This week I started back on a full range of foods following my final dietitian appointment.
It has been quite an adjustment and I have discovered there are some foods that just do not sit well in my stomach.
Things that are really starchy and soft like soft bread and cake like texture go in to my stomach and seem to set like a big lump making me feel really uncomfortable. Then there are things like protein that make me feel full really fast.
Everyday is a new food experience and I am just taking things one day at a time trying to work out what works and what does not.
I am struggling to eat enough and remembering to eat my snacks if proving to be a bit of challenge.
Hopefully things will get easier over time.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Learning To Chew
Tonight I discovered what happens when you try and progress though the post op phases too fast and do not follow the rules about chewing your food properly.
I made Hubby some spaghetti bolognese and I made sure it was full of veggies so that when I pureed it I would be getting some veg rater than just meat and carbs.
I included zucchini, carrot, mushrooms, capsicum, spinach and eggplant along with onion, garlic, mince and tomatoes.
Once it was cooked I dished up my portion into a Pyrex jug and blended it with a stick blender.
When we sat down to eat I got a few mouthfuls in and discovered a piece of mushroom that was still whole. I figured that since it was just a piece of mushroom I could just chew it up until it was a puree texture. But even though I knew what I needed to do my mouth just had a mind of it's own. All those years of just gulping down food ad taught my mouth to just chew chew swallow and my new stomach was having none of it.
I felt like I had swallowed an entire mushroom whole not just a small piece that had been partly chewed. It was really uncomfortable and felt like it was sitting on top of the opening of my stomach. I won't say that I was in pain but it was close. I walked around a bit pleading with my body to just accept the mushroom but my body was having none of it. When my mouth started to fill with saliva I knew it was time to rush to the bathroom sink.
I made it in time to promptly bring up the 3 mouthfuls and the offending mushroom. With such a little stomach there was not much to get rid of so it was over pretty quickly. It did not however stop the tears that always happen to accompany an episode of vomiting for me.
So if you have had just had your sleeve or are thinking of getting one done then just remember that at this stage you need to make sure your food is well pureed. Then when you are ready to eat solids again you need to follow the rule your mother used to tell you of "chew each mouthful 20 times" (or was that just my mum?) and then and only then should you swallow your food..
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
I made Hubby some spaghetti bolognese and I made sure it was full of veggies so that when I pureed it I would be getting some veg rater than just meat and carbs.
I included zucchini, carrot, mushrooms, capsicum, spinach and eggplant along with onion, garlic, mince and tomatoes.
Once it was cooked I dished up my portion into a Pyrex jug and blended it with a stick blender.
When we sat down to eat I got a few mouthfuls in and discovered a piece of mushroom that was still whole. I figured that since it was just a piece of mushroom I could just chew it up until it was a puree texture. But even though I knew what I needed to do my mouth just had a mind of it's own. All those years of just gulping down food ad taught my mouth to just chew chew swallow and my new stomach was having none of it.
I felt like I had swallowed an entire mushroom whole not just a small piece that had been partly chewed. It was really uncomfortable and felt like it was sitting on top of the opening of my stomach. I won't say that I was in pain but it was close. I walked around a bit pleading with my body to just accept the mushroom but my body was having none of it. When my mouth started to fill with saliva I knew it was time to rush to the bathroom sink.
I made it in time to promptly bring up the 3 mouthfuls and the offending mushroom. With such a little stomach there was not much to get rid of so it was over pretty quickly. It did not however stop the tears that always happen to accompany an episode of vomiting for me.
So if you have had just had your sleeve or are thinking of getting one done then just remember that at this stage you need to make sure your food is well pureed. Then when you are ready to eat solids again you need to follow the rule your mother used to tell you of "chew each mouthful 20 times" (or was that just my mum?) and then and only then should you swallow your food..
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Crunchy Crunchy Mmmmmm
Today I was allowed cruskits and oh how nice it was to bite into something.
It seems really strange that one of the things I missed the most was texture. But what I have missed the most is variety of flavour. Having to eat or in my case drink the same thing day after day at every meal really made me think about how lucky we are to have the ability to eat a huge range of food to choose from every day. It made me really think about people in those countries where eating the same thing day after day is a way of life.
Everything tastes so good right now but I am still over estimating how much I can eat. I only managed 1 and a bit of the cruskits above. Hubby is loving all the bits I don't eat.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
It seems really strange that one of the things I missed the most was texture. But what I have missed the most is variety of flavour. Having to eat or in my case drink the same thing day after day at every meal really made me think about how lucky we are to have the ability to eat a huge range of food to choose from every day. It made me really think about people in those countries where eating the same thing day after day is a way of life.
Everything tastes so good right now but I am still over estimating how much I can eat. I only managed 1 and a bit of the cruskits above. Hubby is loving all the bits I don't eat.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Friday, 7 March 2014
First Week Back At Work
This week has been pretty uneventful but I have been back at work and I seem to be coping ok.
I was worried that I would not have enough mental stamina to get me through the day this first week back.
I have noticed that my brain seems to be a bit slow off the mark but I get there in the end.
My boss knows what I have had done but no one else knows and I plan to keep it that way. She has been really supportive and has been checking in with me each day to see how I am doing which is nice.
I have been taking a multi vitamin for the last few days so I hope that will give me a bit more pep in my step. I know I should have been taking then all along but I kind of forgot. Oh well better late than never.
I have been sleeping a lot more than normal but I know this is pretty normal for when you are recovering from surgery.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
I was worried that I would not have enough mental stamina to get me through the day this first week back.
I have noticed that my brain seems to be a bit slow off the mark but I get there in the end.
My boss knows what I have had done but no one else knows and I plan to keep it that way. She has been really supportive and has been checking in with me each day to see how I am doing which is nice.
I have been taking a multi vitamin for the last few days so I hope that will give me a bit more pep in my step. I know I should have been taking then all along but I kind of forgot. Oh well better late than never.
I have been sleeping a lot more than normal but I know this is pretty normal for when you are recovering from surgery.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Real Food Oh How I Missed You
Oh My Goodness. I never knew baby food could be so good.
After what seems like an eternity on sweet shakes it was so good to be eating savoury foods again.
It took me ages to drink my 1/2 cup of soup but this is what my dietitian had told me to expect. It took me over half an hour to get it down and I had to reheat it a couple of times. Tomorrow I am going to heat it up an then put it in a thermos flask to keep it warm.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
After what seems like an eternity on sweet shakes it was so good to be eating savoury foods again.
It took me ages to drink my 1/2 cup of soup but this is what my dietitian had told me to expect. It took me over half an hour to get it down and I had to reheat it a couple of times. Tomorrow I am going to heat it up an then put it in a thermos flask to keep it warm.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Puree Preparation
So I went shopping and cooked up a whole lot of food for my 2 weeks on pureed food.
I cooked up some savoury meals and I also stewed some fruit to have with yogurt.
I know that I will be having mushed up wheatbix with milk for breakfast and fruit and yogurt for morning and afternoon tea and supper and then I just need to have 2 other meals which will be made up of meat and vegetables.
I cooked up some apples and some peaches and pureed them. Then when the mix had cooled I measured it in a 1/4 cup measure and then put each 1/4 cup of puree in a freezer bag and tied the top. These all went in the freezer and I know they will not take long to defrost since they are such small bags
Then I cooked up a leek, potato and bacon soup which again was pureed, cooled and bagged this time in 1/2 cup amounts.
And finally I cooked some beef in red wine sauce in the slow cooker and repeated the process for the soup.
I really wanted to have these meals cooked ahead of time as it is much easier to cook a larger amount and puree it that try and cook 1/2 cup portions. Plus I did not want to have the hassle of cooing every day when I was possibly a bit tired due to being back at work and on low nutrition.
I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to eating savoury food after all these sweet shakes and when the day rolls around I can have cruskits as well that will be so good. Texture in my food has been something I have really missed and it was not something I had thought about missing.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
I cooked up some savoury meals and I also stewed some fruit to have with yogurt.
I know that I will be having mushed up wheatbix with milk for breakfast and fruit and yogurt for morning and afternoon tea and supper and then I just need to have 2 other meals which will be made up of meat and vegetables.
I cooked up some apples and some peaches and pureed them. Then when the mix had cooled I measured it in a 1/4 cup measure and then put each 1/4 cup of puree in a freezer bag and tied the top. These all went in the freezer and I know they will not take long to defrost since they are such small bags
Then I cooked up a leek, potato and bacon soup which again was pureed, cooled and bagged this time in 1/2 cup amounts.
And finally I cooked some beef in red wine sauce in the slow cooker and repeated the process for the soup.
I really wanted to have these meals cooked ahead of time as it is much easier to cook a larger amount and puree it that try and cook 1/2 cup portions. Plus I did not want to have the hassle of cooing every day when I was possibly a bit tired due to being back at work and on low nutrition.
I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to eating savoury food after all these sweet shakes and when the day rolls around I can have cruskits as well that will be so good. Texture in my food has been something I have really missed and it was not something I had thought about missing.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Dietitian Appointments
Before I went in for my surgery I had 2 appointments with my dietitian. The first covered my pre op diet and the second covered what to expect in hospital and the first 2 weeks post op.
One of the things my dietitian drilled into me was the fact that my surgeon Michael Hatzafotis was very strict in the post op liquid phase compared to other surgeons as he likes everything to be as low risk to the patient as possible. I have to say that as that patient that is a very reassuring thought and I am sure is what contributes to his zero complication rate.
I did not realise quite how different the process could be but now I understand that every surgeon has very different perspectives on the post op phases.
Michael keeps you nil by mouth for 3 days in hospital before getting you to do your barrium swallow test and then keeps you on very small and measured amounts for the next 10 days. Some surgeons get you to do your barrium the day after your surgery and if all goes well you are straight on to liquids. Then once you are on liquids every surgeon differs as to how much and what they want you to be drinking.
My third dietitian appointment today was all about moving on to the puree food stage. He really pressed apon me the need to take it slowly and not force it. He explained to me that it was important to start off with food that was more watery and over the two weeks move to thicker and thicker consistency. He explained that if the puree was too thick I would end up feeling too full too quickly and this would prevent me from getting enough food in to get enough nutrients.
He has given me some examples of food that I should be trying to eat in a pureed form and I have asked about some other meals that might work as well.
Now that I have the go ahead and I know when I can stat on the puree I am really excited. I am so looking forward to something other than shakes. In fact today I got a bit desperate and ate a piece of cheese. well actually I sucked on it until it dissolved in my mouth and it tasted sooooo good. But then I had a big panic that I was going to hurt myself so I have vowed not to do it again.
I am going shopping tomorrow to get some supplies to cook up meals and freeze it into portions to cover me for the period I am on puree food.
And the most exciting thing the dietitian told me today was that for the second week of my 2 week puree phase I can eat Cruskits. Cruskits are allowed as they dissolve in your mouth when you eat them. But it will still be exciting to eat something with some texture.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
One of the things my dietitian drilled into me was the fact that my surgeon Michael Hatzafotis was very strict in the post op liquid phase compared to other surgeons as he likes everything to be as low risk to the patient as possible. I have to say that as that patient that is a very reassuring thought and I am sure is what contributes to his zero complication rate.
I did not realise quite how different the process could be but now I understand that every surgeon has very different perspectives on the post op phases.
Michael keeps you nil by mouth for 3 days in hospital before getting you to do your barrium swallow test and then keeps you on very small and measured amounts for the next 10 days. Some surgeons get you to do your barrium the day after your surgery and if all goes well you are straight on to liquids. Then once you are on liquids every surgeon differs as to how much and what they want you to be drinking.
My third dietitian appointment today was all about moving on to the puree food stage. He really pressed apon me the need to take it slowly and not force it. He explained to me that it was important to start off with food that was more watery and over the two weeks move to thicker and thicker consistency. He explained that if the puree was too thick I would end up feeling too full too quickly and this would prevent me from getting enough food in to get enough nutrients.
He has given me some examples of food that I should be trying to eat in a pureed form and I have asked about some other meals that might work as well.
Now that I have the go ahead and I know when I can stat on the puree I am really excited. I am so looking forward to something other than shakes. In fact today I got a bit desperate and ate a piece of cheese. well actually I sucked on it until it dissolved in my mouth and it tasted sooooo good. But then I had a big panic that I was going to hurt myself so I have vowed not to do it again.
I am going shopping tomorrow to get some supplies to cook up meals and freeze it into portions to cover me for the period I am on puree food.
And the most exciting thing the dietitian told me today was that for the second week of my 2 week puree phase I can eat Cruskits. Cruskits are allowed as they dissolve in your mouth when you eat them. But it will still be exciting to eat something with some texture.
I really appreciate any comments you take the time to leave. Feel free to ask questions.
If you are on this journey too or any other type of weight loss journey feel free to say hello and share your story.
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