Paleo for the whole family after my VSG

[Rani 3]

My sleeve surgery is scheduled for Aug 18th. I'm a single mom of a 6 year old and want to teach him to have good eating habits and a healthy relationship with food. I know my body does not do well with carbs... I gain weight just looking at them - lol. So, my doctor's and NUT's post-op orders for high protein/low carb eating was not a surprise and something I know I needed to do, even if I didn't have surgery.

Paleo has piqued my interest since a girl friend suggested it several years a go. I was just a bit confused by it for some reason - possibly the simplicity. Anyway, the other day, I came across a Groupon offer for a meal planning site (emeals.com) that makes planning, shopping and cooking very simple, affordable, and seemingly fool proof. They have a variety of different eating styles/plans to choose from and Paleo was one of them. This prompted me to read about it yet again and it seems compatible with the VSG post-op way of eating. Of course, I'll be eating much smaller portions than the recipes I'm sure, but that's just lunch the next day. :-)

Because I plan to continue supplementing my Protein intake with my Unjury shakes, I plan to modify it to include dairy.

Another factor is that, while I wish to teach my son good eating habits, I don't want him to feel he is being punished or "missing out" while his favorite food is cheeseburgers and fries. I already limit his fries (teaching him moderation instead of forcing denial - what my mom did), and while I've been adjusting what I eat in preparation for surgery, I've been slowly decreasing his sugar intake as well. So, I don't plan to have the foods neither of us should eat in the house, but I also don't plan to be super strict on what he's "not allowed" to eat. I hope in time he will simply choose to eat better, ultimately, isn't that the best we can do for our kids?

So, I'm hoping to hear from other post WLS peers who choose or have considered Paleo.

(P.S. I'm also planning to incorporate HCG injections to discourage muscle loss and encourage adipose fat loss. I will NOT be following any of the HCG diet protocols. ...but that's another topic I'll post soon in another forum category.)

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

You are wise to try to guide your son into healthy eating patterns rather than trying to force him to eat healthfully. I battled with my son when he was a toddler because I thought he needed vegetables. He reacted by becoming even less likely to try anything that might be good for him. He wanted only hot dogs and Peanut Butter sandwiches. When I just provided good food without comment, he slowly began to broaden his tastes. And now he is a very health-conscious eater as an adult.

[Sajijoma 1,324]

I'm trying to take my whole family paleo as well. Some of my younger ones are really starting to become sugar addicts and I don't want them to end up like me. Since this will be a lifestyle change for me for life, it won't hurt them to follow along as well. My husband has wanted us to go paleo for a long time, but I've always been resistant because of my sugar addiction and I know how I get when I don't have my drug of choice. Hopefully by making slow gradual changes that my NUT has suggested we can transition less painfully. LOL

[S(he) be(lie)ve(d) 151]

I follow the Paleo style of eating about 90% daily. It's been amazing!!! I feel like a million bucks. When you eat something that is horribly wrong for you, your body feels it. Just the mention of sweet and rich foods, make me want to be sick. They are too intense for my taste buds and stomach now. The only thing that I can tolerate, that is sweet, is chocolate. It works for me! It's a rare treat, usually about once a month. Lol! I have continued to eat dairy. To date, I am 6 lbs away from my goal weight and almost 11 months out from my VSG date. Healing from head to toe, for my body, has only benefited from Paleo. I also swear by PiYo for my workouts. Love it! I haven't had any plastics at all. Eventually, I would like to have breast augmentation, but that is it.

[BackSpin81 350]

Great thread. I've repeatedly considered Paleo, and basically eat this way but never labeled it because of my dairy consumption. I use milk in a Protein Drink at the end of a day of poor food planning and not having had enough Protein. I also enjoy cheese as a snack as well when I make my own P3 Snacks. I'm glad to see that others are on this track as well. Yaaaaaaay!

[Miss Mac 6,261]

I am probaly 80% paleo/primal, but do make a couple of concessions. One is that because I am pushing 64 and have spinal and orthopedic issues, an aggressive exercise program with intermittant high intensity is just downright painful. At my doctor's suggestion I did buy a recumbant bike/elliptical and work in stretches every morning. With post-stroke balance and perception issues I am way more sedentary than I would be because I am a high fall risk and have ended up in the hospital because of falling. That just means than I am barely burning up the 1,000 calories a day that is my limit at 20 months out.

My second concession is dietary. My bariatric physician still pushes 80 grams of Protein daily to include eggs and dairy. Primal eating discourages Beans, legumes and dairy, but the bariatric doctor says I need those as a good source of Protein. My primary doctor says to eat a variety of meat, but not pork.

Primal/paleo encourages fresh fruit, but the bariatric doctor says to only eat one serving a day because of the sugar. Primary doctor wants me to eat several servings of non-starchy fruit only. Bariatric doctor says I can have slice of whole grain bread daily. Primary doctor says I should be eating oatmeal most days and no bread. Primal suggestion is to avoid grains altogether.

I find that with Miss Tummy in charge, I barely have room for ANY fruits or veggies after I eat my requirement of protein first. The Constipation wasn't worth it. Small tummy or not, I don't think humans are meant to live on just meat and Water.

So, I find myself pulled in five directions at once:

1. What my taste buds and flavor memeories want

2. What my bariatric team wants

3. What my primary doctor wants.

4. What is recommended from paleo/primal nutritionists.

5. What my Mediterranean chef boyfriend suggests from a lifetime of raising a Type I diabetic son.

Geeze Louize......this is so confusing. I have given up sugar, sweeteners, colas and bubbly beverages, salt, grains, starchy veggies, most dairy, and anything made in a factory. I do eat eggs and meat of all kinds - including bacon. I use regular dairy butter, but have cut back 90% on milk and cheese. Peanut Butter is the devil only because I could eat a whole jar on a spoon without adult supervision! I might have two slices of bread all week.

I guess that I am officially a Mediterranean-Primal-Paleo-Non-Standard American Diet-"Upside Down food Pyramid" kind of person. I have tried the 5:2 plan, but have dizzy issues when my calories dip below 800. So, I find that even after bariatric surgery and losing the equivalent of wearing a pony for a belt, I am STILL grasping for that magic formula that will balance nutrition, exercise, and healthy weight management. This all makes my poor brain so tired. T.I.R.E.D.

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

I like the idea of a Paleo food plan but I would have to modify it to include some dairy. Love my Greek yogurt! Also, I would have a hard time giving up artificial sweeteners. I know they are not healthy, and I'm working on cutting back, but they really add to my enjoyment of my meals. And then there's the problem @@Miss Mac pointed out: I don't burn a lot of calories each day and the traditional Paleo plan might cause me to gain more weight than I should.

[jess9395 5,448]

I too eat about 80% paleo but add in dairy.

My tactic with my kids is exactly what you are planning! When I cook and what I keep in the house is 80% paleo (though they do whole wheat and sourdough bread which I don't).

But there isn't anything they are not allowed. They have plenty of opportunities to chose non paleo fare when we go out, when at friends houses, at school or sports activities, etc. I will also order them pizza once a month or so.

Life is about balance and I so hope they learn that!

I exercise a lot--running, yoga, triathlons, etc, so I don't limit fruit.

[LizHobbs 27]

How many calories you guys eat after your surgery?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited September 4, 2016 by LizHobbs