This turned into its own post, a spin off of the Doing Better post. I am opinionated, yes, but I think common sense would tell anyone that the wacky diet proposed by this dietician is not really logical or even doable. I tossed it out long before I went to Mexico for the surgery and I suggest YOU toss it out, too. The coordinator calls me noncompliant, I call me SMART for being concerned about overall nutrition. I am not sorry for dissing their suggested diet and I am not sorry for sticking to my guns and doing things the way I feel is best for me. I know me better than any of YOU, so I will take care of myself as I see fit. I do respect professionals, however, I do NOT simply do as I’m told without research and deciding if it is the right path FOR ME.
People who live in this country with its poor one-size-fits-all healthcare would do well to follow my example. You must take the reins, be your own advocate and do what YOU feel is best for YOU.
I’ve pointed out to the Mexican team SEVERAL TIMES that I will NOT follow a meal plan that revolves around fruit, yogurt, smoothies and potted meat. It’s crazy and I’m not doing it. I’ve said that from DAY ONE. The coordinator implied that my slow-ish weigh loss was due to my not following their wacky diet, and went so far as to recommend that I contact that dietician and ask for help! LOL Right, let’s call the person who makes a diet for VSG patients that has meals consisting of 3+ cups volume and are laden with fruit (sugar, no nutrients) and rely on yogurt every meal. NEIN. I don’t know what planet that dietician lives on, but NO VSG patient can eat that much, like, EVER. 5 oz pouch can’t hold 2-3 cups. DUH.
Here are a coupla screen shots of the offending “diet”. This one is from the pureed section with the infamous 1 cup potted meat (deviled ham, which is 90% FAT, this is like FOUR cans):
Here is a daily plan for the last few weeks called “Soft Foods” which is mostly fruit and yogurt and identical to the pureed foods diet:
For the record, you should NOT continue to eat pureed or soft foods indefinitely. THIS is how you’ll gain weight, since you never reach satiety. This diet is POOR. I’m not eating anything pureed at this point. I am still eating soft foods, but since pretty much all I can hold is protein, it’s mostly baked fish, canned chicken, ground chicken and veg where I can fit them in. Oh, and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I’ve found that egg beaters are awesome for this, so I have beaters with salsa. I really don’t like sweets for breakfast. I have my 30gm protein shake (Premier Protein, not cheap, but palatable) at 8pm every night. No other proteins yet and certainly few carbs – although I have had mac and cheese twice with NO REGRETS. I am averaging between 60-70 grams protein a day. My diet is FINE. Read this book for more about “mushy food syndrome”.
I have had a very smooth surgery (other than the dehisced incision) and I’ve moved through the recovery weeks well. I am not typical, but I feel that my diet has been moving along at its own pace and it’s FAR from done. I think I probably am typical, and if patients would eat a better diet and not be married to the diet given by this dietician, they’d move faster, too. I have no proof of this, but it’s my feeling.
I am on track for the average weight loss of VSG patients: 1st month is 15-30#, following months are 5-20#. I am confident that my diet has nothing whatsoever to do with my perceived slow weight loss, because it is not slow, it’s typical. I am just impatient and I want the weight GONE, like, yesterday, so it feels slow to me.
As always, I only write about MY experience and your mileage may vary (YMMV). Any advice given here is geared towards reminding you that YOU know your body better than anyone else and therefore YOU have a say in how things progress. I will not apologize for doing things my way, because it’s my body.
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