twobluecats

I do have the recipe for eggplant casserole. I can't say it's the healthiest thing in the world, but it's an old family favorite, and it was my "comfort food" for the day. It's not horrible for you at the amount we can eat as you can see from my stats, but not the best choice either because of the cheese and canned Soups (albeit 98% fat free) added. 4 eggplants, peeled, cubed and boiled 12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (I use a blend of Cabot sharp and Cabot 50 percent reduced...Cabot makes the only reduced cheese that I will touch. Everyone should try it...it's better than virtually all general brand full fat cheese!) 1 can cream of chicken Soup (I used the 98% fat free) 1 can cream of mushroom (same on the reduced) 3 eggs, beaten Salt and pepper to taste 3 Garlic cloves, minced 2 TBL onion powder (my spices are from Penzey's...I swear by their quality!) Boil the cubed eggplant until tender (this can take a while), then drain VERY WELL to avoid a watery casserole. Mash the eggplant and blend with remaining ingredients. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 50 minutes or until set and golden on top! It's best if it se And, as far as crab goes, I've been having jumbo lump crabmeat for lunch this week. Yum-o! With a little lemon and horseradish-y cocktail sauce... GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOURNEY, AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!

Recipes~ It's my pasttime, and it always has been. I love to cook and watch my family enjoy my creations! I like foodtv.com, allrecipes, southernliving.com, and I've added theworldaccordingtoeggface (google for appropriate web site) and eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com since my surgery as both these gals have had surgery and have PHENOMENAL web sites with great recipes that are WLS friendly.

Sounds like something for later this week maybe since I plan for white fish to be one of my first attempts at "soft real food."

YAH! I was just about to send you a message to see what was going on with you! I agree on the pain meds. It really does a number on your colon! How are you feeling?

What's this great Ginger Mahi-Mahi I'm hearing of? Sounds delightful!!

I use myfitnesspal.com to track, and I've very good about journaling my consumption every day. Here's what my mushy/soft day looked like: Breakfast: one scrambled egg w/one ounce blended cheddar (.5 ounce 50 percent reduced Cabot and .5 ounce regular sharp Cabot)........196 cal, 2 carb, 15 Protein Lunch: 1/2 cup Wolf Brand LEAN Chili w/same cheese blend above......200 cal, 9 carb, 21 protein Dinner: 1/2 baked eggplant casserole 206 cal, 17 carb, 14 protein Snack: 11 ounce Premier Protein Drink 160 cal, 30 protein 772 calories, 38 carbs, 80 protein

I use myfitnesspal.com, and I really like it. I have yet to search for an item that isn't already in there. All the Protein powders, tons of items purchased at costco, etc. Way cool! Great idea, Tiffy!

Hello! I'm two days ahead of your surgery date, and I was to start mushies last week, moving to soft foods this week. Maybe I'm the exception, but I've been really lucky not to get sick with any new introductions. Now, I definitely know it when I start the first bite of anything as in my tummy growls and grumbles, and I burp quite a bit. I just have to take my time to get 1/3 to 1/2 a cup down. These are the things I've tolerated: refried Beans corned beef hash chili (pureed) scrambled egg crabmeat and today for lunch I tried Foster turkey meatballs with some marina sauce. I did fine, but held quite a bit less than with the true mushy stuff. I am following the instructions of my doctor and nutritionist. Although I admit to feeling as though maybe I'm moving fast compared to what I read that others are doing or have done, I swear I'm following my docs instructions (I have reviewed the paperwork from them and the nutritionist about 7000 times!). I worry that maybe the progression to food so soon is why I'm not dropping crazy weight like some do. Then again, as long as I lose, I feel good about getting my nutrition from food when I can. Such a headgame! (trust the process, trust the process...that is for you, Anna!) My advise: just take it slowly with new foods. I think we have a learning curve to figure out how our body will be telling us to stop. And, everyday seems to different right now!

I'll chime in even though I'm bummed. I am holding at 270--13 pounds down since surgery three weeks ago today. But, I should start my period this week, so I'm hoping I will see a loss later this week. Bad timing to have my three weeks (the dreaded stall period) hit around my cycle! HA! I'm exercising again, but only about 20 minutes on the elliptical. I will increase to 30 minutes by the end of the week and add a few free weight exercises for the arms. My eating is on track, or at least what I think is on track. I'm right around 750 calories and 65-75 grams of Protein. My carbs hover around 30-50--never more, and I'm not eating carb-y things intentionally at all. I'm currently getting about 65 ounces of Fluid a day. Gonna try to bump that this week too. It's just hard when I have to work around meals! Have a great week, everyone!

You are so right, Anna. And, I LOVE the "trust the process" comment. Those are words to live by.

I'm 18 days out, and for the past three days I've got my protein in via my food versus drinks. Yahoo! I'm averaging between 60-70 grams of protein and between 700 and 800 calories. I use greek yogurt, eggs, light string cheese, refried beans with cheddar, tuna, and crab to get it all in. It really hasn't been difficult with a little planning. I get to introduce soft foods next week, so I will add fish and some ground meats to my variety.

Good info, guys. I just had lump crabmeat for a late lunch, and even though I only measured out 3 ounces, I'm pretty sure that I've depleted the ocean of crab according to the way my tummy feels. It's just amazing how little I can hold, and I'm totally cool with that.

Hello! A thread on OH got me to really thinking about the advise of different surgeons and Nutritionist out there. Dr. Nick's paperwork (and that of the nutritionist at Baylor Plano) did not advise a specific caloric intake for the first six weeks. Instead, it focused on 60-75 grams Protein, 64+ ounces of Fluid, and Vitamins. PROTEIN FIRST, VEGGIES SECOND, AND complex carbs when there is room. It showed 1/2 cup "food" each of three meals during the first two weeks of full liquids, and then during week three through six while moving through mushies to soft to regular food I'm to take in 4-6 ounces (it notes some will take in less). The paperwork gives a few example menus and outlines the variety of foods during each phase. I personally am not a sweet tooth, so the last three days (I'm 18 days out) I've been able to get my protein from my food source instead of shakes. I prefer that because it's easier for me to get my fluid from Water than shakes, and I like to eat versus drink sweet shakes. I'm tracking religiously, and I'm mastering between 60-70 grams of protein so far. My calories have been right at 800 the past two days. My personal goal, based on what I've read I suppose, has been between 600-800 daily. I can see that if I am shooting to avoid supplemental protein, it will be closer to 800. My question after my rant: What advise were you given and, more importantly, what has worked for you so far? I am now back on my elliptical (slowly right now), but I plan to get in at least 45 minutes of exercise daily.

Howdy, Barb! This was an "issue" for me too. I was sleeved on a Monday, and it was Friday before I had a BM. I did finally take one Miralax on Thursday and a "shot" of Milk of Magnesia too. When I went, it was not diarrhea. Since then, I seem to go at least every other day, and only liquid-y once. I found the Miralax to be weird in my Water, and that bugged me. So I think I will stick with Milk of Magnesia in the future. It doesn't seem to be harsh at all, and the PA approved.

I have a basset hound too! His name is Dudley. And, to stay on topic, I am excited to try some of the ricotta pancake recipes on eggface's blog. I'm trying to rid my house of all the crazy stuff I bought as I nested and prepared for my full liquid phase, but then I'm gonna try to make some. I'm not a huge sweet tooth, but sounded good, and I made her ricotta zucchini pancakes, and they were great.

I had trouble with potatoes too. I have been able to stomach most everything I've tried, but the mashed potato caused tummy to be very unhappy. And, when I introduced corned beef hash, the potato in it also caused discomfort. Could just be potato and not all mushy food.

Hi! I'm looking at my paperwork from the nutritionist at Baylor Plano. They will give you a list of suggested protein drinks. I prefer the Premier Protein Drink from Costco (recommended by someone at the support group). It's not on the list but more than meets the requirements. It's 11 ounces and virtually no carbs. It packs 30 grams of protein. I also like the Amplify from GNC (20 grams of protein per scoop, mixed with only 4 ounces liquid) and Jay Robb. The Nectars are good to mix with water for fruitier drinks. The "requirements" noted on the paperwork indicate less than 5 grams of sugar per serving and at least 15 grams of protein. They also say to avoid protein bars.

Thank goodness! You will be so happy to have mushy food! I never thought I could appreciate refried Beans so much. But, us Texas girls need our Tex-Mex one way or another! Matt is doing good. If it weren't for the sore throat from the breathing tube, I think he'd feel so much better. In time.....

Hey guys! I know where you are coming from, and I think we all have the same fears of failure or doing something wrong. When I'm not eating I sometimes wonder what's really different. That said, having moved to mushy foods, I assure you that I am quickly reminded that I can only hold a small amount. I did eat one whole scrambled egg with almost 1 ounce of cheese this morning, but it took me almost 20 minutes. dinner tonight: a little over 3/4 of a mushed up bean tamale. I had planned to have 2 tablespoons of guacamole with it, but that was just too much. It took me 30 minutes to get it down, and I'm WAY full. I'm 17 days out today. I strongly recommend using a food tracking web site once you are actually eating soft or mushy foods. I am using myfitnesspal.com, and I really like it. Virtually every food or Protein shake I've entered has been there. It's nice to see the calorie, fat, carb, and protein breakdown, and it helps me plan my days. Just try to follow your doctors instructions as closely as possible, and you will succeed. I like that my doctor, Dr. Nick, and the nutritionist at Baylor have a pretty loosely structured diet plan. But, they strongly encourage protein first, veggies second, and then carb if there is room. I think I can live by that mantra and make this work!

YAH! I'm so glad to hear from you! And, it makes sense to stay put in Dallas for a bit. I promise after just a few days you will feel so much better. But, I can't promise the burping will end anytime soon. I'm still burping like a sailor with virtually every meal. Take care of yourself, and get some rest!

I knew you'd have the answer, Linda! I totally trust Dr. Nick, and they've been great to answer questions when I was having that weird pulling pain and back spasms. It's so weird how those pains literally went away overnight. I thought that tugging feeling near my main incision was never going to leave! Progress!

I know that Anne went to visit Barbanne on Wednesday, and she said that she sounded good on the phone. I haven't talked to Anne since she actually visited Barb. I believe she was planning to head home to Austin today. I've been scouring the boards regularly to hear from both of them as well. Hopefully, they are both doing GREAT!

Congratulations! That's a wonderful way to welcome 2010!

Several of us have used Dr. Nick here in Dallas, and he doesn't do a leak test the following day. I guess I never really thought to ask him why he doesn't. I'm 17 days out tomorrow, and these are the things that are entering my mind now. I am just starting to exercise again per PA release, and I'm having mushy food and introducing soft foods as well. I had a really mushed up chicken tender tonight watered down further with a little gravy. Not the healthiest choice, and certainly not a regular meal at my house, but even that guilt got me all freaked. I'm like the poster child for worriers.

Woo hoo!! That's awesome news. I know the pain, especially the gas pain, is horrible, but you will get past in it no time. The first week for me was just all 'round icky, but after the drain was gone and the pain diminished, I felt so much better. I'm only 17 days out and feel really good. Hang in there, and get in as much Fluid as you possibly can. It makes the difference between recovery and a repeat visit to the hospital! Take care, and welcome to the loser's bench! Theresa