I just had surgery and.......

tuffgrl · 10-Aug-05, 07:26 PM

I had surgery about a month ago and gained 10 pounds from that. I'm desperate to get back into shape and fast. My plastic surgeon told me that I need to wait a few more weeks to resume my training. I know that diet has a lot to do with results, and I just don't think mine is cutting it lately. I eat by the book, very clean and every 3-4 hours. I just don't think it's doing anything for me. I was thinking about doing a Met-RX meal replacement shake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe an apple or something in between. I was hoping to maybe get used to this, and make it my diet for a while. What do you guys think about that? Would that be bad ju-ju? Or could I maybe get away with that? I'm also taking a womens Viactiv multivitamin so I'm not losing out on any of that.

gymrat · 10-Aug-05, 07:38 PM

I don't know what type of surgery you had (and I won't be nosy by asking), but I had surgery at the end of June and am still recovering. Surgery can be traumatic on your body and I think it takes time to get the anesthesia out of your system and for things to return to normal.

I would NOT start eating shakes for every meal. You need real food - lots of veggies, fruit, and lean proteins. If you post what a typical day is like for you, I'm sure you'll some feedback on that.

**threenorns** · 10-Aug-05, 07:40 PM

this is NOT the time to worry about cutting calories. i'm a veteran of plastic surgery (five rhinoplasties throughout my life plus other facial surgeries) and take it from me: after major surgery is when you need to make sure you're taking in top-quality nutrition. you've got all the time in the world to cut body fat later, but you don't wanna go messing around with post-op recuperation.

tuffgrl · 10-Aug-05, 07:53 PM

I had a breast augmentation. I can't even imagine doing a push up right now. Even while I was working out prior to my surgery, I still wasn't seeing any results. My typical day was like this:
7am
protein shake
(1 scoop Isopure, 1/4c. blueberries, 1/2 banana, 1 tbsp. all natural peanut butter, water)

9-9:45am
cardio

10am
apple
protein shake (with just water, not all of that fruit)

2pm
spinach salad
(spinach, cucumber, 1/2 avocado, onion, tomato, mushrooms, grilled chicken or tuna, 2 tbsp. fat-free dressing)

4-5pm
weight training

6pm
grilled chicken breast or fish, sweet potatoe or brown rice, spinach or brocolli

the end

**threenorns** · 10-Aug-05, 08:05 PM

DAMN, girl, you weren't eating enough to keep a mouse alive!

not only that, but you're leaving it WAY too long between meals.

gymrat · 10-Aug-05, 10:27 PM

In total agreement with 3N... I also see a lack of fat in your diet and that will slow results as well (not to mention that you need fat for vitamin absorption). I would also replace one of your protein shakes with real actual food. I think it's too easy to become reliant on protein shakes and our bodies respond better to food. I try to limit my own consumption of protein shakes/bars to times when it's not convenient to carry around food.

PEPTgirl · 10-Aug-05, 10:45 PM

Wow... I'd be starving if I were you. Add a couple of meals in there. And definitely something a little more substantial at brekkie... Oatmeal with walnuts and raisins and eggs perhaps. If you up your calories you'll probably lose. When I beefed up my breakfast, I saw greater results

PEPTgirl · 10-Aug-05, 10:47 PM

Oh, and congrats on the your new "girls"!

:

tuffgrl · 10-Aug-05, 10:59 PM

WOW! Your responses are the opposite from what I expected. I thought I was eating too much! So if I eat more, then I will lose more?

**threenorns** · 10-Aug-05, 11:04 PM

yup.

if you eat too little, your body gets the signal that it's a famine and makes long-term survival its number-one priority. that means it slows your metabolism: you think slower, you have less energy, even your core body temperature will drop. your body will also begin off-loading metabolically-active tissue (muscle) and every spare calorie it can dredge up will go into fat storage.

it's like water bloat- the only way to cure water bloat is to drink lots of water on a regular basis. if you eat adequate food (at LEAST 1500 calories/day) spread out over many small meals, your body will get the point: there's lot of food to go around. when you workout, it triggers the "fight or flight" reflex - your body considers that you are under attack by an enemy. the number one priority then becomes getting stronger and/or faster.

the interesting thing is that once your body has a good grip on it, it's harder to gain weight - the body will convert every calorie it can to energy production to help you escape these constant attacks.

PEPTgirl · 11-Aug-05, 01:03 AM

I'd get seriously grumpy and fuzzy if I ate only 1500. If I'm having a shake in the morning, I also have a couple of homemade muffins... or something with a little more substance. And I definitely can't go 4 hours between eating. If I have to go that long before a meal, I'll grab an apple and some PB so I can last without sticking my head in a blender!