Boosting calories on clear liquids - ThinnerTimes

Jeri · 11-08-2007, 04:23 AM

Ok, so Dr. Ganta said I need to be getting about 800 calories a day. He said my body thinks I'm starving it (which I am) BUT 800 calories will fix that. I'mg guessing that's why I have lost any weight on the scale.
I'm told him I wasn't getting many calories other than my protein shakes-about 600 calories or so. There is no way to make up 200 calories with broth, sf jello & sf popsicles so do you all think I need to do this with protein shakes? I have been making my with ff milk so an 8 oz shake is about 200 calories.

I'm looking for advice here please. I need to figure this out to get that scale moving. I'm also going to walk more than I have been.

Dyann · 11-08-2007, 05:09 AM

You say you are on clear liquids, but you are having milk and protein shakes?? That is full liquids. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Concentrate on getting in fluid requirements and then protein. You can always add protein powder to puddings etc. Those numbers are goals and you should work your way up to them. You will get there. Don't worry about the lack of loss. Fluids from your hospital stay are just beginning to mobilize and by 2 weeks the scale will be down significantly.

Jeri · 11-08-2007, 05:18 AM

Well I'm supposed to be on clear liquids but guess I didn't realize that making my protein shakes with milk makes that full liquids. So I screwed that part up.

That is the only area in which I'm on a full liquid diet...otherwise it's water, sf jello, sf popsicles & broth.

So I don't need to get up to 800 exactly? I don't understand why he would emphasize 800 calories a day if he didn't mean it. I am meeting my protein & fluid requirements. Sorry...not trying to make an issue. I just don't get all of this. I do appreciate your response, Dyann. It helped tremendously.

AlabamaChick · 11-08-2007, 06:34 AM

At your stage Jeri, I was on clear liquids also. There was NO WAY I could have gotten 800 calories in that way. So, just do the best you can do, like Dyann said, and it will happen. Keep making your protein shakes with milk. I did! I still do to this day. I would be very sick without my protein smoothies and drinks made with milk since I do not tolerate solids very well. I use 2% milk and sometimes even whole milk if I need to up my calories a bit. Maybe you can try that. Just try a small amount at first to make sure the change will not make you dump. You will be fine, just keep working at it.

Chia · 11-08-2007, 06:37 AM

I don't think calorie content is so important the first week. I had my surgery the same day as you and my doctor said that food at that point was purely for entertainment, as in it would pretty much lack all nutritional value. For me, I would have 1/2 a cup of broth and a jello (sugar free) 3 times a day, which I would never finish along with lots of water and other clear fluids. In all, I think I was maybe getting 80-100 calories a day. As long as you are taking your meds, keeping hydrated, and trying to eat as best you can, I don't think you need to be so focused on trying to reach 800 calories.

VanessaSFL · 11-08-2007, 07:03 AM

Agree with the others...focus on staying hydrated.It will all come together.
I am 100% sure I just started hitting 1000/1200 calories a day and that is at 31 months post -op.I have NEVER counted calories post -op...So I don't really know for sure.

GL and stay Hydrated!

fisher1000 · 11-08-2007, 07:58 AM

Three words: EGG DROP SOUP. Over the course of about 45 minutes, I can get in 16 ounces of it (2 cups!). (I'm almost 7 weeks out, though...) The egg that is in it is very flimsy and has not disturbed my pouch at all. It's got about 150 calories for that much, and 15 grams of protein! The liquid part is clear, and it tastes SOOO good! I don't think I've enjoyed too many things post op they way I enjoyed the soup. Sure, it's got 700 or 800 mg of sodium, but I'm not really getting sodium in anywhere else, so I think it's okay.

I know other people have said it, but I'm still not all that interested in food. The thought of breakfast and the midmorning snack still nauseate me, but I push through it...I don't want my hair to fall out. (Any more than it already has with age and genetics!)

-Mike

LisaBoston · 11-08-2007, 08:33 AM

I agree with the others, get in what you can. Your body has been traumatized with the surgery and its gonna take a while to get into the swing of the new way of eating and it will change weekly for some time now. Keep up the fluids, get in the protein you can and good for you for walking!

Jeri · 11-08-2007, 09:11 AM

Thanks you guys! I'm sure he gave me that as a # to shoot for & of course I'm obsessing on trying to get there. He did tell me to only keep track every so often and not to physically count calories every day. My perfectionist tendencies are showing.

Jeri · 11-08-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher1000

Three words: EGG DROP SOUP. Over the course of about 45 minutes, I can get in 16 ounces of it (2 cups!). (I'm almost 7 weeks out, though...) The egg that is in it is very flimsy and has not disturbed my pouch at all. It's got about 150 calories for that much, and 15 grams of protein! The liquid part is clear, and it tastes SOOO good! I don't think I've enjoyed too many things post op they way I enjoyed the soup. Sure, it's got 700 or 800 mg of sodium, but I'm not really getting sodium in anywhere else, so I think it's okay.

I know other people have said it, but I'm still not all that interested in food. The thought of breakfast and the midmorning snack still nauseate me, but I push through it...I don't want my hair to fall out. (Any more than it already has with age and genetics!)

-Mike

Mike it actually sounds really good. I'm not interested in food either. I could care less about eating. So...when I'm out & about I will pick some soup up.