happycrazylion

I've been contemplating sprinkling wonton wrappers with cinnamon, and baking sugar-free pumpkin pies. Since nothing going on tomorrow but 100+ weather, I might just give that a try. Thoughts?

I went in for my 3 week check up this week...he said just try and get in as much as I could. No set amount.
Also, I was worried about Protein...smae thing - Don't worry about it. Drink milk when I can for Vitamins and
to get in some calories with it.

Try this with won ton wrappers: Spray lightly with canola spray (lightly) and then put a mixture of Splenda and cinnamon and use a strainer and drop on top. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes!

If I can get my net carbs under 40 grams (ideally under 30) per day, resisting temptation gets a lot easier after the first 3-4 days. Those first days I just have to power through, using everything I can - chewing gum, lots of Water, tea, you name it. I think of it as detoxing. It's hard, but once I get through it I feel so much better, and the sweets calling my name get a lot quieter.
I've eliminated dairy milk (sub almond milk), Pasta, rice, and potatoes from my diet. I found a low-carb bread that I can have half of slice of for an open faced sandwich at lunch for only 2 net carbs. I've found a soy Protein chip I like to replace potato chips. I've discovered roasted seaweed is yummy and salty and helps when i crave popcorn. I almost never eat fruit - I know that approach isn't for everyone, but for me, a big part of this really is biochemical, and to my body, fruit IS sugar.
Once I've detoxed, it's a combination of strategies. One is getting the temptations out of the house or at least out of sight and less convenient. Another is eating regularly throughout the day, high protein - letting myself get too hungry can lower my resistance. Another is paying attention to triggers, and trying to avoid them. I deal with stress directly, with deep breathing, a little walk around the office, and a soothing cup of tea. I avoid reading food blogs (I've become a big fan of low-carb, sugar-free blogs!) if I'm having a challenging day.
And, I'm working on finding substitutes like the ones listed above that make me happy so I don't feel deprived of treats. Sugar Free Chocolate pb protein pudding is a regular treat for me (made with almond milk - regular milk is too many carbs!). I make a sugar free protein mocha frappuccino often in the afternoons. I made a low carb sugar free microwave molten chocolate hazelnut cake earlier this week that was AWESOME. Not exactly low cal, but not terrible, and with my workouts I have room for a couple of indulgences as long as they don't become daily habits. But the key for me seems to be watching the carbs so an indulgence doesn't send me into a binge cycle that goes on for days.
This has worked for me. I'm below my surgeon's goal, and I never stalled until I started messing around with carbs again.
I've read blogs by people who've managed to train themselves to enjoy anything in moderation. Maybe that would be possible for me, but right now having a stable weight and not binging is more important to me, and I'm willing to give up the sugar for alternatives, at least until I feel like I have more control.

Found a few new yummy foods!!
Stuffed Tomato. I've stuffed them with crab salad chicken salad & tuna salad. All 3 are good. Protein + a little veggie.
Wonton wrappers. Great crunchy possibilities with the wrappers. Scrambled egg holder to make Breakfast portable, baked crab Rangoons, crispy cups for refried Beans.
Oh So Good!!!

Hello -
I was sleeved July 2nd and have been SOOO looking forward to some soft foods. I made this and ate one for Breakfast today!! Who says you can't have crab for breakfast?! My goal is 60-70g of Protein a day, and if I can do that without drinking a shake - I am all for it!
1 can/jar fresh picked crab (mine was 12 oz) HEB Plus carries some good stuff!
1 egg
2 TBLSP Cream cheese
1/4 C. fresh SHREDDED parmesan
4 Ritz crackers
1 tsp. Old Bay spice
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (I like spicy - leave out if you don't!!)
Mix together - weigh out 3 oz portions
heat a TINY bit of olive oil i a pan, put crab into pan, flatten out and let sizzle - about 3-4 minutes on medium, then flip for another 3-4 minutes.
Sauce:
I cup sour cream
i small/medium avacado - add into sour cream
1/4 cup diced cilantro (leave out if you are one of those unfortunate souls that doesn't like it!)
juice of one lime
(can even add some capers if you like)
Serve on side of your crabby Pattie - I can eat about 3/4 of one patty - and I am hitting about 22g of protein -
YUM!!!!

During my post op review they mentioned a Bob Greene book about foods when you eat out. I need to look for it but here are some suggestions I was given so far:
Chick-fil-a has a Soup chicken Soup. Friend said she did eat noodles in it as they were soft.
Like other's said the Chili @ Wendy's.
If you have a Chinese restaurant you can grap "egg drop soup"
I am still in "soup phase" so that is reason for these suggestions.
Panera's also has Soups.
I've been making homemade soup and blending them to make them totally drinkable and packing them.
If I find the Bob Greene book, I'll post name of it.

Sorry I forgot the recipe in all the excitement
1/2 cup light mayo
1/2 cup light sour cream or plain yogurt
1-2 tsp of fresh dill weed
1-2 fresh garlic cloves (1 if it's a large clove)
Pinch of parsley either fresh or flakes
1-2 tsps of vinegar
I used the least amount ingredients first and added the other if needed. !
Mix that in the Magic Bullet and waa-la
You can probably get the same taste with the non fat versions of ingredients. There is always more sodium in non fat which is why I use light.
I tell you no more buying ranch dressing for me and my household!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I live east of Birmingham, in Moody. Was sleeved July 2, so only 7 days post op.

No regrets! Down 45 lbs since 4/23, and love loose clothes more than I once loved gorging self on yummy food....if I want something, I have a small bite, not a plate full. The thrill of eating is gone, and I do miss that. I now just eat to live, before WLS I really did sometimes live to eat, food was what I thought about a lot!

I'm glad I'm not alone!! Had my sleeve done 6-11 (3 1/2 weeks) and it is so rough right now. Trying to eat almost anything is tough. Found eggs are easy to eat. And of corse yougart.
There is a support group here in my area but everyone says its the best thing they have ever done. I'm not there yet. Still hard and I need to hear yes it IS hard at first and tips to make it better!! So thankful I found this app!!!!!

Its very hard! It does get better tho I lived on yougart and myoplex shakes for the longest time I still get food& liquid stuck all the time and I have to vomit it up but as soon as I do I feel much better. but it doesent happin as much as it did b4 and it is slowly getting better.. Hope you start to feel better soon as well it is so not fun!

I'm just starting to do more real exercise. I'm 8 weeks post-op and I've been doing quite a bit of walking, but it's time to turn it up a notch. I've been swimming a few times in the last 2 weeks which definitely works the cardio. And I want to start doing resistance training very soon.
So yesterday I decided that I would work my legs and glutes by climbing the stairs at work. All I can say is thank goodness the stairwell is enclosed and deserted! I was a panting, heaving mess after 2 floors (4 flights of 10 stairs). This 278 lb body is still a lot more than my legs want to carry up stairs!
I rested every 2 floors and made it to the top floor (8th) (I work in a short building). I could barely walk down the stairs to the bottom.....jelly legs!
And today, I'm feeling it in my quads and surprisingly, a bit in my calves as well. But it's a good twinge. Makes me feel like I'm doing something!

I agree with everyone else about the carbs. I tried the Special K Protein drinks (pink lemonade) and it was awesome. I was almost doing cartwheels I was so excited to find something that I could drink. It really had no after taste and really just tasted like pink lemonade. They have 0 fat, 6 carbs and 0 sugars and 5 Proteins. I know that this is not so much Protein, but i figure at least I am getting some in. I actually add some unflavored to it to give me a little bit more and it really does not change the taste. At least I am getting some more protein. I was having a heck of a time getting any in other than from food.
Good luck!

This is not so much a recipe as a method. It's perfect for hot summer days. Now that I'm more than a year out, I'm still looking for ways to focus on getting my Protein in. My sleeve is super-picky STILL and doesn't like most meat/chicken/certain types of fish, but he LOVES shellfish and veggies. My husband and I love sushi and used to eat Thai food a lot pre-surgery (we're both sleevers). I decided to try making spring rolls at home, and it's SUPER easy and really tasty, plus I get in some good Protein. For us, it's a no-cook meal, since we live in Louisiana and have easy access to excellent pre-cooked shrimp at every grocery in town.
I use the regular-size spring roll wrappers; we get them at our local grocery, but you can order them online or through Amazon if your grocery doesn't have them; you can also find them at international or Asian food groceries. Ours are actually made with wheat flour, but they come made from rice, too. They're super thin; I "guesstimate" that one wrapper has probably 40-50 calories.
Just roll up whatever you want--I julienne some cucumber, shred some carrot, slice some boiled shrimp, and spoon up some "krab salad" (that surimi stuff that mimics crab). Sometimes I use those cellophane bean noodles--all you do to prepare those is soak them in warm Water and drain thoroughly. We use some shredded lettuce or cabbage--whatever sounds good and that we have in the house--and a bit of cilantro. If you hate cilantro, just leave it out or substitute some basil or mint. Then we just wrap these up in a wrapper, seal with a wet finger, and chow down. We dip in whatever sounds good, soy sauce or my personal favorite, a mix of Thai chili sauce (it's really sweet and hot) and soy sauce. Sometimes I sprinkle the lettuce with rice wine vinegar; sometimes I forget that. :-)
Perfect post-sleeve portion--one spring roll works for me, and two for my husband. We keep the fixin's in the fridge for a quick meal/snack, and they're fast to put together.
If you live somewhere without fresh shrimp available, you can absolutely get those flash-frozen shrimp and thaw a couple at a time for use in your spring rolls. You can also use grilled chicken, if your sleeve is cool with chicken, and sometimes I sneak in a piece of avocado--ups the yummy factor!! Enjoy!

Soon2b, I was suffering the same issue as you. Try to get in at least 64 ounces of Water. You just had surgery, you don't need to be worried about the Protein as much as you do the Water. If you can't handle the Protein shakes itself try taking a step back and try maybe one of the Isopure flavors. Protein Shakes that I loved pre-surgery made me so ill.
Important help: If you were given med cups (one ounce or 30ml medicine cups) pour your water into that and take sips from it. I normally get 2-3 sips were one ounce. I can do 3 cups in pretty quick sip succession, usually the 4 ounce may be a bit too much, I just slow it down a bit. If you don't have them, see if you have a shot glass. It really truly is easier to drink out of a small cup than it is out of water bottle. I swallow way too much air drinking out of a bottle. I will have to talk to my doctor wed. about this. I'm 3 weeks out and going out in public, I worry about getting dehydrated because I really hate drinking out of the water bottle because of the gas I seem to take in, no matter how I try to sip out of the bottle.
I have been told by my surgeon, nurses, and nutritionist that the most important thing to get in at first is your fluids. If most things make you nauseated, try some decaff tea in a flavor you may like. Bigelow Peppermint Decaff Tea with a truvia or some artificial sweetener of your choice is actually very soothing on the belly.
Unfortunately, taste buds change after surgery and it does get better. I have tried GNC brand, Pure Protein shakes, Muscle Milk etc. and though I liked them pre-surgery after surgery the taste became like elmers glue disgustingness. Luckily almost 3 weeks out, I am able tog et one shake a day in and i'm hitting about 40-45 grams of protein a day, which I need to start upping, but as long as I get my 64 ounces of water in and I keep trying, I'm fine. The surgeon assured me that I have enough protein stores that it's not going to affect me.
Dehydration will affect you and cause harm, so make sure you get in your 64 ounces of water, try sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free jellos, water, decaff tea and then slowly retry the protein shakes just 2 ounces a time if you have to.
Good luck.