Basicwitch

I recently got into the B'More Skyr Smoothies! They taste better than my whey Protein shakes and so I alternate. One bottle has two servings, and the macros are pretty great:
Vanilla, 8OZ
110 Calories
6g sugar
0g fat
20g Protein
If you can find them, I highly recommend.

I'm a big tuna fan, and get around the mayo issue by subbing in either greek yogurt (Fage 0%) or a bit of avocado. With the Nutribullet, it is easy to whip up a quick dressing to mix into the tuna. My husband doesn't really diet much, and he loves these like crazy. I'm bad with recipes, but here's a couple ideas...feel free to play with amounts to fit your preferences!
For kimchi tuna salad:
Quarter avocado
1 tsp gojuchang
juice of half a lime
One or two scallions depending on size or preference
1 tsp sherry vinegar
1 hunk fresh ginger
Teeny splash (TEENY TINY) toasted sesame oil
Blend those ingredients and mix into 2 cans tuna and 1 cup chopped kimchi (cabbage is best for this) and diced celery. Top with sesame seeds!
Zaatar tuna salad:
1/2 cup greek yogurt (Fage 0%)
1 tsp EVOO
juice of 1 lemon (and zest if you're feeling zesty)
1 clove garlic
1 or 2 sprigs of dill
2 tbsp parsley
1 tbsp zaatar seasoning (more or less depending on how you like it)
optional: a little zchug, a kind of hot pepper paste!
Combine ingredients and blend. Toss with 2-3 cans tuna, 1 cup diced cucumber and 1/2 cup shredded carrot. You can top with a little bit of feta cheese!

I have been enjoying the Natural Force organic chocolate whey. It can get a little foamy, but it isn't too sweet and only has a few ingredients. I used to use Tera's Whey, another organic brand that uses stevia, but the flavor was not very good.

I actually saw my surgeon yesterday, and she was (surprisingly) like, you're doing great, slow weight loss is more sustainable, blah blah, but I asked if I needed a NUT and she asked me what I was eating...and then she was like, nope. Seems legit. I was surprised!

I personally think 800 calories is extremely low, especially if your activity level is high.
My priority is Protein (at least 100 grams a day) and fluids. I avoid, for the most part, added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), starches, and fried foods.
Eating too little can keep your metabolism artificially low.

In the Weight Loss phase, the three most important things are meeting your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirement. food is secondary because your body is converting stored fats into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. So as long as you meet your Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements, you should be O.K. at 800 calories a day.
The approach in the Maintenance phase is different. Here is a short article about my perception of the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

At almost 2 years out, I'm at 1400 calories and maintaining. My PCP said for a woman my age and activity level, that is perfectly acceptable and healthy. I really think the key is to not continue the calorie deficit for too long and slowly increase calories as the weight comes off. That way you're not setting your metabolic rate at 800 calories to maintain a healthy weight. I know some that are maintaining on 1800 calories or more depending on activity level.

At 2 1/2 years, I am maintaining at 1,000 calories. That is because of orthopedic issues that hinder increasing my exercise load. I am sure that if I could be more active, I could settle in at 1400-1500 and be fine with it.
One thing I realized is that the human body does not need near as much food to survive and I thought it did.

@@Basicwitch
Check in with a dietician. Your calories will increase with time. If your fitness level is above the norm a sports medicine dietician will make a big difference in what you eat.
Do you ever wonder whether your ultra-low calorie diet might be unsustainable or even damaging in the long run..
You will only be low calorie in weight loss phase. In the long run mainlining look very different .Absolutely sustainable and healthy.
How do you deal with straddling two different ideologies when it comes to diet and exercise?
I do what historically works..I listen to my gold standard bariatric medical team
How do you deal with people trying to help you by saying you're eating too little?
Seriously, This is not their choice to get healthy its yours...The only input you need is from you and your team..

Totally! But you can drink it out of the bottle without worrying about adding fruits, etc., to make it palatable. It essentially evens out. Especially as the OP is having issues with not being able to handle shakes.

Thanks for your kind encouragements! I made an appointment to see my surgeon in a couple weeks and I intend to keep the engagement.
The other good news is that for some reason, I was wrong about my weight! I was on a scale a month or so ago that said 250 (which seemed high in relation to my pant size...). Well, it must have been WAY off, because I had a physical this week and I'm right at 230. I was in such disbelief that I made the doctor take me to another scale to confirm. It's not perfect, but it is definitely nicer than the alternative.

dietitian vs nutritionist - you have to be registered to be a dietitian. I don't think the term "nutritionist" is regulated. Dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians. Or at least that's how I always understood it.

I've made it through the the first 2 weeks post op! Happily moving on to the soft food phase and enjoying a ricotta bake right now.
Anyway, I don't have a nutritionist, but would like to find one. My surgeons office had me do one required appointment with the dietary department at the local hospital, but that's it. Since my insurance doesn't cover any of this and it's all self pay, I want to shop around and not stick with the hospital. I have a couple of questions about choosing a nutritionist:
1. What is a nutritionist vs a dietician?
2. How often do you consult with a nutritionist?
3. What value do they add to your plan? Do they just review your food log and make recommendations?
4. Any specific things I should look for (or steer clear of) as I research my local options?
Thanks, Christi
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for your kind encouragements! I made an appointment to see my surgeon in a couple weeks and I intend to keep the engagement.
The other good news is that for some reason, I was wrong about my weight! I was on a scale a month or so ago that said 250 (which seemed high in relation to my pant size...). Well, it must have been WAY off, because I had a physical this week and I'm right at 230. I was in such disbelief that I made the doctor take me to another scale to confirm. It's not perfect, but it is definitely nicer than the alternative.

@@Basicwitch I want to let you know that you are NOT alone. I have had many many health issues since being banded, and not because of the band in any way.
I have gained weight, and lost it again. Today I am back on track, and working my band and making my life healthier which was my goal all along.
I read some comments in your post that are very concerning to me.
The first was this: "I began to have problems about six months after the surgery and she dismissed my pain as gas. She is a very busy person, that's fine, and I don't blame her. "
YES I blame her. I don't care how busy your Dr. is she is NOT your friend she is there to make sure that you are well and healthy. You pay for this and you pay your insurance company to pay for her services. She is there to be of service to you!! She should have investigated and found out that you were having such a serious issue. It is not normal to be in such pain with the band, even from gas pains after surgery, they should only last a day or so.
The next comment that really concerns me is: Julie norton, on 19 May 2016 - 23:26, said:


"It is hard because she is so glamorous and I can really tell when she is disappointed. Well, I worked up the courage to reschedule the appointment I cancelled this week. I have one in a few weeks. Maybe by then I will have lost a couple pounds from restricting calories?"

If she is so glamorous she does not need to be a doctor...she could be in movies or magazines. You my friend are doing yourself a disservice by thinking of your medical team in this way. Remember she is a person, just like you. No matter her size or stature physical appearance monetary wealth or education. She is a person, and should be a person who is in your corner and wants you to do well and not by shaming you but by lifting you up and letting you know that it's OK we are all human and we all make decisions from time to time that may not be the best.

My advice friend is keep your next appointment. In the time before then don't starve yourself this is NOT healthy. Instead go back to band basics. Go back on your pre-op, post op diet and work from there. Go to your appointment have your band checked out and if it's all in working order request a small fill and keep moving forward. Dr. Glamazon I'm sure is there for you, and wants to help you through this, be brave enough to reach out and if your are still intimidated see an associate maybe Dr. Hyde

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.