LifetimeLoser

I put powdered peanut butter in mine and vanilla extract

We had surgery the same day! On average I take in the same amount between 300 and 400 and that is if I try really hard. I've lost 14lbs since surgery...so we are pretty close in stats. I would also like to know what everyone's average is because I have a real difficult time getting in over 400...especially since everything is low fat etc.

If you are on clear liquids you shouldn't be drinking premier our any other shakes...they are for full liquid phase. Clear liquids include crystal light, broth, sf popsicle or jello. Unjury products. The clear isopure ready to drink bottles also. I love the grape frost but many people don't like them.

There is a definite difference!

Yep. I had one to use after surgery. I would definitely use it! It's easy now, but hard after!

Good for you!!!

Yeah I called my NUT yesterday asking about my calories and what I should be focusing on. She told me to add some oatmeal into my day instead of some protein. She wasn't so much concerned with my calories as she was with my energy level etc.

yep it took me about a week to poop! I finally brokedown and bought miralax from costco...the huge two bottles of it. You don't appreciate being regular until you can't poop!!!

That is a pretty hefty loss! Good for you!

Um yeah...beef stew blended is nice! I am only on day 2 of purees, but I find basically anything I would normally like to eat...blended up taste the same. Split pea soup I just had...yum! And it all looks disgusting. I hear mashed potatoes are really tasty, but I haven't gone there yet. I've blended up only a few things. Things that I usually put mayo in I just replaced with my greek yogurt. And I found the best thing ever today!!! I've heard about it on some threads, but couldn't find it. Powdered peanut butter!!! Yummy. I found mine in whole foods store...its not the pb2 brand, but very similar. I add that to my yogurt...I'm sure it will taste good in cottage cheese and ricotta cheese too!

I agree with Laura-ven. Tomatoes? But that is a healthier choice than most people make. I hear you on the sweet though. I'm a former sugar addict *crossing my fingers* so it was weird to be sick of all the sweet stuff. I really don't think it is that bad. Tomatoes do have sugar/carbs (fructose)...and are technically a fruit, but I don't think it will harm anything for you. That plus your liquids still probably qualifies for a low carb day. So don't fret...just try to keep on track. Just keep trying to remind yourself that this diet is to make your surgery as safe as it can possibly be.

i think the danger in grazing is people don't realize how many calories they are taking in on a given day. You are supposed to eat every 2-3 hours. Ive been told to have 3 meals and two snacks. I think the difference is mainly that your meals and snacks are planned, weighed out and calculated where as grazing you are just kind of going through the day picking here and there. The serving portions and calories just run away from you. I think if you make good, healthy, low calorie, high protein choices, then grazing won't cause weight gain.

Well, I have hit my first "stall". It has been approximately 5 days since the scale has budged. Yes, yes, I know...don't look at the scale. I keep trying to remember that stalls happen and that I'm probably still losing in size, but it is still depressing to see the same number on the scale every day. I try to logic it out in my head. Like...I'm only eating less than 400 calories a day...there is NO WAY that I can't be getting smaller. I've also read a few good threads on here about what happens physically in your body when you are losing weight. So I understand that I'm probably still losing inches, but I want to see the numbers! I wish I would have taken my measurements prior to surgery. I guess never too late to start. Today was my first day with pureed food! I have been looking forward to this for about a week now. Liquid diets make you soooo sick of liquid diets. I pureed some beef stew with some greek yogurt and that was pretty tasty. I also pureed some chicken in the can with some greek yogurt and some fresh cracked pepper. It looked absolutely disgusting, but tasted yummy. So I am excited about this new stage of food because it actually tastes like food. I was getting pretty sick of all the sweet tasting liquids that I was required to drink. I just keep trying to remind myself that pureed food is the same as eating regular food except my body doesn't have to work as hard. Thinking this way helps me get down the gross looking "meals". I'm still not totally pain free. I still have some pain on the left side of my abdomen. I did call the nurse today just to make sure because everyone else seems to be pain free at this stage. I am confident nothing is wrong. I think it has to do with how many incisions I had and maybe the layers he went through. I really wish it would go away though because I want to up my exercise routine. I am kind of sick of just walking.

doesn't hurt at all. My dr. ripped mine off when I went to my first post op appointment because they hadn't fallen off on their own.

That is really awesome for you! You were presented with a choice and you made the best long term decision. Proud of you

I agree...moving to the pureed stage is heavenly. Today was my first day as well. I blended up some beef stew with greek yogurt! and I blended up some canned chicken with greek yogurt. looks disgusting, but tastes sooo good compared to full liquids

thanks so much. I think I was confused because my nurse/nutritionist kept calling my stomach a pouch...I don't really think they meant in such a literal term. But it is helpful to understand what is exactly happening in there.

Hello, I have that same pain on the left side of my abdomen. It was actually getting better, then this morning it was hurting a lot. It worried me so I called my nurse that is part of my program. According to what she said, it is not very common, but sometimes it could be to the sensitivity of your body to the instruments that went through the layers...or the angle. I had 4 incisions. She basically said as long as I don't have any other problems like fever, bruising, hot to the touch, then I should be okay. I think it just needs time. It is nice to hear that someone else has the same problem (well I'm sorry you have the same problem) because I was starting to freak out in my head.

mmmm yeah I came out of surgery with the only thing taking away my thirst was ice water or ice. I never had that problem. I'm sorry I'm of no help. I hear you on the calorie deficit. Some days I only get like 200 calories...I'm 12 days post op.

Yeah I hear you on that. My NUT had suggested the clear isopure ready to go bottles prior to surgery. Since I wanted to be prepared for my post op liquid phase I bought like 5 bottles of it...all in different flavors. After drinking them, I found that MANGO PEACH IS YUCKY! But I really like the grape and orange flavor. Many people I know can't stand the flavor of these things, but I like them just fine. And you are right! There is a weird after taste/feeling everytime. They are expensive, but when that was basically all I was drinking/eating in a day...it wasn't that bad. I just bought a case of the grape to get me through my week of full liquids. On the plus side my 2 year old daughter likes them too. I'm really not sure if she should be drinking them, but I figure its better than juice.

yes I had the gastric sleeve...Ok. Thank you.

Do you have any links I can read about the stoma etc. I'm very interested in understanding this.

Thank you everyone. I feel much better. It's so difficult to tell sometimes because the nurses don't go through every little thing with you.