JennyBeez

- I found a small digital kitchen scale was my best investment, it helped me get a better idea of portions and made it so much easier to track nutrition stats throughout the day. - tracker apps are great! it took me a while to find one that worked for me personally, but there's a lot out there. I'd suggested testing a few free versions out ahead of time so you're ready before you get there. - bariatric portion plates or just tiny dishes. I actually couldn't find a portion control plate that worked for me (in Canada), but I found a bunch of cute little appetizer dishes and tiny bowls that make me happy to eat from. - if you don't have it, nab a blender or a handmixer when it's on sale. Makes the puree stage much easier, and also helps with smoothies and shakes in the liquid stage. Don't spend a lot of money on one though (unless you honestly feel you'll get a lot of use out of it after you're through those stage).

March buddies, how're you all hanging in there? Is everyone nicely healed up? Are you coming across any difficult hurdles? Finding a love of new healthy foods? How's your hair lol? Me, I keep hurting myself, lol. First I tried recumbent biking too early -- even though it was on the most minimal setting, my care team scolded me good for that. But even as recently as last week, I bent/twisted sideways while sitting at my desk trying to reach my purse, but it was snagged on something and something about being in that position too long (or tugging a resistant object) aggravated something internally. The same area that took the longest to feel 'normal' and not tight after surgery. I feel like a dope. My hair has just started thinning in the last week or so. It was only a few strands from all over at first -- not concentrated anywhere -- so I got a new haircut hoping that the thinness would look purposeful. Two days after I found a little patch right at the front where my buzzcut ends and the bob-length hair begins. C'est la vie. I'm finding I'm craving sashimi on the regular. It was one of my first meals 'out' after surgery, so maybe there's something psychosomatic going on -- but when I eat it, it just feels like such a clean protein and is moist so I know it'll go down easily. It's my new comfort food, I guess. (Ironically, before WLS I could really only stand salmon or butterfish sashimi, everything else had to be in a roll, preferably with spicy mayo or unagi sauce -- and I hated tuna -- but now yellow tail and tuna seem to be my go-to.) I'm dealing with the cravings much better than I would've pre-OP, but I swear every three or four days something in my brain is trying to convince me that I should ignore my pre-packed lunch and go pick up some ice-cold fish instead.

Pea soup, re-pureed to a smoother consistency with a dash of parmesan cheese. I loved putting fat free refried beans or ricotta cheese into anything I could, but I think I pretty much lived off of cottage cheese. I think I ate it every day, and just stirred in different seasonings (dill with garlic, chili powder, curry powder, rotisserie chicken powder. I even tried dill pickle popcorn seasoning!) Depending on your program, you might also be able to have certain crackers already -- my team told me saltines or melba toast were good in small doses at this point, eaten slowly and with something wet -- ie. melba toast dipped in hummus.

Your program might be different, but mine allowed sugar free pudding. Add a scoop of protein powder or peanut butter powder -- after it's set -- and/or make it with a milk like fairlife that has added protein. During my stage, I went to my local fav Vietnamese restaurant and bought a couple servings of pho broth, which I added a little extra bone broth powder to. I got tired of my protein shakes pretty quickly, but I'd use half of one to make a faux smoothie using either sugarfree drink mixes or sugarfree jello, watered down with extra milk or water so the sweetness wasn't overpowering. (premier protein chocolate shake + nsa peanut butter powder (PB&Me) = peanut butter cup shake) Tomato juice is awesome to awaken your taste buds after so much faux-sweet shakes. Campbells cream of tomato soup mixed really well with unflavoured protein powder for me, provided I added it after I finished heating the soup. (I used Boost unflavoured protein).

Always tell your care team, but don't worry too much about it. It sounds like it's really rare for one 'mistake' like this to have much effect -- so don't beat yourself up. Just look forwards and plan for the next time you're in that situation -- there's always a next time, ISTG. As you progress, there'll be more things you can bring with you to make sure you have something you can eat. Everything @Arabesque said is brilliant, as always, and I cannot improve upon it at all.

Welcome! I'm still a baby here myself (almost 12 weeks post-OP). I remember my first sip of creamy chicken broth on day 4, it felt like life and optimism was returning to me! If you need to, slow down even further. I remember my care team said 1 teaspoon every 5 minutes (when I was first reintroducing non-protein shake liquids), and sometimes that worked for me and sometimes it didn't. Most broths I could get down in shorter time, but creamier soups it would take quite a bit longer. You get used to either reheating your soup or sipping it cold, lol. XD

I am almost 12 weeks post-OP and have only once felt 'hungry' -- and have yet to feel full. No matter how slow and mindfully I eat, I have to rely on portion sizes to tell me when to stop. My care team says I'm lucky for now, but that it won't last -- sometime in the first year it'll come back. Note: I can certainly feel other things though. I can tell within a five minute window if something is going to give me trouble from the dryness / etc. There's a feeling low in my chest that feels dry and clogged. Certain foods also sit heavier in my stomach -- starchier/heavier vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potato, etc. But they still don't make me feel full, more like hyper-attentive lol.

I'm sure that 99% of us here feel you on the disordered eating. ❤️ RE: protein water: I find most protein water/powders excessively sweet. If you hunt around, you may find one that's sweetened with a sweetener that seems less powerful to your taste buds -- but I myself have had very little luck. Instead, I water it down further and add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to help cut through it a bit. It might take you longer to drink 1 serving -- but the protein absorbs the same. Same with the protein powder / shakes -- water it down with more milk if you need to, or add other flavours. I've had great luck adding instant decaf coffee to vanilla, and unsweetened peanut butter powder to chocolate (PB&Me No Sugar Added is a great friend! A little tougher to stir manually, but perfect in a blender or with a frother). Depending on where you live, there may be milk brands that have added protein already, which is a bonus, For cooking, I've yet to find an unflavoured protein powder that is tasteless and doesn't clump up, etc. If you're not vegan/vegetarian, bone broth powder is a great protein additive with minimal flavour -- just make sure you check the sodium, cause some brands are nice and low and others are crazy. It usually comes in both a chicken and beef broth variety. Usually the flavour is mild enough to be complementary to savory dishes. It sounds like you're well ahead of the game, doing all this work pre-OP, so I'm sure you'll do great! You sound very organized & mentally prepared.

100% with you! I've discovered I'm just as happy with a handful of lentil or quinoa chips than anything I thought I'd miss -- probably more happy, just because there's no guilt eating them. I'm early on in my Post-OP (12 weeks this coming Wednesday) but I feel like every week I find a new recipe or premade item that just amazes me. Like, "I can eat this tasty thing? Really?"

Protein Shakes: Premier Protein. Costco (in Canada -- I think it's Sam's Club in the USA?) sells them in bulk for a pretty good price, although usually just the chocolate and vanilla. Other stores carry the more gourmet flavours (I LOVE their banana but the strawberry makes me cringe) at a steep price, so they've become occasional treats. Protein Powder: - Boost - Just Protein (unflavoured) - Isoflex Chiller (Peach) -- for a protein water Bone Broth Powder: (I like to add them when I'm cooking to sauces, chili, etc for a little extra shot of protein) - Prairie Naturals Beef / Chicken - New Roots Herbal - New Zealand Beef Protein Bars: - ONE (all okay -- except birthday cake, bleck!) - Simply Protein - mint chocolate or chocolate raspberry are my go-to - Pure Protein - chocolate salted caramel (it's like a salty Mars bar!) ** for the ONE bars, I think I like their nutrition stats more than I like their tastes / textures. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup one is pretty good, but for the most part it's just a bar that does the job and doesn't leave me feeling sick or heavy. I mostly just keep them on hand at work and in my purse in case the lunch I do pack triggers me somehow and I need a quick replacement.

I feel like as long as it doesn't bother you (in terms of digestion, or mentally/emotionally), it's fine. I love what @NickelChip said about it being a "planned indulgence". Back when I was in my twenties, one of my nutritionists said that it was good to have one moderately high calorie meal a week (ie a couple slices of pizza) because it would keep your body from going into 'starvation mode' in which it thinks it needs to save and store any calories it can. It made sense at the time, but I was also at the healthiest weight I had ever been and she worked for a local gym, so take that all with a grain or two of salt. For me, I know I can't have a planned indulgence, at least not without being pretty darned strict about said indulgence. For example, I 'indulged' today in a piece of soft-dried sweet potato -- but because I know it's basically just a little strip of 'healthy; sugar and carbs, my dinner tonight will be lower carb to make up the balance. My personal issues are less of a willpower - slippery slope but more of a mental anguish thing. In the past, whenever I've felt like I've done something 'wrong' diet-wise, I usually would end up either in a depressive spiral in which I blame myself, harangue myself and then end up eating my feelings -- or I'd end up punishing myself (either with more unhealthy food or by not eating at all for a few days -- neither of which were healthy reactions). ((I've been on both sides of the eating disorder spectrum, lol)) I feel like I'm probably in a good enough headspace these days that I could avoid all of that (from not feeling like I've done something wrong to begin with) but I'm just not confident enough to want to put myself in that position.

That is so helpful to know, thank you! I freeze most of my bread anyway (just because I could never use all of it up quickly enough when it's fresh) -- but that's brilliant.

Maybe one of your summer goals should be "Trying more new things" ;D My summer goal is to spend more time with family, and more time outdoors (even though I haaaate the heat). I love the outdoors in spring and autumn but have hated summertime since my early teens. (I also want to find a protein-forward recipe for lactose-free ice cream / frozen yogurt and buy an ice cream maker. Everytime I've tried in the past, I've ended up giving it away or selling it after a few months of poorly-executed attempts. But that's more a desire than a goal)

Yeah, agree with @ms.sss -- everyone seems to get a slightly modified version from their care team, and it's best to just follow what directions they might give you. Part of this is also because different care teams also encourage different types and dosages of supplements, but also because everyone's medical history and starting point on their WL journey can have different requirements that need to be met. (Some of us have various co-morbidities like Heart issues, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc...) For example, my schedule was: Day 1-2: clear liquids Week 1 & 2: Liquids & Protein Shakes Week 3 & 4: Purees Weeks 5-9: Soft Foods Week 10+: introducing more variety of healthy foods

I love your attitude, and your spreadsheets! My neurospicy brain needed to make all sorts of organizational spreadsheets when I was pre-OP -- a chart with what foods could be introduced when, portion goals, water goals, etc. I printed a chart out and left it on my fridge so confirm that I'd taken this med / this supplement and what time -- and purposefully left it there so I'd be obliged to walk around to fill it out, just in case I felt like 'slacking' in the walking department. I had a pair of measurement shotglasses that I used to make sure I was drinking 30ml water every 15 minutes. Overall, everything went a lot better / quicker / smoother than I'd anticipated (read: worried). I don't regret the super-structured organization of my life, but looking back I definitely was over-cautious about every last detail and measurement. LOL

Happy Anniversary!! It sounds like you've done really well working at it, I hope you're as proud of yourself as we are happy for you. At 11 wks in, seeing how great the results can be -- and how much changes in people's lives because of this surgery -- is always inspiring and motivating.

Congratulations, oh my gosh! Also -- looking fab in that shirt!

I have trouble getting in enough veg or fruits right now. I was trying to force myself to get some lettuce (romaine or iceberg) and use them as lettuce wraps once or twice a week, but I don't eat enough of the head to make it worth it before it goes bad. My nutritionist has been telling me that 'fresh is best' -- but also that the best veg to eat is whatever veg you do eat. (in other words -- it doesn't matter how good something might be for you if you don't end up eating it, lol). I have a small can of low sodium V8 twice a week, and try to throw some frozen veg in with my protein -- spinach, broccoli florets, green beans. Bell peppers. I used to heavily dislike bell peppers, but after my surgery I love them -- steamed or on the barbecue.

Really makes you feel great when you "slip through the cracks". Sheesh. It's a good thing you prompted them! Your A1c is amazing, wtg!

Mine too! My team strongly pushed Centruum Prenatal vitamins (2 per day) because of the iron and folic acid , and told me there'd be no problems taking the multiVs with my other meds (ssri & ndri, blood pressure meds, etc). I was -- for once in my life -- NOT anemic going into surgery but all my blood panels since (even after adding an additional iron supplement) were all still ridiculously low. The iron just wasn't taking. Now that I've started timing it better, hopefully we'll see an improvement there too. Just had another draw done on Friday, so we'll see what the results are at my next follow up.

I slept in a recliner for a little over 2 weeks, and then got a wedge pillow for my bed to transition. I also slept with a pillow next to me for a while to discourage rolling in my most-common direction. XD Like others have said, your taste buds can be really all over the place after the surgery. I found a brand on Amazon called ProtiDiet -- their chicken protein soup was a godsend in my early weeks. I still like it now tbh. My team allowed sugarfree puddings during my liquid stage, and stirring some unflavoured protein powder into the pudding (after it was already set! wait until it sets!) got me through some rougher moments. See if you can find smaller samples of protein shakes (premade or powdered) until you find one you can keep down. After my surgery, anything with stevia caused me to vomit, and erythritol made me nauseous but not nearly as bad. Even now, I can really only handle sucralose/splenda and aspartame sweeteners (or monk fruit in low doses). You might be reacting to the sweetening agent in your protein shake. Also, most care programs I've seen seem to prefer whey protein to all others (for good reasons!), but some people develop lactose intolerance Post-OP -- so something else to maybe look into? I'm lactose intolerant and had trouble with whey at first but my body got used to it after about a week. We're buds now.

How was your iron on your last blood test? My pharmacist figured out that both my SSRI and my post-op antacid were lowering my iron to a ridiculously low level even with my multi-V supplements -- and anemia can both exacerbate and cause depression and other mental health symptoms. (Also, my doctor said there'd be no problems taking extra iron with my SSRI and NDRI, but my long time pharmacist & my post-op nutritionist both said while there's no clinical proof that it interferes, iron can affect the absorption of so many things that I'm better of scheduling my MH meds at least 2 hours before/after any iron (whether seperate or in the Multi-V. A few days after making that 2 hr gap, I could feel the difference).

First, don't panic! And don't compare your progress to others, if you can help it. I agree with everything Nickel said -- including the book rec. Kristin Willard's Bariatric Meal Prep is a great resource, and I also really like "The High-Protein Bariatric Cookbook" by Stacey Gulbin and "Fresh Start Bariatric Cookbook" by Sarah Kent. I think a good Bariatric book might help cover some of the information you've been missing from your 'care-team'. Is it possible that you've been focusing extra/too much on calories and not enough on what makes up those calories? My team told me that calories can be important (especially later on) but the first several months it was definitely more about making sure you're getting enough nutrients. 60-80 g protein per day minimum -- my team told me for me personally, she'd actually recommend 70-90g -- and definitely 3 meals a day (+ 1-2 protein-geared snacks). If you have to make them smaller at first since you're used to eating two meals, that should be ok. Maybe while you get back into a regular routine, make one of your meals a protein shake or protein bar? It was suggested to me that both my day (and each meal) should be 50-60% protein, and the rest of my plate should be mostly non-starchy veg -- with any starchy veg or complex carb coming in at 10-15% (20% max). The types of carbohydrates can be really important too. A whole grain/whole wheat item or a starchy but nutritious veg is going to put you in a much better place than a processed corn taco or white tortilla. Are you taking any supplements? Also, maybe check out local nutritionists and see if any of them have experience with bariatric patients.

I look for any excuse to get some extra walking in -- like @ms.sss said, takes the stairs when it's an option, park further away. I like to find different parks and trails to visit on weekends for longer walks -- even mall-walking can be entertaining if you switch it up. Most of the community centres in my city have drop-in classes in a heated pool -- some for therapy, others for strengthening or low impact cardio, etc. It's a nice way to get a taste of a few options before paying any full-on membership dues. Maybe check around your local area for something like that -- or a gym that offers a one month trial, etc. (Honestly, everytime I've bought a membership to a gym, I'm awesomely committed for a few weeks and then never go back -- so I stay away from gyms myself) I also bought a foldable stationary bike for at home (like $130 on amazon) for days when the weather is too wet / hot / etc for me to enjoy a good walk. (When I was younger, I loved this exercise series called Power90. It's super out-dated now in terms of style (etc) but I found it on youtube recently and will probably give it a try again once I'm a little further into my recovery. Short 30-45 minute workout videos, I think the only thing you needed to buy was either a resistance band or light handweights, and a yoga mat if needed. They have updated versions throughout the years with more flash and pizazz but I'm a fan of simplicity.)

Week 11 tomorrow, and I definitely notice more shedding now -- and all of a sudden, the ends of my hair seem to be getting drier and more brittle. I guess it's 'begun' 🙈