pookybear

I wasn't told to stay away because it dehydrated you....that's actually a myth. My nutritionist told me no caffeine for 3 months because it's acidic and will irritate your healing pouch. Every dr/nutritionist is different. It's best to follow yours.

I was told NOT to take them. Iron and calcium must be taken at least 2 hours apart because calcium blocks the absorption of iron. Mixed together in one vitamin, you're really not absorbing everything.

It's weird how different doctors are. I was told to stay far away from Calcium Citrate found in Walmart/Target because it doesn't have what we need. I also take B12 every day.

I too view this as a lifetime change. I just can't understand why someone would go through major surgery and all the changes afterward, only to go back to the lifestyle that got them there to begin with. While I don't necessarily deny myself things, I do go with moderation and I try to opt for healthier choices. If I want pizza, I'll have pizza. But I'll have Smart Ones pizza or homemade pizza with low fat cheese. If I want a burger and fries, I'll limit myself to 2 or 3 fries, and I have a Gardenburger. Not saying I always make the BEST choices, but I certainly do try my best

There are natural energy boosters. Green Tea extract, ginseng, etc. you could ask your doctor if you'd be able to take one of these. I just started taking green tea extract. Couldn't tell you how well it works because I've only taken it twice.

I use Celebrate calcium and I get it at a local nutrition shop. It's also available on Amazon. I get my B12, Flintstones, and D3 from Walmart or Target.

I waited one week.

Coffee is a fantastic idea. I love coffee lol...I'm a carb addict. Always have been, always will be. I get cravings for chips, popcorn, etc.

I'm one year out. I haven't really had to deal with head hunger yet. I'm only now discovering that I eat when I'm bored. I try to have healthy snacks like popcorn, black bean chips and hummus, nuts, cheese sticks, etc. Mainly it's at night before bed and at work when it's really slow. What are some things you guys do to get over the head hunger. Like I said, it really wasn't that much of an issue for the first year. Now that I can eat a little more I really notice it.

I had to use Ocean Spray Cranberry Lemonade flavoring in my water. No other flavors I bought tasted good to me.

Those are the 3 things I literally lived on for 2 weeks. Sugar free Popsicles, tomato soup, and apple sauce.

Not going to lie, I did it. As long as you don't swallow (lol)

I was told to stick with Tylenol products or it's generic forms. If I get sick I'll go with Tylenol Cold to be safe. Luckily I haven't gotten sick yet.

Have you tried changing the temperature of the Water? I felt the same way until I tried warmer water. Try other things as well. Tea, milk, broth, etc. Flavor drops help a lot too. Small sips taken frequently works best. PS...good job on increasing! A little more each day will get you there. When was your surgery?

I handle spicy foods wonderfully. One of my go-to foods is anything Mexican. I only got sick from spices once when I was in the soft food stage. I wasn't ready for it and I was violently ill for about 12 hours after. I waited a few months (probably about 4 months or so post op) and tried again, now it's fine.

I honestly have never had a problem with getting liquids in, other than the first couple weeks. Even then it was mainly because of the taste and temperature of the water. Once I found some flavor drops that I liked, and discovered it was much easier to drink at room temperature, I had no more problems.

Absolutely.your body is already in starvation mode from RNY. If you're not getting enough liquids you're also dehydrated. That means your body will pull moisture out of anywhere it can. From muscles, causing lack of energy. From your bowels, causing constipation. Liquids between meals also helps keep you feeling full. The MOST IMPORTANT things post op are protein and liquids. You're success in this process depends on them. How are you not getting enough? By that I mean what's holding you back? Does it hurt to drink? Do you not have enough time between meals to get it in? Maybe we can offer some suggestions to help you out.

A meal, but at this point I don't think it matters. It can count as both liquid and meal.

Try changing the temperature of the water. I can't drink water that's too cold. If it's room temp or warm it's fine though.

Quest bars and Body Fortress protein powder. They are the only things with artificial sweeteners I allow in my diet, and only because I HAVE to get in the protein. One bar a day and one scoop of powder in some iced coffee every day and I've gotten in 50g protein. Other than that, I ALWAYS have cheese in the fridge. String cheese, sliced cheese, and shredded cheese. Also chicken and tuna. I very rarely eat red meat.

I try to stay away from anything with artificial sweeteners when I can. I love Oikos. Lately I've been getting the Banana Cream flavor and adding a tablespoon of PB2 to it. So yummy! I just stir the whey back in, but shaking it up before you open it will solve the problem!

I felt the same way post-op (no restriction). Your pouch is in shock for a bit after surgery and things are numb. You're also eating pretty much all liquids, which moves through quickly. Once your insides calm down and you start to eat more substance you'll really notice the difference.

How you're eating it is pretty much correct. You need to chew to the consistency of applesauce. Red meats and chicken breast are harder because they're a lot more dry and stringy. Try ground turkey with low sugar marinara sauce, or moist tuna or canned chicken with low fat mayo. You need substance, but it'll go down much better if it's moist and easier to chew.

No problem! When it comes to high carb foods, you want to aim for 3 or more grams of fiber per serving.

The high amount of Protein can create constipation. Also, you may need a boost of Fiber in your diet since we don't absorb everything anymore. Constipation can also mean you're still not getting enough liquids, even with the larger amount that we drink.