I found I had to get creative to learn new ways to make things I like high protein and in the beginning, easy on the tummy. Theworldaccorgingtoeggface.com has tons of recipes and food ideas for all stages. Bariatricfoodie.com is another good resource. You'll get there. Weigh or measure your food. Start with 1 ounce of whatever it is. Eat\drink it slowly. Eventually you'll figure out where "full" is. You'll probably figure it out painfully more than once. You will not stretch your sleeve with a single indiscretion. When you over do it a bit, your new tummy will let you know and you will not want to repeat the experience! It'll range from a stuck in the throat feeling, to foamy spit up, to full on up chucking. Make a note of how much or what you ate and back off the amount next time. For me, I tend to lose the bit that was "too much" and nothing more when it happens, and it's less and less frequent as I learn my limits. I ate with a baby spoon for the first month. It helps you take smaller bites and slow down. Work towards getting your protein and fluids first. The food\calories will come in time. Light on calories at this stage won't make you sick, but dehydration will. And don't worry about the scale for the first 2 weeks. Your body is getting rid of all the fluids they put in you in the hospital right now so you may weigh more. I waited until my first post op appointment to weigh at the Dr's office, then only once per week after that. Scale focus will make you crazy. Don't let yourself go there. Best of luck, you'll get there!

My RNY was over 5 years ago. I went from 340 and now maintain around 140.

The first month I lived on 4 Slim Fast high protein shakes a day. I could have progressed to solid food sooner, but I was overwhelmed so I stuck to the liquid diet. It takes a while to get used to but it does get better. Hang in there!!

thanks for all the good advice. i was just curious but, right now i just drank 10oz of chicken broth in like 20 minutes.. is that too much? I've read people have a hard time getting 3 oz in and i just drank all that. i feel like my pouch is broke or something.

I'm sure everything is fine with your pouch. Liquids will go straight through. What does your surgeon say about portion sizes?? When you move to solid food, please measure. Your nerves have been cut and it may take a while to feel "full".

Slow down, calm down. Your stomach is still healing you really don't need to worry about stretching your pouch right now. According to my surgeon, the way pouches get stretched is month after surgery (NOT days) through routine overeating and vomiting. Make an appointment with or a phone appointment with the dietitian at your surgeon's office and get granularly specific with them about what you should eat and when. Write out a schedule if you need to.

I'm 26 months post RNY. Here's what to expect in the months to come;

You will go through periods in which you will not like anything you can eat. It happens, eat what you're supposed to anyway and have faith, it will pass.

You will have weight loss stalls, you will panic. My advise when this happens is to have a friend or family member remove your scale from your home for about a month. I was about 3 weeks post op and hit a stall. I made myself crazy weighing myself multiple times a day convinced I was the only person in the world that this surgery wouldn't work on. My husband took the scale to work with him. Best thing he could have done for me. I could do nothing but focus on behaviors and following the rules. After a month, I got back on the scale and had lost quite a bit of weight.

You will very likely go through a period 3-4 months out where very little agrees with your pouch and you puke a lot. It too will pass.

You will likely have hair loss. I tried Niacin supplements and Nioxin shampoo, didn't help. But, the hair loss stops and the hair regrows. It will pass.

You will make dietary mistakes, and you will learn from them.

You will decide you don't need to log anymore, but you will be wrong. Keep logging.

After the 1st year it will become harder. Your weight loss will slow down and you will be able to eat more than you can now. This is where logging, exercising and staying diligent will help a great deal.

Here's the upside: My starting weight was 347lbs (I'm 5'7" and 46 years old). My current weight is 170lbs. I lost 124lbs the 1st year and I didn't exercise at all (I don't recommend this but want to be honest about it). The second year I lost 41lbs and exercised a lot but didn't log my food or watch my diet very well. I've lost the rest in the last 2 months and I've been logging and exercising. I'd like to lose 30-40lbs more.

My husband had RNY 2 months after I did and he lost 180lbs in 6 months never exercising. He's maintained it and still doesn't exercise. Men really suck sometimes when it comes to weight loss. I'm happy for him, but yes indeed a bit frustrating to live with that when I'm still working so hard to lose. He went through everything I listed above as well.

The question I get all the time is about loose skin. Yes I have some loose skin. It's not as bad as I expected, but it's there. My upper arms have some wings and I've always been pear shaped so my stomach, thighs and hips could definitely look better.

First, congratulations on your decision towards a healthier life. Now, as everyone else has said, take a deep breath and call your nutritionist. This is the best advice anyone can give you. Your bariatric surgeon's office should have a nutritionist on staff. There really is so much to learn that you just don't absorb prior to surgery.

As already stated, get in your water. I had to add (and still do, nearly 2 years post-surgery) a small amount of Crystal Light lemonade powder to my water to make it palatable. For the first couple of months I lived on Wonder Slim protein shakes and hot cocoa. It was the only protein drink I could "stomach". I also ate Greek yogurt, daily.

A word of caution - eat and drink slowly! Some things might go down easily but don't want to stay there. I still can't handle pasta, rice and really spicy foods. And while this might be TMI, vomiting is different post-surgery. It's more like a cat hacking up a hair ball. Sorry for the graphic details!

There's so much info to pass on, but it can be overwhelming all at once. Just keep asking questions here on MFP and you will get sound advice from its members. Best wishes!!

First I want to say to the successful members who have posted YOU ARE AWESOME!! This is why I love this group so much, Honest to goodness great people who are willing to help the newbies like Paula and myself and countless others who are nervous and confused and even downright scared. Paula I am sure you will soon see a few more post from some other members who also give great advice to us, and check out those numbers right!? 125, 132, 202 pounds LOST! I will listen to every thing they have to say! :laugh:

Stick with us, Paula. Read other threads and write down ideas you think may work for you, I will be joining you soon and may need advice from YOU!

Don't be afraid to ask more questions, another idea I would suggest is to friend some of our successful members where you could get some more personal interaction.

You got this!!

"What do you measure? and how do you know specific quatities or portions? Thank you. I have a scale and am preparing for my July sleeve."

I made sure to get a digital scale that allows you to tare out the weight of my dishes/bowls. Then if a package says the serving size is 3 ounces, I weigh out the item until I have the serving size. Now my portions are smaller than that due to my sleeve. Since you are pre op, it's a good time to get used to what a size actually is. Like, a serving of pasta is 2 ounces according to the box. That's a small amount and was eye opening to me when I first got my scale. I'm used to a plate full, after all.

It also helps for something like an ounce of cheese. You can weigh a slice or shreds and see the serving size for different shapes.

Sorry if this is formatted wrong, I'm writing this on the train on my phone!

Congratulations Paula. I'm so happy for you. I understand and sympathize with you over your concerns. I'm having my RNY a week from Tuesday (June 17th) and I'm so nervous/anxious and just want everything to go well.
I'll be following all of your posts. Anxious to see and read of your progress.

I am not really sure I want to ask, but can you explain this "frothing" that you mention:

"im 4 months out and on solids and i keep a tea towel next to me when i eat in case my pouch throws a strop and i get the frothies
one day something will go down fine and the next day 2 bites in and my pouch objects "

It sounds, well, kind gross!

It certainly can be. Foods you loved pre-op may not agree with you post op. Food you hated might not be so bad anymore. Things that are too greasy/fatty/sugary may come right back up or knock you out of commission with headaches and nausea.

You really do need to commit to a whole new way of eating. And there is a learning curve. You can go to all the nutrition classes and take notes and you will still be fumbling through what to eat/not eat and what works/does not work because your body has been fundamentally altered.

Off subject- is there any way that I can save this thread? I am in the process of doing a revision (UGH) and would love to remember these tips.

You can bookmark this page, just as with any webpage. Or, since you added a response to the thread, it will now show up on your News Feed and recent posts list, so you can find it later.

Great advices!

Well @prettiestpaul; How are we doing 3 weeks out? Everything can be overwhelming early on but it does settle down as you learn to listen to your body. Are you progressing through blended food to some solids yet? Are you getting your protein and fluids in? Let us know.