether it will work or not. Often one bite and I know, or I look at it and I know, but not before I make it or order it. Very strange! I know everyone is different but I never feel hungry and sometimes would love not to eat at all, but I know I must. I think my best solution would be to just taste things without swallowing, but that wouldn't be very nutritious would it!

Overall I don't get much pleasure form eating as such but going out to eat socially is possible which I feared it wouldn't be, and my range of foods (on a good day) is awesome. I don't think I have dumped at all, unless this is low level dumping which I don't think it is because it is not connected to any particular foods, just that particular day or time of the day. No foods appear to be a problem all of the time, they are all ok just not all of the time.

So Deanna I think possibly we are feeling the same sort of things.

Take care

Claire