Fabtina I felt blah too. In fact, I still feel partially blah right now. I'm one month out. It get a little better as the days go by. You should really try to find some foods you can eat. I know you don't want them but you need to eat. You'll feel better. I hate trying to get in the liquids too. It's such a hassle. But once again I feel better the more I drink. Hang in there:) I know it sounds like a broken record to say it gets better all the time...but it does. Maybe some of us have a harder time just adapting to this new life than others. I just dunno. But if you'll hang in there I will hang in there with you:) I'm hoping to turn back into my usual self any day now. Hopefully you will too and we can just be normal together. Keep your chin up and have faith. That way if I forget to keep mine up you can remind me.
You can do this. It is only a few more days. I agree with the above, not getting in your Water or Protein will definitely effect your energy.
Have you tried unjury chicken Soup? It was a great source of Protein when I was in the early stages.
pureed should be easier for you. I pureed chicken salad and had that with a tiny bit of cranberry sauce for variety. You can have refried Beans & cheese. Puree some chili. Do a recipe search on theworldaccordingtoeggface.com or Emilybites.com You'll get some great ideas for meals. There is a great Ricotta bake that was fantastic during puree's and your family will probably like it too.
Add some Protein Powder to some sugar free pudding if you need to bulk up to feel better.
Good luck, you can do this!
You are probably in ketosis (a side effect of fat burning mode), which could be giving you that blah and maybe even an anxious feeling. You could have 4 oz of juice diluted with 4 oz of Water and if you are in ketosis it will probably knock you out of it and could help you feel better. Or try some kefir (liquid yogurt). Ketosis is actually good bc it means you are burning fat, but at this point, if you feel really badly, it might help. Or try a TBSP of Peanut Butter in a Protein shake.
You also may be dehydrated. I know it sounds like a broken record, but you must must must get in your Fluid. Even if it feels like a chore. I would just do the best you can.
Hope you feel better soon. Once you are in mushies, you can pretty much eat a regular meal with your fam. I know that this phase really sucks. It will get better and you will be really happy you suffered through these days.
pureed food depends on your doctor's plan, but you should be able to have yogurt with PB2 (dehydrated peanut butter), pureed oatmeal and SF peaches, greek yogurt with pumpkin, pureed veggies, all kinds of pureed Soups and pureed chili, refried Beans with cheese and pureed salsa and a spoonful of greek yogurt (like sour cream). Google world according to Eggface--lots of great recipes, like one with ricotta cheese and eggs that I've heard tastes like the inside of lasagna. I microwave ricotta cheese with parm cheese and Tomato sauce plus veggie m-balls (you won't be able to do meatballs yet but could do the rest)...tasty. You can add unflavored Protein to soups. Imagine has a line of cream soups in a box that are sooo good--like cream of brocc and cream of potato. Good for puree--add protein powder.
Part of the process of slowly reintroducing foods back into your stomach, is allowing your insides to heal. This has little to do with the change of lifestyle that is going to naturally come with this type of surgery. It won't be forever, and while it might be a little uncomfortable right now, in the long run, it is what is going to help you best with your recovery. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon. You have to readjust your thinking a little bit. I eat dinner every night with my kids, just because I don't have a full plate, doesn't make a difference. Giving in is giving up, and if that's what you want to do, then by all means. But if you committed to having the surgery, then I would tend to believe that you want more. That means committing to doing what it takes to get healed up and getting down the path. Yes, every Dr. does it differently, but every outcome is different as well. I went 6 weeks before I had solid food, I am glad that I went through it as it helped me start to reconcile my relationship with food and the bad eating habits that got to the point where my only hope was to have my stomach cut out. Right now your biggest concern should be getting in your Protein to help keep your muscle mass in place and to promote the healing process and to stay hydrated, because dehydration is about the worst thing you could have happen. Sorry that you are feeling lousy, but if you follow what your Dr and nutritionist has laid out for you, you WILL feel better. - Good Luck and hang in there.
You can still sit down with your family for meals, but have a sugar free popsicle instead, or watered down applesauce or yogurt! You're going to be tired for a while, in my experience. It stinks, but it's your body responding to so many fewer calories. Make sure you're getting enough calories in. Are you drinking 3 glasses of milk each day? Does each one have Protein Powder added? I found that when I wasn't getting enough Protein at the beginning that I was more tired than usual. Hang in there!
What you are feeling is perfectly normal. I went through that too.
When you switch foods Thursday it will make a huge difference because you are adding variety back a little at a time.
If you are feeling dizzy you may not be getting enough Protein. Call your doctor or dietician.
Hang in there. Soon you'll be too busy shopping for small clothes to care about missing the junk food.
Pamela
I went through all of those things.
It was miserable. What got me me through it was hope that things were going to get better.
And boy, did it ever!
I have a slim body like when I was in my 20's and I am as strong as I was then. I do not in any way feel deprived. I eat what I want to eat, (I just want to eat good). I buy clothes without trying them on. My wife looks at me like I'm a juicy steak.
Prepare for some good times. Sometimes you have to drive though the desert to get to the luxury resort.
DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!
DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:
DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.
DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.
DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.
DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…
DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:
DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!
DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.
DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.
DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!
DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.
DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!
DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.
DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…
DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!
DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.
And finally…
DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.
DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.
DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.
DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.
DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.
DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!
Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.
Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:
DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and
"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever
DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.
DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM
fabtina got a reaction from sastexan4u@yahoo.com in Preop diet question