mari.beth

Love these! Higher in Protein than crackers too as they're usually made with chickpea flour

I wonder if anyone else has tried these. They are light, crunchy, tasty, and I think an excellent alternative to high-carb crackers. Plus, they are cheap and take only one minute to cook in the microwave. I have eaten them with low-carb salmon spread or just plain when I really wanted something crunchy. I only eat 10 (well, I cook 10 and give my dogs 2), which is 17.5 calories, 3 carbs, 0 fat, 1.5 grams Protein.


 

So I was concerned that there wasn't that much of a difference from before surgery to now.. but after comparing this before and after picture I'm feeling much better! Be honest? Does it really look like I've lost 65lbs?! Thanks!
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@@LittleBill It's just a joke Original Gangsters... lol Because of the fussing back and forth : ) I know or at least I hope no one here will get "Gangsta" on me. Lmbo

Youbars.com does custom Protein bars. I need to avoid dairy right now, so I've had some vegan ones made up. 12 grams of Protein isn't *enormous* but it's something . They use nuts in the base, and I think mine have about 14 grams of carbs, almost all of which is Fiber. Just as a snack option.
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I eat three meals a day and at least one snack. Snacks can be fruit, nuts, veggies . I eat low calorie Jello if I get head hunger. I also will eat Peanut Butter and crackers or for me, even Peanut Butter and an English muffin. But, I am two years out and have kept off a hundred pound weight loss on 1,200 calories 60-80 grams of Protein 100-130 grams of carbs.
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I googled a lot of meal prep on the web. I usually just make up a couple of meals on Sunday and I do three regular meals and split it in halfs for six meals. I don't eat all of them in one day because I drink a Protein shake on the way to work and after work I usually eat a high Protein snake. So throughout the day I eat 5 or 6 small meals. I do eat meat but I eat a lot more fish since the surgery meat is very heavy on my tummy.
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There are a multitude of reasons people choose not to eat meat, or certain kinds of meat, and all are valid. She stated that she is a pescatarian, which means she eats fish. She may also be lacto-ovo which would mean she drinks milk and eats eggs. But even if she's not lacto-ovo, I don't think we should be trying to convince her to eat meat when she has religious/moral/health reasons for not.
I am no longer vegetarian, but was raised that way for religious reasons (we were lacto/ovo/pescatarian in practice) and I can assure you that there are MANY ways to get plenty of Protein without eating meat. There are a number of high protein foods that are not animal-based.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4771/10-Vegan-Sources-of-Protein.html
To the OP:
I have been trying to find meal planning help with my own food issues, and have found that in general the options are not very good. There's tons of recipe ideas here in the recipe section and on Pinterest, but not a lot of information about how to plan meals especially if you're planning to do once-a-week or once-a-month cooking. There are resources for OAW/OAM cooking, but it's with their recipes and doesn't offer a lot of insight as to how to put your own recipes in place of theirs.
If you search once-a-week or once-a-month cooking, and read enough of the books/resources, there are basic principles you can apply. Like which kinds of food freeze well, which are good for make-ahead, etc. I personally have found it very hard to implement from scratch. But if you dig enough you can find them.
I will offer that if you're doing low-carb, you shouldn't worry overmuch about fat. The concept of low-carb requires a higher fat content than in a "normal" diet. I wouldn't go overboard, but since you don't eat red meat, your fat options are going to tend to be the "healthy" fats, so I really wouldn't worry much about that.
Also, I advise getting some clarification around "only 3 meals" a day. Post-op, your intake at a sitting will be so little that I don't believe only allowing 3 meals a day is wise. My instructions are to eat every 3-4 hours. Many of the people here who have 3 meals only as instructions, were allowed 2-3 Protein Drinks outside of those 3 meals as "snacks". Others are told 3 meals with 2 or 3 low calorie high protein Snacks.
Good luck! If I remember when I get home (feel free to PM me to remind me) I can post some of the OAW/OAM resources I've found.

THank you to the three of you who replied. Those are great ideas. I did not know there was a recipes section here. Honestly, I find BP a bit frustrating. It seems like many newbies asking questions do not get many responses whereas a lot of people jump in to respond to posts by the "popular" (for lack of a better term) people. So, I feel pretty frustrated with the few posts I have made trying to get advice. I really do appreciate you taking your time to respond!!!

Congrats on being 100 pounds down from your highest weight. That is wonderful! My surgery was June 23. I've lost 60, but haven't lost anything for a few weeks. I definitely feel less restriction which worries me. I'm not too concerned about Thanksgiving other than pie! Honestly, I probably will have a bite. Do you have to cook? I think that would be harder. I'm going to my sister's house and will only be taking deviled eggs. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I had felt a pretty generous relaxation in my restriction about a month ago, but that seems to be gone. Very odd to me. I'd gotten to where I could eat more than 1/2 cup at a meal, now I'm back to the 4 or 5 small bites and I'm done. Of course, it varies according to the food...5 bites of chicken sits a lot different than 5 bites of a vegetable.
This is a wild ride, isn't it? Who'd have thought I could eat 5 bites of food and be done??

@@rebecca wills I think you really have to look at it as a percentage thing...you've lost over 50% of what you want to lose! That's AMAZING!

I am sure your loss is great for you. A loss of 45 lbs out of 80 total is a lot! So many things factor into weightloss, and we have no control over many of them.

Hello! So glad to check back in with June buddies!
So since 6/21 hw 367 cw 294.8 (Nekkid:) about 72 pounds down. I feel like been slow going but might be picking back up. I am changing up times for my Protein shakes. I do kind of have routine for liquid and Protein so I still feel that weekends are hardest for me to get my Water in so changing that up a bit as well by having Water after Breakfast (30 min + later) and then shake before lunch. Since I sleep more on weekends usually I have to pay attention to schedule.
I have used my Fitbit tracking to keep accountable to eating and exercise. I do at least 5 days per week and have 2-3 of those days include weights. I just recently upped my level on elliptical and some weights I find it make it through the workout but not as fast as at easier level so on the machine it is saying I am burning less calories but have actually lost more since that change. Who knows.
A local university has a program where they do resting metabolic rate bone density and body fat scans. It is not too pricey. I am considering doing this to help get a clear idea of what I am burning and need to burn. I wonder if my nut will be able to help or use the information on next visit, she is not most dynamic or informative sole.
food wise I have had no real problems. I did buy papaya enzyme and used one time eating steak. I have red meat from time to time but really it's mostly chicken chicken chicken. My life is water pee chicken water pee yogurt Protein Shake water pee repeat.
Clothing I have really thinned out closet as some items were just too big. I am still working way into items that before had been way too tight but look forward to donating all of it. I am not holding on to anything big!

Your results are fantastic! I am doing well. Feel great. Get to continue to shop for smaller clothes in my closet. I still feel plenty of restriction. Some days I can eat more than others but has been consistent for several months.
I am a very happy sleever!

I am 3 months out and have been struggling to get in enough Protein since I was moved from soft diet to full diet a few weeks ago. I am pescatarian so fish, veggie patties, eggs, and Protein shakes have been my primary sources. The past week or so, I have not been getting my full amount of protein. At first, I was just so happy to eat veggies that I was going overboard with them. This week, I have eaten some bread and sweets. I know I am stupid for slipping (I just read a whole line of posts with veterans going on and on about stupid things newbies do and I fully admit my stupidity). I am happy with my progress so far but want to get back on track. I would love creative meatless (or pescatarian) protein ideas or sources to locate high protein, low carb meatless recipes and/or meal plans.
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I had my surgery March 28th. I went yesterday to have my 6 months post-op lab draws, this will be the first lab results post-op. Guess what? The padded arm that swings down on the "lab chair" actually swung down and I had a good 3 inches between it and my body. You guys know what I'm talking about!!
Me: To the left, you can see my stats and at the bottom you can see my ticker. I am pleased with my progress and having been overweight for so long if my weight loss stopped today I would still be happy. I haven't been this size in 20yrs!!
In the beginning, I had most of the questions I see posted protein/water how in the hell can you get all that in? To be honest, I didn't! I tried my best and kept Water by my side constantly, I forced water and Protein so much I actually got sick a couple of times before I acquiesced that my best was going to have to be good enough! No carbs, no added sugar and every bite I took contained protein. The first week was rough, the second week a little better by month 2 I kind of had a handle on my routine and things fell into place.
Hair: Month 3 my hair started coming out. Insert those frequently heard comments about "protein and water...". Yes, I know, but I could not, in the beginning, make myself physically ill to reach that goal. I have always had A LOT of hair, not thick strands just a lot. This part is shocking and you truly think you're going to be bald or better yet have bald spots all over the place. I tried not washing my hair as often (every 2-3 days if I was hanging at the house), Tried thinning hair shampoos, co-wash Shampoo you name it, nothing worked. Just these past two weeks it has slowed considerably! Could be though I have considerably less hair, no bald spots but as the day goes on and your hair naturally loses it's "Oomph" you can see my scalp more readily. I work in healthcare so I have to keep my hair up (I've never looked good with short hair so I still have it long) and yoga headbands cover up the sparse areas up front nicely.
Skin: My highest weight ever was 370 before I lost 93lbs on my own with the help of the DASH diet and exercise. The reason I investigated WLS was after 18months I started re-gaining and once I hit 40lbs up I tried some of the old tricks and none worked. Well, those years of being overweight have done a number on my skin. I exercise weight training 3x's a week and walk 2miles a day at a good clip 2 days a week. I don't exercise 7 days a week because I work 3/12hr night shifts a week. My neck has a wobble that can be hidden with the right head position for selfies and the like. I carry most of my weight in my stomach/middle section so the true flabbiness of that area is yet to be seen. My boobs flat pancakes, my arms have a little of the jiggle and my inner thighs have loose skin as well. Keep in mind I am 44 and never had the best skin genetics, to begin with. I can get a superficial scratch and it will turn into a tan scar that lasts for years...
Tools: Things I have discovered through trial and error! I know after surgery a lot of people have very specific temperatures for their liquids. Mine is ice cold!! Seeing that I work night shift in a hospital and I am not stationary to one particular unit I needed something portable. I tried so many options! Then I found my Hydro Flask!!! Best money I've spent to stay hydrated on the go. Mine initially came with a plug type screw cap which did not make it very convenient then I discovered the sport cap with a pull-up spout. Keeps ice for 12hrs and me hydrated all night long. It is a permanent fixture wherever I go even if I'm out shopping. The food scale is something I used at the beginning and it is a must I purchased a cheapy through Amazon. I bought a Ninja Bullet and it works well, used it twice and never used it again. I'm not a smoothie girl and protein powders are not my friend. The only Protein powder I use on occasion is GENEPRO. The most expensive is my refrigerator, I had an oldie with limited storage space so I took the plunge and bought a fridge with a filtered water/crushed ice dispenser. It's been a win/win we use way less plastic water bottles and my husband even drinks more water than ever before.
Food: I read food labels constantly, it's a must! I can't do the high Protein Bars, but I can enjoy a Kind bar for Breakfast when I hit the ground running in the mornings. I only choose the ones with protein and low carb usually the "nut and spice" line. I do have a few Snacks I enjoy like Somersaults sunflower/sesame seed bites have 6gms of protein per serving, My husband and I split a honey crisp apple with Peanut Butter and it's my fave at the moment. Just read those labels and I try my best not to consume anything that doesn't have protein in it or on it. I have on occasion, but I don't go crazy that's for sure! I've been perplexed at the range of dietary suggestions given to each of us from our Bariatric teams. If all of these places are "Bariatric Centers of Excellence" you would think there would be more uniformity in the foods allowed and how often we should be eating a day. My plan is a 3 meal a day no snack plan and I can't do that. I'm smart about it, but I do have snacks. And yes I do eat out on occasion. It's hardly ever fast food unless it's someplace I can get a bowl of Chili. I make smart protein filled choices, bring the rest home.
Stalls: I started having little stalls in August. I weigh daily another "no-no" but it keeps me motivated. I went almost two weeks the first time before the scale budged. The odd thing is that while the scale didn't move I could physically tell by clothing and just a sense of self that I was still losing something from somewhere. Those two weeks I had more people comment about my weight loss than ever before. When the stall broke I lost 6lbs in 4 days and didn't change a thing. I still seem to lose slowly then stop for a week then lose 5+ lbs in less than a week. I think like others have said, your body has to catch up to what the hell is going on.
Me today I am down 89lbs, in size 18 jeans (use to be 26/28 pre-op), 2x t-shirts (I like mine comfortably loose and use to be 4x/5x). I don't have any qualms about sitting in booths at a restaurant and will not have any issues flying to visit my parents in 2wks. I wanted to share some of my experiences and tips because I know I felt a failure at first and scared about what the future would hold. I have realistic expectations for myself and end result. I know I will probably reach my ultimate weight loss goal and loose some more or maybe even gain a little back. "They" always say food is a control issue for overweight people since they feel they can't control anything else. I say bullshit! I control everything in my life and food was the one thing I didn't have to think about, that's why I made it all the way to 370lbs. Be smart about your choices, find what works for you within those smart choices and soldier on.

Some other Breakfast ideas. Cottage cheese mixed with some sugar free jam. Or cottage cheese or ricotta cheese with fresh diced cucumber and / or Tomato. Morningstar farm sausage patties are good and have 10 G Protein. (They also make sausages but haven't tried them yet). I recently made some cottage cheese oatmeal pancakes that were a nice treat. I have also made omelets with one egg and 1-2 egg whites with some shredded reduced fat cheddar and some sautéed veggies (I like mushrooms, onions, and / or zucchini). Saw a recipe for a tofu scramble that I might try (tofu instead of eggs). eggs scrambled with smoked salmon or smokes trout is good.
I am 12 weeks out and trying to minimize the carbs too.

I went for my one month follow-up today and was cleared to switch from liquids to soft foods. I had hummus for lunch because I went straight to costco from my appointment and the single pack was easy to eat on the way home. I had a very small piece of salmon with one tablespoon of cottage cheese for dinner. It was so wonderful to actually eat something besides popsicles and soup! I was surprised at how full I felt after a few bites (definitely grateful for that!) I was a bit disappointed that I only lost 7 pounds since the 2-week appointment, but I guess I should be grateful for losing during weeks three and four.

I went for my one month follow-up today and was cleared to switch from liquids to soft foods. I had hummus for lunch because I went straight to costco from my appointment and the single pack was easy to eat on the way home. I had a very small piece of salmon with one tablespoon of cottage cheese for dinner. It was so wonderful to actually eat something besides popsicles and soup! I was surprised at how full I felt after a few bites (definitely grateful for that!) I was a bit disappointed that I only lost 7 pounds since the 2-week appointment, but I guess I should be grateful for losing during weeks three and four.

First, it would be impossible to stretch your sleeve significantly at any time, much less with liquids a month post-op, so I think you should take that off your list of worries! My procedure was 21 June and I'm on whole foods and have been for 2 weeks, with no issues, so you should be able to tolerate liquids fine at this point. I never had a feeling of fullness from liquids, but definitely do with solids. It also takes a while to get chicken and vegetables in, small pieces, chewchewchewchew...meals take 30 mins easily. I've eaten a lot of oatmeal, pudding with Protein powder, Soups with Protein Powder, the Ricotta Bake recipe from the Eggface website, cottage cheese, refried Beans, etc. Those all gave me a sense of fullness, and it's unmistakable. I bet you're going to be in for a fabulous surprise when you unpack your scale and weigh yourself!

Do you ever have that moment of clarity where you step back and wonder "what the hell did I just do?". I had that moment and came to rant about it.
I had sleeve surgery on June 1st and since then:
- My clothes don't fit anymore. I went to wear my favorite shirt yesterday and it was TOO BIG!!!
- People keep telling me I'm looking great. The nerve of some people!
- I don't snore anymore. How am I supposed to annoy my wife while I'm asleep??
- I'm wearing size 38 pants now. I wore those in HIGH SCHOOL! I'm basically a high schooler now!!!
- My gentleman's sausage looks twice as big now. That's like twice as much to disappoint my wife!
- I don't sweat anymore. It is the middle of summer and I don't sweat even when I work out.
- My feet never hurt anymore. I used to have terrible foot pain and it is GONE!
I think I need to go sit in a quite place for a while and relax now.