MzB

My primary focus is reaching my Protein target every day.
I don't necessarily count carbs, but do choose lower carb options and avoid starches for the most part.
I still eat a lot of turkey, tuna, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.

So I have stated in previous posts how I loathe artificial sweeteners like stevia, Splenda etc. anything that is not "real sugar"
I have been off of sugar since January 1st and yesterday I tried some Splenda in my coffee with vanilla premier Protein ( 60cc=28 cal) and I loved it!!!
In the past, I have strongly disliked the after taste of Splenda etc. but after being sugar free ( almost, only sugars I have are what's in my Protein drinks) I can say that I'm loving the Splenda now!!! Yeah!!!!!!

Eating like crap to me is a day when I eat like I used to before surgery. I never did this until recently, but I will eat whatever I want, whenever I want, and more than I want. Just grazing all day, and not counting calories, Protein, or carbs. Just a crazy free for all. Never thought I would do that again, but once in a while, I just need a break. Of course, I have to get right back on the diet or I will weigh over 300 pounds again. I wish I could say I would never do it again, but I know better. Obesity is a terrible disease, and most of the time, I am in remission. Once in a while, I have an exacerbation.

A lot of times on in various different postings I see where people say they ate like crap for a day or a couple of days. I get that this is obviously not following the program. But I am curious what people actually considered to be eating like crap? Does this mean you OD on Doritos? Do you have donuts? Is it eating hamburgers and pizza? Is it just starting to eat the bread with your meals? Or are you someone who has lots of skinny pop and things that are not "as naughty" but you snack all through the day?
I realize we're all different and we have different triggers, but I think will be interesting to see the answers. Personally I feel like I am eating like crap if I have chips at all. I also feel like it if I snack through the day.

For me it's too much sugar or too many white carbs. I try to limit both, and when I indulge too much on either, it causes terrible cravings and really does make me feel like crap. Hence the "eating like crap"

I'm 18 months out, too. Although I didn't gain really during the holidays because I was trying to excersise to compensate for my terrible eating, I was eating way to many sugar and carbs. I knew once they were over, I needed to detox from it all to end the cravings for more.
I just started by getting back to basics again. Tons of Water, ONLY protien and veggies for every meal except for a Protein shake for Breakfast. No sugar, carbs from white stuff, or processed food.
After the 5th day, I'd lost 2 pounds not really trying, and my cravings for sugar and carbs were under control again. The first day or so is rough getting over the hump, but once you get into the groove, it's easier to keep it going. My restriction even got better!
Good luck!

My husband is a huge fan of eating out. Since we don't have kids at home it is easier to select where to go that fits with my more limited options. Granted, I am 8 months out now so I am not as strick as I was at first. Here are some of the things I have found work for me.
(I am located in Texas so some of these options may be regional....)
1. Wendy's small chili (I can finish about 2/3 of it now, but less when we first started getting them)
2. Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets or salad options
3. Mexican - chicken tortilla Soup (hold the tortillas/chips). Hubby orders fajitas and I just eat the chicken and peppers without anything else.
4. Chinese - Egg Drop Soup. Beef broccoli or Pepper Beef. Tip: Order hot green tea to start. You can sip this until the entre comes out. keeps you busy and gets fluids in!
5. Jimmy John's sandwiches: get the unwich version and finish what you can
6. BBQ place - Get the chicken or turkey option and skip the sides. Don't be afraid to walk in someplace and just order the meat.
7. Italian - (this is a hard one for me) I usually just stick to a soup or side salad. sometimes they have just shrimp appetizers or I have ordered the mozzarella sticks and just pulled off the breading part and eaten the cheese.
8. Wings places (Buffalo Wild Wings or similar). Order the grilled wings or just live a little and get the regular wings. I can only eat 3-4 so make sure you order the snack size...
9. Steak places - Hubby orders 8 oz. filet and I get 2-3 oz of it and a side of green Beans.
10. pizza - again a hard one. I just eat the toppings off of the pizza and leave the crust.
I am sure there are other things I am forgetting but those cover our usual eat out spots.

My family goes thru stages where we eat out a lot…My husband has gotten in the habit of asking me what I want and we'll split an entrée. If we don't want the same thing or he is especially hungry, I'll look at the appetizer menu. If that doesn't look good, I will order my own entree, eat about 1/3 of it and take the rest home.
Early on, it was more difficult because I was trying to learn how to do things - you will get the hang of it. You get more comfortable telling the waiter that you're splitting an entree. Right after surgery, I would have a shake prior to going out and it didn't bother me that everyone around me was eating and I was sipping a coffee (approved by my doc).

My husband is a huge fan of eating out. Since we don't have kids at home it is easier to select where to go that fits with my more limited options. Granted, I am 8 months out now so I am not as strick as I was at first. Here are some of the things I have found work for me.
(I am located in Texas so some of these options may be regional....)
1. Wendy's small chili (I can finish about 2/3 of it now, but less when we first started getting them)
2. Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets or salad options
3. Mexican - chicken tortilla Soup (hold the tortillas/chips). Hubby orders fajitas and I just eat the chicken and peppers without anything else.
4. Chinese - Egg Drop Soup. Beef broccoli or Pepper Beef. Tip: Order hot green tea to start. You can sip this until the entre comes out. keeps you busy and gets fluids in!
5. Jimmy John's sandwiches: get the unwich version and finish what you can
6. BBQ place - Get the chicken or turkey option and skip the sides. Don't be afraid to walk in someplace and just order the meat.
7. Italian - (this is a hard one for me) I usually just stick to a soup or side salad. sometimes they have just shrimp appetizers or I have ordered the mozzarella sticks and just pulled off the breading part and eaten the cheese.
8. Wings places (Buffalo Wild Wings or similar). Order the grilled wings or just live a little and get the regular wings. I can only eat 3-4 so make sure you order the snack size...
9. Steak places - Hubby orders 8 oz. filet and I get 2-3 oz of it and a side of green Beans.
10. pizza - again a hard one. I just eat the toppings off of the pizza and leave the crust.
I am sure there are other things I am forgetting but those cover our usual eat out spots.

I've found it doesn't phase the wait staff at all. LOL after hearing my sister in law with all her "special requests" my order is a piece of cake. Worst part of dining out is my family all trying to help me find something to eat. One time nothing struck me as something I wanted so I just had a beverage. I thought they were all going to blow a gasket. Anyway, thankfully they've all calmed down and if there isn't something on the menu the kitchen can usually cook something to order. I eat what I can/want and take the rest home for another meal or if one of my nephews is along there are never any leftovers which works out too.

I was told no soup after the liquid diet phases, because it really is just drinking your calories. If I do chili or some chowder or something, I always eat the solid bits and leave the liquidy parts in the bowl/cup.
Early on I was instructed not to drink 5 minutes before eating, because the swelling could case some Water to stay in the stomach longer and make you feel too "full" to eat, but once the swelling was down, I was cleared to drink right up to the time I started eating. I still have to wait at least 20 minutes after eating (I usually wait closer to 45) before drinking again.

My husband is a huge fan of eating out. Since we don't have kids at home it is easier to select where to go that fits with my more limited options. Granted, I am 8 months out now so I am not as strick as I was at first. Here are some of the things I have found work for me.
(I am located in Texas so some of these options may be regional....)
1. Wendy's small chili (I can finish about 2/3 of it now, but less when we first started getting them)
2. Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets or salad options
3. Mexican - chicken tortilla Soup (hold the tortillas/chips). Hubby orders fajitas and I just eat the chicken and peppers without anything else.
4. Chinese - Egg Drop Soup. Beef broccoli or Pepper Beef. Tip: Order hot green tea to start. You can sip this until the entre comes out. keeps you busy and gets fluids in!
5. Jimmy John's sandwiches: get the unwich version and finish what you can
6. BBQ place - Get the chicken or turkey option and skip the sides. Don't be afraid to walk in someplace and just order the meat.
7. Italian - (this is a hard one for me) I usually just stick to a soup or side salad. sometimes they have just shrimp appetizers or I have ordered the mozzarella sticks and just pulled off the breading part and eaten the cheese.
8. Wings places (Buffalo Wild Wings or similar). Order the grilled wings or just live a little and get the regular wings. I can only eat 3-4 so make sure you order the snack size...
9. Steak places - Hubby orders 8 oz. filet and I get 2-3 oz of it and a side of green Beans.
10. pizza - again a hard one. I just eat the toppings off of the pizza and leave the crust.
I am sure there are other things I am forgetting but those cover our usual eat out spots.

I've been pretty depressed....to be honest.
I felt SO SO SO good last week. Then Friday I had some discomfort in my side and hit a fever of 101.8. I assumed I just overdid it working so much with my business partner out bc her mom passed and the husband was in ATL so I was also flying solo with both kids.
By Saturday I went to port orange for an inspection for My partner and my fever was up to 102.9 when I got some so I took a nap and then went back out to show property to a buyer (bad idea!)? When I got home it was back up to 102.8 and I was having discomfort in my left side and shortness of breath.
Sunday I stayed in bed all day taking Tylenol hoping I just needed rest. By Monday i knew I hadn't declined this much in this little time unless something was wrong,
I called the surgeon and when I got here he had ct orders and blood work written out stat for me with the complication insurance paying it all. As soon as I finished I went upstairs. He asked me to bring whoever I had with me in I thought...oh shit! Told me I had an infected abcess on my diaphragm-about 7cm wide.. They would put me under local anesthesia to put a drain in and they are checking for a leak again 1 more time even though first time looked like no leak.
Anesthesia didn't work on drain insertion I cried like a bitch I felt like I was in some creepy Drs lab I've never met and he Kept telling me to keep quiet and lay still.
Then came 2nd leak test. Radiology told me immediately there's was none and then dr Marema said I'd be going to the or for a stent. He's really been so nice the whole time. Then leak test #2 radiology says is good. Oh but wait here comes Dr M again with stent surgeon to say placement isn't ideal and in going back to OR yet again for a 2nd stent. In the middle of that infectious disease dr shows up to say my abcess is staff infection!!!!! So I'll be going home in a few days with a PIC line and 3 weeks of antibiotic ivs......that's the long of it.
I've had a procedure and 2 surgeries since Monday---doc said I'm the poster child for everything that can go wrong. Although he usually only sees in 1sy week
I just want to go home to my babies....as their healthy mom! ????

I remember one time I needed to get food at a hockey game. They had a wrap stand that sold a chicken fejita wrap and a ceasar chicken wrap. I ordered the fajita wrap with no wrap and no lettuce. The woman serving me was very confused, because even though I told her I was doing "low carb" she couldn't understand why I wouldn't at least want the lettuce. Some people are so nosy! But overall, I've managed to eat out dozens (maybe 100+) times post-op and the comments or awkward moments are very few and far between.

Yes, just order a side order of meatballs.
I don't know why the would have a hard time just not putting the pasta on the plate unless they have pre-plated something which sounds strange for a pasta dish.

Actually, it depends on where I am. I can usually order the best filet piece of steak I cut it in half and have part of it for Breakfast . I even have worked out deals with hotel staff to make me some special steak and eggs. If I am going home, that part is never a problem. My left overs are Breakfast and usually lunch too.

Oh thank goodness for all the low carb/Palio dieters out there...they have blazed a trail that makes my life so much easier

I understand about the south. I live in New Orleans!

Who cares what the waitstaff thinks. I get it. I am over 2.5 years out. I've had a few concerned waiters ask if I didn't like my meal or offer to bring me something else. I simply say I'm fine, smile and resume my conversation. I've never been questioned when I just order a drink or a cup of Soup.

It's a tool, not a magic wand. It is a powerful tool that provides your besides chance to make permanent change, respect it that much. If you don't...back to where you were.

Thank you to everyone on this forum. Without it I don't think I would have had the courage to start this journey. Sometime over the holidays I hit my goal weight of 175. Thats down from 245 at my heaviest and 228 day of surgery.
I haven't been on this forum for quite some time, but I just had a look at my before pics. Holy cow. I cant believe I was that person. I feel 100% more confident and better about myself. I have lost 80 lbs and for the first time since middle school have been in a normal weight BMI zone.
I went from size 38-40 jeans to 29-30. XL shirts to Medium.
This is an incredible tool and I wish I could go back and give everyone who struggles with weight this gift. It has given me my life back and allowed me to blossom into a person that has been buried under extra weight for so long.
Again, many thanks to all of you for support and guidance on this journey!

Is anyone else doing a C25K? I am on week 2 day 3. So proud I made it this far. Never thought I would be trying to run a 5k at my size. I hope I can manage week 3. Would love to hear from others on this journey.

One thing I figured out really soon after being sleeved and worrying about wait staff or people we are with noticing how little we eat is this:
Nobody notices or even cares.
We are so self absorbed when we are newly sleeved (rightly so), we don't realize that that the rest of the world doesn't revolve around our dietary habits

Like everyone else has said, once you are on solid foods, it's pretty easy to find SOMETHING you can eat just about anywhere. Ask for a to-go box at the beginning and put the extra in there before you even start eating. That helped me a lot when I was still having trouble with my eyes being bigger than my stomach and eating too much before the "full" feeling kicked in. I don't have to do that anymore at 16+ months out, but at like 4 months out, it was pretty helpful.

@@MzB, do you like meatballs? That is what I get when eating Italian.