Its been a week full of ups and downs emotionally but I'm healing good physically. I'm going through the issue of missing foods now. I know its only for a couple/few months or so but its still a pita when all around you everyones eating what your craving. Oh well, I gotta do what I gotta do. I just wish the foul moods would stop. I've been cranky a lot cause its so stressful in this house. Does not make a pleasant recovery or ease things when adjusting to such drastic diet changes.
So I'm on whats called stage 2 diet. Heres a break down of what I'm allowed. Fair warning this is one of my long ones but this time its due to showing samples of what I'm allowed to eat etc, not my normal babblings.
4 cups of water or other sugar-free beverage each day, to be drank only between meals. Allowed things like the sugar free popcicles etc between meals too. 4 small meals a day. Must have 2 children's chewable vitamins. The vitamins are important because of the fact this diet does not give you calories, protein, vitamins or minerals. Its to be followed for up to 4 weeks after surgery. I see the surgeon on the 3rd so it may change up to stage 3 (lapband procedures go quicker then the actual bypass). The diet is very similar for both, but the lapband moves through it all a LOT faster.
The tips add that all food must be blended until smooth and your to strain for parts that did not blend. You can season to taste but may want to avoid spicy food (THANK GODDESS I tolerate spice so far. I use garlic and hot sauce a lot because I'm so sick of bland food lol). Beside the samples in ( ) are my thoughts on that food lol.
From the Milk group, 4 servings a day. Samples are 1/2 cup skim or 1% low-fat milk (I do the 1%, if I have to do skim, I wont drink milk). 1/2 cup low-fat, lactaid milk (ick no way), 2 tablespoon nonfat dry milk powder (FORGET THAT, dry milk makes me gag), 1/2 cup sugar-free, low-fat or non fat yogurt with fruit pieces removed (I like blueberry), or 1/2 cup sugar-free pudding (can we say chocolate pudding burn out after 3 days but I'm starting to want it again lol).
From the veggie group, 2 servings a day. Samples are 1/2 cup veggie juice (like v8, tomato etc, I do the v8 type, yum and makes it easier to take my pills using the v8), 1/4 cup blended veggies such as asparagus (gag), beets (meh, tolerable), carrots (if cooked right), eggplant (forget it), veggie soup (meh boring but ok), greens (wth is that?), spinach (I used to like trying to be popeye but has to have vinegar or forget it), tomato sauce (yum), zucchini (forget it) and green beans (if they are french cut, yum).
From the fruit group, 2 servings a day. This group is a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Samples are 1/2 cup diluted, unsweetened fruit juice (I do orange juice, kind of icky watered down but its tolerable), 1/4 cup blended, unsweetened fruit or 1/2 jar strained baby food stage 1 (I have not had freshly blended fruit yet and have been putting off the baby food sue got me as I hate pears and banana puree does not appeal). You have to be careful of doing full strenth fruit juice because it can cause dumping syndrome. Your also to avoid strained fruit desserts and junior or toddler foods.
From the starch group, 2 servings. This group is good source of energy, b vitamins and iron if fortified. Samples are 1/2 cup blended soup of any kind (meh some are ok if spiced with hot sauce and or garlic now), 1/2 cup cooked cereals such as cream of wheat (yuk), cream of rice (gag), oatmeal (a couple bites of fruit flavored but I still haven't eaten any) or grits (blah), 1/4 cup blended starch veggies like creamed corn (meh), winter squash (no way), mashed potatos (a daily staple now), sweet potato (no way, I gag), and peas (yum).
From the meat group, 4 servings. This group is a good source of protein, energy, b vitamins and iron. Samples are 1/2 small jar strained baby food plain meats (I actually like beef, chicken and turkey, tastes weird only in the sense of how its pureed), 1/4 cup egg substitute (not bad), 1/4 cup blended low-fat cottage cheese (I love cottage cheese), 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter (yum), 1/4 cup water packed tuna blended (yum normal but haven't tried blended yet), 1/4 cup/1 ounce cooked blended meats such as beef, fish, turkey, chicken, pork, veal, yummers to all other then haven't had any yet blended). Small amounts of fat-free gravy or broth can be added for flavor (I'm big time burned out on broth as I was drinking it the first couple days and do broth as a soup).
From the fat group, 2 servings. Samples are 1 teaspoon regular margarine or oil (I like olive oil), 2 teaspoons diet margarine (haven't tried), 1 tablespoon low-fat mayonnaise or salad dressing (haven't tried).
Needless to say this diet is rather bland but what I'll eat is ok. I'm just burned out and its only been a week lol. I want crunchy fooooooood. Oh well, one day I'll get my taco :) I'm having a bit of trouble coping with portions. I don't go over, I just realized writing this that I am actually not getting enough of a couple groups. Mainly the meat group.
I've already been told by my aunt and sue that it looks like I'm loosing weight already. I think its just the deflating of my tummy from the gas (it took a couple/few days) but guess I'll find out on the 3rd if they are right.
I'll share stage 3 diet soon (next step). I also intend to get a bit more into emotional issues, physical issues, will have pictures of what tummy looked like day of surgery, day 5 after and more then likely (if I can get the nerve to actually do it) full body shot pictures of me from a couple years ago as well as recent. The pictures is hard for me but I figure it may bring things more home for people as well as show before and after type things.
More to be written later.
