kimbernada

Are you also counting the fluids in what you are drinking for Protein? Are you able to eat sugar free popsicles? That's another good way of getting more fluids. Just keep reminding yourself that this IS worth it. You'll be able to start eating shortly. Actually, I have heard some people correlate this with childbirth -- it's really tough at first but it is all worth it. Maybe you should call your surgeon's office tomorrow to see if they think you should go in for a saline IV. Dizziness or feeling lightheaded are symptoms of dehydration.

Woo-hoo! Look at the saggy butt jeans! Well, just a little saggy. LOL Otherwise, they do fit nicely.

Also, don't say "tomorrow"... say "right now". Even if you aren't going to eat/drink anything until tomorrow, you are actually starting right now.

I haven't noticed any weakness from my calorie intake. After the first couple of weeks, I was able to get in around 600 calories a day. Now my goal is 900 calories and about 80-100 grams of protein. I have to supplement with protein shakes to get in THAT much though - kind of hard when you really can only eat about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food at one sitting.

The chocolate truffle is powder.

Hi Annie.... the light soy milk is found in cartons either with the regular milk or in the refrigerated health food section. I prefer the Silk brand but the Walmart brand isn't too bad. I have found the best price at Walmart for the Silk brand. I think it is around $2.79. The highest I have found is $4.79. My mother-in-law likes the 8th Continent brand. I have only tried it with shakes, I am not sure if I could drink it straight. Oh, and it is liquid.

I mix the Chocolate Truffle with light soy milk. (It's a powdered shake mix.) I had switched to soy milk before my surgery because I had heard that some people may become lactose intolerant afterwards. There have been a couple of times that I've ran out of "my" milk and I had to use skim milk - and I didn't care for the taste. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't as good.

What brand of shakes are you using? I had the Bariatric Advantage for my pre-op diet but I find they are too thick and full of air post-op. (Actually any shake made in a blender is too airy for me to finish in an hour.) I like the Syntrax Nectar Chocolate Truffle shakes made in a blender bottle - has one of those little wire ball in the bottle that helps to blend everything when you shake it. My goal is to eat 900 calories a day. Some days might be a little less, but that is what I shoot for. I still drink at least one shake a day made with light soy milk. In addition to the 900 calories, I also try to get a minimum 80 grams of protein - I want to keep my hair!!

Me! I think I need to start adding oil to some of my meals. I haven't done this yet -- although my "manual" says that I should add two teaspoons of oil daily.

I switched to light soy milk before surgery - just in case. Now I can't stand the taste of my Syntrax Nectar shakes if I make them with skim milk.

The day after surgery, in the hospital, my first meal was clear liquids. My second meal that afternoon, still in the hospital, was full liquids. The next day, at home, I started soft food.

Don't forget that you can count the fluid in your protein shakes and puddings. (At least that's what I am allowed to do.)

For me, little pebbles. Not literally, but figuratively. However my plan had me starting on soft foods the first day that I was home from the hospital, so I HAD something to move through the system. I could see if a person is on clear or full liquids for awhile, there's nothing for your body to compress into a solid bowel movement. Liquid in = liquid out. I've only had one somewhat explosive bowel movement, thankfully while I was still home during my two weeks off. I used to have at two daily "constitutionals" and now it's more like every other day I will have one. (Sometimes every day or something... but they are more normal now.)

Part of it may be because you don't have as much of your stomach pressing on your bladder. I used to go to the bathroom several times a day and now? MAYBE once between 7:30 to noon, and again probably at 3:30.

My stall started week 3 and lasted for two weeks. Because I kind of expected this to happen, I didn't let it bother me too much. I mean, I was eating 5000 calories a week, I was bound to be losing weight. I know my body was wondering what the heck I was doing to it!!

One other thought, I like to "eat by the clock" if I can. I get up 5 am during the week. I have breakfast at 6 am (shake, egg, etc.). Then at work, I have my snack at 9 am (shake, 15 pistachios, or 1/2 a Luna protein bar). Lunch with my team is typically 11-ish. I have my next snack at about 2:30 (shake, 15 pistachios, or 1/2 a Luna protein bar) Supper is about 5:30 (varies) My last snack (sugar free popsicle or sugar free fudgesicle) And... bed at 9 pm

Vitacost.com has the Syntrax Nectar about $3 cheaper than BariatricChoice.com. And you can get $10 off your first order with free shipping for orders over $20 if you sign up here. I've had good service with them.

Oh... and I'm one of those folks who don't care the Syntrax fruity drinks. (Lemonade, ice tea, cherry, etc.) I like the creamy ones. I wish I could drink the others as that would open up a whole other line of drinks. I need to order the vanilla bean torte.

I love the Syntrax nectar shakes. I have chocolate truffle, cappuccino, double stuff oreo, and strawberry mouse. I mix it with light soy milk. On my pre-op diet, I loved the Bariatric Advantage shakes but, dang, they are way too thick now. My husband likes them though.

Ha... Yeah, I should have been dead... a few weeks ago!

The diet plan I am on is... the morning after the surgery - clear liquids. The afternoon of the same day - full liquids. The next day, day three, at home, pureed foods for two week. Then soft foods for a couple of months. Month two or three, pretty much anything goes.

What works for me at a restaurant is that I portion out what I know I can eat, maybe even a little less. Then the rest is boxed up. It's too easy sometimes to miss those cues about getting full when I'm with my friends or family.

I am three weeks out, surgery was 7/24, and I can eat steak. Today was the first time I tried and I had no problems. I went to Applebee's with my team for lunch. I only ate about an ounce, cut it up really small, and chewed it completely - and about a tablespoon of mashed potatoes. I brought the leftovers home and I had another ounce of steak and a tablespoon of mashed potatoes. The hubs ate the rest. (He told me I should go to Applebee's more often!) Not bad for a $10 meal that fed me twice, and the hubs once.

That's interesting. I've noticed that my shoulders and neck have been kind of achy, like tendinitis, etc. I'm three weeks out...

Also, symptoms of a blood clot also feel like you are going to get a charlie horse. If drinking Powerade Zero or Gatorade G2 doesn't help, you might want to get in to a walk-in clinic or ER to have an ultrasound done on your leg. I don't mean to scare you, but you sure don't want to mess around with a potential clot. I had a blood clot in my leg about six years ago and I walked around with it for about a week before going in - I just thought I was going to get a big charlie horse.