4 1/2 mo. out, could use some help

I'm 4 1/2 months out and I feel like I could use some help.  I just moved back by the base we are stationed at away from surgeon and family waiting on hubby's return.  I haven't lost much in the last couple of weeks.  Just a pound here and there but have been on the go non stop.  I dont' want to be stuck at a loss of 113 while everyone is passing me by including people who weighed less than me to begin with.  I'm getting depressed...Am I eating too much?? I'm terrible about breakfast but my day usually consist of something like this. I piece of jerky cup of SF jello SF popsicle Maybe 1/2 cup of salad with protein or else 1 1/2 egg whites. Hot tea with splenda mini pickle I don't always eat the same things but I just want out of this slump!

Hey girl Try uping your protien. More meats or protein shakes. Also do you exercise?

Not an exercise routine.  I try to walk at least two hours a day though.  Right now it's been too difficult with the kids and my husband not being home yet. I'll try to up my protein.  I'm just terrified that I'm going to eat too much or stretch my pouch.

I'll try to up my protein.  I'm just terrified that I'm going to eat too much or stretch my pouch. Stretching your pouch is really something you do not have to worry about - to stretch your pouch you would constantly have to over eat. Its normal for your pouch to stretch and relax over the first year - we typically start out eating only a few ounces and over time it gets upped to around 1.5-2 cups total meal volume.  I would say at 4.5 months out you are undereating calories and protein. Based on what you stated above you are not even close to meeting the minimum 60g protein requirement per day... many surgeons require more but 60 is the minimum for a healthy female in most cases. The kerly and the salad or egg whites were your only protein - then you had many non-protein snacks - jello, popscicle, tea, pickle.... at this point I would say you need to have protein at every snack/meal until you can get your protein in from meals only, not sure what your surgeon says about suppliments but you may also want to consider adding a protein shake and/or protein drink/bar until you can get all your protein thru food.  I had a proixmal bypass and at 4.5 months out I was to be eating 600-800 calories... no less. If you had more bypassed you typically would need to eat much more than myself... if you had a proximal bypass as well you shouldnt be eating below 600 calories - if so your body is starving which could lend to slow weightloss as well as loss of muscle mass instead of fat. I would also pick a set eating routine - 3 meals... 3 meals 2 snacks... 6 small meals - you seem to have 1 meal and the rest is mostly snacks - meals should be balanced - protein first, then veggie/fruit lastly starch/carb. The meal volume should be around 1/2 cup up to 3/4ths cup.

^^^^^^^^^What she said^^^^^^^^^

HI everybody else gave you great advice on eating. I really agree with them. SO I would just like to say that 113 pounds at 4/12 months out is freaking awesome girl! You are doing so great. I would suggest you stop comparing yourself to others. That's too much preassure. And remember when your stalling that you are still losing inches.

Hello!  I had surgery just two weeks after you and I am eating WAY more calories and protein than you.  Of course follow your nutrition/surgeon's suggestions, but if your plan is anything like mine I think you just aren't getting enough food in!  I eat around 1000 cals a day and at least 70g protein.  I think you could eat double what you are eating now and not have to worry about stretching your pouch.  Also 113 pounds in that amount of time is INCREDIBLE!  I have lost just over 50.  Losing that much weight so fast is quite a shock to your body, so it might just be readjusting.  Keep up the effort and up the protein and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thank you all.  I have REALLY tried today.  So far this is what I've done about an ounce of beef jerky Almost half  of a south beach chicken personal pizza (30g protein for the whole pizza) Had to split it in 2 meals to get in the 1/2 SF popsicle 2 maybe half inch pieces of grilled chicken off a salad I really feel sometimes like because of how I  used to eat, what I'm eating now is fine but then I talk to people who tell me I need to take in more and eat more.  When I first had surgery for about a month I was only getting in 150-200 calories a day, my weight loss slowed down and I talked to my surgeon who told me I was eating too much not too little and that food journaling was a waste of time.  He had gotten really brutal about it and I guess it's kind of screwed me up mentally. I'll heed ya'lls advice.  Start journaling and really focus on meat, eggs, beans, and cheese.  Thank you.

I don't think you're eating enough protein.  The minimum amount I've seen required is like 50 or 60 grams for RNYers, but I frequently see 70g required. I piece of jerky I'll be generous and assume it was like 1oz of jerky, and that's about 15g protein cup of SF jello No protein SF popsicle No protein Maybe 1/2 cup of salad with protein or else 1 1/2 egg whites 1 1/2 egg whites is only about 10g protein Hot tea with splenda No protein mini pickle No protein That's hardly any protein you're eating :( Surgeons are excellent cutters, but sometimes they aren't all that great when it comes to nutrition and supporting you.  Last time I saw my surgeon, he told me I wasn't losing weight fast enough.  I was 3 months out and I had lost like 77 lbs already!  I felt really hurt when he said that to me, but luckily I knew that I was losing at a good pace by comparing myself to other people at similar starting weights with the same surgery. You know, if you're worried about portion sizes, you can go buy these really tiny tupperware dishes that are only 3-4oz.  You can fill them with yummy protein and if you keep using them, you know that you'll never ever be eating too much.

Wow I am just shocked your surgeon told you 200 cal/day was too much.  Maybe he meant when you were newly newly post op??  But 4.5 months out, your body is definitely starving.  But you've already gotten some great advice on that.  I will just say I'm 6 weeks out today and my doc put me on 800 cal/day. If you're having trouble coming up with meal ideas we usually post our menus in the "eatin good" posts daily.  It might help you see better how much a normal post-op serving is.  Like Jen K said, you're NOT going to stretch your pouch unless you start eating like you did pre-op, over and over daily. As for what Kayla said, I have 4oz tupperware and it has been great for me.  If it's something dense like chicken salad I'll usually fill it only 1/2 or 3/4 of the way (2-3oz).  If it's something like pudding or cottage cheese, I usually have all 4 oz because those are so liquidy. I'm sending you best wishes for getting through this.  It sounds like you have a ton of stuff going on and the eating thing is not helping matters.  We have to learn not to be scared of food, and as long as we make wise choices, food is our FUEL.  Post op, we all need to learn to eat to LIVE.  I hope you're at least taking your vitamins since your menu wasn't providing much.