Okay, so I am almost two months post op and so far everything is absolutely fantastic except i am always leaning toward everything protein and by the time I eat like 2-3 oz of protein I am totally full and don't get more than a bite or two of veggies in, if that. I haven't even ventured near fruit and I miss them both terribly as I was an avid produce eater before surgery. Worst of all, I am now experiencing major constipation or pooping bricks. Anyone else have this issue? I really miss my fruit and veggies and feel like a slave to protein...........

Btw, I also drink a protein shake once a day that has 45 grams of protein.

Others are probably going to disagree with me, but I would say eat your fruits and veggies! A balanced diet works best for me, than focusing on ONLY protein, or protein first. Just see what works for you. I think you are getting plenty of protein just on the protein drink, and should be fine. I just switched up my diet recently, eating fruits, veggies, yogurt, granola, cheese, all organic, and ive been dropping the weight like crazy! I am still eating my turkey and chicken, but I eat the other stuff too. I hope it continues this way. Just play around with your foods and see what works best for your body and weight loss (and most importanly, health!!!).I also am taking in an average of 1400 calories, sometimes even 1800, and losing weight! I am sure most others eat half of that or less. Everyones bodies are so different, and not everyone does well with high protein, low carb. low calories. You just have to experiement. Good luck! And keep us posted!

As for the constipation, try some Miralax until you can get more fresh fruits and veggies in And of course, make sure you are drinking enough fluids and exercising, at least walking, because that will keep things moving along.

Thanks Sarah - I really appreciate the input. I have taken Miralax for two days now and still nothing (it's been 6 or 7 days since last BM). How long does the Miralax take to work? One of my friend's doctors says to use Milk of Magnesia instead and so I am wondering if i should go buy some..........

Shannon, I agree with you that I really miss the fruits and veggies and have been trying to get more in this week. I said to hell with the carb count on the weekend and cut up an apple and put in the VitaMax with 5 prunes, a few ice cubes, a 1/2 cup of Water and made myself a wonderful fruit smoothie without any Protein at all. I too was feeling really constipated but things got to moving and I don't know if it was a coincidence or the drink! Last night I had about 1/2 cup of cantaloupe an hour or so after my dinner protein. The Miralax label says it works in 3-5 days (I think) and that seems too long to wait to me.

I've read that your body can't absorb more that 20-25 gms of protein at one time so you may not be benefitting from the 45 grms in one drink. I don't know if that is accurate or not...it is just what I read online and I can also read on the Internet that Elvis is alive and living in my basement so take my info for what it is worth!

I also wonder what our daily total protein need is? I did some reading about this weekend and kept coming up with 45-50 grams for a 140 lb woman. I am getting much more than that most days and maybe it isn't necessary? All questions I know and not really an answer to your post! Maybe I'll start a new post and find out what folks think the appropriate amount of daily protein is. Bottom line...we evolved eating fruits, veggies and protein and it can't be good for us to just eat protein and not much else!

I will do a 1/2 banana with peanut butter or apple with PB. Also found a gummy fiber pill and it works like a champ.

Good luck!

Pat

Thanks Sarah - I really appreciate the input. I have taken Miralax for two days now and still nothing (it's been 6 or 7 days since last BM). How long does the Miralax take to work? One of my friend's doctors says to use Milk of Magnesia instead and so I am wondering if i should go buy some..........

The Miralax does usually take a while, maybe 3-4 days. You can take it everyday. Eventually things have to work their way out Miralax is also a stool softner, so it will helps with the bricks :/

I have never taken Milk of Magnesia, so cant help you there, but I think others have.

I totally forgot about a juice I use to drink. I need to get some more. It is called PlumSmart. I get the light one. I forget how many calories, but it wasnt too bad ,maybe 50 calories for 8oz. I would drink 8oz a day and it did the trick. Something else to try

I've taken both miralax and milk of magnesia- and mlk of magnesia works extremely fast- I would say I had a BM within an hr and a half of taking it and it does the job very well. My mom is a nurse and so when I was taking the miralax and it wasn't working and i was feeling horrible, she made me go to the store and get the milk of magnesia- it was the best advice she gave me. I don't have that problem usually anymore but I know that when it comes back, I'm sticking with the milk of magnesia.

Thanks everyone. I tried the milk of magnesia and it worked. It was brutal but it worked. I am really going to try to incorporate a little more fruit and veggies into the mix and Sarah, I will for sure check out the Plum Smart. Thanks!!

Thanks everyone. I tried the milk of magnesia and it worked. It was brutal but it worked. I am really going to try to incorporate a little more fruit and veggies into the mix and Sarah, I will for sure check out the Plum Smart. Thanks!!

You're welcome! Hope it helps!

Hi

I am now having every single morning a home made smoothie: 200 gr of strawberries and 100 ml of skimmed milk (and a couple of ice cubes to make it cooler): fibers, proteins, liquids and a great tasting breakfast! Less than 100 kcal because strawberries have only 30 per 100 gr. Sice I'ver started having it every morning things down there are getting better, at least in a natural way without using medicines. If it can help...

I was really missing veggies too, but had little room for them. The good news is, as the tummy relaxes and heals, you can eat a little bit more... I use this space to eat veggies. I started by making veggie soup, and eating it as a snack between meals to get in more veggies and liquid. That was really yummy! Now I make stir fries, and pasta dishes using veggies as the pasta or added to my Dreamfields pasta. It only takes a few bites to fill me up, but the veggies are wonderful! I also make myself salads using tender butter lettuce and apple, with blue cheese, walnuts and fake chicken(you could use real) I found a pear dressing that is lower calorie. I can eat quite a bit of the lettuce, not so much of the apple, but that is a very nice meal with plenty of variety and veggies.

I was really missing veggies too, but had little room for them. The good news is, as the tummy relaxes and heals, you can eat a little bit more... I use this space to eat veggies. I started by making veggie soup, and eating it as a snack between meals to get in more veggies and liquid. That was really yummy! Now I make stir fries, and pasta dishes using veggies as the pasta or added to my Dreamfields pasta. It only takes a few bites to fill me up, but the veggies are wonderful! I also make myself salads using tender butter lettuce and apple, with blue cheese, walnuts and fake chicken(you could use real) I found a pear dressing that is lower calorie. I can eat quite a bit of the lettuce, not so much of the apple, but that is a very nice meal with plenty of variety and veggies.

I haven't heard of Dreamfields Pasta? What is that...is it low carb by any chance? I tried the Mission whole wheat carb balance tortillas this week (small -fajita size) and they have changed my life! I made a mini-pizza on one (Eggface recipe) and grilled cheese sandwiches! Yummy and I love finding a lower carb bread I could eat.

Now if I can find a low carb pasta my life will be perfect!

I haven't heard of Dreamfields Pasta? What is that...is it low carb by any chance? I tried the Mission whole wheat carb balance tortillas this week (small -fajita size) and they have changed my life! I made a mini-pizza on one (Eggface recipe) and grilled cheese sandwiches! Yummy and I love finding a lower carb bread I could eat.

Now if I can find a low carb pasta my life will be perfect!

Yes, Dreamfields is low carb pasta. It's marketed for diabetics (that's how I found it). http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/

I haven't heard of Dreamfields Pasta? What is that...is it low carb by any chance? I tried the Mission whole wheat carb balance tortillas this week (small -fajita size) and they have changed my life! I made a mini-pizza on one (Eggface recipe) and grilled cheese sandwiches! Yummy and I love finding a lower carb bread I could eat.

Now if I can find a low carb pasta my life will be perfect!

I ordered mine from netrition.com, but found that local markets like Safeway and Raleys both carried it in the regular pasta section. Its pretty much like regular pasta, but only a few usable carbs in a serving. .. I think 5 or 6 if I remember correctly. You can find a store search engine on their web site.

I was afraid to eat veggies and fruit till about 6 months out. They kinda made me feel sick, but I missed them terribly. I am now over a year out, and about 9 months from surgery I started eating salads with just romaine and tomatoes. I now can put any raw veggies in it and not have any problems. I HAVE to have fruit and veggies or I get so constipated that I have actually injured myself. (not going into detail as it is too much tmi) but I now consume at least one salad with 1/2 to 1/4 cup servings of at least 5 different veggies, eat an orange and apple everday, and mix my Protein shake with blueberries in the morning. I only have one Protein Shake a day, but since I lost a LOT of hair, I try to get in at least 75 grams of protein a day. I just have to make sure that I also get in my veggies. I still have problems with grains. They get stuck, and I end up throwing up most of the time. Just not worth it to me.

As time goes by, things will get easier. I CAN eat oatmeal in the morning if I decide to mix my vanilla Protein powder in as my milk, and it doesn't make me sick. I love oatmeal, and was told by my pre-op nutritionist that I would never be able to eat it ever again. If I use the shake as the milk, I'm not getting the sugar from the milk.

Highest weight: 375

Preop weight: 340

Current weight: 223

VSG - Dr. Chaisson

4/7/2010