What do I eat the 1st and 2nd months after WLS?

Suzanne B.
on 6/8/11 6:28 am, edited 6/8/11 6:41 am - OR
What are you able to eat the 1st month?
 
I have said over and over that the 1st 30 days after having weight loss surgery are the very hardest to do. I think there are several things that make it so hard. The first is we were used to chewing a lot of food at one time and then swallowing it. Now you are on clear liquids. I got bored with them. The 1st 10 days was the worst. Then the creamy stage came along and I loved being able to have creamy soups. Remember now you can add your protein drinks that are creamy to this stage—you will be able to get some good quality protein. When I got to the mushy stage this was a bit of a challenge for me.  (My husband and his great sense of humor suggested Gerber baby food.) Believe me I considered it. I made some chicken soup and put it in the blender and it was chunky—it was good and I was getting some protein too from it.  I also made a big pot of veggie soup and mashed it up in the bowel when I ate it. If you make a big pot of Veggie soup everyone in the family can eat it. The last 10 days are when you are learning to take that tiny baby bites and then swallow. 

I suggest that when you get to the mushy stage that you start to practice taking tiny, small baby bites of food. For most of your life you have been inhaling your food, barely chewing it and almost swallowing it whole with 2 or 3 bites. That will NO longer work for you once you finish the 1st 30 days. That was my biggest problem when I started to eat regular food again. I still sometimes have to set my fork down and chew and chew and chew. It is a learning lesson.

During the 1st month after WLS, your brain is still thinking in the mode of where you used to be before WLS. PLEASE remember that our brain really could convince us before to eat and eat and eat. We ate for all the wrong reasons. We ate when we were bored, upset, hurt, scared, or anxious. I am sure there was many more reason why we ate. NOW you are going to have to learn to listen to your stomach and know that you are full. Some signs are hiccups or runny nose—pay attention to those signs. The brain plays tricks on us—many of us call this “head hunger." The brain really will try to tell you that you are starving and you should eat more. Those are “head hunger games" and you need to learn the difference between do I NEED to eat or do I just WANT to eat.

SO WHAT DO I EAT STARTING THE 2ND MONTH
I started with what I will call soft or easy to chew proteins. 

1.       Soft Boiled eggs or scrambled eggs cooked in a pan with PAM spray.
2.      
Chicken breast with NO skin—baked, grilled, broiled, steamed, boiled, or roasted. Look for a cookbook that shows you 100 different ways to fix chicken.

3.       Fish no skin no bones it is worth getting it this way—Grilled, roasted, steamed, broiled, or in a pan cooked with PAM spray—dip it in a little egg for more protein.

4.       Turkey breast with NO skin—baked, grilled, broiled, steamed, boiled, or roasted. You can also cook it in a pan with PAM spray.

These proteins can be cooked so many different ways. At first I would cook them pretty simple and use different “rubs" on them for flavor. Fresh squeezed Lemon or Lime really added a lot of flavor to them.  

I eat very little RED meat. I was a lover of red meat in the past, but I no longer eat much of it. I try to keep my carbs down to about 25 or 30 carbs per day. I use WHOLE GRAIN carbs and not whole wheat. It takes time and effort to plan what you are going to eat. It takes a while to adjust your lifestyle to eating like this. 

This is NOT A DIET, but a lifestyle change that will last a life time. I also exercise at least 5 days a week. I ate fresh veggies and usually steamed them or had them raw and a small amount of fresh fruit helped too. You are only going to be able to eat small amounts of protein—maybe 1 oz. per meal and ¼ of a cup of veggies this second month.  You will look at your plate and think is this all I am going to get—then you eat and figure out pretty quickly that you are full.

I still eat these same foods 2 years and 8 months later, only I now eat a little more of each of them. I also STILL drink my Premier Protein drink for breakfast every day. It has 30 grams of protein and it just works for me to drink it—that is all I have for breakfast. I have some small snacks during the day too, and they consist of nuts or veggies. 

Yes, I have a something sweet now and then, but in small amounts and NOT every day. A sliver of cake—not a big piece, or 1 cookie, not 5 or 6. It is more about the taste, and once I have satisfied the taste,
 
I am OK and I don’t feel deprived at ALL. As time goes on you will become more creative with what you are cooking and will find what tastes good to you. Take some of your old recipes and reinvent them to something that you can eat now with you new and improved stomach.  

If you have any questions just E-mail me.

Hugs, Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008 
Start lbs 225
Now 120
walter A.
on 6/8/11 10:12 am - lafayette, NJ
by the second month i was eating anything i wanted, just smaller quantities, reached goal by month 4, normal chewing, nothing special, take my vitimins and a protien drink a day and a mirilax dose daily for fiber and no problems here.  the ds is grand.
Suzanne B.
on 6/8/11 2:23 pm - OR
Hi,

You are very lucky to be able to not have to chew and chew.  Some of us have to do that.  And Oh, yes I do take Miralax everyday with my protein drink.  I am glad you were able to reach your goal so fast.

Take care,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008 
Start lbs 225
Now 120
newmerightnow
on 6/8/11 10:16 am - AK
Thank you Suzanne, this is great advice for us newbie’s.
Suzanne B.
on 6/8/11 2:28 pm - OR
Hi,

I want people to know what they can expect.  It does give a little insight to what life will be like after having weight loss surgery. Each month it gets a lot better. I had the sleeve and this was how my first two months were.  I forgot to say I always take Miralax every day.  People who eat quite a bit of protein sometimes suffer from constipation and Miralax or the generic to Miralax works great--I use the Costco brand of it. Miralax is the answer.  I blend mine in with my Protein drink each morning. 

Hugs,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008 
Start lbs 225
Now 120
(deactivated member)
on 6/8/11 10:30 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
Did you like Dr Aceves and his staff ? I have a friend who may be traveling to Mexico and I've been researching doctors for her.
Suzanne B.
on 6/8/11 2:36 pm - OR
Hi,

I recommend him highly. I wouldn't conside any other doctor.  I like you did a lot of research and his name kept coming up over and over as being a superior doctor with a team of doctors and nurses who are all highly educated in this field.  The hospital has less of an infection rate than any US hospital.  I have never been given such care in my life. I saw 2 doctors 3 times a day after my surgery.  They spent a lot of time before my surgery answering all my question and believe me I had a lot of them.  If I could make him my Primary Care Doctor I would in a heart beat. 

He actually cares about his patients and it just doesn't end once he sends you home.  They have a great support staff to answer any and all of your questions. He will even answer you question if you need.  I wouldn't look any further. 

When I was looking for weight loss surgery, I wanted the best and I wasn't shopping for a price--your health is NOT a time to price shop.  I want the most experienced and that is what I got.

If I can help you or you have any other questions please feel free to ask.  I will also give you my phone number if you want and we can talk.

He is the best I know from experience, and I went back about 6 months after my surgery and took my best friend to him.  She also feels the same way I do about his ability. 

Hugs,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008 
Start lbs 225
Now 120
(deactivated member)
on 6/9/11 9:41 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
I'm copying and pasting your reply to my friend in an email. I'll get back to you .
walter A.
on 6/8/11 9:53 pm - lafayette, NJ
i get my miralax as a RX, COVERED BY DRUG PLAN FOR HEMORRHOIDS TREATMENT
Suzanne B.
on 6/9/11 7:33 am - OR

That is great.  I am all for using the insurance if they will pay for it.  I know other people who have had theirs paid for too through their Insurance. Way to go. 

Hugs,
Suzanne

Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008 
Start lbs 225
Now 120
×