Another diet question...

Ok, I know there have been a lot of posts on dieting after surgery, but I am wondering if anyone has an opinion on how long to wait after surgery to start a diet program? I just feel so big now! I know some of it is just swelly-belly but I would like to "get healthier". I'm just wondering for my healing-body's sake, should I wait a certain amount of time before trying a diet program? (I would be sensible about it and join something healthy like W.W. for example). I mean, I am only 3 1/2 months post -op, so I don't want to cause even more stress on my body. Any advice or opinions?!?! Thanks! zanylynn

I am wondering the same thing! I am about a month ahead of you and feel like an I am going to Curves at least 3x a wk, and when I get a chance, but the is overwhelming!

Hope we get some good responses! How are you doing?

Hang in there! Life is good!

Hi gals

I had the LAVH-BSO, but I guess those three tiny incicions are also causing me some grief w/the belly region! I want to work on the abdominals so badly - but I'm only 7 wks post-op and not sure this is a grand idea.

I've only been back to work for 3 days and I'm exhausted (no more insomnia, though!! ) It's so hard to get up at 6 a.m., come home by 6 p.m....seems like I barely get home and it's time for bed. Having trouble fitting a work-out routine into my life. And I need to, since I'm not on estrogen, need to get that weightbearing exercise going.

I'll be interested to read the posts!!

Shoozie

Hello Ladies,
Watching what we eat is good for us at any stage in our life. I've always struggled with my weight since age 10...now 45 years young. WW is a very good program. I am not a believer in the carb craze.

I am at the heaviest I've been in years. But I am bound and determinded to work hard to take it off. (20 Lbs over) Back to the gym and writing down my calorie intake throughout the day. Trying to stick to the WW principals. I found if I write down everything down I put in my mouth and keep track even if it is healthy it sure adds up.

This swelly belly thing sure takes time to heal. When I bump by tummy and it still is tender...I know it still is healing (Never thought it would take this long) Other than that I am back to normal. Going to the gym 5-7 days a week and up to 4-5 miles a day on the eliptical. Back to the gym 2 months now and my arms and leg look great...my belly...well it looks better.
All for now good luck and remember you just had major surgery,
abby

I don't know if there's really a time frame on when to start. Iv'e not seen it. I do know that 6 months is a mile stone. I am 10 days shy of my 6 month mark and have just started with diet and excercise. My belley was still swolen and tender especailly on the left side so I didn't want to make that any worse with excersice because it did seem to matter. Even at 4 months my belley was bigger at the end of the day. I am only walking now and have lost several inches and 7 pounds. Take it easy and let your body tell you when its "your" time. Our times may vary, so don't go by what someone else does.

Livin-4Him,

Amen to that! That's how I got myself into trouble - I figured I could do just as much as someone else that was wrong! I had a TAH, and my tummy is still very sensitive to touch or if I bump it on something. ouch!

I do what I can, and the heck with what everyone else thinks I should be doing!

Hang in there...we still have a ways to go! But, we will get there!

I agree with Abbyha, it is never too early to eat wisely, and be healthy. I struggled with obesity all my life, and two years ago started to eat healthy-good carbs and at least 20 mintues of exercise a day. I lost 55 pounds doing that, and have kept it off.
I started walking several times a day-short little walks-right after surgery. They got me up in the hospital. I kept eating healthy from day one-and it is over a year past my hyster. I weigh the same as I did and have kept the weight off. And I have been taking HRT since the day after surgery. I don't consider it a diet-I just eat healthy most of the time. I found a book by Dr. Strand called Releasing Fat, to be very helpful.

I would just suggest that you don't want to do anything extreme, since your body still needs good nutrition to continue and complete it's healing. So maybe the way to go is to start by just focusing on good nutrition rather than on calorie cutting.

Here's a really simple idea. Have you ever heard of the 'plate' diet? Imagine that your plate is divided into quarters. For each meal, fill one quarter with protein (meat, cheese, fish, dairy), one quarter with starch (bread, rice, potato, pasta), and HALF of the plate with vegetables. If you are still hungry when you finish, have an additional serving of vegetables or add fruit. (Of course, if you really need a treat, you could put a couple of cookies in the starch quadrant without feeling like you are blowing the whole thing). This simple plan ensures that you are eating a basically healthy diet, without too much thought.

If you want to get a little more sophisticated, you could look at something like South Beach, but skip phase I which is more extreme, and start with phase II or even III, which will get you in the habit of making healthy choices.

Thanks to all who replied--I guess you're right, we all heal at individual rates. I'm still extremely tired after working, so the thought of an exercise program right now seems almost impossible! As for the eating healthy, I always get frustrated because i truly DO eat healthy-- lots of fresh fruit, veggies, tofu, yogurt, cheese (yes, there's the fat!!) not much meat at all. That's why I think I should be the thinnest person around--while my co-workers are eating their cookies & Mcdee's sausage biscuits, I'm eating my whole wheat bread, lowfat cottage cheese and radishes!!!!!! I guess it just must be my portion size!!!! Even "good-for you' foods add up, I guess!!! Anyway, just want to be sure not to add extra stress to my body or extra "swelly" to the belly!!!!! zanylynn