How much can YOU eat?

[puddin 7]

I'm having some issues here... I can't seem to get an answer out of my doc or nutritionist about this and it's DRIVING ME CRAZY! I'm 7 days post-op and onto blended foods. How fast can I be eating? I'm taking so long to eat that I can only get in like 500 calories a day. I'd REALLY like to be eating more than that. I take about 45 minutes to eat 1/4 cup cottage cheese. Does that sound right to anyone? Also, how quickly can you drink Water. I take about 1/2 hour to drink 1/2 cup.

I realize everyone's different, but, realistically, how fast did YOU eat after you were banded (but before a fill).

[giveyouthemoon 4]

How fast should you be eating? Sloooooooow slooooower sloooowest. It actually sounds to me like your pace is fine. Like Jack I'm amazed you are on soft foods only a week out. Wow. It was 6 weeks for me as well until I could have mushies.

Even now with my one fill cottage cheese can get *stuck* if I go too fast so keep it really slow. You are still healing and you SO do not want a PB now and the potential for a PB is very high because you are still swollen from surgery. Sloooooooooow.

[puddin 7]

It's interesting that everyone says this is fast. In fact, on my doc's website it says you're on Clear liquids for 1 day (even though he told me one week). After the first week it's pureed or blended foods, so not quite mushie? Still don't know what mushie means. My doc called after 3 days and said I could pretty much "drink like normal", which is strange, because I thought I'd be too swollen to do that.

Anyhow, thanks for the feedback. I'll have to find other (liquid) ways of getting calories in. I REALLY don't want to be at 500 calories/day. I think ultimately I'll heal slower if I'm not getting enough calories and protien.

[eh2965 0]

I am confused too I guess. My dr. has me on liquids for three weeks , then the mushies. I guess it is true that everyone gets different instructions. But also Im not having to drink slowly. I mean Im trying to remeber to drink slowly but nothing is making me drink slowly. Im able to drink down my Protein Drink in normal time 5 -15 min and am having no problem. I just got banded on thursday 9/15 I feel no restriction am I doing something wrong? I just eat chicken broth, sugar free Jello, Protein Shakes and crystal light.

[CCBSTX 0]

I'm 10 days out from my banding. I think all of us have different instructions regarding our eating. I've been on full liquids since banding and will be until 2 weeks out. Then I go to the soft mechanical stage. You are sounding alot like me regarding the amount and calories. I'm able to get around 600 calories a day. I was worried about Protein as well and my RD (registered dietician) said don't worry too much about the Protein, at first, you have plenty "stores" that your body can withdraw from.

Just listen to your body, eat slow, and drink as much as possible.

Take care, Shawn

[Tuff Enuff 0]

Sounds like your doing just fine, I'm about four months out now, I had a week of liquid, a week of puree, a week of mushie and then on to solids, (once the swelling went away) everyone definately gets different instructions. Take your time and let your body adjust.

[Lynn B 0]

Puddinpie - I am one week postop on Monday I also have cottage cheese in my diet as long as it is blended - Full Liquids for 3 weeks. Your speed seems close to mine (got through the cottage cheese in 30 min for 1/4 cup) - Protien shakes are taking me about 45-60 min. I use 100% whey protien from GNC with carb countdown milk for a total of 31g of protien per 8-10 oz shake (only need 2 day) and then its sip, sip, sip - my Water never leaves my side. I also use popsicles, Jello and creamed Soups (at dinner time) to fill in the day when I feel the need.

Are you using protien shakes? Its a nice easy way in the begining to make sure you get your protien without trying to eat to much.

Good luck,

[aneffie53 0]

I'm a little over 3 weeks post op, and the other day I was sitting at work and had just finished by Atkins shake (at 9 I had started to drink it at 7:30) turned the can around to see in the discripition it said "great 60 second meal". I laughed outloud, that 1 minute meal had taken me and hour and a half.

Sip, sip, sip at your stage. I remember horrible back pain from drinking too fast during the first week.

Take Care it gets easier. . .

[Magic 0]

Guys I'm thinking about doing the operation soon.

But you got me worried, casue I'm a Water maniac, that I can't go for an hour without drinking LOTS of Water.< /p>

Just wondering, why would it take you soooo long to drink water in the first few days, You were saying that it takes half an hour or so drink 1/2 a cup. Is it from the pain? or things just don't go down? or what exactly?

Thanks

[puddin 7]

Magic,

I'm only taking that long because I'm scared to do it quicker. I'm sure I could, I just don't want to risk over-filling my pouch and throwing it up at such an early stage. Just how much Water do you drink during the day? My doc still recommends getting 64 oz. liquids in per day, so it's the same as what he recommended getting BEFORE the surgery. It's just at a slower, more even pace.

As far as I know, other weight loss surgeries are the same about water: You can't gulp it any more. Have you thought about why you drink tons of Water? Not to scare you, but that can be a symptom of Diabetes Insipidus. Get yourself checked, just to be safe.

[Valorie 0]

Hi Magic! My Dr. told me to drink as much Water as I wanted at any pace that suited me. I was banded 3 weeks ago and was supposed to be on full liquids for 4 weeks and then pureed for 2 more, but I got so hungry that I've been eating tofu and other soft things that I can tolerate. Hope this helps!

[puddin 7]

So Jack,

How did you know you couldn't sip Water that fast? Were you just being safe or did you have symptoms from drinking too quickly? Did you feel full from Water? I still can't figure out "full". The "symptoms" for fullness, according to my doc, are exactly the same as my symptoms for gas! And I'm still gassy ALL THE TIME, though I know it'll probably go away in a week or so. Enlighten me, oh Enlightened one.

Oh yeah, and I just thought I'd mention that I have a major crush on my chiropractor. He SINGS to me! How might one snag the heart of a chiropractor?

[Guest j. lynn]

At just a few days post-op, don't worry about it.

Believe me, the day will come when you can eat more than you want to.

Just make sure you're getting your Protein in.

jayme

[cnicholl 0]

I am 5 days out and I can't get my liquid in either.... The doc said "4 cups juice, 4 cups gatorade - everyday in the liquid stage" I got 3 cups of juice and 1 cup of gatorade down yesterday... Takes me about 1 hour for a 1/2 cup... but weirdly enough... warm liquids... i.e. broth... I can do 2 cups in about a 1/2 hour.... and it tastes sooo much better... I never thought broth could be filling. My calorie intake is about 400... but I decided to drink a glass of milk today... it took an hour...

I do agree that alot of it is a fear that I will PB something back up... or hurt the surgery... But if liquids go "straight through you" and thats how the band works... i.e. we can lose weight if we eat solids but if we eat milkshakes we will gain... then I would think that as long as you don't swallow more than the size of the pouch at any one time we should be ok.... cuz by the time it gets down to the pouch whatever was swallowed prior should have gone through the band...????? am I wrong?

[Magic 0]

Guys, thanks a lot for answers<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

I can feel how frustrating it is not to be able to get your liquids down. Nevertheless, that is a VERY small price to pay to have the body of your dreams, and to say good-bye to the obese days.<O:p</O:p

Magic