A little weirdo am I

[SeaSnailSalad 7]

Hi, folks. You might read this off and give it a pause for seconds while understanding my post since English isn't my first language. So, please be aware of that some of the expressions I use here might be easier for you to understand in your language as you guess.

I've been 11 days out and got the gastric sleeve surgery. I was a 6"2' tall 291 pound man, which is about 132 kilograms, and wasn't involved in any sort of sport games. Being a sedentary man who walks less than 5000 steps a day has got me trapped in a vicious circle that I couldn't manage to get out of it by myself, which has given me high levels in a liver test, cholesterols, and blood pressure while getting me heavier so that I couldn't dare to go work out at a gym or aerobic exercise. I know it all sounds like ridiculous excuses, but I hope you feel me and agree that we all got sort of depressive feelings from what we've seen in a mirror, and your ill legs too.

I'm not typing here to troll or discourage anyone since I'm the one who really needs to look for some good tips about good diets from this community. If you ever find my post being a troll or harmful to anyone, you feel free to kick my butt out of here. Since I never meant to be, I'll stay cool with that.

Sorry for the long, wordy intro that I had to introduce myself a bit and confess my sincerity from the beginning. I just wanted to share my experiences here and find ones who may have the same experiences like me so that I can be relieved or run to see my doc real soon if my eating habits have gone too bad)

Let me stop chirping and get straight to the point from here. When I was 6 days out, I had no problem with eating scrambled eggs and soft tofu with soy sauce on top. I had a banana (or sometimes two at a time) when I had no strength left. When I was 7 days out, I was fine with eating about 6 slices of a peach maybe because I chewed them well. When I was 8 days out, I tried meaty dumplings and was absolutely fine with them. When I was 10 days out yesterday, I nibbled a fried drumstick without the breading and next day I gained no weight and had no problem with that. Today, it's 11 days out, and I happily ate a piece of fried flounder fillets, full of juicy white fish flesh. I sipped 3 oz of Sprite slowly and had a flat wing without the breading. That does not sound alright for me, but that's been my guilty pleasure and pretty much of it that I had during the whole day. I quit drinking Protein Shakes, and I drink about two little bottles of potable Water a day. I haven't tried noodles or other types of carbohydrates(carbs) yet, but those experiences have given me a weird feeling that I might be able to eat anything but spicy food for now. The reasons for all this are because I've been already sick of Protein shakes and found them pretty disgusting after 12 time attempts. From the 13th attempt, I've had cravings for real foods so that I have come this far.

I've come up with three possible ways to go that I might be standing on. Been shoveling my graveyard to lay myself down, being normal since few people went through the same and had no issue with that, or been a weirdo that pioneered my way to go and I should be a subject of a medical experiment. I'm actually very confused about my unusual eating habits. Any thoughts?

Edited August 31, 2019 by SeaSnailSalad

[FluffyChix 17,409]

So you are at least eating softer foods. But the preparation is not so great. Fried is fried. And will add tons of calories from bad fats.

11 days doing this is not good. I'm just gonna tough love this for you. FOLLOW your doc's plan for you and don't advance your diet. liquid phases SUCK GIGANTIC GREEN ONES! But truth? Suckitupbuttercup. We ALL had to do it. You get through it. You do not have to LIKE your Protein Drinks. You simply HAVE to do it.

Sadly, the first 2 weeks are when most of us feel the least like eating--so consequently we eat very little and eat only Protein. And so we are 2 weeks into breaking a bad food habit. Most of us had 2 weeks liquids up front so 2+2=4weeks out. Supposedly it takes 3 weeks to build a new habit. And now that you are having your shenanigans, you are starting your brain and behaviors back at ground zero.

My advice? If you can't be compliant at 11 days, you need to get to your RD, your surgeon, and a psych. Cuz you need counseling to work through the head work. The first 2 months is when we lose the most amount of our weight. Don't squander this opportunity to change your life and heal you legs and self image--heal your blood pressure.

Write out an index card with your WHY on it and post it on your fridge and mirror. WHY did you have this surgery?!! WHY! Keep a focus on that. Make good and healthy food choices. Get your protein in according to your doc's phase.

[SeaSnailSalad 7]

You're right. Protein drinks are not optional but mandatory. I may have suffered from emotional eating and need to see my doc quick. I was dumb that I've been testing my stomach for days without admitting my own problems. Thank you for the advice from the bottom of my heart. Sincerely.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

((Hugs)) You aren’t alone!! Come here often and read and post! Get support! Give support and be strengthened by it. When you’re tempted come post!!!

Quit testing cuz that’s not really what you are doing-that’s just the label you put on it to feel better. You can’t game the process. Trust me on that.

This is hard. So hard. But if you work it and use the time wisely it will also be the best time, the transformative time, and a time of huge growth and healing!

Welcome to the boards. This is a great group of amazingly successful and helpful friends! You WILL figure this ou as you go. For me doing the head work was the hardest part!

[HipHopDiva 220]

1 hour ago, SeaSnailSalad said:

You're right. Protein Drinks are not optional but mandatory. I may have suffered from emotional eating and need to see my doc quick. I was dumb that I've been testing my stomach for days without admitting my own problems. Thank you for the advice from the bottom of my heart. Sincerely.

Attached is a sample 2 week meal plan I had in my journal. My nutritionist wants me to try to reach 400 calories if possible. It's taking me 3 hours to drink a Premier Protein shake though. I'm using the medicine cups to put Water, ice chips and clear premier Protein & drinking every 15 minutes. Hope this helps. Wishing you the best!

[Orchids&Dragons 9,046]

Welcome to the forums, SeaSnail. Don't worry about your English, you explained yourself very well. Forget the past, it's over and done. Start being more focused and careful today. FluffyChix was right. Don't test your capabilities. Some people have an easier time progressing and/or eating poor choices without consequences. That doesn't make it a good thing. You may be putting pressure on your suture line and you don't want to damage it.

Protein drinks are not for entertainment. If you don't like them, think of them as medicine. Many people on here mix flavored shakes with Decaf coffee. Maybe that would agree with you.

You've just gone through a lot of pain and expense to give yourself the opportunity to change your life. Don't waste this time. We all have to work through self-denial. Most of us still crave unhealthy, favorite foods, especially in the beginning. But, if you don't change now, right after your surgery, when will you?

Good luck and please let us know how you're doing. You CAN do this.

[Darktowerdream 419]

I got sick of Protein drinks fast but I knew I needed to stick with it and just kept trying to find the one I could tolerate the most.

You have already gotten great advice, @FluffyChixknows her stuff. The head stuff and dealing with bad habits are a roadblock we all have to cross and learn to use the surgery as a tool. The rest is up to us.

all I can say is there are tastier protein drinks out there that won’t make you feel sick. I couldn’t stand the smell or taste of some Proteins that a lot of people enjoy. I found PEScience protein and tolerate the taste better, now I sometimes mix it with a high protein low sugar yogurt. There is also Unjury protein that comes in broth flavors. And BariatricPal Store has a lot of options including Protein Shots that get you 15 grams of protein in 3oz. They have protein broth, Soups, juices and hot cocoa. You can also buy or even make your own Bone Broth that is a good source of protein.

With the support here you will find your way.

[Tracyringo 503]

I agree with all the above and especially hurting yourself by eating solid foods 10 days after surgery. You really need to let yourself have time to heal.

[NYJenn 1,461]

No, no, no,no, no...take out that meal plan your surgeons office gave you and follow it! Protein Shakes are gross; yep, drink them anyway. You crave “real” food; of course, but if it’s not in your plan, do not put it in your mouth. During my liquid diet phase I used to get so excited when I could have my big chewable Multivitamin because I missed chewing. This is a tough phase but you’ll get through it, buckle down and start doing the work