Timing, meals, postop

[CathyMol 1]

Hi! I am about 10 days postop from having the sleeve, and as a lot of people, I am having trouble getting all of my meals in. I was wondering if anybody had any tips such as setting a timer to remind you to have a meal, and if you did set a timer, how often did you set it for?

[vsg2410 41]

I ate and pretty much still do eat every 3 hours! That’s a schedule that works for me and that’s about how often I really do feel hungry

[Arabesque 7,335]

I’ve found setting a routine of when I eat very helpful. Started doing it because I had no appetite or interest in eating but knew I had to eat something. I still eat to a routine almost 4 years later. I’ve never set a timer not even to remind me to sip fluids. I just eat to the time on the clock. I can eat earlier or later than those set times or miss a meal/snack (conflicting appointments, commitments, travelling, not hungry, etc.) but I don’t eat additional snacks/meals between those times.

Honestly, I really only ate two ‘meals’ a day those first two weeks. Sipped those shakes & Soups for ages as I diluted them for extra Fluid & so they’d taste a little better (they didn’t). Started my Breakfast shake at around 8am & my dinner Soup around 5pm if I remember correctly. On purées I began three meals a day & I added a mid afternoon snack I think from solid foods to ensure I was better meeting goals. My surgeon & dietician were okay with this as I was slowly increasing my intake every week.

Edited February 27, 2023 by Arabesque

[shidrokh 1]

My surgery was 2/13/23 and I still can’t meet my liquid and Protein goals. I feel hungry but I can’t drink enough, is that normal?

[pintsizedmallrat 473]

8 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I’ve found setting a routine of when I eat very helpful. Started doing it because I had no appetite or interest in eating but knew I had to eat something. I still eat to a routine almost 4 years later. I’ve never set a timer not even to remind me to sip fluids. I just eat to the time on the clock. I can eat earlier or later than those set times or miss a meal/snack (conflicting appointments, commitments, travelling, not hungry, etc.) but I don’t eat additional snacks/meals between those times.

Honestly, I really only ate two ‘meals’ a day those first two weeks. Sipped those shakes & Soups for ages as I diluted them for extra Fluid & so they’d taste a little better (they didn’t). Started my Breakfast shake at around 8am & my dinner Soup around 5pm if I remember correctly. On purées I began three meals a day & I added a mid afternoon snack I think from solid foods to ensure I was better meeting goals. My surgeon & dietician were okay with this as I was slowly increasing my intake every week.

My progress has been almost entirely built on routine; if I'm going to change my life I have to build a life that can be successful.

I told my husband once I know Future Me is lazy; Current Me has to prepare for that so Future Me has no excuses. So for instance, if I've already got veggies and things cut up for salads or dipping, Lazy Me isn't going to go for the less-healthy option that needs prep work!

[Bandedbut 25]

I'm constantly sipping something all day long to meet my goals. By the time I can finish a Protein Shake, then have some Water, it's now time for a snack, so I'll have a bit of yogurt, more water, now it's lunch time so I warm up some Soup and so on throught the day. I'm worried about developing a bad habit of constantly "eating/swollowing" something. I'm able to meet my protein/water goals barely by working at it all day.

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[Arabesque 7,335]

3 hours ago, Bandedbut said:

I'm constantly sipping something all day long to meet my goals. By the time I can finish a Protein Shake, then have some Water, it's now time for a snack, so I'll have a bit of yogurt, more Water, now it's lunch time so I warm up some Soup and so on throught the day. I'm worried about developing a bad habit of constantly "eating/swollowing" something. I'm able to meet my protein/water goals barely by working at it all day.

This is very common this soon after surgery simply because you’re slowly sipping all your ‘meals’ as well as additional fluids to meet your goals. Once on solid food this will change.

It happened again when I was trying to maintain. Because my meal sizes were still smaller (couldn’t eat more at a sitting) I couldn’t get in the calories I needed to maintain so I was snacking (on nutritious foods) several times a day. It felt like I was eating all day then too. Then when my portion size increase a bit more I didn’t need as many Snacks it didn’t feel as much like all I did was eat.

[KimJJ 2]

On 02/26/2023 at 23:48, shidrokh said:

My surgery was 2/13/23 and I still can’t meet my liquid and Protein goals. I feel hungry but I can’t drink enough, is that normal?

My surgery was 2/13 as well and I’m in the same boat. I’m just now able to drink some Water a little better but still only getting about 30oz. The Protein makes me sick so that’s not even come close. I’m worried about it.
I had to go back in fluids once too.
Then I see some people with no trouble at all.

[shidrokh 1]

Don’t worry we will slowly meet our goals you just need to make sure you don’t get dehydrated. I hate Water so I am doing sugar free apple juice. Check with your doctor and if it’s ok that would be much easier than water. For Protein I got protein yogurt and it’s tasty and easy to swallow.

[Arabesque 7,335]

8 minutes ago, shidrokh said:

… so I am doing sugar free apple juice. Check with your doctor and if it’s ok that would be much easier than Water. For Protein I got Protein yogurt and it’s tasty and easy to swallow.

You’re allowed juice? That’s unusual because of the naturally high sugar content. There are many pieces of fruit used in a glass of juice than you’d eat as fresh whole fruit & without all the nutritional benefits of whole fruit. Fresh whole fruit is always the better choice from when your allowed solid food.

A squeeze of lemon, lime or other citrus added to your water is generally okay & can help make water easier to drink in the beginning. But yes, check with your team.

[qtdoll 535]

Agreed on an alarm every 3 hrs. It might feel a lot but as time goes by your body will eventually let you know on your own what schedule feels right!

[KimJJ 2]

On 02/26/2023 at 17:29, CathyMol said:

Hi! I am about 10 days postop from having the sleeve, and as a lot of people, I am having trouble getting all of my meals in. I was wondering if anybody had any tips such as setting a timer to remind you to have a meal, and if you did set a timer, how often did you set it for?

How are you doing today? Checking in because I am having the same issue. Our surgery was the same day and I’m getting half my Water in and next to nothing for Protein. I can’t stand the taste or smell anymore.

[Sigh 196]

I just had my surgery Friday, and honestly I’m still working on getting in my fluids, and barely am hitting 40oz still… Protein is no where near where it needs to be, but i can only focus on one goal at a time right now. Once I can hit Fluid goal, i will worry about Proteins. I couldn’t even keep my antibiotics down the first three days, so i will pick my battles at this point.

[Arabesque 7,335]

3 hours ago, Sigh said:

I just had my surgery Friday, and honestly I’m still working on getting in my fluids, and barely am hitting 40oz still… Protein is no where near where it needs to be, but i can only focus on one goal at a time right now. Once I can hit Fluid goal, i will worry about Proteins. I couldn’t even keep my antibiotics down the first three days, so i will pick my battles at this point.

It can be hard at first to hit those goals. Your poor tummy is super sensitive, your taste buds may have changed (temporary) & you’re likely not hungry or interested in eating. As long as you’re close & working towards your goals it’s okay. Don’t forget your shakes & broths count as fluids too. Shakes usually are 20-30g of Protein depending on the brand. Sip them just like you do your other fluids - doesn’t matter if it takes an hour or more to drink your shake. I used to add twice the Water to the mix to dilute the flavour & texture of the shake & to get down more fluids. It would take me a couple of hours to drink one but it was 1/4 of my Fluid & a good 1/3 of my protein goals.

You’ll get there.