Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

Hello ladies, I haven't been on in awhile now. I need some help.

I am still not on meats, I cannot digest them what so ever. I am almost afraid to eat because I am horrible at counting calories, and want to stay around 600 a day.

Therefore, I am eating 1/2 cup of Campbells split pea soup right now which is a whopping 180 calories, and I had a 1/2 cup of mandarin oranges...that's me almost tapped out for the day.

I also go through phases where I'm not hungry, so it's those times I truly stick to water.

I have yet to find a protein powder I like, so I haven't had any for the past 45 days.

Some things go down one day, the next I vomit them up.

Any suggestions because I feel like I am going to fail, and I am scared.

It sounds like you may have some acid built up. Are you taking any prilosec or nexium? I think you should more importantly see your doc and make sure there is nothing else going on. You really should be getting your nutrients in, so are you taking a multivitamin and the other supplements your doctor told you to take? Are you exercising? This will make you feel hungry so you can feed your body. I found that even though my doctor told me to buy the deli selects lunch meat (the thin packaged stuff) that I can tolerate much better the meat right from the deli--I like the chicken and cut real thick as I can get it in my mouth and chew. The thin stuff doesn't allow you to really chew. Are you eating eggs, no sugar added peanut butter or anything else with protein in it? Are you drinking any carnation instant breakfast (sugar free) or Boost Shakes (also sugar free)? Please see your doctor and soon.

I do water aerobics M-W-F and walk a mile on the treadmill on T-TH, so I think that is good exercise.

As for the vomiting I think it's my body telling me it can't tolerate the food I've eaten.

Right now for protein I am eating cheese, and whatever else I can find that my body will tolerate. I haven't lost a great deal of weight, so I don't think there's any reason for concern.

I stay on top of drinking my water, and I've decided to stay away from all breads and pasta's.

As for meat I have not been able to tolerate any. I occasionally will scramble an egg, steam some veggies, even eat some mashed potatoes. But, my body changes from day to day. What I eat today I may not tolerate tomorrow.

I guess I was hoping there were other people out there like me. I could go back to my nutritionist, but I feel like that is a waste of time.

That all sounds quite normal to me. After my surgery, I couldn't really have anything at all, I mention this in my article. I couldn't have any of the foods my other friends I'd made in hospital could have. Just hardly anything.

For 2 months, I lived each day on sugar free ice lollies, bags of salt and vinagar low calorie crisps and the yellow from an egg a little scrambled egg with cheese added in too, I could cope with that, just. But nothing else. No meat, toast, fruit, veg, anything like that.

I was sick over 130 times in the stage you're in, nothing would stay in, absolutely nothing. It was awful. But then, after a while, it stopped and it just changes.

The worst thing you can do is keep trying. You need to reset your body. So, if you're sick, go back to liquid only just for 1 day, and then go back to sloppy food. if you don't, it will never stop. I can swear, it works.

You need to keep drinking, so it's good you're still doing that. You don't want to dehydrate yourself. SO, keep that up. Bread and pasta are the hardest foods to digest anyway, so it's good you keep away from them for now.

If you try bread at all, try toast, well done toast. If you can't have that, no way can you have normal bread.

Chicken is the easiest meat, little bits, like a pen top size, chew at least 20 times until it's liquid in your mouth. And then swallow. It's a pain, I know, but it's the only way you will tollerate it.

I know. I had that too, some days I'd love the egg and cheese, the next day, it made me sick. You honestly go a little crazy after a while. But it does balance. I promise.

Yeah, it is a waste of time. I did that, ended up walking out saying how the hell can she advise me when she hasn't had the surgery and says I can tollerate this and that when clearly I can't. Waste of time.

Keep drinking, and try a little of something every day. If it works, great. If not, then back to liquids for a day then try again. Scrambled egg and cheese should be ok, soup should be ok as well, poached eggs, just the yellow, and not the white. That should be ok too.

Krystena- The only way I was able to get down meats was to grind it up. I loved pork, cream of mushroom soup with mash potatoes. This is how I got meats down until my stomach adjusted more. Meats need a gravy to help them go down too. I hope this helps. I don't do protein drinks , so I am no help there. Cappy

just one tip that i use sometimes... i hate the protein drinks and powder... but i will use the unflavored powder and mix in with mashed potatoes... cant tell its even in there. Works really well. mashed potatoes seem to be easy when other things arent. Give it a try. Meats are tough... im 3 months out... chicken is the easiest for me. every other meat makes me feel nauseas and make my stomach hurt.. however i dont throw up very much anymore thank goodness. But i avoid red meat... i hate how it makes me feel. fish does well.... but i have never really liked fish...lol so i dont do that very often either. chicken all the way! just chew chew chew and try it in small doses. take a few bites and wait a few... i still have a problem with eating a bite or two too much... by the time i realize i had enough... its too late and then i get sick. So i have been trying to eat a few bites and wait 5-10 min... to see how i feel before i take another couple bites.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I just went to the store and bought up some cottage cheese with strawberries and other with pineapple..they are only 100 calories each.

I still stay away from meats and chicken, just doesn't sit well with me. Maybe another month or so.

I find myself eating way to fast. Mostly because I wait so long to eat. I know this is something I need to work on.

Thanks again to everyone.

I was going to suggest cottage cheese.. that has tons of protein in it. You can buy your own and save money and put in a little of your own unsweetened fruit. Those little cups are expensive. I went through a cottage cheese fad and not I am stuck on string cheese (low-fat mozzarella). You can double up on the cottage cheese and have the scrambled eggs and sprinkle a bit of shredded cheese on it. Watch the bowels though.. too much protein will bind you up.. been going through that for a while now.

Keep us posted.

My two cents: First-has your doctor said anything about the 600 calorie diet? Mine said he wants us on 1200 cal. I stay as close to 1000 as possible. The 600 may be doing bad things to your system. They tell me it sends us into a starvation mode and our bodies start to change modes and store every thing as fat. Don't know....just asking.

Second; I feel for the people having any issue with any food. At five months, I'm eating almost everything. Don't know why it's that way for some and not others.

Third; I don't know where you live but I live in Southern California. We have a store here called Big Lots, they buy overstock and close outs so the inventory changes constantly. In recent months they've been carrying Nutrisystem food. For those who may not know about this; Nutrisystem is a national diet system that sells their clientele pre-packaged foods to use on their weight loss diet. Anyway; Big Lots has had their stuff and I bought a few of their cups. They are about 180 calories each; they are tasty, filling and nutritionally balanced. I eat them for lunch everyday now. Being from Big Lots they are only a dollar each.

Fourth; as a diabetic I have to eat at proper intervals and I must say that it helps me a LOT to do so. You may want to try that; three small meals and a snack each day.

Hope some of this helps....

My nutritionist told me after surgery I could stay on 600 calories for up to 6 months. Then I should go up to 800-1000 after that.

Of course with what I'm eating I'm sure I'm getting more than that. On any given day I eat a yogurt, 6 slices of cheddar cheese with onion on top, and sometimes some chili con carne (no beans, hurts stomach).

I've always had a cast iron stomach, so this has really thrown me for a loop. I FINALLY found some unflavored protein that I like, so I'm going to buy that today.

I know nurtri system very well. It was one of many diets I had been on and tried through out my life. I heard they have weight watcher foods somewhere, so I've been looking for that too.

My diabetes is gone, I no longer have to take my medication for that.

I would love to live in Southern California by the way. I have family in Santa Barbara and it's gorgeous!!

I wish you well, and any more food suggestions to help my 600 calories a day would be very helpful.