ObesityHelp

true, but I try to not to have my water while I am eating my yogurt or pudding or broth:) I am trying to get in the habit that those things are my "meals" so I don't get in the habit of drinking along with the other foods that are going to replace the liquid.

Depends on your plan.  My allowed jello, yogurt, pudding as full liquid, but recommended thinning them out with water.

The biggest thing to remember is that you are just healing from surgery.  From what I've seen and from my own experience, you will most likely not get enough protien until you move forward some in your stages.  The rule my Dr. had was tha****er was more important than protien at this stage.

I also had trouble getting all my water in.  It always felt that I was swallowing a stone every time I took a sip.  Your stomach is swelled right now so that makes it even harder to get the water you need in.  But remember, your broth and such counts as liquid too.  So do sugar free popscicles, which I lived on.  I actually bought out my grocery store for 3 weeks, they started just giving us them in their cases of 6 boxes.

Its rough now, but it gets better every day.  Soon you'll be able to get in all of it, but getting as much as you can was what my Dr. told me.  Getting up to goal will come soon.

Also, since you are on liquids, like the others have said, no need to stop before or after.  It all just slides right on down at this point.

Jete

Sometimes it's hard to give advice on here because every surgeon's plan is different.  That being said, I was on clear liquid for one week, then full liquid for 2 weeks.  During my clear liquid stage, my surgeon said hydration is more important than protein and I didn't even drink any protein shakes during that time (per his instructions).  I couldn't do cold very well, so I lived on broth for a week and i counted EVERY sip I put in my mouth!  I used a travel mug, so I knew how many ounces it was, and worked on getting one full cup (mine was 10 oz) every 1 1/2 hours or so.

Now that I'm on full liquid, and can have pudding and oatmeal, etc., I follow the "no drinking 30 mins before and after".  I have switched to a 20 oz. water bottle and focus on drinking at least three per day - one between each meal and after dinner.  I usually have a protein drink in the morning and then have some tea or sugar-free cappucino before bed.  Using the measured bottle lets me know exactly what I'm getting in, and makes it easier to correct if I don't get it all in. 

Good luck with your journey!  I'm only 16 days out and trust me, it gets easier every day!  For now, just get in what you can and don't beat yourself up too much. :)

I agree with everyone else - don't worry about the not eating before/after meals rule right now.

For the first 17 days after surgery, my full liquids had to be thin enough to be sipped through a skinny straw - we didn't have to drink them that way, but that was the rule about how thin to make them.

So here is an example of how my full liquids days went about one week out:

8am - 9am: 16 oz of crystal light.

11am - noon: 16 oz of crystal light

about 12:30: 8 oz protein drink, about 32 g of protein (nectrax powder made with lactaid milk)...I could do that in about 30 min.

1:30 - 2:30pm: 16 oz crystal light

4 - 5pm: 16 oz crystal light

about 6:30pm: 8 oz protein drink, 32 g of protein

Sometimes I'd have a hot tea at bedtime if I felt like it or start my day with a hot tea. I also had protein hot chocolate, and would substitute that for half of a protein drink sometimes.

Basically my only calories were from low carb protein drinks. This phase allowed me to "de-tox" from carbs and I found it very helpful. For that reason, I'd avoid the pudding and yogurt right now unless you are making the high protein stuff AND you can still get your 64 oz of fluid in.

I was sleeved two weeks ago and moved to full liquids over the weekend.  Here's my typical day, which is typical for me and might not be the same for others.

I start the day with a double protein shake -- two scoops of protein powder (each 20-25g of protein) in 10-12 oz of milk.  At this stage, I can finish that in about half an hour. 

I then fill up my 24 oz glass with ice water or crystal light or a mixture of juice and water and just keep it with me, sipping on it all the time. 

Right now at lunch, I'm having some soup into which I stirred a good scoop of plain Greek yogurt to add protein.  I'm probably taking in four ounces of soup tops.  I can tolerate a couple of spoonfuls at a time, then I put down the spoon for a minute or so.  Eat a couple more spoonfuls, etc.

After lunch, I'll continue with my cool liquid and refill the glass when it's empty. 

I might have some broth at dinner time for variety or do a smaller protein shake.   Later at night I'll do a sf popsicle or lemon ice.

The secret for me is keeping a glass of liquids with me at all times.  Following this method, I'm taking in 60-70 g of protein and 62-80 oz of fluids.

It's working so far!

Good luck!
Mary