So, I hope to do a video for you tomorrow, but I wanted to give you an idea of the kinds of things I’m eating on a daily basis for an idea of what it’s like after you’ve healed. Also: the videos will now be ONCE A MONTH, starting with July. The next video (besides tomorrow) will be at the END of July/beginning of August. This is to retain my sanity about the weight loss numbers.
Ok, so, daily eating. There is a learning curve, I won’t lie. My serving size is that of a toddler for the most part. I eat protein first, which means that is about all I eat. I ate shrimp ragout the other night which was full of veg and tonite I’m making gyro sausage w/ sauteed greens, but mostly I’m eating just the protein. We typically have baked fish and I can get in about 4oz of that. I find that different foods fill me up in different ways, which has been interesting. I’m also eating salad again, which makes me VERY happy. I’ll have a wee salad for a snack in the afternoon sometimes. Vitamins are SO important, folks. Get a good multivitamin, take tons of B12, take calcium + D and take iron if you run anemic. (I’ve written about vitamins in depth here.)
Alright, here is a typical day for me. I’ll include the protein count and variations just FYI.
8:30-9am
1 cup of coffee w/ creamer and cream (may or may not finish; about 10oz)
2 eggs, either whole scrambled or beaters w/ salsa (10-12 gm) OR 1/2 cup cottage cheese 12 gm
take vitamins and supplements (SEE Prilosec info below.)
1 20 oz Vitamin water that I sip all day (yes, there’s sugar, but there’s also a TON of vitamins)
noonish
4-5 slices of deli meat (usu ham or turkey) 8gm
4 crackers either triscuit (sriracha!!) or Ritz
1 cheese stick, string or cheddar 6gm
afternoon snack 3-4pm
small salad OR
more meat + cheese 14gm
fizzy water zero cals 12 oz
dinner 7ish
Baked fish filet (cod, tilapia, salmon, about 4 oz) 17gm
OR protein with sauteed veg, various protein, I aim for 15gm+
8ish
protein shake 30 gm (sometimes I have this in the afternoon instead; trying to move it to the afternoon)
another fizzy water if I can manage it 12 oz
For a grand total of around 85 grams IF I have the meaty snack; without the afternoon meat, it’s 71gms, which is within spec. Liquid intake is 65oz IF I get in the second fizzy water, 53oz if not (I count ALL liquid, including coffee and shake). These are under spec, but for me, this is better than I was before VSG. I’ll take it.
I am happy with these numbers. However, every day can’t be a winner, so sometimes it’s barely 60gms. Eh, what can you do?
Now I know you’re looking at the water intake and gasping in disbelief. Well, I’ve never been much for drinking allll day, so 44oz of drink is good for me (one vit water and 2 fizzy waters). I’m doing well at getting in the second fizzy water.
Another thing I’m messing with is Prilosec. When you leave the hospital, you are told to take a double dose of TWO per day, in order to assist your stomach in healing and to prevent the reflux/heartburn you’ll get from your stomach acid going crazy. I switched from the Mexican omeprazole caps to US Prilosec tablets when the first ran out. According to the US package, it is supposed to be ONCE a day. I’ve been trying once a day with varied success. If I don’t take it at night, I’m DEFINITELY refluxy. Today I did not take the morning dose to see how that goes – so far, so good. I’m VERY concerned about acid rebound, which is the effect that Prilosec has when you take it for months, then stop taking it. The whole point is to get your stomach to STOP making too much acid on its own; I fear that taking too much Prilosec for too long will cause me more pain in the long run. Here is a compelling study about the dangers of Prilosec. Here is another. Interesting to note that the long term effects is another area that the Drs don’t seem to have much info about. Long term effects COUNT, people!
I will keep you posted on the stepping down from Prilosec. I’m going to ONE per day before bed and getting some Zantac to use if I feel refluxy during the day. I really don’t want to deal with a stomach that makes too much or too little acid. The body is a marvel of self regulation if you allow it to do its job. I feel that too much Prilosec is interfering with my body’s attempt to self regulate. I feel that my stomach will regulate the acid production if given the chance. I’m giving it that chance. (This is why Drs can’t STAND me and call me “noncompliant”. Whatever. I know what’s best for MY BODY. Deal with it.)