Food and Nutrition

So excited a picked up a container today. A supplement store in my town has it. Now what to use it for first? I was thinking about adding it to greek yogurt since that is on my diet now.

You get a food list after WLS of the foods you can and cannot eat. In most cases, once you get to the full solids diet and have a chance to add a bunch of foods back to your diet, you can have a pretty full range of foods, including meats, fish, dairy products, vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and whole grains. There are a lot of foods you CAN have, but they can look pretty boring when you see them in a list. So how do you get from a foods list to a meal plan? Do you just keep it simple, like have a quarter-cup of cottage cheese and a half-cup of cooked green Beans? Or do you try to develop recipes, like making low-fat, high-Protein green bean casserole? How do you a…

Okay, we’re all here because we struggled with (or struggle with) food. Most of us have probably spent a good portion of our lives thinking about food. But how much did you know about nutrition before considering weight loss surgery? Did you know which foods are low-calorie, and which are likely to make you hungrier? Or were you clueless? Now that you’ve started thinking about WLS or you’ve had it, how much would you say you know about nutrition? Do you feel like it is enough? I don’t know a whole lot. I think it is “enough,” but I wouldn’t mind knowing a little more. I know how to recognize a lean Protein, and I know that vegetables and fruit are good, and I know tha…

As someone who rarely cooks is it weird that I am ridiculously proud of myself for digging out my slow cooker this week? I have been thinking about investing in a 3 in 1 cooker, but since I rarely use my old-fashioned slow cooker I though I had better give it a whirl. I raised my pantry and used a can of black beans, two cans of Rotel tomatoes, one brick of Greek yogurt cream cheese, a few shakes of Mexican seasoning, and two frozen chicken thighs. I made it on Monday and will probably still be eating it this Friday. I still have chicken thighs. What EASY recipe should I try next?

Interesting article which tracks with many of the things I have been reading the last few years about Calcium and bone health. Worth tracking, http://www.newsweek.com/calcium-doesnt-boost-bone-health-378111?rel=most_shared5

I love getting samples in the mail. Please leave a message below if you found any of these links helpful and want me to continue to post new ones every week. Two free samples of Quest protein: Protein (they just ran out of the free four pack coupons) Protein drinks, pudding, or bars. You make this request through customer service (chat or leave message). You will get your samples in a week. Click the purple bar in the lower right corner of the page: www.doctorsbestweightloss.com $10 coupon savings, 2 free samples www.bariatricchoice.com Use coupon code P915CP, you can also request two free samples from live chat/customer service Atkins quick start kit http…

Which pizza places will do low carb? I thought I read at one time places that will do sauce, toppings and cheese. Now I can't remember who. Was it Pizza Hut? What other places will alter their menu to make it bariatric/low carb friendly? Running out of ideas on where to grab lunch during the work week.

Is coffee okay? I'm on the regular diet 6 weeks postop. I haven't wanted any for the last 6 months until today-crazy!

So, I was thinking, how fun would it be to have a monthly pen pal? Someone new each month to send a box of goodies or things that you have found helpful. It is something that I have been thinking about for sometime now and would like to get started. There would of course be a spending limit and some general rules but I wanted to get a feel as to if anyone would be interested in participating. If you are interested reply with an email that I could send you more info to. I would love to get this started!! I

I have recently read alot of articles touting the amazing health benefits of drinking a warm cup of honey/lemon Water first thing every morning that I decided to give it a try. The recipe that I have gotten from the Internet is the juice from 1/2 a lemon and 1 tablespoon of organic honey mixed in 8 oz of warm water. The supposed major benefits are better regularity, it fends off common colds, and helps speed the weight loss process. I have only been doing this for 1 week but so far I have been MORE irregular than usual. I have been having unusual problems with constipation. Also for the first time in 3 months since my surgery, I gained weight this last week. I hav…

Lunchtime can be a problem, especially if you work, are a student, or are extremely busy…and that’s most of us! We’re rushing around the home or out the door in the morning, and have temptations to just opt for fast food at lunch. But that’s not healthy, and I know you’re not doing that! So I’m curious…what’s in your healthy lunch? Do you keep it the same, or do you vary it? What do you normally pack or make? What do you always have in your house for lunchtimes? Can you share any tips for quick and easy lunches, or recipes to make lunch more fun while on the WLS diet?

I went grocery shopping today. I usually go once a week on Thursday. In our house the job of doing all the cooking and shopping sort of gradually fell to me. As time has gone on I've went from being a rigid evangelist of pushing healthy choices on people to accepting they're not going to be forced any more than I could be. I ended up somewhere in the middle with everyone. I encourage healthier choices and sometimes they listen. When I cook I sneak in what I can and try to minimize portions of what I can't. Usually, I don't eat things I make for others if I don't see the benefit outweighs the cost in fat and excess calories and carbs. It makes my body feel like I'v…

I found the author's home experiment with food to be quite interesting. I've been in maintenance for a few months and agree with him on many points. I've been eating a more plant based diet and have noticed that I don't have to track calories and watch portion sizes like I use to. My Protein is still 3-4 ounces at every meal, but I generally eat my veggies and fruit until I feel full. Like I always say, nobody gained weight from eating too much spinach. There is even a study that showed that eating green vegetables in large amounts all day can actually make you lose weight. Even though I haven't 't tracked or reduced portion sizes, I still have remained at goal weig…

My garden has been soooo prolific with only two zucchini plants this summer I've been searching for recipes. I've done and loved zucchini tots and chips and noodles... But this is my latest obsession I thought I'd share! Zucchini tortillas! I use them for quesadillas, wraps, soft tacos, etc. one warning, in my oven they take about half the time listed. LOVE THEM! http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/zucchini-soft-taco-shells/

My new favorite thing is infused Water. I ate at a local restaurant last week and the had cantaloupe-infused water. Since then I have made peach-infused and watermelon-infused water. I did use green tea with mint in the peach infusion but the others have been just water. Next time, I plan to use some fresh mint. If you drink infused water, what is your favorite?

I have surgery in a couple of weeks so this past week I ordered the sample package of powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury products and bariatric Vitamins. I'm on my two-week liquid diet right now (this is day 6) and while the headaches the first few days were uncomfortable, I'm feeling great on all of these liquids and I'm already in ketosis. But the low/no sodium chicken broth I use to try and break up the Protein shake regimen is just...just awful. I miss the sodium! Any flavor, really. So today I decided to try mixing my boring broth with one of the Unjury chicken Soup flavored p…

Does anyone have suggestions for snacks that are non dairy and non starches? Thanks

According to a Facebook post today is National S'Mores Day. I don't know if it's true or not but I plan on having a S'More-flavored Quest Bar tonight. I got a box of them last week and they are my new favorite.

***Sorry, but the offer has been sold out*** Just ran across this, don't know how long it will last. Two Quest Bar Protein Bars free when fill out a short questionnaire (like 4-5 questions) They ask for your email and mailing address. They even pay shipping. Choose from following flavors - The bars will arrive in 4-8 weeks. chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & White Chocolate Raspberry Double Chocolate Chunk & Apple Pie Chocolate Brownie & Cinnamon Roll Chocolate Peanut Butter & Coconut Cashew

I had an interesting realization the other day. I realized that although I continue to love vanilla Oikos yogurt, I also like other kinds of Greek yogurt that I had been avoiding due to my Oikos vanilla habit. It was actually a bit of a pleasant surprise to consciously recognize my “need” to stock up on that one flavor and brand of yogurt and to realize that other brands and flavors would be fine in a pinch…so I don’t need to waste energy being anxious about running out of my original preference. But still, there are foods I won’t go without, and to make sure I don’t, I stock up on them. I always have yogurt in the fridge, blueberries in the freezer, and tuna in the p…

This comes up in the media sometimes. They’ll list the calories, fat, sugar, or sodium content of a few shocking menu items. The worst part is that these numbers aren’t so farfetched or rare. People really do order and eat these items, and the numbers really are as high as reported. Those shakes, pizza, appetizers, Pasta dishes, and even salads can have one or more days’ worth of calories and all kinds of unhealthy nutrients. What’s the worst restaurant food you ordered – knowingly or unknowingly, before or after surgery? For me what comes to mind was a salad at a Mexican restaurant I went to a few times with my family. It was described as a “mountain,” and that was fai…

What do you do when you get the urge to snack? I'm terrible about eating when I'm not hungry. What are your tips and tricks? I'm pre-surgery and I need to get this under control before december.

Do you use PB2? What do you make? I was thinking of trying it for smoothies with banana. Any other ideas!? Happy Monday everyone

Here is a good article about the 3500 calorie myth. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/28/why-the-most-popular-rule-of-weight-loss-is-completely-wrong/?tid=sm_fb

I have not tried these Protein bars, but thought I'd post the deal anyway. The website is kinda tricky when it comes to ordering. The "Quantity" drop down box is confusing. If you only want to order 1 flavor, choose a quantity of 1. Choosing a quantity of 2, means you want more than 1 flavor. After choosing your flavors, and adding them to your cart, go to your cart. In the cart, you can choose how many of each flavor you want. Put in the number of bars you want and "update" the quantity. http://www.isatori.com/Sale-Eat-Smart-Small-Bar-Single-P2078.aspx

What are the benefits of Almond milk? I am not lactose intolerant so I typically do NF Fair Life milk when I have milk (used to to regular NF but just recently switched). I know there is more sugar in cow's milk from the lactose, but SO much more Protein I have always made that choice. Other than being lower carb and good for lactose intolerance, what does almond milk offer? I am game go try it if there's a good reason!

I came across an interesting article that discusses the different types of low calorie sweeteners and their effects on weight management and blood glucose control. Prior to my RNY surgery, I had Type II diabetes most likely caused by my sweet tooth. I am 2 years post-op and my diabetes has been in remission since surgery. So I consider this to be an important topic. http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/5438/Final%20Revised_Sweet%20Taste%20Handout_9-2012.pdf

Ran across this deal today [ 7-20-2015 ] on Jet.com Order 2 boxes of Quest Bar Cookies and Cream for $35.60. The trick is to order 2 boxes. If you order only 1, you won't get the sale price. https://jet.com/Quest-Nutrition-Protein-Bar-Cookies-and-Cream-212-Ounce-Innerpack-of-12/6406353f1c33496ba349e9fd6890f5c6

Do you eat yogurt? What brand? What sort of toppings to you add to it? It seems like everything but plain yogurt has a lot of sugar in it! I'm getting a little sick of yogurt, but it's such an easy Breakfast while I'm at work I want to keep eating it. I just worry because all the mixed yogurts seem to have alot of sugar in them, even if low calorie. I'm hoping to try mixing it up a little bit. Ideas??? Happy Friday everyone!

The weight loss surgery diet is pretty structured. Your choices are so limited on the liquid diet (a little chicken broth, anyone? Oh, no thanks, maybe I’ll go with beef broth instead for lunch today!) and on the pureed foods diet. Even once you get to semi-solid and solid foods, you don’t have much flexibility since you need to eat your Protein first, your veggies next, and there’s not much room left after that. So it makes sense that once you find a meal pattern that works, and meals you like, that you stick to them. Soon, it becomes a habit, and maybe a rut. For me, I’m perfectly happy eating Greek yogurt with blueberries every day for Breakfast. Some chicken breast …

What do you eat in a day? How many calories are you getting in? I'd like to see breakdowns of others' typical food in the day. I'm 7 weeks out (HW 352 SW 338 CW 306) and on the soft food diet. I workout around 1hr, 5x a week. I'm having trouble getting enough calories in. My nutritionist never gave a specific on calories, more focused on Protein however based on everything I've read I'm thinking around 800 calories would be reasonable. I'm not a big fan of shakes, especially mixed with milk, so I think this is where I'm losing some calories. I mix my powder with 0 calorie crystal light so they only end up being around 115 calories. This is a typical day for me, foodw…

I did it. I mess up. It happens to us all, I know I shouldn't beat myself up. I tried to eat something crummy for dinner. It was a quesadilla with cheese and chicken. I don't know what I was thinking, I just gave in. I ate 3 bites and felt super sick my stomach hurt so bad, so I stopped and threw it away. So I guess that's a good thing at least, I couldn't eat it. I'm just mad that I gave in. Things have been going so well! This week was the first time I've actually seen results. I'm always so hard on myself, but I can't ignore that I'm wearing clothes that haven't fit the past year. I should be thrilled! I've just had someone at work who claims to be supportive, but en…

Hey, BariatricPal Members, You know how important it is to stay accountable with your weight loss surgery diet. Why not post your daily menu here? It'll help you stay aware of what you eat, and it'll motivate you to hold yourself accountable for making good choices. Plus, you can give others ideas on what to eat...and maybe get one or two ideas from other members. So, looking forward to seeing what you're eating!

Makes 2 servings 1.5c milk 1 banana 2 tbsp PB2 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1c spinach 2 scoops Protein powder Ice This turned out great! I really haven't liked many Protein shakes I've tried and many of them are too thick for me. This was perfect with 4-6 ice cubes and then I saved the second one for the next day. I used unflavored Protein Powder, but if you use chocolate you could disregard the cocoa powder.

Here is a good article that explores the idea of "hanger". http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/science-hangry-or-why-some-people-get-grumpy-when-they-re-hungry

I’ve been reading quite a few discouraging and sad stories of failed weight loss from post op patients on this site lately. Heck, I may have not even chose surgery after reading some of these personal accounts of gaining all the weight back or not losing weight despite exercise and 700 calories a day. In a reaction to this, I’ve decided to share something all natural I’ve been doing that has helped me get to goal and maintain it. You may take this with a grain of salt because I’m only 9 months post op and not a medical professional. Actually, I would speak to one first before you give something like this a try. My fondness of apple cider vinegar began in college…

You’re more likely to lose weight and keep it off if you log your food. We’re all pretty familiar with the benefits. But as Melissa McCreery, a psychologist and life coach, described in her article on BariatricPal, logging your food the old-fashioned way can be boring. She suggests a keeping photographic food diary. It’s easier, more fun, and sometimes more accurate than typing your food and portion sizes into an app. And, it may even work better for weight loss! So, I invite you to try keeping a photographic food diary on this thread or on your own blog. (You can set one up for free here on BariatricPal if you haven’t already). And when you post, feel free to let eve…

Found this today. Don't know how long it will stay live? Or what they will send me? http://www.bariatricchoice.com/samples My sample pack came in the mail:

I love the Walden Farms Calorie Free salad dressings available at Wal-Mart. It is unbelievable how they can be so tasty and yet be sugar free, fat free, gluten free, and calorie free. It is seriously so good that I practically put the dressings on ALL my food now. There is a collection of 20 Walden Farms Calorie Free Salad Dressings that are made with delicious ingredients and natural flavors such as organic soy sauce, ginger, mild Chipotle, lemon juice, cracked black pepper & white pepper, crushed garlic, minced onion, natural blue cheese, sour cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, dozens of freshly ground herbs and spices, the finest imported and domestic…

I read the offer, but could not find a deadline, so Premier may pull the offer at any time. I ran across this deal today. Your choice, a free Protein bar or shake. Protein Bar or shake picture to choose which one you want. By default, mine chose the protein bar.

Hi Guys, I am new to the group and looking for some advice please if anyone can help!! I was lucky enough to have my surgery in Nov 08 so i am now almost 9 yrs post op. About 4 yrs ago i started to get unusual symptoms. i have always tried to maintain a healthy diet since my surgery and have kept my weight down quite well although did put back on about 14lbs. The symptoms appear to be very similar to those of diabetes but i have been tested and cleared of this. The symptoms usually start by feeling tired, lethargic.Then i will become extremely hot and I will then start to feel slightly numb on my tongue which will then increase to round the outside of my mouth. Then …

I need some wisdom from anyone and everyone who is more than 10 years out. I lost 134 pounds after my surgery. I have been able to maintain a weight loss of more than 100 pound over the past ten years until recently. All of a sudden I am gaining a pound here and a pound there. I'm eating as I've always eaten, but I am always hungry now. I can be full and in about an hour, I'm hungry again. It's very distracting because I haven't had this sensation for a long time. Help, what do I need to do?

I'm a little confused with what I've read about consuming liquids and I'm wondering if I'm getting my information a bit confused because I was originally interested in the band.... I bought a very expensive juicer and I'm trying to get back into it. I juice veggies only, very little fruit. It's difficult for me to cook/eat veggies and this is just a great way to feel full and get a lot of phenomenal nutrition. I remember reading that liquid meals were a no-no because they pass through too quick and you don't feel full for very long. However, I keep reading about people drinking the Protein shakes so is this different with the sleeve? I know you're not supposed to …

Ran across this deal - 2 free samples of Quest Protein powder. All they ask is you email and mailing address - they even pay the shipping. Flavors: Strawberries and Cream vanilla Milkshake Offer valid in the U.S. only, while supplies last (approx 2,000 sets). Limit one set per household. Hurry if you want one. http://www.questnutrition.com/hungry-girl/

I had a hard time finding what people were eating day to day, so I created an instagram account and have pictures of the food, along with the nutritional information of everything I put in my mouth post-surgery. I hope this may help somebody, because it was exactly what I wanted but couldn't find. https://instagram.com/sleevedin2015/

This looks like oatmeal or quinoa or something, but it's not! So I found out when I put frozen banana pieces in my Ninja food processor, it comes out like powder type pieces. You can add a bit of skim milk to make it like ice cream (or invest in a yonana machine), but I added PB2 powder and ate it like it was Dippin Dots! Melted right in my mouth. I feel like you can't go wrong with banana and peanut butter for breakfast. I'm in the pureed phase, my NUT OKed both bananas and PB2, and I'll definitely keep eating this long after I'm out of pureed. It's a great treat too because you can just make a little bit at a time.

did it take you a month, two months, 3 ??? Thanks Im mexican american and I love spicy foods.

I just ordered 4 different kinds of soup from NASHAU Nutrition. They are pretty high in protein, 12g and up and low calorie. Most have pretty good reviews and a package of 7 is between $12- $13. Usually shipping is free on a $99 order but they had a one day only deal with free shipping on a $49 order. Has anyone tried them? I will "review" them when they get here.

OMG! I just discovered these! I hate regular broth and was dreading having to eat broth for weeks. However, now I'm happy. I tried the Mexican tortilla variety and to me it tastes just like Spanish rice. However, there is a downsize. You will definitely need to freshen your breath after eating it! I love it. Can't wait to try out the other varieties. I could totally be fine with this. Oh, and just so you know, all the spices actually gives you the illusion that you have actually eaten a meal and not just broth. It's great. http://swanson.campbellskitchen.com/SBOurProducts/Products

I remember a time I could eat a whole plate of food, finish my daughter's food, and still have room for desert. But since the surgery I take a few bites and I'm done. I used to get frustrated but now I enjoy it because I feel like a normal person that knows their limits. I know that this isn't a NSV but to me it seems like it. Just wanted to share. Oh, and now my daughter finishes my plate...NICE!!!????