Having trouble getting enough calories

[mkrumph 1]

I am 6 weeks post op from VSG. I am exhausted all the time. I rarely make it through the day without a nap. The nurse practitioner at my surgeon's office says I need to increase my calories to 600-800 calories a day. The problem is I am only able to get 400 calories in and that is on a good day. I just started solids in the last week and I thought that would make it easier. However, I get full so fast that I am not eating much so I am still not getting the calories. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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[PorkChopExpress 820]

Protein Shakes. That is about the only way you're going to get what you need right now. Three meals and Protein shakes, and you'll get in the neighborhood. I just BARELY get to about 600 calories right now, three weeks into it. Also, make darn sure you're getting all your Vitamins as you should be. And you may want to see about a blood test to check your Vitamin D. I take a supplement for that and it has helped my energy, as I did have a deficiency even pre-surgery.

[rolosmom7 740]

I am 6 weeks post op from VSG. I am exhausted all the time. I rarely make it through the day without a nap. The nurse practitioner at my surgeon's office says I need to increase my calories to 600-800 calories a day. The problem is I am only able to get 400 calories in and that is on a good day. I just started solids in the last week and I thought that would make it easier. However, I get full so fast that I am not eating much so I am still not getting the calories. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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I'm in the same boat!

[chycky 671]

My Protein Shakes represent over 1/3 of my calories for day. I don't have a calorie goal but I am around 700-900 per day on average.

[GinaCampbell 434]

I was really ill post op and could only get 300 ish calories in a day for over 10 weeks.

I concentrated on Fluid first, mainly Water then broth, then broth with Protein in.

I slowly started adding more and more Protein (egg dropped in broth, beef that would shred in a slow cooker) to the broth.

I used small amounts of honey in tea, hot chocolate, cold Protein drinks, Decaf coffee made with full milk instead of Water.< /p>

All to just help me get calories in while I was struggling.

Once I healed more, I made my Soups into stews, made my broths thicker with lentils.

I couldn't, and still can't eat mash potato or many of the recommended purees but once I progressed to the "crispy, crunchy" phase, I did much better with textured foods.

It took me months to get up to 600 calories a day in the conventional way.

I would even just nibble on a plain cracker with Peanut Butter, thinly sliced apple and honey on it.

It would take me a whole day to eat it but I set a timer for every 30 minutes on my phone. At every alarm I would eat or drink something. All day and evening.

I didn't worry about dieting during that time. If I had tea, I put small amounts (1/2 tsp) of honey in it. I tried tiny amounts of milk, protein shakes, Soups etc to get my calories up.

Just to say though, the fatigue might last awhile longer. You just had major surgery, you are on low calorific intake.

Hang in there, you will heal. Take it slowly.

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I am 6 weeks post op from VSG. I am exhausted all the time. I rarely make it through the day without a nap. The nurse practitioner at my surgeon's office says I need to increase my calories to 600-800 calories a day. The problem is I am only able to get 400 calories in and that is on a good day. I just started solids in the last week and I thought that would make it easier. However, I get full so fast that I am not eating much so I am still not getting the calories. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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You may have to eat more frequently.

A good way to up your calories is to add some good fats: avocado, Peanut Butter, etc.

[mkrumph 1]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I definitely think I need to eat more often, but I am rarely even hungry. I feel like I think about food more now than I did before surgery. I am afraid my husband is getting frustrated with me due to my fatigue since I currently do not work outside the home. It takes all of my energy to get laundry done and put away. He feels I should be doing more at this point since it has been 6 weeks since surgery . He thinks if I worked out I would have more energy but with my minimal calorie intake I just don't feel like even taking a walk.

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[GinaCampbell 434]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I definitely think I need to eat more often, but I am rarely even hungry. I feel like I think about food more now than I did before surgery. I am afraid my husband is getting frustrated with me due to my fatigue since I currently do not work outside the home. It takes all of my energy to get laundry done and put away. He feels I should be doing more at this point since it has been 6 weeks since surgery . He thinks if I worked out I would have more energy but with my minimal calorie intake I just don't feel like even taking a walk.

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Are you hitting your Fluid targets?

Not being hungry is normal so set timers and try.

An ounce here and there adds up!

Fatigue is normal following a major surgery and on such low calorie intake. Your body is concentrating on healing.

Have you shown your husband the actual surgery/diagrams etc on Youtube? Does he fully understand what you are recovering from?

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[LipstickLady 25,682]

It took me a year to get up to 800 calories a day. I added a spoonful of Peanut Butter, a few slices of avocado, some full fat cheese, a handful OD almonds... anything calorically dense to help!

I'd suggest staying away from sugary carbs like honey, personally. They add calories without real nutrition,.

[GinaCampbell 434]

It took me a year to get up to 800 calories a day. I added a spoonful of Peanut Butter, a few slices of avocado, some full fat cheese, a handful OD almonds... anything calorically dense to help!

I'd suggest staying away from sugary carbs like honey, personally. They add calories without real nutrition,.

I think the honey advice (keep in mind we are talking 1 tsp a day at 21 calories) may differ dependant upon which medical advisor is delivering it.

My GP believed that the mineral content, namely Calcium, Iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, not to mention the B Vitamins, would be helpful in comparison to the 21 calories it contained. She said that "I would use that many calories opening the jar".

It even has a trace amount of Protein in it which I didn't know!

But this was just part of my caregiver's recovery strategy for me.

All plans are different.

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I definitely think I need to eat more often, but I am rarely even hungry. I feel like I think about food more now than I did before surgery. I am afraid my husband is getting frustrated with me due to my fatigue since I currently do not work outside the home. It takes all of my energy to get laundry done and put away. He feels I should be doing more at this point since it has been 6 weeks since surgery . He thinks if I worked out I would have more energy but with my minimal calorie intake I just don't feel like even taking a walk.

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Until you can get your calories up, "working out" may need to be on the back burner.

Moderate exercise and walking should be plenty.