AngieL11282

First off, let me say that you should always listen to your doctor and nutritionist...rather than crazy people on the internet, myself included.
But here's my rant today. And for what it's worth....this is just MY feelings on this nonsense. I'm no expert.

Ya'll need to eat. Not overeat. But also NOT UNDER-EAT. Eat healthy food you enjoy.
I know how it happens. Your weight loss gets sluggish and stuck and you think OMG, this isn't working, I'm Failing at this! You start to panic.
And what does a lifelong self-destructive dieter DO when they start to panic? They go exteme.
They go...ok, my doctor said it was ok to eat this much.....so I'm gonna try to eat HALF of that to speed up my weight loss!
I'm going to work harder than anyone! I'm going to eat less! I'm going to force this weight off of my body...because this is my last chance and I'm freaking out and I can't fail at this, so I NEED to do better and cut back!
Only, here's the thing. You don't need to cut back. You need to stay the course, nourish your healing body, have good energy to boost your metabolism and lose weight sensibly.
Why do people do VLCDs? (very low calorie diets....1000 or less calories a day)....they do them because they show results in a hurry.
And there is nothing people like better than a lower number on the scale...regardless of how they're achieving it. Or how harmfully they are achieving it.
When you eat less than 1000 calories a day, did you know you lose more muscle than fat...even if you are eating tons of protien grams?
When you lose muscle, you slow your metabolism, endanger your organs that have muscle (heart anyone?), and decrease your bone density. None of this is a good idea.
And when you're eating starvation level calories, your body tries like hell to keep you from dying....by, you guessed it, slowing your metabolism even further.
And the carb thing...can we talk about that a minute? You DO want to avoid carbs that are metabolized to sugar really fast, like sugary foods and refined white flour items because they can cause your pancrease to over-react and send too much insulin and you'll end up with rebound hunger....but other carbs, particularly ones that have good Fiber content to slow the sugar can also have good protien content...and they don't do the rebound hunger thing. They give you great available energy.
Why do we lose so much weight so rapidly when we do Keto? We don't really....but the first five pounds is so quick and shocking that it MUST work! (except you're not losing fat, you're losing the Water that your liver stores extra glucose in.....and you've stripped your liver of its emergency reserve of energy. And yeah...you can make the sugar you need from other things through gluconeogenesis....but it takes amino acids that your body is typically harvesting from your muscles.) Don't do that thing where you lose the five pounds eating keto....then eat a few carbs and go OMG, look at the weight I've gained!....and go keto again and lose the same five pounds of water. It's an illusion. (Not saying keto people can't lose weight...they do lose weight fast...but they also have about five pounds in lost water from glucose storage, no emergency stores, and their bodies may be consuming their muscles)
Food for thought (literally!) Guess what organ runs exclusively on sugar? Pure glucose. Your brain. Your brain burns over 300 calories of glucose every day. At just 2% of our body weight....our brains burn about 20% of the calories we use each day! The CPU needs fuel.

Lots of people lose weight rapidly with Very Low Calorie Diets after bariatric surgery. They have these amazing results that other people notice and are in awe of. They lose to goal eating very little and feel very accomplished about their self discipline and their amazing fast results.
And then guess what happens?
At goal...they are still people who have never learned how to eat sustainably for life. All they know is starvation and self deprivation. And starvation doesn't work long term.
Please learn to eat sustainable amounts of calories. Do it early so you don't fudge your metabolism into starvation level calorie requirements.
One of the best ways to have a robust metabolism...is to do exercise every day. It doesn't have to be the gym or something you find tedious. Do things you enjoy....but keep moving.
It's hard to build your robust metabolism.....when you're too tired to do anything but go to work and go to bed...because you're starving yourself.
Please eat. Don't overeat. But eat. Learn to eat right, not starve. Starving is not the cure and in many cases sets the stage for significant regain.
Do it right, even it it's slower than other people. Do it sustainably. Learn to coexist with food, not avoid it. (easier said than done)
Don't get discouraged by small losses. Just keep losing to goal with small sensible tweeks. You don't have to suffer extremes to have success.
Learning to control your diet moderately...is the best skill to have when facing a lifetime of sustaining a significant weight loss.

This end my rant.
Totally ok if you think I'm nuts/wrong/whatever. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Peace and best wishes to everyone on this crazy road.

I eat too fast but thankfully still very little, but I don't think I make it last 20 minutes except for a Protein Shake which I can make last an hour. I like my food hot, so I want to eat it while it's still hot.

I have a super hard time with it as well... used to eat my food in like 2 min flat because of my former career (nail tech... I'd eat between clients real quick). Max I can ever go is about 15 😕 I just do that and call it good.

I was sleeved on 9/7 and have had a phenomenal recovery! I have no issues with any food, reflux, pain etc. My mind is trying to play tricks on me and tell me that because I'm not suffering and can eat and drink without issue that maybe this isn't going to work for me. I do feel some restriction with food but not with fluids. I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that other people have recovered like I have and gone on to be successful in losing the weight. I have 70 pounds to get to my goal. TIA! ❤️

My experience is exactly like yours...and I think that we may have had surgery the same day (September 7th?). I know we've had some dialogue previously but I'll tell you again what I'm doing... I'm eating! I'm listening closely to my body. I have started drinking at least 32 oz of Water in the morning (along with my coffee) before I put any food in my mouth. Then I usually have an egg with cheese (sometimes I add very finely diced ham). After 30-45 mins I make a nectar Protein Water and sip that throughout the morning. I really gauge my hunger for lunch and eat appropriately. Then in the afternoon I mix a full Premier Protein Cafe Latte and 1/2 of a PP carmel or cinnamon roll flavor (absolutely delicious and 45g of protein) and drink that through the afternoon. For dinner I have Protein (usually chicken) and veggies. I do my best to take my time but I eat until I am satisfied. If later in the evening I am hungry again I will have a few bites of cottage cheese or some sugar free ice cream.

I will say that most days I still have "hunger" pangs and gargling in my stomach but I'm just learning to work through it... I'm hoping that as I progress and continue to heal that it will lessen (I'm told it will).
Wishing you peace and success on this journey! ❤️

Hi All -
I am about 4.5 months out from VSG. Overall, I'm doing well and couldn't be happier. I am starting to hit a plateau but I know it happens and I'm ok with it. My question is.... What did 4-5 months out look like for you? What were you eating? Physical changes? Any foods you couldn't tolerate at this point, etc.
There's a lot posts about what happens immediately after this surgery and what long term looks like, but I'm curious about other people's experiences at this point.
Thanks for the feedback. Have a great day!
Jenny

Hi @lizonaplane (my almost surgery twin)...

I totally get where you're coming from. And I have hunger too. So my rule now is if I can do something else and distract myself and half an hour later I'm not hungry, then I wasn't really hungry and it's my d-bag brain trying to get me fat again. If I'm still hungry half an hour later, I eat.

I don't know about all these rules. I understand about not grazing, and I understand about eating slowly, but good grief. Set a portion size (one of those 4 oz. Gladwares?) and eat that, then wait an hour and see if you're hungry again. If you're not, you done good. If you are, and you consistently are, then adjust your portion size slightly.

I will say that as I progress to "thicker" foods, I get full way faster—cream Soups fill me up faster than broth soups, etc.

You got this, sister.

I have to tell you I've tried several times to reply and gave up because it's so easy to screw up when trying to help with such issues. I am offering this in an attempt to be helpful so if I do so in a clumsy or apparently insensitive way trust that it is not my intent. Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread...
First of all, it WILL get better. You will make it better.
Let's consider hunger. So much can go into a feeling of hunger. Let's see if we can spark some ideas, or at worst, rule out some bad ones:
1) I dare say that feeling hungry 1/2 hour after eating is likely not your body crying out for food to stave off starvation. Though, after months of draconian diets it wouldn't be a crazy idea that you very well may be on the verge of starvation. If your meals of 1/2 hour are preventing you from eating enough you very well may be on the verge of starvation;
2) We didn't get to being morbidly (or worse) obesity by our good eating habits. We have years of bad habits that have become normal. These habits build expectations both mentally and physically. Simply, these bad habits are associated with satiation. Now, we can't eat to the level our habits require and our bodies expect;
3) In addition to volume we also went straight to our "comfort foods" which as the name suggests comforted us. We perhaps each derived different comforts from such foods. In point of fact we probably had different foods for different purposes and perhaps even different rituals involved;
The solutions for all of these things are things we've probably heard in relation to many of our failed diet plans in the past, but they are correct. It's about building new, good habits. Some of the rules we are given are intended to help with the new habits. Critically, it takes time to make the new habits replace the old habits.
1) For the new (good) habits to replace the old (bad) habits requires strict compliance. For a time, even small violations will cause learning the new habits to be that little bit harder, and take that little bit longer. Stay focused on the plan and the prize;
2) The mechanics of eating are a learning process. The "No eating longer than 1/2 hour" rule is to prevent you from learning to graze. My Doc had the same rule. Really, it is a guideline, because if you aren't getting enough to eat consistently, you are starving yourself, and no wonder you feel hungry if you aren't eating but a fractional part of your requirements. I couldn't get enough down in 1/2 in the first 2 months, so I set a minimum volume I need to eat, and I ate that even if it took longer than 1/2 hour. Work to improve every meal.
3) The idea that no one call tell you how much to eat is, frankly, ridiculous. Having a well defined plan is, in my not so humble opinion, is critical to success. If your team has only given you do's and don'ts then use those to create a well defined plan. My teams plan was simple and from what I've seen would work with most every other plan. 3 meals per day, each of 3oz Protein + 1oz veggies, no white carbs. I counted calories, protein, and carbs and it turns out to be correct for what most plans look for. So, define your meal plan if your team won't; Your food CAN be enjoyable. Don't go overboard on super healthy, super protein, super whatever, especially if it's not appetizing and sustainable. You are NOT on a diet, but creating your new normal. Stick with it.
4) Drinking: 64oz is usually a number surgeons quote when they quote a number. The whole idea of 64oz was created out of thin air there is no science to support it. Science supports allowing thirst to guide your drinking. Too much can throw electrolytes out of balance and even if it's 1/2 hour after eating it will still wash everything through. If you are not drinking enough then more Water may be better, once you are drinking enough, more is not necessarily better.
5) It might not be a bad idea to get a counselor's help. I would focus on habits and triggers rather than history, but that's me.
6) Another thing that may help is distraction. Rather than sitting focusing on how hungry and miserable you are, find something into which you can put your focus. books, video games, whatever. Even :gulp: walking around, going to a mall. Again, whatever makes you happy.
Success breeds success. Hopefully, the longer to do it right the easier it will become.
If it's not working, try different approaches, different choices, but stay within your guidelines. You will eventually hit on something that works for you.
You are almost through the hard part.
Good luck,
Tek

I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup to begin slowly increasing over months. I was at about a cup by goal at 6 months. I’d take 20+minutes to eat that size serving. I still eat slowly & take ages to eat. All about mindful eating & being more conscious of how your body reacts & what it needs.
Was never told that chew, chew, chew thing. Freaks me out actually. You’d be left with flavourless, unappealing mush. Just use a teaspoon & take small bites/nibbles especially in the beginning. I still cut up my meats in small pieces (at home only) so I’m not tempted to take a too big a piece.
I was a lucky one & never felt hungry & wasn’t interested in eating for months. First felt hunger (it felt different & it was real hunger) at about 7 months but was 18months until I began feeling hungry more regularly.

3 weeks yesterday. I have had a very easy recovery and am not struggling with any foods so far.

I can now hang my phone on my belt without my fat knocking it off. I can also use an inside the waistband holster.

I can cross my legs and I don’t have to hold them with my hands to keep them crossed!!! 😁😁😁

We bought this house 5 years ago. Our last house I had heavily landscaped, because I was much smaller and in better shape when I bought it it in 1999. I have barely done anything to this house and probably never would have. I could barely plant a few annuals without feeling like I was gonna have a heart attack Today i landscaped the whole front yard and I wasn't winded at all. I am so happy!!!

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My way of thinking is do not eat to restriction. The restriction to me is a warning signal you have eaten too much. I measure food so I can learn what 2-4 oz of different foods looks like. I think that will help in the future to keep portion sizes reasonable.

In the beginning i ate (or tried at least) to eat according to volume. I pre-measured everything and ate what I could from that amount using timed bites. If I ate to restriction, then it would be too late as I found that my signals were delayed and I would just be super uncomfortable.
As time went on, I was able to gauge when was enough an didn't need to rely on pre-measured volume anymore.
It's a learning process. Listen to your body, learn from your past experiences with food and eating and hopefully you will get the hang of it all in no time.
P.S. for further clarification, I was pre-measuring for about 5-6 months then the training wheels came off and I became a pro (sort of, lol)
Good Luck! ❤️

I wish my surgery center told us how much to eat. They said "no one can tell you how much to eat"... so I just ate a tablespoon or two, until I guessed I might be full. I was hungry in a half hour, but drinking helped a bit.

Thanks! I'm thinking that for me it's probably that I am eating too fast! That and not eating and drinking at the same time are my struggles. It's so hard to eat slowly! I chew really well but still eat fast. I'll keep working on it! Thanks for the response!

I'm wondering if I should be eating until I feel restriction? I'm talking about that first initial (tightness in chest for me) feeling... NOT getting sick miserable feeling. It seems like when I eat until I feel that I am much more satisfied and for much longer. When I stop before I feel it I am hungry an hour later. Thoughts?

I'm three weeks out and have had an easy recovery. I also follow all the instructions to a T so that probably helps as well. I never had the liquid stage: the first two weeks were pureed foods and now I'm on soft foods, in a week I can start testing any and all foods. I do get hungry at times but usually close to the time I should eat anyway.

I woke up from surgery thinking they hadnt done anything yet as I felt no pain. The first initial month I felt no restriction and had hunger pangs , but as time goes on you definitely feel it. I found that if I mistepped and ate too much or too quickly then it would hurt, big time.

Here are just a couple of the silly things that have made me smile the last couple weeks:
1. I can buy cute underwear that are not made out of white flour sack material.
2. I can put on my socks in the morning with out making strange sounds and grunting.
3. When getting dressed to go somewhere the first thing out of my mouth is NOT "does this make me look fat!"

Wiping my own butt without breaking my back trying to reach 🤦🏼‍♀️

Yeah, I have the same problem. I just started solid food yesterday and after both meals (1 T of refried Beans and then 2 T of tuna fish) I felt pain in my chest so I stopped but then I was hungry an hour later, but we were told not to graze... so I was just hungry. I am hoping it's just that I was eating too fast so if I slow down I can eat enough to be satiated and not full an hour later.

not sure where you are in the progression, but you likely won't feel restriction until you move to solid food. And you've had nerves cut - takes awhile for them to regenerate. It's probably best to just measure out and eat however much your plan recommends eating. "Hunger" and "full" are going to be kind of weird the first few months after surgery...

Thanks! I'm thinking that for me it's probably that I am eating too fast! That and not eating and drinking at the same time are my struggles. It's so hard to eat slowly! I chew really well but still eat fast. I'll keep working on it! Thanks for the response!