Hi. Need help and don't know where to turn

I had surgery 8/13. I am down 50lbs so I should be happy. I feel scared. I have low energy, prob not enough liquid or protein or vitamins. I am not on any restriction as I don't have a nutritionist (Surgeon doesnt have a team). I don't have the motivation to work out. I have 4 and 5 year old who consume most of my time.
Now I feel I don't trust my doctor for advice. I am losing the weight, but I can eat anything. I eat about 1300-1500 cals a day. Any advice would be helpful. I don't want to fail. Thanks.

We can try to help. What kind of surgery do you have?

--gina

 

I had rny. I am more frustrated today. I feeling terrible that others have mentioned I shouldn't be eating that much.
I don't know who to ask for a plan. My surgeon keeps asking me why I need a nutritionist. I think that wraps him up.

I don't want to fail. I am ashamed to say that I have been eating carbs. I eat off kids plates. I drink with my meals. I have not once been told not to from him. I bought I could trust that he was right. Now I know different.

Gosh, sorry you don't have medical support there but there is support here.  1300-1500 cal is about what I probably eat now and I am in maintainance and work out.  that is kind of high for where you are.  You should be getting around 80-100 oz of fluid, 100g of protein a day and 30-50 net carbs for the losing phase if you are RNY and maybe the same for a sleeve.  DS need extra fat but I will let one of them tell you that.  Are you taking Vitamins?  If not, Vitalady has a break down for each kind of surgery and what they need.  You could be seriously lacking in Vits or protein, even fluid will make you more tired. Did you have baseline labs done before surgery?  Have you had labs done lately.  That will tell you if you are getting depleted in something.  RNY and DS both bypass areas where vits are absorbed and it is critical that you be on good vits/minerals to stay healthy.  It does take a while to get your energy back but you are a few months post op and should be doing pretty well.

I wouldn't worry about exercise right now.  You are probably getting enough activity running after 2 little ones.  Your priorities at this point should be fluids, protein and vitamins.  Without those you won't have the energy to get out of bed.  Many of us don't have good follow up from our surgeons.  It just comes with the territory.  They know how to cut, not so much on what to do afterwards.  Check out vitalady.com for vitamin and protein help.  She is always willing to help and there are great resources for our post op needs as far as what we need to take and about the labs we need.  Most surgeons don't order enough labs.  Getting your full labs done will help you know what you need to take and how much.  Get them done at 3 to 6 month intervals at first and track them to see what is going up, what is going down and what is at optimum levels.  She also has guidelines as to where we want our levels to be.

I always aim for 100 grams of protein and 100 oz of fluids a day.  Keep a bottle of water with you always.  I keep a case of water in my car at all times so I always have water handy and a water bottle in my purse for when I go places.  You will probably need to supplement with shakes.  That is where vitalady.com comes in handy.  She offers samples so you can find the ones you like and will be likely to stick with.

I would avoid carbs and keep protein first.  I find that after I eat my protein there is very little room for much else.  For losing I found around 50 carbs a day the best.  Once I got closer to my goal I upped it to 100.  Now I don'****ch them but make sure they are good carbs, mainly from natural sources and not refined.  Keep protein snacks handy, too, so that you won't be tempted if you get hungry.  Cheese and nuts are good to have around as well as protein bars if you like them.  I use Think Thin since they are gluten free and sugar free.  Plan ahead and it is easy to stay on track.  As you start to feel better you will probably feel more like getting in more structured exercise.

Also, stick around and get support.  It really makes a difference in your accountability.  There is a daily thread on our menus for the day and that helps plan what you are going to eat as well as seeing how others eat to be successful.  On Sunday's there is a weigh in thread that helps us stay motivated.  Share your victories and reach out for help when needed.

Being able to eat anything doesn't meat we have to eat anything,KWIM? on the other hand being able to TOLERATE anything helps us get in the RIGHT choices easier.

 

Did you get a diet plan to follow from your surgeon? If not  many peeps would prob share theirs with you. If so go back to it ,to when you were cleared for all foods and start there.

 

Basically,you want to eat all the protein ,lean that you can,meat,chicken fish,tuna fish,eggs etc. Only you know how you react to carbs,but for me,carbs have to stay below 20 gms A DAY,as I am highly intolerant and addicted to them as well. Even good carbs make me want to eat more of everything.

 

Are you eating  alot of your kids foods? Those are usually killers of weight loss and hard to resist unless you go cold turkey. My DGC's snacks drive me into a tailspin all the time and I just have to be prepared with appropriate snacks for myself,and a lot of them.

 

What is making you scared? the thought of failure? not having a team to help you through? Share with us and we will help in any and every way we can.

 

Post a daily menu and we will see if we can help you tweak it. I will tell you that not enough protein and not enough liquid WILL make you devastatingly tired.  Also,TOO MANY carbs will make you devastatingly tired,the kind of tired that many of us addicted to carbs call"a carb coma",where we just feel like we MUST lay down and sleep,even if we can't lay down and sleep.

 

Don't be scared,you are ok. We have your back and will walk right beside you all the way on your journey,just like others have walked right beside us on many parts of our journeys. We ARE in this together.

 

GL and please keep us posted.
Holly
 

Welcome to our LW Baord!!!

I looked at your profile and it doesn't say what surgery you had.  My Surgeon offered a support team in fact I had to pay a mandatory $500.00 that wasn't covered by insurance for it.  This LW group is my support group and if you want advice or encouragement we are here for you.

1300-1500 Is a lot of calories to be consuming early out.   Yes...you will still lose but I'm guessing slower than if you were eating half that much.  I'm really concerned about that high amount when your body starts absorbing and when you reach goal and are on maintenance.  I  have  to stay at around 1300 to maintain my normal BMI weight.  I never even took in 1000 until I was at goal  and that was when I increased my Protein.  During the early stage I started out at around 500-600 and increased to about 600-800 at about a year out. I still concentrate on Protein and avoid "bad" carbs the best I can.

Your Vitamins and Protein are SUPER important!!!!!   If I skip a few days of vitamins and supplements I can really tell the difference in my energy level and I doubt if I'm as active as you are.  If you can't buy good vitamins at least buy your local drug store or Walmart brand. 

 

It's strange that you're able to eat that many calories, unless you're eating carbs and sweets. I consume an average of 700 calories/day, namely protein. If I don't drink at least one protein shake/day (230 cal 33-35g protein) it's tough to get in enough calories and protein. I run/walk 15 miles/week, run 21 flights of stairs 5 days/week, and do strength training 3x/week therefore; I try to take in at least two protein shakes/day, getting 75-100g protein/day  I have not had an averse reaction to any food at this point, including sugar, but I choose to avoid foods that aren't capable of meeting my nutritional needs. Stay hydrated, I only drink water, and make sure to get at least 64oz/day. If you start drinking enough water and focusing on protein maybe you'll be satisfied longer. I am also committed to taking vitamins four times/day (Morning: Mega Mutil, b12, d3, k2; Lunch: calcium citrate w/ D, Triple Magnesium Complex, Biotin, Zinc, Folic Acid, Echinacea; Dinner: Iron, Mega Multi, Omega 3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C w/ Rose Hips, Garlic, Elderberry; Bed: Calcium Citrate w/ D, Hair, Skin, & Nails, kelp).