Help im lost. Stage 3

[Girlwithadream 13]

GUYS HELP. Im one week out of surgery. My stomach is doing well i can do 2 sips of Water in a row and im fine. Im so so tired if liquids . I know i have to stay on liquids for another week. But im dying. Can i move earlier to stage 3? Like mashed foods? Scrambled eggs or cream cheese anything! Im depressed here. I really need help. I cant go on like that for another week !! :’(

[GradyCat 3,693]

You really should follow your doctor's orders for whatever he/she has recommended. Your stomach needs time to heal.

[FluffyChix 17,413]

4 hours ago, Girlwithadream said:

GUYS HELP. Im one week out of surgery. My stomach is doing well i can do 2 sips of Water in a row and im fine. Im so so tired if liquids . I know i have to stay on liquids for another week. But im dying. Can i move earlier to stage 3? Like mashed foods? Scrambled eggs or cream cheese anything! Im depressed here. I really need help. I cant go on like that for another week !! :’(

First off. You are not LITERALLY dying. You are experiencing head hunger. Tell yourself that and name the reality. Do not let your head dictate and reinforce a lie.

It is HARD. Dealing with the head hunger was one of the worst parts about recovery and the process. But please, it is very important to follow your doctor's and RD's progression plan. No you CAN'T have any of the things you mentioned--unless maybe you want to put and emergency call into your doc and ask for his or her permission to progress your diet as you are suggesting.

It's a short, temporary stage. Work your plan and your plan will work for you. This is the time to take advantage of it. What stage are you in? If I read this correctly you are in Stage 2: Full liquids?

Here are suggestions for full liquids:

1. Creamed Soups made with Fairlife Milk, spice them up with garlic powder, or your favorite spice. Make sure to strain out any lumps. Eat it slowly. (You can add Protein Powder to it - unsweetened, while it is cool and get the clumps out, then gently heat to no more than 140degrees to prevent Protein coagulation = lumps.

2. Make Greek yogurt, plain unsweetened, and sweeten with your favorite drops with zero cals. Thin them out with Premier Protein or with Fairlife Milk until it is a cream Soup consistency. Or get sugar free fat free Kefir and thin it out to cream soup consistency. Eat it slowly.

3. Use broth and doctor it up with unflavored protein powder + flavorings:

pizza = Broth + 1-2 tbsp low sugar, low cal, low carb marinara (strain it before eating)
Mexican Tortilla = Broth + 1-2 tbsp mild enchilada sauce or Taco Bell Mild Sauce + garlic + cumin
Asian (Pho) = Broth + 1-2 tbsp Walden Farms Asian or Sesame Ginger + Chinese Five Spice Powder + granulated garlic + a couple drops sesame oil

4. Eat a sugar free popsicle

5. Eat a sugar free jello

Drink your Water and concentrate on getting 100% of your water in! When hungry or head hunger hits, drink a glass of water slowly as you're instructed for your stage, and get up and walk. Then get creative by coloring or doing something that occupies your mind and your hands.

Do four square breathing (google it).

Get outside if weather permits.

Talk to your family or a friend or get busy posting here.

Quit watching TV commercials and break up with FoodTV and food channels.

You can do this. It's only 1 more week. You have this. Maximize this opportunity. No one every regrets maximizing their success.

[FluffyChix 17,413]

4 hours ago, MsMocie said:

Yougurt, Soups, puddings, mushy things should be fine as long as you test it on your stomach. There really isn't anything different with a smooth youghurt than a broth.

Is this on her doctor's plan? Cuz she's only 1 week out. That's a pretty tricky time.

[rene50 147]

7 hours ago, Girlwithadream said:

GUYS HELP. Im one week out of surgery. My stomach is doing well i can do 2 sips of Water in a row and im fine. Im so so tired if liquids . I know i have to stay on liquids for another week. But im dying. Can i move earlier to stage 3? Like mashed foods? Scrambled eggs or cream cheese anything! Im depressed here. I really need help. I cant go on like that for another week !! :’(

Hang in there! It will get better. I'm still on liquids too, but will start purees on Thursday, which will be day 17 post-op for me. Do you have any Protein Powder? It sure makes a difference. I add it to Soups thinned with Fairlife milk, or broth, and it is very filling. Find some Soup that you really like, for me it it is Carrot Ginger and Tomato with Roasted Pepper from Trader' Joe's, thin it down with broth or milk, add some Protein powder, and maybe that will help. I blend mine in Magic Bullet before warming. You've got this, girl!

[Katheryn0303 48]

Hi Rene, what kind of Protein Powder are you adding to your Soups. Getting ready for my sleeve and researching to make sure I'm prepared! Thank you so much!

[rene50 147]

1 hour ago, Katheryn0303 said:

Hi Rene, what kind of Protein Powder are you adding to your Soups. Getting ready for my sleeve and researching to make sure I'm prepared! Thank you so much!

I'm using GENEPRO and I really like it. You only have to use a small scoop to get 30 grams of Protein and only 59 calories. I tried Isopure, but you have to use more to get 30 grams of protein and it is 112 calories.

Edited February 10, 2020 by rene50

[Katheryn0303 48]

Thank you!!

[thisgirlsherry 17]

100% stick to your surgeon's plan. Battle the head hunger. You will live - even if it's a bit miserable for the next few weeks. You're not just eating this way to help yourself heal - you also need to use this time to create healthy habits. You will be able to eat normal again - I'm 10 months out - and the habits I created in the beginning have immensely helped me stick to eating right. Deviating from your plan is a slippery slope - I stalled for over a month because I stopped being mindful. I found ways to "cheat". I am not saying that is what you're trying to do...I completely understand how hard the liquid phases are. My appetite was roaring! Hang in there and believe in yourself!

And as others have stated...hit those Protein and fluid goals. That will help you stay somewhat satisfied until you get to move on to the next stages

[Sandra Nuelken 419]

On 2/9/2020 at 12:48 PM, Girlwithadream said:

GUYS HELP. Im one week out of surgery. My stomach is doing well i can do 2 sips of Water in a row and im fine. Im so so tired if liquids . I know i have to stay on liquids for another week. But im dying. Can i move earlier to stage 3? Like mashed foods? Scrambled eggs or cream cheese anything! Im depressed here. I really need help. I cant go on like that for another week !! :’(

I had Clear Liquids for one week and full liquids week 2. I was drinking Protein Drinks week 2, Ensure Plus and it took most of the morning. Then I went to cream of chicken Soup, just heaven. You need to follow your doctors' plan and remember this is practice for weight loss. Yea I got tired of fluids and even full fluids got old as I did them for 2 weeks then 3 weeks of soft foods. Because I did what I was told I never got sick or had issues. Just plow through it and you'll love the outcome.

[hmills653 365]

I would stick with Water and Protein Shakes at this point. Once you start purée, I was week 3 and the easiest for me was like a slice of peach puréed and Taco Bell pintos and cheese. I remember crying bc I could only eat a few spoonfuls and just wanted to finish a whole cup. Head hunger is very real. I also liked hot tea, especially peppermint .

[mike2019 12]

I know right where you're at! Soups are your best friend right now. Protein Shakes will supplement your daily requirement.

I was SO SICK of Bone Broth from the pre surgery diet, but I was chugging down all the other soups and loving it. By week 2 or 3 I was on soft foods and I was off and running.

[epicdreams2020 12]

I would reiterate what everyone has said about sticking to your doctor's plan. I am almost 3 months out and what I think I can eat and am actually able to handle are two different things. Everyone heals differently and I am still struggling with Stage 3. Even the foods that you think are soft enough do not work well. I used to love eggs but still have a hard time with them and most meat.

[FluffyChix 17,413]

15 minutes ago, epicdreams2020 said:

I would reiterate what everyone has said about sticking to your doctor's plan. I am almost 3 months out and what I think I can eat and am actually able to handle are two different things. Everyone heals differently and I am still struggling with Stage 3. Even the foods that you think are soft enough do not work well. I used to love eggs but still have a hard time with them and most meat.

Have you tried stirring in a spoon of Greek yogurt (plain) into your soft scrambled eggs at the end? Mix them up so they are wet and creamy!!! Also, try using a ratio of 1 whole egg + 46g egg whites. It lightens them up. I think for some it might be the fat in the yolks.

[epicdreams2020 12]

Just now, FluffyChix said:

Have you tried stirring in a spoon of Greek yogurt (plain) into your soft scrambled eggs at the end? Mix them up so they are wet and creamy!!! Also, try using a ratio of 1 whole egg + 46g egg whites. It lightens them up. I think for some it might be the fat in the yolks.

Thanks! I will definitely try the greek yogurt. I have tried using only the whites or diluting them with egg whites. For some reason they come right back up.