Arabesque

You need to discuss this with your surgeon & dietician because there are lots of different answers & you need the one that is right for you & your needs as well as your team’s medical recommendations. I was never given a caloric goal just water, protein & portion size recommendations. I’d check my calories myself out of curiosity & I was only consuming 200-300 up to solid food stage. But others are given much higher caloric goals like double & triple what I was eating. And some are given very specific macro goals - how much fat, carbs, etc. to consume each day. Don't be afraid to ask for enough guidelines around this that you feel you need to feel comfortable about your food choices. I was fine with very few requirements but others feel safer if they’re given very precise instructions.

It’s very individual. I still can’t chug. More than two large swallows & my restriction kicks in but I don’t have to wait as long between a drink (a minute or two depending) so that helps. I actually prefer it because I never feel really thirsty now because I’m constantly keeping myself hydrated. If the dry mouth is bad you can try some of the mouth moisturising sprays like Biotene. Drinking frequency & volume is a habit. Your body will learn your new drinking routine of sipping little & often versus drinking large volumes a couple of times a day. It just may take a little time.

I still tend to take smaller bites. Not teaspoons but not big mouthfuls. Partly because larger bites tend to mean larger swallows which make my restriction kick in. But also because it moderates how much I eat & how long I take to eat it - more mindful eating. I also still cut up my meat when I’m at home. But that’s me & everyone is different in what they can do or like to do.

I just have water. Ask for a slice of lemon or lime so people don’t immediately think you’re just drinking water. In time you may be able to tolerate/be allowed to have some carbonation (sparkling water, soda water). You can stir it vigorously so some of the carbonation reduces & if you take it slowly a lot will abate as you sip. I went out for a ladies lunch last week & two of us just had water while the others all had wine or champagne. It’s certainly cheaper 😉. It can be a bit of a change of mind set initially if you’re used to drinking alcohol or carbonated drinks when you go out. Honestly, I sometimes had an alcoholic drink if I went out when I was past month 2 of the losing phase. I would have one glass & sip for literally hours & it was only about once a month.

While the majority of us lose our hunger for a while after surgery, a small number don’t. While a lot of our hunger hormones are produced in our tummy & mostly removed during the surgery, hunger hormones, though in much s,aller quantities, are still produced in our brains. Head hunger can drive us to eat for different reasons. To soothe & comfort - post surgery your emotions can be all over the place & the surgery itself is stressful so you seek food to comfort but you can’t eat what you usually ate in emotional situations. Out of habit - you eat because of what you’re doing (watching tv, etc.) or the time (on the clock or how long since you last ate). Out of boredom - the act of looking for something to eat & eating is something to do & breaks the boredom. Craving a texture or flavour like craving sweet, salty or carbs, or wanting something crunchy or chewy, etc. - this craving can’t be satisfied during the liquid, purée & soft phases which seems to make the craving stronger. Eating mindlessly - nibbling, grazing, etc. because the food is there & for no other reason. Because so many of us were driven to eat by our head hunger in the past it’s like we have to learn what real hunger feels like now & it does feel different. How it will feel for you may be different than how it feels for me. (I get restless, think something is wrong but I don’t know what till I realise I’m hungry.) Working out strategies to manage head hunger can be challenging. Recognising it for what it is is the first step. Then look for ways to handle it: distractions (watch tv, read, do a craft, play a game, go for a walk, potter in your garden, etc), delay (wait to satisfy the craving for 30mins - it often goes), have some water, a cup of tea (herbal or green as you’re allowed),. This can help with real hunger too. It can seem a lot to work through but you’ll get there. Good luck & I hope you continue to recover well.

Stumbled upon this article this morning: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-09-24/collagen-skin-care-what-is-it-how-good-is-it/100431694 It basically says the body can’t absorb the collagen found in supplements. There is no real research to support the taking of collagen except that done by the companies that make it. 🙄 The slowing of your hair loss @SummerTimeGirl could be the natural conclusion of the rapid hair loss cycle. It usually only lasts 3 or so months. It’s more likely due to your increased Protein intake than the collagen. 🙂

I added a collagen powder to the high protein drink I had every second day & also added liquid silica to the mix (BioCeuticals which is a practitioner quality brand - don’t know if you can get it in the US). I also did a couple of 6 week radio frequency treatments to stimulate collagen. Can I say it actually did anything to help my skin? Nope. My nails didn’t get stronger either & I still went through the har loss cycle most of us experience. I have some loose skin on my face & on my body but I did stretch out my skin being overweight so it is to be expected. We all seem to go through a stage where we all look drawn & haggard but once we get into maintenance everything seems to settle. I sometimes wonder if the actual texture of my skin improved but that is more likely down to my more balanced nutrient dense diet & being even more vigilant about my fluid consumption (& maybe regular facials ).

You could be a little dehydrated first thing in the morning or your blood pressure could be low. I seem to remember I went through a second big energy drop around the 4 month mark - very lethargic for a few weeks. Are you sleeping well? Have a chat with your medical team & ensure you are getting all the nutrients in you need (are you having regular blood work fine?).

I was sleeping on my side straight away too & I’m do almost a 3/4 body turn so almost sleeping on my tummy. I did only have stitches for the laparoscopic wounds but have had staples in my head from another surgery which I slept on with minimal discomfort. But we all heal & experience pain/discomfort differently. If you can sleep on your side early on that’s great. If you can’t that’s ok too. All the best with your recovery.

Most of the worst pain dissipates by day 5 & most don’t need anything but the occasional over the counter pain med. You’ve had pretty major surgery & we don’t always stop to think about what the surgery involved. Your abdomen has been inflated with gas (it’s often the worst), your abdominal muscles were stretched & of course you’re internal organs & nerves were cut, changed & prodded & poked. In a week you’ll feel so much better. Be gentle on yourself & allow yourself time to heal & recover. Your fluid intake will start to increase soon too as you’re likely struggling now due to swelling. Of course if the pain gets worse or doesn’t lessen, contact your surgeon.

Yes unfortunately, your hunger does come back but what helps is all you’ve learnt about yourself & your eating habits. Like is what you’re feeling real hunger or head hunger? If it’s head hunger, try a strategy to help manage those feelings (distraction, glass of water, go for a walk, etc.). You said you feel like you’ve put on weight but have you actually put on weight? But you’re not alone worrying about possible or real weight gain. Doesn’t really matter how far along you are, possible weight gain can make you anxious & reflecting on your eating behaviours & your physical & emotional health is the first place to start & then start making any necessary changes. I’m currently battling a small gain so I’ve been revising my food choices & portion sizes. Have I become a little complacent? Is my metabolism slowing a little? Do I need to up my activity? Am I meeting my protein & fluid goals? Is my body ‘settling’ into a new happy place? Should it become my new happy place - more head work? Is my HRT the wrong dose now as I’ve been getting acne lately (WTF?!?!?)? So I’ve started by adding a little more activity, been more vigilant about my water intake, reduced my fruit intake, didn’t have wine at our girls’ lunch. We’ve got this. All the best.

Seems some surgeons recommend bypass over sleeve based on the patient’s weight loss history as well as their health. Bypass is generally considered the stronger surgery but the stats on the success of either surgery & how much weight loss is possible are pretty similar. I mean, they do sleeves on people who started at more than 600lbs on My 600lb Life & they lose weight. Yes, sleeve changes less of your digestive system & malabsorption issues rarely occur, but your general health status, like pre existing reflux/Gerd, may mean bypass is your best way forward.

Oh, he’s one of those who think surgery is cheating or easy. This is a much harder way to lose weight than just going on a diet & exercise program. You’re also contending with recovery from your surgery. The diet is more restrictive to begin than many other diets. Your tummy can become more sensitive or fussy about certain foods for a while. You have greater accountability with your surgeon, dietician, GP, therapist & of course your self watching over & monitoring your progress. (You also get all their support too of course.) I did a lot of research & learnt more about food choices, general nutrition, my own nutritional needs, my emotional & physical health, etc. than I ever did on any of the hundreds of diets I did in the past. Many find therapy very helpful on their weight loss journey & it may be beneficial for your husband too. Someone impartial he can work through his feelings about the surgery & any fears he may have about how it will affect/change you & may be your relationship. All the best.

I agree with @catwoman7 more a soft food than a purée. Generally purées should still be pretty runny & drop off a spoon like choux pastry (if you’re a baker you’ll know what I mean😉). Think baby food & yoghurt. You could blend the feta with some milk to make it runnier if you’re craving that salty feta goodness.

Welcome & congratulations. People seem to experience diarrhoea or constipation after surgery. It could be the lactose in your protein shakes or it could just be your post surgical experience. I was advised to have Imodium & a laxative/stool softener on hand post surgery. I had a shocking diarrhoea attack in hospital than it was constipation city. If it persists & doesn’t seem to be reducing give your surgeon a call. Also if you can look for a lactose free plant based protein shake just in case it is the lactose. All the best.

As everyone has said, the lack of energy is very common & to be expected given the surgery, low calorie intake, etc. Try adding an electrolyte drink to your fluid rotation. I found them very helpful. You may be doing a little too much this soon after your surgery. How far are you walking? How often are you walking. Sometimes two shorter walks is easier than one long walk. Listen to your body. If it says you’re not ready take a step back with how much you’re doing & learn to love the nana nap. Rest & sleep is best for healing. All the best.

They may mean to wait until you are closer to or at goal so not while you’re losing. Pregnancy does put a lot of stress on your body & many put on a lot of weight too. Maybe your surgeon thinks you’re still not healthy enough yet. Worth asking them for their reasoning behind the advice.

No to raw vegetables but yes to cooked ones. I was happy to start eating them again but my old favourites (asparagus, sugar snap peas, broccolini) didn’t taste good for a while. I used to eat two green beans or a dessertspoons of shredded cabbage or a small cauliflower floret. I also put a lot of vegetables in soups & casserole type dishes (carrots, onions, celery, tomato, mushrooms, capsicum, etc.) & after a couple of weeks omelettes. I could tolerate them better when cooked in with other things. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I still kept my proteins tender & moist so they weren’t too so they wouldn’t stick in my throat. I was able to eat most meats though some people struggle with chicken breast (try thigh) or steak for a little while. It was probably three months when I started putting pulses & lentils into soups & such but through my choice. I ate three meals & by week 8 a snack which was usually a high protein yoghurt/yoghurt drink. I remember some of my early lunches were a slice of smoked salmon, smeared with a little cream cheese wrapped around cucumber wedges (2in piece cut into quarters) or half a pork sausage (from a butcher not mass produced, highly processed) or some poached/steamed flaky white fish. Breakfast was rolled oats or scrambled eggs (took 3 days to eat 2 eggs). Dinner was usually meat & vegetables. The meat might be steak, lamb cutlet, chicken thigh, a meat ball, bolognese with zucchini noodles & meat & vegetable soups. Serves were all pretty small like a golf ball size meat ball. I’d dice my food as well so it would be small bites & used a teaspoon to eat for a few months until I graduated to a buffet fork (splade). And I’d use a small dish like a tapas bowl or ramekin or a side plate to serve the meal.

Check with your dietician/nutritionalist & surgeon for calorie & macro guidelines. You will still be on their plans while you are losing. There are a lot of different plans out there & one person’s plan may not be what your medical team recommends. For example, mine want very prescriptive. I wasn’t given calorie or macros goals just protein & fluid goals & portion size recommendations. I was also given lists of foods I could eat or had to avoid. It was low carb, low fat, low sugar but no specific numbers. I saw my dietician every week for the first months who reviewed my diet each time & together we worked out what else I might need or could try. Your dietician may also make specific suggestions according to your needs: activity levels, allergies, eating preferences (vegan, vegetarian, etc.). & so on. Even your age & gender could influence your plan. Do you cook? It’s much easier to control the ingredients, how the food is prepped & cooked & therefore the calories & macros if you make it yourself. A lot of prepared food even so called diet food is calorie heavy for our needs & ‘low fat’ foods can be higher in sugar & vice versa. For example a single lean cuisine meal would exceeded the calories I was eating in a whole day the first couple of months, plus include ingredients on my avoid list. PS - congrats on your surgery.

Yeah, sadly, those heady days of a high rate of weight loss don’t last. You can always depend on your weight loss slowing the closer you are to goal. You’re eating more (which is a normal progression) & getting closer to the number of calories your body needs to maintain your weight. As @catwoman7 said how much food you eat depends on the food you’re eating. A good place to begin is to look at the recommended portion sizes of different foods - start with google & quiz your dietician on what is a serve of beef, of chicken of vegetables, etc. You’re probably getting to close to a recommended serving size now. The problems only start to arise if you’re eating more than that & the only thing that will stop you eating larger portions sizes is you. Plus check the calories of what you’re eating & the nutritional content if you’re not still doing this. 1500 calories is 1500 calories regardless of whether it’s from nutritionally dense food or from cake, sodas, chips, pizza, etc. I eat more often & eat more food in a day now than I did when I was obese. It’s just more nutritionally dense food & my my metabolism is working better. As to what’s bad: carbs, fats or sugar? I think this is a personal thing. You know your medical status which would influence whether you should keep your fat intake low or not. You know your weaknesses - sugar, carbs. I think we should work out a lot of our eating plans based on these things about ourselves. There are recommended daily allowances for fats, sugar & carbs too. Generally, I’m a bit of a balanced diet person. Though I don’t eat a lot of carbs & only multi or whole grains - I used to eat a lot of bread, pasta & rice. I also avoid a lot of sugar, artificial sweeteners & sugar substitutes because I think sugar is the real devil. I get my sweet from fruit. I don’t have dessert as such but have eaten chia pudding (flavoured with vanilla extract). I’ll have a protein bar after dinner if my protein is a little low for the day or will have fruit. How I feel real hunger is very different. I feel restless & I don’t crave a specific food or type (salt, sweet, carb) of food. If my ‘hunger’ is craving something specific it’s head hunger & not real. If there’s an emotional component to the ‘hunger’ (like hangry) it’s not real hunger. Part of the ‘fun’ of maintenance is working out your calorie & nutritional needs. It took me a while to work out what mine was & to be physically able to eat that much food. But you have to find a balance too. If you have to have such a restricted diet to maintain that it compromises you enjoying your life, it’s doomed to fail. It’s about sustainability. If that means you end of weighing a little more than you thought you wanted to be, that’s ok. If you enjoy your latte every day enjoy it. If it worries you try a smaller serve or reduce it to one a day or three cups every two days. There’s always work arounds or substitutes you can make like zucchini noodles instead of spaghetti but still enjoy what you’re eating & not feel like you’re missing out. The truth about exercising is that it will only contribute to 10-20% of any weight you want to lose. Want to lose 10lbs? Exercising will only contribute to you losing 1 or 2 lbs. Plus if you increase your exercising, your hunger will increase. Unfortunately the work doesn’t the end. All the best.

The bloating is likely from the lactose @Kris77. I eat on repeat a lot too. But it makes things easier because I don’t think as much about food & what I’m going to eat. Cheese is often my go to when out socialising with friends. You can always guarantee there’ll be cheese at social events. It’s not an every day food & I’m not going to eat a wheel of Brie … though it’s so yummy I think I could 😉.

What you’re experiencing is pretty common. I carried a sick bag with me for the first couple of days because of all the saliva I was spitting up. I had a lot of swelling in my throat & oesophagus which made swallowing painful too. By day 3 it was basically gone. Most find by around day 4+/- they don’t need the strong opioid pain meds anymore but we all heal & recover at our own pace. If it takes you less or more time that’s fine. The burping is likely the gas from the surgery escaping &/or you could be unconsciously swallowing air when you do drink. The gas will pass too - about a week. It can be more painful then the actual surgery healing but GasX, over the counter pain meds & walking helps. Enjoy your sleep I think I slept for most of the first 48 hours. Hope you to continue to recover well.

Your surgeon could mean tablespoons. 3 level tablespoons is 1/4 cup. I was advised 1/4 to 1/3 cup to begin slowly increasing as I was able. I could eat barely eat a cup by goal at 6 months. Maybe they were referring to the losing weight phase? I do eat more now: the recommended serving size or a little less depending what I’m eating. I eat more vegetables though: 1-1.5 cups steamed vegetables, 2 cups shredded lettuce. My soft food stage ended at 6 weeks so you’re plan could be similar. I was still able to eat yoghurt & ‘soft’ foods like eggs, casseroles, soups etc. but introduced more solid food as I was able. I was low carb but that generally came from rolled oats as a low processed, whole grain & then incidental carbs like in vegetables. I wouldn’t have reached my protein goals without yoghurt every day (I gave up shakes once at the purée stage). The no crystal light or other flavours could be because your surgeon wants you off artificial sweeteners as well as sugar. Artificial sweeteners still feed your craving for sugar & many cause irritation & allergies. I’m just trying to suggest what your surgeon may be thinking but the best answers are going to come from them. Explain you’re confused because what the dietician is telling you is different & you’d like to know their reasons for the recommendations they’ve given so you understand.

I’m hoping they’re basing this on your blood tests & you are lacking in B12. That rigorous of an injection regime does seems extreme. But your blood tests could be showing you are very low & need a more intensive regime. But I’d still quiz your GP further about what your levels actually are & what they should be if only for your own information. Out of curiosity, are you a vegetarian or vegan? B12 is found in animal products (meat, seafood, poultry, dairy) so if you don’t eat much of these foods it could be contributing. @catwoman7 is correct. Sleevers don’t tend to have the absorption issues those with a bypass can. I only had to take a multivitamin & no other supplements while losing. I gave them up at 8 months post surgery & haven’t taken any vitamins since then. Don’t need to as my 3 monthly blood tests show I absorb enough from what I eat.

I keep some tinned powdered gravy in my pantry & just make up small amounts as I need it. You can even just add a little stock to pan juices, throw in some herbs, spices, tomato paste as you like & instant sauce. You don’t have to drown the meat just keep it moist enough that it doesn’t get stuck. I avoid the cream, cheese based sauces because they’re too rich & I’m not good with higher fat things. Cooking to medium rare, poaching, steaming, slow cooking tends to keeps meat more tender.