Hi. First time poster 13 days out from ESG. The first week was super rough. I’m feeling pretty great now. I am down 12 pounds since the procedure.

I’m consuming about 750 calories on average and I’m getting my 60-80 grams of protein. I have no idea how many calories I should be taking in. I am doing strenuous workouts three times a week (just started, I’m a week into it. Orange Theory for the win!).

Would love some insights from the group!

Not sure you should be doing "strenuous" workouts this early out from surgery most surgeons say no workouts other than walking for 6 weeks but that is something you need to talk to your surgeon about.

I had no idea how many calories I was eating in the early days but the fact that you are very limited by the amount you can eat keeps it very low. The important thing is to make sure you get enough fluid and protein in especially if you are exercising to keep your body burning fat and not muscle.

Edited June 19, 20224 yr by SleeverSk

Ok thanks sleever. I have an appointment with the nutritionist. I’ll ask them about the workouts. Appreciate the input.

yea - I was told nothing but walking for the first four weeks, and no strength training until eight weeks out.

as far as calories, no way you could be eating very many. We were told to just count protein grams and fluids when we were early out....no calorie counting.

I’d avoid the strenuous workouts too. Remember your poor healing tummy & all the staples & sutures holding it together. Most of us are advised to only walk for a few weeks. Remember you also have restrictions on how much you can carry/pull.

Check with your dietician re calorie. There are lots of different requirements & it is always best to follow your plan. Personally I wasn’t given any caloric goals (only portion sizes & protein & fluid goals) & by the end of my first 4 weeks I was barely eating 300 calories but that was me & all I was capable of plus not hungry or interested in food. My surgeon & dietician was okay with it as I was slowly increasing what I was eating.

Ok I really appreciate this feedback. I’ve been hitting all my protein goals and I’d say I’ve been pretty good but not perfect on the water. I’ve just been logging so as to keep track of macros and have a sense of what’s going on.

I’ll let you know what the nutritionist says about exercise and check in with my doctor.

Thanks so much.

I had to look up " ESG" and know nothing about it.

At 2 weeks out I was barely eating 200-300 cals a day. Now at 3 months out I am between 700-800.

Thanks kcuster. What procedure or surgery did you have?

28 minutes ago, Tela OG said:

Thanks kcuster. What procedure or surgery did you have?

Bypass.

Where in MD are you from, I am in Baltimore!

Not far from you at all - Germantown!

Thanks again for all the insights. Spoke to the nutritionist, I have no exercise restrictions so I’m good there. She said I just need to listen to my body when it says to stop since I am on such a low calorie diet. Weight lifting and high impact activity is aok.

She was surprised my calories were as high as they have been. She said I’ve been making all the right choices and I have been averaging more protein than many of her patients. She also thinks the weight loss is appropriate so not to worry about it too much.

She said she’d be surprised if I average higher than that over the next two weeks on the soft food diet.

So onward and upward (or downward as we’d all like!)

9 hours ago, Tela OG said:

Ok I really appreciate this feedback. I’ve been hitting all my Protein goals and I’d say I’ve been pretty good but not perfect on the Water. I’ve just been logging so as to keep track of macros and have a sense of what’s going on.

I’ll let you know what the nutritionist says about exercise and check in with my doctor.

Thanks so much.

your Nutritionist is NOT the person to ask about your exercising and physical restrictions while healing you need to ask your surgeon, I am surprised they didn't give you guidelines when you left the hospital

Thank you for this feedback!

Hi Tela - Tomorrow will be one week for me post ESG. I had very little complications, nausea gone within 48 hours and back working already .

Per my doctor, I don’t have any restrictions but I’m pretty tired. He thought it would take 2 or 3 weeks, but more about being tired. The restrictions are much less because there is not cutting.

I have zero problems with getting enough water. I do mix in vitamin water zero, and crystal light lemonade. I have no problem with getting protein. The majority through fairlife protein shakes but I’ve started to do some unflavored isopure. Without solid foods, I think it will be hard to get much more calories. But I feel like I could eat solid foods but will follow the guideline

Lets keep in touch. Good luck.

Oh, i have a consult tomorrow. I’m going to be asking a similar question.

On 6/20/2022 at 10:19 AM, Tela OG said:

Not far from you at all - Germantown!

Funny, I just had my procedure at Silhouette Clinic in Germantown, MD. I'm from Michigan.

27 minutes ago, sassyxxkathy said:

Funny, I just had my procedure at Silhouette Clinic in Germantown, MD. I'm from Michigan.

You came to MD for the procedure or you live here now?