help with choking down the calories

Do anyone have any suggestions for getting all of the protein and calories in?  I know I am barely hitting 500 calories and maybe 50g or protein.  I feel consistenly nausious and I really think its becuase im just not getting what I need to.

edit:  I will be a month out on Wednesday this week.

You and I are pretty much the same. My surgery was 5/31 and I get about 500-550 calories per day and I struggle to get 60g of protein in every day. I get nowhere near the fluid intake I should. There's no room for it after trying to get in food and protein shakes! I get maybe 20oz (unless you count the protein shakes).

I have egg beaters with a slice of cheese melted in for breakfast every day. The american cheese I get from the deli counter has 5g of protein per 1oz serving, so with the egg beaters it's 11g protein to start the day.

I use Unjury protein powder (20g protein) and mix it with 8oz skim milk for a total of 28g protein in one shake.

Those two things alone give me 39g of protein so it's a little easier to get the rest of my protein in throughout the day. I'll snack on string cheese sometimes too. That's 6g of protein.

Hope some of this helps!

Maybe your doctor will give you something for the nausea. A lot of people talk about taking Zofran, in the form that you put under your tongue.
Oh, and I have read that you count your protein shakes in your fluids.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Amanda :)

I have been exactly where you are.  The first 5 weeks I could barely get in 300 calories a  day and I think I spend the next 10 weeks between 400-500 calories.  I am at almost 6 months now and am finally at a consistent 800 calorie day.  Getting calories in is definitely not as easy as it used to be.  Calories and protein is something that I track, but my NUT care if I track calories, just protein.   Depending on your program, they likely want you higher than 500 at this stage, but that just isn't possible for everyone, especially if your program is 3 meals, no snacks. Focus on your protein.

One thing that was pushed for me after surgery was skim milk (luckily I don't hate it).  Early out I had two cups of skim milk a  day and that was 180 calories and 19 grams of protein.  You can put it in a protein shake, but for me it actually helped me get my liquids in, so I drank it separately.  This helped me get my protein in and my calories up.  Once I was able to get more protein and calories from food I lessened the amount of milk I drink.

Here is a typical day for me:

Drive to work = Protein Shake - 23 grams protein

Breakfast = greek yogurt, cottage cheese with fruit, or protein pudding (I make this with sugar free pudding mix, 2 cups skim milk, 2 scoops protein powder) - 15-20 grams protein

Lunch =  tuna, chicken or beef, steamed vegetable - 15-20 grams protein

Dinner - tuna, chicken or beef, steamed vegetable - 15-20 grams protein

bed time - 8 oz of milk with my vitamins - 10 grams protein

Hang in there, it gets better. 

Protein drinks do count as fluid.  If you can't get your fluid in because of food, get the fluid in first.  Fluid is very important and dehydration will make you feel nausious. 

We didn't count calories.  If we at on plan at your stage it was around 500.  Try for 64+ of fluid a day.  At 1 month, I was eating 6 "meals" a day of 1/4c each and drinking 12oz in between each one.  Try to get your protein, shakes and food but most of it will come from suppliments at this point, to around 60+ headed towards 80g.

Nausea isn't normal and they can give you something for it if you get your fluid up and still are having problems.

Try not to worry about the calories too much.  It does take time to get them up to where you need them.  Focus on protein and liquids.  The nausea could be due to dehydration also.

Are you drinking protein shakes?  Some surgeons don't want their patients to drink their meals but for many it's a necessity.  The liquids in protein shakes can also count toward your daily liquid intake. 

 One tip that worked for me is going from mixing my powders w/ water to mixing it with lactose-free milk, which ups the calories but REALLY ups the protein. I used to like protein waters (Isopure, ProteinBlitz) b/c they count as liquid & protein but find I need to concentrate things a bit more to get them down & meet my goals (e.g. 2 scoops of powder + 10oz milk = 60g protein!). Only when I meet protein for the day do I allow any other calorie sources - veggies, fruit, etc.

I don't have a lot of good suggestions, but I can offer sympathy.

I am 4+ months out and some days I have to choke down food.  Other days (rarely) I can eat a fair amount.

I don't usually get enough protein, fiber or liquids.  At least I get my vtamins.

I keep hearing that it gets better and I hope it does. 

At least my weight loss is pretty steady.

Ok so today i am just really really focusing on my liquids.  I feel slightly better but back to being tired.  I took all my vitamins and I think I may call my dr tomorrow to ask them if I'm dying lol.

Thank everyone for all the feedback :D

I wouldn't worry about the calories too much. My NUT says to get 400-600 cal/day until all excess weight is lost so .....

I would definitely check into getting something for nausea because your body HAS TO HAVE that protein.

One thing that's worked (for the last 2 days, lol) for me for getting down my protein shake in the morning is a straw. I just suck it down. The straw keeps my nose far enough away that I don't have to smell that protein smell.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!!