5 days post op and not sure I am following the rules

[besticanb23 3]

I am having the hardest time having 3 meals a day on the liquid diet. I can't decide what is a meal. I'm struggling with a lot of mental hunger and I am not sure what to do for it. Please help give me alternatives to over come the mind over matter.

[Kindle 8,667]

I was on full liquids for the 1st 18 days. I didn't really have "meals" I just drank all day long from the time I woke up till I went to bed. That's what it took to even approach my Protein and fluid goals. Everything from Protein Shakes, drinkable yogurt, Vitamin Water, tea, broths and dilute cream Soups with added unflavored Protein Powder. Just keep drinking and keep your eye on the big goal..... Following your surgeon's guidelines is really important in these early stages. The fear of a leak or other complication is all it took to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Edited May 25, 2014 by Kindle

[dsmith_rn 186]

I used my hospital "meals" to help guide me as to what is a meal in the liquid phase. For my meals in the hospital they would bring me some kind of broth, some diluted juice, tea, a SF popsicle, and SF Jello. Once I got home that got old real quick, especially when my hunger returned...with a vengeance!

I got won ton Soup and strained all the "stuff" out of it. I also got chicken tortilla Soup and strained it, and Japanese Miso soup. They had a lot better flavor than plain broth.< /p>

Good luck, and when the going gets tough, remember "this too shall pass" and soon the liquid phase will be nothing but an unpleasant memory.

[dsmith_rn 186]

Ooops, sorry I forgot to address your "head hunger" issues.

The psych at my surgeon's office suggests when you feel head hunger to distract yourself some way. Take a walk, email a friend, call a friend or relative, take a bath, read a book, etc. etc. He also says to stay focused--pull out your list of reasons you decided to do this, and all the things you are looking forward to as you get smaller. Also he said it's important to be nice to yourself...keep your emotional "bank" from getting depleted. If you're feeling like you're in the negative emotionally, do something good for yourself that will add emotional "capitol" to your bank account and keep the positives greater than the negatives.

It seems to work for me.

[besticanb23 3]

Thanks so much for the valuable information. I will try what I can and let you know what works. Thanks again

[pjpanda 129]

I totally understand. since I'm on Protein based liquids still, I tend to count a meal as anything eaten(okay drunk) during normal meal/snack time. as for head hunger, I sipped Water till I was full and the full feeling generally took away my head hunger

[LivingFree! 478]

I am having the hardest time having 3 meals a day on the liquid diet. I can't decide what is a meal. I'm struggling with a lot of mental hunger and I am not sure what to do for it. Please help give me alternatives to over come the mind over matter.

Just the fact that you are recognizing that you are having "head hunger" is a great accomplishment! We do not learn all of our new habits overnight. It is all part of the process, but you will begin to learn what works best for you in handling your head hunger vs. your true hunger. Great info above from the others and dsmith_rn too. One other comment I would like to make that helps me a lot--When I'm feeling that head hunger and wantingto eat something that is not the best/healthiest choice, I say the word STOP in my head and then have this mini-conversation with myself. It not that I CAN'T HAVE this (fill in the blank), I CHOOSE not to have it (I am in control of my choices always). That short pause forces my thinking back to using food as fuel for my body, not as comfort for my mind.

Just remember for now--one day at a time. You do not have to be perfect. You are just learning a whole new world, and you will do just fine!

Edited May 28, 2014 by LilPrincessS