Question about post-op diet

I will be transitioning from liquids to pureed foods this week, so I have started to consider the things that I may want. I have been reading these forums quite a bit and comparing to the guide I received from my surgeon. My question surrounds food quantity. 

My guidelines say that I should eat no more than 1/2 cup of food at any sitting, three times per day with NO snacks and no liquids with more than 10 calories for 8 oz (including protein shakes). The 1/2 cup meal should consist of a protein (such as 1 oz of meat of cheese) and 1 oz grain or vegetable. When I add up the protein, it seems I will be getting about 35 gms per day +/-. This doesn't seem like much. By the way, both my pre-op diet, and post-op liquid diet so far has consisted of 3 - 8 oz protein shakes a day, which also seem less than other members. 

My appointment with the NUT isn't till Feb 26, and I am trying to pull that up. In the meantime, I am planning to call the office tomorrow to get some clarification. As I read posts, I am seeing diets that are much more protein forward than mine, and I am wondering if this is right. 

I'd really like to hear some people's thoughts, as well as help formulating good questions to ask.

Thanks in Advance

John 

Wow! I'm at about 2.5 weeks, on soft foods, and there is no way I could get down 1/2 cup of food. Jello, yes, but no soft food. Eve a. 1/4 cup is way beyond my limit.  Two tablespoons is pushing it. Don't be surprised if you can't eat as much as you are allowed.

some of the things I've been eating are tuna or canned chicken with a little mayo and some. Pickle juice, refrained beans with a little melted cheese, and about a tablespoon of mashed potatoes with canned chicken and a little broth...it's like Thanksgiving on a 3" plate!

I'm traveling this week for work and hope I'm up for the challenge.

good luck with your new phase.

Good luck with the business trip. I don't start traveling again for two more weeks. 

My concern about the food is that there is no other protein coming.  Even after I am on a full solid food diet. 

My plan called for UP TO four ounces of protein three times per day starting on day four.  I was not allowed grain or veggies and still am not allowed that for a few more months.  I would say if you can stick with the protein first you will be much better off.  If you can eat four ounces without getting full then that's fine, but if you start to feel full at two or three then stop.  

You want to under eat and not get to the point of feeling full, because that will mean you went too far.  Don't go over the four ounces since at this point you can't FEEL much of anything because a lot of the nerves have been cut.  I ate a lot of puréed ham with a touch of miracle whip, eggs, puréed hamburger, puréed chicken with miracle whip etc...  I am not allowed snacks either.  

Each plan seems to be so different, but if you can stick with the protein you will see great results.  I'm 7 weeks out and have lost 35 pounds since surgery and that includes a two week stall where I actually gained two pounds.  I lost 14 lbs on the pre-op so I think my body was adjusting to this massive weight loss in such a short period of time.  

One word of caution... A bit of veggies in your diet will help keep you regular if you are allowed, but again I would eat that second once I got my protein down.  Be careful with some of the veggies because they have carbs.  I wouldn't be eating any grains at this point, but again all plans are different.  This is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt.  Good luck!

That is not enough protein.  And you probably won't be able to eat 1/2 cup of food in one sitting so soon.

I am five years post op and I still would not get enough protein if I only ate three times a day.  Plus I'd be hungry.  Personally, I'd rather eat 1/4 cup six times a day than 1/2 cup three times a day.  It still works out to 1 1/2 cups total, but it would keep my blood sugar from crashing and keep me from being hungry.

Where on earth are you going to get an 8oz protein shake with 10 calories in it? That is just NOT possible or in any way realistic. You need to really sit down and talk to your nutritionist and understand your actual plan.

I have to say, I am horrified that you'd have a 1/2c allowed so early out. I am 8 months out and have had 1/2 a cup maybe 6 or 7 times. I am pretty much holding fast at 1/3 cup. 

Not having any snacks and eating so little...I'd have blacked out regularly! I need to have two snacks during the day, even if it is just 70 calories, it makes a tremendous difference.  

When I read things like this, I am doubly thankful for my surgeon and nutritionist!

To clarify......

I am not allowed any liquids over 10 calories per 8 oz, they made a point to specifically include protein shakes. 

They said I could eat up to a max of 1/2 cup, but to stop when I start feeling full. They don't want me pushing it. 

Some rough math tells me that if I eat 1000 calories (unlikely) I will get 200/250 calories from protein. This means I will need about 50/65 gms a day. Following the protein guidelines they gave me, I will only get about 25 grams per day. These numbers just don't seem to work out for me. 

Like I said, I will wait until I see my dietician in a couple weeks to get some stuff clarified so it makes sense. 

My surgery could not have gone better. I already feel like I am bursting with energy. I am convinced I am going to be successful, especially as I get more active. I just need to understand these requirements a little better. 

There is no such thing as an 8 ounce protein drink with less then ten calories that has any real actual protein in it.  Are you sure that isn't a 100 calories? 

1 gram of protein = 4 calories.  So are they suggesting your protein drinks are only 2.5 grams of protein?  Please check the math here as it does not add up.