Need more calories-any suggestions

[CurvyMom 386]

Hello....I am two weeks post op and my nutritionist wants me to up my calories to between 600-700 max but I am hovering between 450-500 right now. She suggested a cup of fairlife milk, which is all well and good except I don't think I can drink it plain. Has anyone had the chocolate fairlife milk this early post op? I was thinking maybe I could try that. Or anyone have any simple suggestions (besides making a shake w/ fairlife because I am sticking with my one premier shake a day)....I thought of trying to find a higher calorie yogurt but i really like the Siggi's I have been eating or Fage. I can add a little calories here and there, but it would be good to have a go to one shot type of thing.

[FluffyChix 17,418]

Why are you limiting yourself to 1 PP drink per day? You should aim for 2 or 3? I'd do that over Fairlife, but that's just me. At 2weeks I was between 3-500cals/day. But if you MUST have Fairlife (which doesn't have as much Protein and has more carbs), then I would use SF Hershey's chocolate Syrup in it rather than do the Chocolate Fairlife cuz of the amount of carbs/sugar in it.

[CurvyMom 386]

Just now, FluffyChix said:

Why are you limiting yourself to 1 PP drink per day? You should aim for 2 or 3? I'd do that over Fairlife, but that's just me. At 2weeks I was between 3-500cals/day. But if you MUST have Fairlife (which doesn't have as much Protein and has more carbs), then I would use SF Hershey's chocolate Syrup in it rather than do the chocolate Fairlife cuz of the amount of carbs/sugar in it.

I am not limiting but I am meeting my Protein goals without it.. I get 30 from the one shake and then get 15 from Breakfast (yogurt) and then the balance from dinner/lunch. I am on soft foods now so have not needed the two shakes to get 60-65 protein. If I have a second shake i'd be closer to 90+ protein and over what I should have. The nutritionist said 1 a day was fine as long as I am meeting the 60-65 range which I do every day. I noticed the FL choc had a lot of carbs....so that is a no. UGh this is tricky lol

I was thinking maybe I could add in a string cheese with lunch and something else during the day but I don't know what!

Edited February 13, 2019 by CurvyMom

[FluffyChix 17,418]

Wow, at 2 weeks. Congrats! I was only just starting softs at 2 weeks if I remember. Don't overadd cheese. Your bowels may be whacked for a while. And cheese will really stop you up. You need to be sure you are "going" well right now. I'd add stuff like canned chicken, tuna and salmon pouches, sardines, hb eggs or sb eggs, soft scrambled eggs, poached fish, mashed cauliflower, soft green Beans, broccoli cooked to beyond hell, keep the yogurt. Add some avocado. Add a little good healthy fats. Add a couple of olives. I was between 500-800cals through most of my loss. I still have to be down around 700cals to lose on average.

[CurvyMom 386]

Just now, FluffyChix said:

Wow, at 2 weeks. Congrats! I was only just starting softs at 2 weeks if I remember. Don't overadd cheese. Your bowels may be whacked for a while. And cheese will really stop you up. You need to be sure you are "going" well right now. I'd add stuff like canned chicken, tuna and salmon pouches, sardines, hb eggs or sb eggs, soft scrambled eggs, poached fish, mashed cauliflower, soft green Beans, broccoli cooked to beyond hell, keep the yogurt. Add some avocado. Add a little good healthy fats. Add a couple of olives. I was between 500-800cals through most of my loss. I still have to be down around 700cals to lose on average.

This is all super helpful as your posts always are. I am carb sensitive (at least pre op) so I like to read your posts

I just started softs Sunday night (fish) and I have been eating canned chicken, mash cauliflower, turkey and sweet potato chili which I have been eating leftovers every . single. day. Not too much cheese but i have been lucky- regular every day since surgery and not needing supplements to get it moving. Olives are a no but I do love avocado so I will add that in. I haven't tried eggs yet because I see so many people get sick. I am going to try them this weekend.

I have had a few close calls where i ate too fast and felt like it could come up but I just stop eating. But the scale is NOT moving and that caused me to panic a bit even though I know I shouldn't. It's a journey for sure... Thanks again for the advice!

[GradyCat 3,696]

sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free pudding, cottage cheese . . .

[FluffyChix 17,418]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Don't worry about "too few cals", just worry about keeping carbs lower and getting your Protein and fluids (especially your fluids) and vites down your gob!

[CurvyMom 386]

21 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

Sounds like you're on the right track. Don't worry about "too few cals", just worry about keeping carbs lower and getting your Protein and fluids (especially your fluids) and vites down your gob!

Thanks. I can’t wait til I can swallow my Vitamins !

[FluffyChix 17,418]

I used chewables for the first 3 months except for Calcium and I still use easy swallow capsules for that.

[CurvyMom 386]

2 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

I used chewables for the first 3 months except for Calcium and I still use easy swallow capsules for that.

I have an easy swallow capsule I’m allowed to try in three weeks for the MV and I ordered the chewable Calcium. I am using a powder calcium but I don’t love it. I have chewable MV now too but I am ready to kiss those goodbye when I can lol

[FluffyChix 17,418]

Yeah I hear ya. I would get so mad over the amount of calories and carbs they contributed to my daily total. When you're only eating 3-500cals per day and using 60 of those for Vitamins and 10carbs or something. GRRRRR! LOL. But you just gotta suckitupbuttercup and geterdone.

[CurvyMom 386]

4 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

Yeah I hear ya. I would get so mad over the amount of calories and carbs they contributed to my daily total. When you're only eating 3-500cals per day and using 60 of those for Vitamins and 10carbs or something. GRRRRR! LOL. But you just gotta suckitupbuttercup and geterdone.

Ooooo I didn’t add those into my tracker. That will add some calories!!

[FluffyChix 17,418]

Yeppers.