huskymama

You should take your time it takes 20 mins for our brain to register we are full the faster you eat the more food you intake. My surgeon and dietitian told me to chew 20 times. I had my surgery December 22, 2021 and I could not eat that much now. Also you are eating to soon after a meal - grazing is a habit we form which is part of why we led to obesity. I really only eat fish as my meat still and my Husband took me out to dinner I got grilled chicken One breast lasted me 3 meals - just last Sunday. I am down 52 pounds today!! (i only had 70 total as per my surgeon my goal was 80-100) I would try to find a local support group - call your surgeons office see if they can help you. But you keep eating that often you can and will stretch your stomach back out. And you shouldnt feel hunger - I still dont - so it may be your mouth and or brain is hungry out of ha it and boredom. I get up and do dishes or laundry clean the tub whatever until it passes. I have a certain time window for my meals - no i. Between snacking. If I really feel I need something I do it with a Protein Shake. 310 Nutrition has amazing shakes - make them with almond milk. I have all kinds of flavors, Peppermint, chocolate, Smores, vanilla Cake Batter - check them out because those keep me happy if i want something sweet i can drink something that is healthy that taste like a treat! Keep a food journal online or hand written - I do both. If you’re grazing you will be y at the amount of food and calories your eating in a day! Good luck!

I am 5 months out after gastric bypass and I have been doing pretty good. Overall my family eats what I do unless it's a take out night but the sides are different I usually make a side like rice or potatoes or noodles that I don't eat but the rest I can. I was a big sweet eater before surgery so I thought that would be a problem if I brought any of that in the house for the rest of my family. But Christmas came and I couldn't take the candy in stakings and desert after dinner from them. So we had it and I was so worried before but when it came time I found that it wasn't so bad and as time came I got a cake or something fir desert fir them had no issues. The only problem I had was when my husband brought how cookie like a bunch of them and I made him take them to his office and put them away so I couldn't see them. Otherwise it's been fine

Sent from my SM-A716U using BariatricPal mobile app

Not really for me as well.
By 1 wk post op I was back to doing the majority of cooking. Honestly, while i enjoyed the smells and looking at the food (and taking pictures of it!), I wasn’t too interested in actually eating it. Watching THEM eat it gave me a weird sort of pleasure. Weird to explain 🤷🏻‍♀️
All during weight loss phase (and a several months into maintenance) i just ate something different (or not at all) at sit-down meal times. But i did sit there with them cuz I wasn’t about to miss out on all the conversation lol
Im 3.5 years out and now I probably eat at least part of what they are eating maybe 50-60% of the time. The other times im eating my own leftovers from lunch.

Not really. I don't want to tell my family not to eat what they want just because I can't have it (it's not fair to them) so I have been making sure to have a savory broth while they eat. Sometimes I leave the room while dinner is being made (my husband has always cooked) and then come back in when it's time to eat so we all eat together. I put my Protein Drink in a regular cup like everyone else and then I have a sugar free popsicle for dessert. Works just fine for me. I keep in mind why I did the surgery, and I stay focused on the goal and it's really not bad at all.

It’s just my husband and I but we basically cook our own meals and he eats all the things I would love to eat. My best tip is to eat before you cook or they eat. If you aren’t starving it isn’t as hard to resist their food.

Im pretty pleased with myself, pre op while on liquid diet I was able to cook for my family without any trouble. Post Op while recovering my hubby is doing the cooking but I know when I am feeling better Ill be back to cooking dinner for my family. So just curious if anyone struggled with cooking or watching your family be able to eat meals you really like? So far I think Im handling it pretty good but Im sure Ill come to a point where Im going to want to eat the same thing.

We are surgery buddies!! Same here Im 53 Ive had some but I also have thyroid disease so i “shed” a few times a year lol. I take a Vitamin 2 x a day just for hair, skin and nails. Im down 51-52 pounds my Surgeons goal was to loose 70. My goal is 80-100 so im close to his expectations. I find that taking that extra Vitamin as soon as you can tolerate them is a game changer. My sister had bypass 25 years ago she refuses to take any Vitamins. She is nearly bald. I did the sleeve, I took Vitamins before surgery so it isnt a nee habit for me just what I take changed. I have always taken in what I am supposed to for Protein and Water it is a vitamin deficiency because we eat so little food - especially in the beginning which is probably why people see it slow down as they are out more. So get a good hair nail and skin vitamin youll be happy you did!!

I am a year out and I never had any Hair loss. I was lucky and able to meet my Fluid and Protein goals from the very beginning. Not sure if that had anything to do with it.

Sleeved 12/22 and don't have Hair loss (I'm older as well). Good luck.

I am so feeling you. 18 days out. I am worried this isn’t gonna work for me. I think my head is still in my addiction trying to get me to give up again. Believe in the process. I truly am trying to live one day at a time. Lol. I didn’t realize how much i relied on food for my entertainment, happiness and mood. My brain is freaking out. What did you do?! We need to eat!!

You're doing great and this is something that will happen along the way. I wonder if the "hunger" could actually be solved with a few sips of Water or tea and re-centering yourself? And the restriction will kick in over time, it just might vary from person to person. You've totally got this.

I’d also pay attention to when you are eating and why. I think your first post said 1 hour after a mushy meal you had the 2 chicken things? My surgeons office/dietician would have my head if I was eating again that fast.

I just wonder if some of the hunger you feel is actually “head hunger.” There’s lots of posts on here that reference that as well that could be helpful.

Exactly this. How your body reacts to certain foods, or portion sizes, or times you eat, etc. are all idiosyncratic to you. I had this exact conversation with my surgeon’s colleague this morning at my check up. It’s not something you’ll discover quickly. I’m still learning my body’s personality quirks. It seems to throw new ones at me randomly but my eating is constantly evolving. I understand how to best manage the ones I know. Like I know I’ll feel a bit ‘off’ if I rush through my breakfast or have it too early. If I have yoghurt for lunch I’ll want something salty after (don’t know why yet but I know it happens).
In time you’ll learn your body’s signs & cues & recognise what they mean - some may be very subtle. You’ll also discover some signals will be different to what they were before surgery or aren't what you expected.

Exactly this. How your body reacts to certain foods, or portion sizes, or times you eat, etc. are all idiosyncratic to you. I had this exact conversation with my surgeon’s colleague this morning at my check up. It’s not something you’ll discover quickly. I’m still learning my body’s personality quirks. It seems to throw new ones at me randomly but my eating is constantly evolving. I understand how to best manage the ones I know. Like I know I’ll feel a bit ‘off’ if I rush through my Breakfast or have it too early. If I have yoghurt for lunch I’ll want something salty after (don’t know why yet but I know it happens).
In time you’ll learn your body’s signs & cues & recognise what they mean - some may be very subtle. You’ll also discover some signals will be different to what they were before surgery or not what you expected.

This is where the "surgery as a tool" mindset comes into play. At some point, you will feel restriction, even if you don't now, but it's important not to rely on it too much to do the work. Personally, I have been working on eating to the point that I have had enough, but do not trigger the restrictive feeling. For me, restriction is quite unpleasant, so instead, I'm trying to focus on the hints my body is giving me that I am getting close without getting to the "oh crap I ate too much feeling." It is hard, and it sometimes is literally a forkful of food that can send you right over the edge and into discomfort. I've gotten good at spitting food out, if I need to do so.
For foods that don't trigger restriction (or don't seem to) I am careful about only allowing myself a serving or partial serving. One of my favorite Snacks is hummus and pretzel sticks. Don't ask me why, I hated pretzels before surgery, but it satisfies a need for a crunchy texture, and it is better than Cheetos. 🙂 But, I could easily overindulge so I start with some cheese sticks, since it is Protein and I know will fill me. Then, I portion out exactly how many sticks I can have. And then I make myself stop at that maximum or below. I do similar with other "forgiving" foods.
If chicken isn't affecting your restriction, you'll have to focus on Portion Control to get the same result. But, I also suspect that as you heal, your restriction levels will change, even with foods that previously didn't affect it much.

Thanks, everybody. I was more worried because I was 19 days out and could eat literally anything. But I didn't even think about the nerves being cut and not feeling the restriction. It's weird, tho, because I feel it if I eat 1 egg, or if I eat too much hummus and avocado spread together. But absolutely nothing for chicken drumsticks. I'm going to ease up on the solids since technically i shouldn't be on them yet, and just kind of reset my plan. Thanks again for all the encouragement and help!!!!

Just follow your plan. Serving sizes, calories, macros. Whatever you plan involves and you will do fine!
Based on a few of your other posts, I think you are over thinking it. Or, maybe, thinking about it the wrong way.
Everyone is able to eat different amounts and different things at different intervals of the day.
Don't stress my friend, you will be ok!

I think part of the problem as I see it is that you should deliberately regulate yourself as well as relying on a restriction. There is no way a second piece of chicken ends up on my plate. The one piece of chicken provides the Protein needs you need to have and any room left in your stomach should be used for vegetables which we don't get enough of. Remember....first protein then vegetables.
You should be using a very small plate that would only allow a piece of protein on 1/3 of the plate and the rest should be vegetables or maybe a small amount of starch.

As @SleeverSk said your nerves are still healing after being cut during the surgery & you won’t feel signals yet which is why it’s important to stick to the portion sizes you’re given & your eating plan. All because you can doesn’t mean you should. The staged return to eating is there for a reason - to support & protect your healing tummy. Remember all those staples & sutures holding your tummy together. Yes, we all recover & heal at our own pace but you can’t see your tummy to assess how you are healing. Stick to your plan & eat slowly is always safest.
Testing a food a couple of days before your plan says to is ok. Trying something a solid food like a chicken thigh three weeks before your plan likely recommends isn’t the best choice.

Your sleeve can hold about 3-4oz of food... I am 5-6 weeks post op and i can eat about 4oz of food in one sitting.. but i take my time. I eat slowely and chew chew chew. for example. 1 chicken egg scrambled, a handful of chopped onions, 2-3oz of turkey sausage and 1 slice of cheese is my normal Breakfast lately. I eat about half and relax. Then maybe 10-15 minutes later i take another bite and so on.

Oh I am so sorry you are going through this. I did liquid for a month before surgery it isnt easy but it was so worth it. Remember you are going through withdrawals from sugars etc so its going to make you emotional and yes angry. Also you are loosing your coping mechanism. The diarrhea is probably good for you because your body is detoxing from years of crap - this can also cause headaches so drink lots if Water it should help Just know that it is also a good time to start learning self discipline- i know for me my husband enjoyed taking me to dinner and ive inly been out with him 2 times since my surgery in December 1021. Wven though I make the healthiest choice on the menu and only eat a small portion- i usually have enough for 2-3 more meals - i always up gaining or not loosing for a week - probably due to salt. Im going to give some advice I wish I had on the liquid stage - get Nutrition 310 Protein Powder mix it with unsweeted plant milk - I like Silk Almond milk - it comes in so many flavors that it helps with the cravings and it is so so good. I love the peppermint swirl. But they have a vanilla birthday cake thats so yummy as well. I seriously can live in just this stuff now and when you crave that treat youve got a healthy alternative- its full of Vitamins and I feel so good post op since I found it. Like I said, I wish I had found it during my month long liquid hell phase and the 2-3 weeks liquid post op. AMAZING!!!

i have digestive issues with dairy. the regular Protein Shakes give me cramps & diarrhea.
Muscle Milk Protein shakes (non-dairy) and Fairlife protein shakes (lactose-free) are good and give me no digestive problems.
Hope you are having a better day!

Super excited - had my surgery 12/22/2021 I am hanging around 180 BUT I have been working out so i see the loss just gaining muscle AND I actually went running for the first time in 15 years yesterday!!! I was in track in Jr High and High School and kept up through the years until about 15 years ago I had my ACL replaced in 2011 and had cracked my femor so that started my no running gaining weight journey. It felt amazing. At first I felt my lungs after about 5 minutes and I thought hmm maybe I should stop but then I remembered that feeling from running track and racing it turned from this hurts to oh hell yes I loved that feeling because I knew I was running strong and hard in the day. I ran a mile - many leas than the old me could have - but I was proud of that one mile. And I dont feel bad today - my left hip is a bit sore but its full of arthritis so Im not surprised by that. I will rest today and run tomorrow Im building it back up slowly. I can say Ive lost enough I dont have the fat hitting so it was comfortable to run physically other than im super out of shape. I do have a lot of stomach skin - the Apron - it still carries weight as do my hips and thighs. Im where I want to be with the rest of my body - my husband said he can see my ribs and spine pretty dominant I just cant seem to move the hip, lower tummy and thigh fat. Thats where the last 40-50 pounds are that I need to loose. Im hoping squats and running with get it moving. Thanks for listening let me know if anyone here is starting to run!

Sw 227
4/16/2022 180
TWL 47 pounds

Hi there! I had mine 12/14 and sooo glad I did it. I’ve lost about 38 and am just fine with the slow progress. I don’t regret it for a minute!

Had my sleeve done 12/23/2021 and I am currently down 66 pounds from highest weight. Starting weight was 337 and am now at 271. I can’t really tell a difference when I look in the mirror but my friends and family can. Starting to feel a lot more energized and motivated to start exercising, but I still am a little afraid to step into a gym so I excercise at home. I can eat pretty much everything just in small proportions and no longer crave bread. Some days I have this little thought in the back of my mind that says “why did I do this? It can’t be reversed!” But all in all I am glad I made the decision to get the surgery because I know I needed that extra help or tool to help me live a healthier life.