<1/2 egg?? REALLY!??? Frustrated...

I gleefully made myself a delcious yokey egg with a dab of cheese, excited to get my protein in from food. Well here I am 30 minutes later and have only been able to get about 3 small bites down and have the full feeling. It doesn't hurt, but I do feel full. Do I wait 10 minutes and try another bite? I need something here, right?

I know I just had surgery 9/14, and don't get me wrong, I love that I have restriction and have lost so much weight, but I have stopped losing about 5 days ago and I think it's because my body is in starvation mode. And restriction is GREAT, but THIS much can't be that great when I can't get anything down. Although I don't feel hungry at all somewhere my body is starving itself right?

I haven't been able to tolerate protein well, some unjury and others, but I mean, like 3-5 sips and I am D.O.N.E, totally full. Even my "pure protein" water-y shakes make me full quickly and they all gross me out a little. I even tried the nectars, and GROSS. I mostly focus on getting my water in since water with lemon is the only thing that seems to pass through really well.

Any suggestions or words of encouragement. .. just staring at my delicious egg..sigh..

First, starvation mode is a myth.. and second, at 6 weeks out I still couldn't finish an egg, I didn't even attempt it for almost a month. I'll go bump the post about stalls that explains this really well.. but do try very hard to get in your liquid protein supplements. Use a shaker cup with a lid if the smell bothers you, dilute them more if they are too thick.. but protein is second only to hydration at this point. Try your hardest to get in as much of it as you can.. but at 2weeks, I was still on liquids.. and the first soft mushies I had were thinned out yogurt, cottage cheese.. and a few spoons was it for me, no more than about 1/8c. 

Awesome response.  I'm glad more and more people are realizing that the whole "stavation mode" thing is just not true. 

I feel for you. All I can say is I went through the same thing, and yes it sucks, but it doesn't last long. Your stomach is still really swollen, and can't hold much at all. I went through the same thing once I started soft foods, where just like a tablespoon of egg salad felt like a thanksgiving feast from the pre-op days. Be patient, get in what you can, and sip sip sip the water. Keeping hydrated is critically important, the protein and food will come as your body continues to heal. You need some calories for notrients and energy, but you can still drink them too. Keep trying shakes. One I found I really like is EAS Carb Control Vanilla shakes. 110 calories for an 8 oz (I think, maybe its 11) shake, with 17g of protein. And the taste, at least for me, is one of the best yet for a protein shake. Maybe you would like the chocolate too. I'm not a chocolate lover, but dig on the vanilla. Still using them 6 months post-op. I'm down 85 pounds post-op, and 126 total. So keep the faith. The first 4-8 weeks are the hardest, but it gets easier each day, each week, etc. Keep sipping water, and do your best with protein. My Dr. and NUT told me not to worry about "mealtime" for the first few weeks after surgery, because my stomach literally wasn't big enough to overeat, or eat too many calories. They told me to eat when I could, even if it was one bite an hour. Just eat protein, drink protein, and drink water until you are full. Not stuffed, just full. If you get worried, call your Dr. But I promise, it gets better. And these crappy early post-op days will be a distant memory soon. GOOD LUCK!

This too shall pass. you are a little more than 2 weeks out right?  you're still swollen.  So when you get that full feeling give up and wait, please trust me wait a couple of hours and then have your next attempt.  We are for sure trying to get our protein in but we are also trying to break old habits of eating beyond comfort.  Stalls happen.  The 3 week stall is something of a classic.  Soon the attempts at eating mushies and your body healing will allow you to eat more but take advantage of this time.  i had no swelling.  I was eating my full 2 ounces of tuna from day 1 of the mushie phase.  It freaked me out, way out.  However even with being able to eat everything i was allowed to the full quantities i wasn't losing weight so i think your fear of being in starvation mode is probably not happening.  Let me also say as someone who never had a problem getting food in, an egg sat in my sleeve like a lead balloon.  It was the most uncomfortable food.  heavy and leaden.  So maybe switch up and see what works for you.  Good luck. 

been there, done that.   And I had a 1 /12 stall at two weeks out.  But when I started to lose again it was like 7 lbs in 1 week.  

I'm 7 weeks out and still can't eat a whole egg. You're only a few weeks out -- still very swollen! It's normal.

No worries - I am a year and a half out and sometimes STILL don't finish an egg - on the other hand sometimes I can eat way more than I would like - so just enjoy the restriction and do the best you can to tolerate protein, because keeping the protein content of your diet up will help keep you from losing lean tissue along with the fat.

Cheers,
Margo

girl I feel you pain....

1/2 an egg with some cheese and I am soooo done (I do mix in a little mayo just to make it more moist-maybe try that)

I can eat three amour meatballs because they are so soft.

Chicken, wow, 2 small bites and I am done. I guess it is more dense....that does not go down easily for me either...even mixed with mayo.

I think thats about all the real food I have tried....


(Ps, there is no way I can squeeze in my protein with eating. I am sooo full all day for my three tiny meals. I do manage to get 1 cup of milk with a little SF carnation in the evenings- but that is hard to do)

It took me quite a while to be able to eat an entire egg. And even longer to realize I wouldn't starve to death if I didn't. Seriously. I was so used to stuffing myself that I had no idea how little it takes to keep me alive. So don't worry about not eating much. You'll be OK. Don't eat if you're full. Throw it away when you're done. It's OK.