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Need Help - Not Getting In Enough Calories!



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I am two weeks post op today and am very pleased with how I feel and how much I have lost total. That being said, I have pretty much stopped losing now and I am pretty sure its because I am not taking in enough calories and also struggling to get in my Protein (most days I am ending the day with between 300-500 cals). I need some ideas about getting my calorie count up, especially since I plan to start going to the gym tomorrow as I am cleared for cardio and light strength training now. I know if I am already not netting enough calories, burning a few hundred at the gym isn't going to help things. I am still on mushies/purees for two more weeks and have been trying a wider variety of things but since I can't eat much at a time, its tough to get a lot of calories/protein in. I can choke down one Protein Shake a day but many of them send me to the bathroom within half an hour so I try to be careful and not have more than one a day (plus, I am SO sick of them). Tell me what you guys do to get in enough calories in the mushies stage!

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I had this same problem before. Natural Peanut Butter is great if u can get down 1 tablespoon it's about 105 calories. V8 is a good option as well I just watered mine down and drank it throughout the day. It all gets easier with time.

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<p>I have to eat 1000 calories a day to keep my weight lose steady. Some days it's pretty hard. I eat mostly dairy, eggs and tuna. I don't buy low fat cheese because if I cut all the fat out I can't reach my calorie goal. I add a little reduced fat mayo made with olive oil to my tuna to add calories. I cook my eggs in olive oil to add calories and good fat. When you're able to eat nuts, an oz. of nuts will give you calories plus Protein and good fats. You can also add Peanut Butter to your Protein Shakes. Good luck :)

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300-500 is plenty good at 2 weeks post op. You aren't stalling due to caloric deficit.....you are stalling because you had major surgery and your body needs time to figure out what is going on.

Almost all patients experience a 2-3 week post op stall that can last awhile. It's normal. I've been eating 600-800 calories a day and I am 3 months out. No need to up your calories while in the weight loss stage....especially this early out.

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I am glad you posted this. I am two weeks post op today as well and experiencing the same thing. It got me nervous b/c I figured it was too soon for a stall. I've lost 23 lbs since surgery but nothing the past week. I am just starting mushee food but having trouble getting in my grams of Protein and Water. I'm also having episodes of getting stuck so I'm trying to do a few more days on full liquids. How have you been doing with "head hunger"? Are you feeling full after you eat?

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I am around this stage too. How many calories should we be aiming for? Today I got in 638, most of that from milk mixed with my shakes. I feel like that is a lot. :/

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I am around this stage too. How many calories should we be aiming for? Today I got in 638' date=' most of that from milk mixed with my shakes. I feel like that is a lot. :/[/quote']

Im doing abt the same...3 wks post op...abt 600 cal a day...trouble getting in Water and Protein...sick of shakes...i found lean shake at GNC and the taste is much better than all the others.... Stalled already too...ive lost 25 lbs and for this last week it has stopped...nothing.....does Protein and calories have anything to do with the stall? Or maybe not enough Water? .... Very disheartening!.also,very tired..im trying to move but feel extremely tired.....

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My fave food at this stage was making my own chicken Soup. My bought pre roasted chicken from Safeway ( because it was easy. Fed my family, plus saved some breast for me.I Boiled the bones with a bunch of veggies and strained it, making my own chicken stock. It's actually better Protein than the tetra packs you can buy ( and taste better).

I pureed the stock with roasted veggies, chicken breast, and milk. Then I would add spices depending on my craving..... Taco seasoning for Mexican, butter chicken sauce for Indian, etc.

If I felt I needed more Protein, I added a half scoop of chicken powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury to it. Yummy!!

If you need more calories or fat, use cream instead of milk.

This was definately my go to meal. Please remember to strain if you don't have a really good blender though!!!

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

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