I keep questioning everything I do, I feel like I'm not going to lose weight and that I'm eating too much even though I know I'm not. Could someone please give me some perspective on what I eat? I am on Day 7 post op, and had no presecriptive post op diet other than 2 weeks of liquids and soft foods.....As my dad had the surgery my doc just directed me to him for guidance but his idea is if you're not sure how much to eat don't, you'll lose weight faster! I am eating so much more than most people at my stage from what I have gathered, but I get so hungry by meal times I feel like my stomach is burning!

Breakfast- 1 virtually fat free yoghurt

Lunch- 1 cup of leek Soup, 2 heaped tblsp jelly (or jello)

Snack- 1 tblsp egg mayonnaise/cup of tea

Dinner- not yet, but yesterday I had about 3 cubic inches of cottage pie and gravy (leaving almost all of the meat)

I know I sound neurotic...but I really need some reassurance/guidance!?

Hi Clarebear~

Sorry you are having a meltdown over food. It is hard NOT to! For so long food was just an easy answer, not something we thought about for the most part, other than whether it tasted good!

Now we want good taste, low calorie/fat, high Protein. all kinds of things, then we also don't want to eat too much!!! No wonder we freak out!

Are you having any pain with what you are eating?

Are you getting plenty of liquid in--are you drinking lots? It is very important!

At the stage you are in, I was still strictly limited to liquids, so I drank A LOT!!

That would be my suggestion to you. Find some Soups you like, as well as some Protein drinks, and when you want to eat more or snack---have a cup of something and drink it. Many times we confuse thirst with hunger. Having something to drink would be beneficial in so many ways. You will not hurt yourself drinking (if you keep an eye on the caloric count), and you will feel fuller, and get your nutrition.

How men approach this (as well as most things!) and how we approach it are often totally different! So, Dads answer of just don't eat....while it sounds simple enough, if I could follow that advice I might have never needed a band!!

The other suggestion I would have--is to take a walk when you think you want to eat. I finally had to do something to get out of the house, away from the food commercials on TV, and away from the fridge! Like I say I was on liquids for a longer time, so I was feeling like I was going crazy not eating! So when it would hit, I would take a walk. It helped get me away, and also began my exercise.

Good Luck!!!

Kat

Thanks so much for your quick reply, you have no idea how much I needed that. Very good point about the liquids, I am not drinking with meals which is when I used to do all my drinking so now that I think about it I'm not drinking more than 1 glass of Water a day if that. I will change it- but how soon after eating can you drink? and the same prior to eating?

I havn't had any pain eating, so I presume it's okay to do so as long as its nutritious and mushy enough not to be uncomfortable to eat. I'm re-enthused. I'm going to try and find some scales (in my boarding house :crying:) to see how I've done this week. These boards are such an invaluable tool- everyone who's considering or had this surgery should be referred to them!

To be on the safe side, we'll err towards 15min before and an hour after. That seems to work the best for me.

As far as liquid intake goes, UP IT! You will feel much better all around, too, if you're properly hydrated!

:crying:

The issue with drinking with your meals is not so much a health or welfare of the band issue. What it does is allow the food in the band to be washed out. Part of the way the band works is it allows you to feel full on a small amount of food for a long period of time. If you drink on top of the food, it thins it down and washes it through quickly---leaving you vulnerable to being hungry again.

However at this stage that is ok! You do not want your stomach having to work hard to process food--washing it through and keeping things easily digested is what you should be doing!

Drink lots-------and I am glad you are re enthused!!! Good for you!!

Kat

Thanks so much- I'll give it my best shot!

Hi Clarebear,

To set your mind at rest, why not ring your clinic and ask to be referred to a dietician/nutritionalist who is familar with banding diets. It might help you put your mind at ease if someone can go through each stage with you, and help with with long term guidelines?

Good luck.

Luscious