melanieinamumu

we were told not to count calories the first few months...just to focus on getting Protein and fluids. You're not going to be able to eat enough for awhile to worry about calories.

What are these 'calories' of which you speak?
Good luck,
Tek

I wasn’t ever given calories either just portion sizes: 1/4-1/3 cup from purée to a cup at 6 months. Check with your dietician for guidance because plans are different & we have different needs.

Okay…so I’m on the puree stage and I got overzealous and ate a small piece of regular chicken that was moist. I chewed it really really good. Later, I had a sharp, deep pain around my biggest incision. Did I just make a detrimental mistake? It started to subside but I’m so afraid of a leak or damage to my sleeve. Has anyone experienced this before?

Hey y'all! Brand -new here. I'm currently 5 days post-op and had a concern with my fluid goals. I know that we are meant to stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes after one. How are we supposed to get our goal of 64oz in a day if we are restricted by that, especially since we can't drink a whole lot at any one time. Any tips or sharing of things that have worked for others would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You won’t feel a lot of your old signals & your new restriction for a while (solid food usually) because a lot of nerves are cut during surgery & they have to heal. Secondly, liquids go through your tummy much more quickly so you don’t get full especially as you’re sipping slowly.
When your signals do start to get through, they are often different to how they used to be to you. For example when your hunger returns, you’ll likely realise real hunger is not wanting/craving a specific food, flavour or texture (that’s head hunger). I feel restless as if something is wrong & there is a reason I am hungry & not because of emotions, boredom, habit, etc.
I was advised to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food from purée slowly increasing to a cup by about my goal at 6 months. Initially because of the lack of signals so I wouldn’t strain my healing tummy, & then to guide appropriate portions. Check with your team for portion sizes if you’re unsure - weight alone doesn’t always work or is easy to measure. But never worry if you don’t eat all of your portion - it all balances out & it means you’re listening more closely to your body & it’s needs. And in the beginning, same with hitting all you goals - as long as your making an effort & are close & getting closer you’ll be okay. It’s always harder in the first weeks.
The goal is not to feel full or to feel your restriction, but to learn when you’ve eaten enough or what your body needs not what you want to eat. Of course you don’t learn this overnight. I found asking myself if I need the next bite or just want it very helpful. Still do this 4 years out.
And finally, another thing you don’t learn overnight. It takes time for your full message to get through when it fully come back. So when you feel full you’ve already eaten too much & more than you need.
Sorry long post.