Food and Nutrition

So I have been getting involved with fitness (both personally and strangely as a research subject, I'm an academic) right as I am launching back into getting the most out of my lap band. I eat about 800 calories a day (per my original directions from my surgeon and her NUT) and get at least 80g of Protein. The thing is, I'm getting a lot of information from elsewhere about the importance of not having too large of a daily deficit in calories (recommended seems to be 500, but I'm doing well over 1000) from your maintenance level (using BMR and TDEE to calculate). The 800 calories help me lose weight, and I don't have trouble with hunger, but is it safe in the long run? …

If you frequently munch on energy bars, you should check you pantry to make sure you discard these popular snacks. The FDA recently announced a voluntary recall of Clif Bar Nuts & Seeds Energy Bars due to possible listeria contamination. The recall, which affects three popular flavors, comes as a result of SunOpta's announcement of potentially harmful goods earlier this year. Symptoms of listeriosis usually begin with diarrhea or other tummy troubles, and patients soon develop a fever and body aches. Those at high risk may also develop a headache, stiff neck, mental confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, which can be signs of fatal meningitis or encephalitis. …

Anyone get samples to try of different Protein shakes, clear liquid Protein drinks etc? Someone had mentioned to my husband I should go online and have samples sent to me. When I search the different brands I don't see anything for free samples lol anyone have any luck? Did you just buy a few of each to try. I'd hate to buy the big box at costco and the hate it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So I was SOOO excited to receive my sample packets of my nectar, so on Saturday I laid them out, picked the Wild Grape, opened the packet to mix in my jug and I mixed and mixed and still couldn't get the lumps out completely. So after getting most of them out I poured some in a glass and took a taste, it was horrible! I couldn't get passed the powdery, thick consistency. Does anyone have any suggestions, I really want to like them.

So I live at the beach... I know poor me! Well our tradition is to literally drive on with the 4x4, take some wood, start a fire grill dogs on a stick and that is our lunch. Of course there always some high carb potato salad and pasta salad and s'mores, cookies, chips, etc. Well I was sleeved last December and the old tradition does not fit in my new life. How would you change it up? Lean hotdog with no bun? Cheese sticks or yogurt in the cooler? Any tasty things I could grill on a stick and that are on the bariatric diet? Side note I am not dreading the bathing suit this year! Beach here I come!

Scrambled egg with a tablespoon of Mediterranean goat cheese spread and fresh, roasted asparagus for dinner. Yum!

This is interesting. But, it shows how flawed it is to do this kind of research without complete information. It would be helpful information to know which users were following a supervised doctor's diet, were bariatric patients, and/or weight loss surgery patients. http://www.fastcoexist.com/3056448/want-to-lose-weight-eat-like-these-people-more-fiber-more-fat?utm_content=bufferfd76c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Disclaimer - This is just a Friday night bit of fluff, not a serious nutritional question. I have read on these forums that our bodies can only absorb a maximum amount of Protein in one hit. So what about carbs & calories? If I ate a lot of calories in one go, would my body not be able to absorb them all? Would my body absorb less of 500 calories if I ate it in one go than if I spread it out over five days? Or is this just wishful thinking? I am craving a really big icecream Specifically a Baskin Robbins Rocky Road. I had one 15 years ago and all of a sudden I can't stop thinking about it. I am not even sure it still exists.

This quest bar just saved my life. Omg why haven't I have one before now? Going back today and getting more. Net carbs is what we look at right?

I am 11 months out of RNY bypass and have done well. About 5 months ago my nut suggested PB2. I bought it, tasted it dry, and never opened it again. Yesterday, at work, someone on WW was talking about it and said you add two tbsp. to one tbsp. of water and mix! I ran home and read the fine print, and there it was! Mixed it up, tasted it, and very tolerable! I can substitute it for the real thing and lots less calories and fat!! Now my only problem will be finding ways to eat it without doing it just for an excuse to eat the carbs that might go with it! (carbs are still my nemesis). I know some will suggest apples (25 good carbs), but I need to stay away from the bread an…

Canned tuna is one of the ideal foods for WLS patients. It has 70 calories and 14 grams of Protein per serving, not to mention that it’s carb-free and full of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, in a world where it can be tough to put together a nutritious meal because it takes too long, canned tuna is a perfect solution that can sit in your pantry for whenever you need it. But there is a potential drawback: it can get awfully boring if you have it plain day in, day out. Traditional mayo-laden tuna salad and fat and carb laden tuna noodle casserole are non-starters for WLS patients…so how do you prepare your tuna to be delicious and healthy? Share your recipes here, please! We c…

Before and after comparisons come up all the time. There are the before and after pics, of course, showing how you looked before WLS compared to how you look now after coming so far. Then there are the comparisons like how much weight you lost, how many inches, and which new activities you can do now. Here’s a fun thing to compare before and after weight loss surgery: your kitchen. There may be a few of us whose kitchens have always been well stocked with healthy fare and free from packaged treats, but I think there may be many more of us whose kitchens looked a little different before WLS. I can think of two likely possibilities. The first is that the kitchen had too…

I live in Canada, and alot of food you guys talk about I can't get here. My parents are going to Minot this week and I want them to look for a few things I've read about on here. So I'm asking for help about where you buy the following... Isopure Protein drinks...it seems people either love them or hate them, I'd just like to try them Alot of you talk about flavoured tuna packets?? It sounds like they're kind of a single serving thing??I love tuna and would like to try these Mr cheese o's....I think people have said you can get these at target? P3 snack packs. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi all! Had to change insurances as of the first of this year. Already missing the folks over at UC Davis....loved Dr. Ali and his staff. Anyway, I have been on the stall of a lifetime (well, not that long, but sometimes it feels like it!) for about 10 months now. I exercise 4-5 days per week faithfully, lifting as heavy as I can go with weights and about a half hour of cardio. I work hard outside almost every weekend as we have 13 acres. For example, last weekend I helped to dig holes, mix/shovel concrete using a wheelbarrow and shovel to set 21 posts on our property and THEN the next day carry boards to the posts to nail them to the posts. Hot and heavy work. B…

I think I have more condiments and seasonings in my refrigerator and pantry than actual food. What have you discovered or do you use to add flavor to your meals? Any basics or gourmet spices, seasonings, herbs, or condiments that you can't live without? I love browsing specialty food stores and our local Amish markets looking for different flavorings. I am still trying to learn how to use many of them. I just opened a jar of this mustard that I bought before Christmas from Southern Seasons. I added a dab to the plain sliced deli turkey and green onion cheese that I ate for lunch and it has quite a kick. I also happen to like the idea that it comes packaged in a nice…

When you are watching calories and macros, portions are really important. I have a scale and weigh my food. I was weighing mostly just my meat, and using measuring cups or going by the package for weights (like one preset portion weighs X). I recently started weighing everything because I discovered that most measurements we were off. This video explains it better than words. Putting measuring cups and spoons on my scale and zeroing it out, I have discovered that most of the time a level amount is more than it should be. So weighing allows me to get the amounts exact. Not weighing your food can mean easily going over your calories by 200 or more in a day, depen…

Hi all. Have any of you tried the b up bars? I just started eating Quest bars to get some Fiber in and like what I have had. I am having awful (and I mean awful) constipation. I read that the b up have 20 g of fiber and 20g of Protein. 7 g fat. I would probably start with 1/3 of a bar. Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated. Are they tasty? Nasty? Any other "asty" I should be aware of? Have a great day!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am not going to listen to others about food again on here. I eat 1 egg mixed with some cottage cheese in the morning. After reading some post I added some graded mozzarella cheese. Just about a teaspoon. And experienced my first kick in the butt! I am 3 weeks pre-op. I will stick with my diet of 1 egg with cottage cheese. Protein shake that takes 4 days to drink. sugar free pudding and homade Soup or Beans no cheese. That is all I am going to eat. Dumping is horrible! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

We have a health food co-op in a nearby city that I have been meaning to find. There was a post on the Internet the other day that they were having a sale on fresh raspberries so it gave me an excuse to find it. Now, I have quite a few raspberries (most of which are in the freezer). They have been delicious added to my yogurt. Other than Protein shakes, what are some good, easy, healthy ways that you use fresh berries (especially raspberries)?

We all know restaurant meals can be challenging for WLS patients. There’s the sheer size of the portions you get, the trouble identifying healthy options, and – especially for sleeve and bypass patients – the potential for dumping syndrome. It’s harder to get a healthy, small meal at some restaurants than others, but you can often end up with one if you order right. It’s just that “ordering right” might involve a lot of creativity on your part, and some lengthy discussion with the server! I don’t have any particularly crazy stories to tell. I just know that during many of my restaurant trips, I take a long time to order! I am used to ordering something from the menu a…

I've been tracking my food in MyFitnessPal, and noticed that my sugar intake is much higher than I expected every single day. It comes down to milk. I drink a lot of it. When I don't drink it, my femurs ache. Has anyone else experienced this? Anyway, between the sugar and the overall calories, I'm starting to accept that I should drink a lot less of it. This article is pretty convincing: How Drinking Milk Can Help a Hardgainer Get Bigger! Has anyone else out there dropped milk for weight loss?

I am curious how the taste buds change post surgery. At 8 weeks post op, I now see few changes: Off/Don't eat: red meat lettuce chocolate Snicker Pods bread tomato/V8 juice apple juice equal chilli pepper pepper tabasco any dry type food On/Prefer: chicken, fish (especially Salmon) brewed black tea cruskits cottage cheese diet jelly Vaalia vanilla and Natural yoghurt stevia spinach Still love my coffee, have brewed coffee in the mornings, then decaf later. I can tolerate little amount of vanilla ice-cream, as a treat, once a week, instead of 2 bowls 4-5 times a week. I am still early post op, so my taste may change again.... Would love to hear form others…

I couldn't resist.

Looking for some ideas and inspiration for meal prepping ideas! I know things can get old quick!!! 2oz of organic edamame Pasta. (24oz of Protein in 2oz...such a great find). With some zucchini, squash, mushrooms and diced Italian tomatoes. I guesstimate around 250 calories. Happy eating everyone! Idk why it's posting double pics. :/

Yummy, mixed it in my ninja bullet with some ice, tastes like a pina colada!!!! Minus the alcohol of course. Great for a nice warm May Day in the backyard Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No matter how much you want to get your nutrients from “real foods,” you may not be able to, especially if you get the gastric sleeve or bypass. There may be a few days pre-op and several days or a few weeks post-op when you depend on Protein powders and shakes to hit your protein numbers. There are a million different low-sugar, high-protein powders and shakes out there, but your choices are way more limited if you’re vegan. You may go for pea or hemp or soy Protein powder, but there aren’t that many choices. My question for you is: which brand(s) and flavor(s) do you use, and where do (or did) you buy them?

I did Atkins about 4 years ago, pretty successfully, and know that I personally feel much better and lose better when I keep my carbs very low. I have tried to do this now, 5 mos post- sleeve surgery, but have not been able to stick to it. The difference I can see is that previously, I would load up on large salads and high fats which kept me very full and I didn't tend to snack. Now, due to the small pouch, once I eat my Protein, there is not much room for many vegetables, and I will feel stuffed right after eating but relatively hungry again in 1.5 to 2 hours. I have never NOT felt hungry since I had surgery. Unfortunately, I've found that I can tolerate virtually a…

I'm pre-op and have been having a protein shake daily for about a month. Is a high quality brand: BlueBonnet. I've been experiencing heart palpitations and abnormally high blood pressure. I read that it's a common reaction to Tyrosine, which is included in the list of ingredients - part of the amino acid profile in whey. Has anyone experienced this side effect from whey? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@@Dub, I thought of you today. I went to a local BBQ joint today and got pulled pork sandwich (no bun) and a side of coleslaw. It was delicious and I brought home most of it as leftovers. That is all!

Has anyone had real success baking with stevia, Xylitol or Erythritol? I enjoy foods that are made with these ingredients but whenever I try to bake with them they come out terrible. I've found all these wonderful looking recipes for protein baked goods but I'm never able to make them turn out well. I can't use Truvia, Splenda or aspartame because that stuff gives me headaches and triples my sugar cravings. Any advice?

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It can be a drag if you have to cook for other people while you’re on your weight loss surgery diet. If your family refuses to “eat healthy,” you can easily find yourself making two different meals every night so you can have your healthy meal and they can eat what they like. But at some point, you may be able to sneak something healthy past them. That makes it a lot easier because then you only have to make one meal. Plus, once you tell them it’s healthy, they may be more open to eating healthy foods in the future! Turkey chili comes to mind: most people can’t tell the difference between lean turkey and ground beef in chili. You might even be able to sneak soy crumbles…

I know there are a few chats about it. I like to do an updated one I been juicing and doing smoothies for the past 3 years. I do not like a whole lot of fruit and veggies so I do liquids to supplement. It has helped me a great deal, especially helping my intolerances because the body was being more healthy and not as toxic. The sleeve has helped me shed 33 lbs so far in 2.5 months. And now I want to super boost my weight loss and super boost my nutrition because I am not getting enough; i can't eat enough and i need some serious healing. So now I am going to try juicing fruits and veggies for Breakfast and lunch supper time I will have the typical sleeve meal plan…

Has anyone out there tried the Bariatric Pal's line of food and drinks? Do you have any favorites? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm super excited to be going on my first all-day hike on Sunday! (Side note: I'm glad I have you guys to share that with because you all understand what a big deal it is to be able to do something like that.) We're supposed to bring a lunch to carry with us on the trail. Does anyone have any good ideas for foods to carry? I'm trying to think of things that are portable and won't spoil. I've thought maybe just lunchmeat and cheese. I'm wondering if those will be good if not refrigerated for a few hours. Beef Jerky would probably be a good one, but I don't eat beef and pork.

I had my sleeve on Sept 2, 2015. Since then I've realized a lot of things about the way I used to eat. The biggest thing I've realized is just how much I over ate. When I started really looking at portion size post op it dawned on me how much smaller it is than what I used to eat. Like a box of mac n cheese is 4 servings...not 1. A serving of Cereal is half a cup, not "until the bowl is full"

I've been slowly transitioning to a more plant based diet the past few months. I am almost a year out from surgery and have sustained goal weight since June. There are a variety of reasons that have persuaded me to drastically reduce my meat consumption. I've read many articles lately about the hormones in meat negatively effecting the human body. The hormone residues in food can increase the risk of breast cancer and other reproductive system cancers among women and may promote development of prostate cancer in men. It's estimated that two-thirds of the cattle raised in the U.S. are given hormones (usually testosterone or estrogens) to boost growth. This concer…

Some say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They say it boosts metabolism and provides extra nutrients. It keeps you from being as hungry during the morning, so you’re better able to make healthy eating choices the rest of the day. It gives you energy to be more active. And, it can give you a good dose of that all-important nutrient – Protein. Still, breakfast isn’t always the top priority for everyone. We may be too busy to cook, or too rushed in the morning to sit down for this meal. Or, it can just be too boring to make eggs every day, or grab a container of yogurt on the way out the door. Do you eat breakfast every day? Did you used to, or did you st…

As I contemplate writing a book for WLS patients, I found this interesting. At least I am not a doctor not do I play one on TV. books

It’s a week away…what are your plans? Easter dinner? An Easter egg hunt? Afternoon with the family? A normal Sunday afternoon if you don’t Celebrate Easter? Please let us know how you’re going to get through this Easter healthily. Do you have your own special recipes to share? Do you just stick your hands in your pocket so you can’t use them to eat candy? Please participate even if you don’t celebrate Easter! You can share any food tips for parties or family gatherings, or any of your favorite spring recipes! You can also share tips for handling less-than-comfortable situations when you’re at a family gathering.

First of all I'm so sorry for reposting this but I guess it belongs in here and I need more answers (/^\) so many kind people answered me but I will love to here more~~ also check So Hello everyone~~ I needed to share this with you guys~~ I'm addicted to coffee .. all my life. I start drinking coffee back after 6 months from surgery and I drink it everyday (shot of espresso with 150ml of nonfat milk and stevia) I kinda got tired of it I wanted to change so I searched and I found this 2 products which basically Protein powder with real coffee as they claim!! Before I go on I wanted to show you this guys because - I wanted to see what…

Only eating two meals a day and not enough Protein leads to obese monks. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-35812339 Protein, protein, protein!

For those times when you need to cheat, but don't want to ruin everything. http://www.halotop.com I haven't tried it, but I'm tempted if a craving hits.

Most of us are creatures of habit, and that includes food prep. I tend to go down the same aisles at the supermarket and buy the same things week in and week out. Occasionally, though, I find or notice something for the first time, and it turns out to be a winner! My most recent find is seaweed Snacks. I know they’re hardly new, but I had not tasted them until recently. Now I am hooked! The small packages of dried, seasoned seaweed have only 30 calories each. They’re not as filling as some snacks, but they taste good and are definitely better for me to munch on than a lot of other crunchy snacks! Have you found any new products or new-to-you ingredients recently? What…

I have been experimenting with Chia Seeds and Quinoa based on the recommendation of the people who did my blood work. My doc has signed off so I'm starting to put these in the mix. So far I'm just putting Chia Seeds in my yogurt (tablespoon) and mixing Quinoa with beans for a high protien starch. Any known problems? Any weight gain after adding them to your diet? Any improvement in blood work? Bang for the buck in terms of protein seems really good, but always looking for other people's experience.

I am flying in April to Florida (I like to plan ahead) for a wedding and then going to Disney World for a few days. What foods should I take? Or do I need to take food? I usually don't travel without backup like protein bars/beef jerky/etc. I haven't been to Disney since I was 5, so can't remember much and things are different now. Any tips/recommendations would be great!

I just saw this article and it brings up an interesting theory: that the American diet causes so many problems because we are a culinary melting pot and eat many foods in combination that have never been eaten together before. http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/07/tummy-troubles-ayurveda-says-to-stop-mixing-these-foods-julie-bernier/ One thing I have noticed post-op is how much more simple my diet is now. What do you think?

I will be going to travel to Toronto on my 4th week. It's a business trip. What can I bring or what should I look out for to eat for Breakfast. I think I have lunch covered with a tuna making kit. Help.... Sent from my iPhone using BariatricPal

Here is a comprehensive article about preparing roasted vegetables from Bon Appetit. http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/simple-roasted-vegetables What is your favorite way to prepare vegetables?