AmberFL

HI all!

How do you navigate eating out? Life is busy I do well during the day but at night if I do not cook for the fam then its take out. I try and make good decisions. The other day we had Mexican food. I got a grilled chicken taco, added black Beans, light sour cream and some guac. Put some pico de gallo on it and only ate the insides and only half, saved the other half for lunch. If we get burgers, I will only eat the meat with mustard and the lettuce and Tomato. ect...

I was watching a video someone posted and it was saying that the #1 failure of WLS is chasing restriction, I do not eat till I am stuffed, but I do eat till I am satisified. If I get a craving I just grab a otter pop or 2. I am not sure if I am supposed to steer clear of all this? I am losing weight and its literally melting off, so I figured this is ok.

On 3/22/2024 at 5:23 AM, LindsayT said:

We really didn't know each other that well then, so I don't think they would have said anything when I was overweight... In fact nobody did. I've even had people tell me that they didn't notice that I was over weight. Weird. And I guess, sure. I have friends who are overweight and I don't "see" it because I love and care for them. The problem for me, is I carry what weight I have very well and look way smaller than my weight suggests, which might spur the comments. I also dress myself in a way that makes me appear smaller, so 🤷‍♀️ I've included the most recent picture. My jeans are a 2 and my shirt is a small

YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!

4 hours ago, NickelChip said:

Hey there, fellow Massachusetts person!

Here are a few options that might work for you for protein:

If you like Soups such as creamy Tomato, butternut bisque, etc., add a scoop or two (10-20g protein) of unflavored Protein Powder such as Isopure or Syntrax to the Soup. Also, if you make a canned Soup like cream of chicken, make it with Fairlife skim milk for even more Protein. 1/2 a cup cream of chicken with 1 scoop of Protein would give you about 17g protein.

If you are at a stage where you can have apples, make a great protein dip by taking 1 cup Greek yogurt and adding one serving chocolate protein powder and 1 scoop powdered Peanut Butter and eat 1/2 cup with 1/2 an apple. This gives you around 25g protein depending what brands you are using and tastes delicious.

A great source of plant-based protein is edamame, which they sell already shelled and lightly salted, ready to eat, in the produce section of Hannaford (and probably other stores, I would assume). Also, four of the cracker-sized slices of Cabot cheddar have 8g protein, and if you pair it with Triscuit thins, that's another 3g for a nice 10g snack (when you can have crackers).

omg that dip sounds AMAZING! Im making this tonight LOL

I try to make half of the recipe or if I think its something my family will like I will just do that for dinner for all of us. I can usually doctor theirs up to be more of their liking

34 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

I recently tried a very natural Protein Bar made with nuts and egg white Protein that I really liked. It was the Mammoth Bar in the goji berry flavor, available on Amazon. They're pricey but very good ingredients, and I found them to be super filling. 12g Protein. I'd say they're a lot like the Rx bars, which are a bit cheaper and easier to find in stores. Worth keeping on hand for hikes or when you're going to be out all day.

oh yum they do look good! I have the Rx Bar at home and those are a very yummy bfast on the go!

HI all!

I volunteered for my daughters field trip tomorrow, and its hiking. I cannot make my normal meals, they will have to be snacky. So far I am thinking beef stick, cheese stick, Protein Shake. These might be enough for the day as long as I eat Breakfast before I go. It is an all day field trip.

TIA!

3 minutes ago, ChunkCat said:

They are way more delicious than they should be. LOL

Thank you for the compliment!! I've lost the same amount as you, 75.5 lbs !! Though I adjust the weight through the side thing on the right and it only does whole numbers... I can't believe you've lost that much so soon! You are hoofin' it to your goal!

Its pretty insane! I have upped my calories, just making sure that I hit my Protein and Water goals. I eat 50g of carbs and 30-50g of fat. Its all "healthy fats" but its falling off a lot quicker than I anticipated! Which I guess is a good thing? I saw you comment about just trusting my body and letting it do it thing but I adjusted my goal to 170 that puts me in the "normal" BMI section. I am trusting the process, but its sus LOL

We both are killin it!

On 1/16/2024 at 7:24 AM, NickelChip said:

Happy birthday!

My surgery is next month and my birthday (50th!) will be 24 days after surgery. I won't be eating any birthday treats this year as I'll barely be back on solid foods, but I'm thinking I will go for a pedicure. Actually, that makes a nice group activity if some of your friends want to do that instead of dinner, and at around $40-50, the cost is about the same as an entree, cocktail, and dessert. If you really want to splurge, you could also check around for day spas in your area. I have one near me that offers full-day package including sauna, mineral hot tub, steam room, salt room, massage, and facial.

I grew up near a lot of strawberry fields, so traditionally my birthday cake has always been fresh strawberries on top of angel food cake with a little whipped cream. By next year, I imagine that will be fine, especially if I go heavy on the strawberries (no added sugar) and small on the cake. But I think the more you go for non-food experiences to Celebrate, the better.

Fresh strawberries! yumm! I have eaten a couple off my kiddos plate and the fragrance and taste of all fruits have heightened since surgery. Very enjoyable!

YOU LOOK AMAZING AND HAPPY!!!!!! I am soooooo proud of you!!!! *happy dance*

17 hours ago, ChunkCat said:

You might consider a version of these: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/keto-banana-muffins-recipe/ They are Keto, so they are low in carbs, but you could always add some blueberries and skip the banana bakery emulsion, swapping in vanilla. They keep well in the fridge. I used real dark chocolate in mine and a combo of Splenda and Allulose, they still came out to only about 10 total carbs and 8 grams of Protein. That would change a bit if you add blueberries though.

these look delish! and Girl your new profile pic! you look AMAZING!!! How much have you lost?

41 minutes ago, trishaaustin2001 said:

My week was good. Making slow changes back in the right direction. Thank you

baby steps!! yay so proud of you!

On 3/11/2024 at 5:10 PM, trishaaustin2001 said:

That's a great idea!! Thank you so much. I will keep u posted!

how has the week been?

32 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

Isopure: Dutch chocolate flavour.

I found this brand to be the least sweet and low carb option for me (i found that i really did not like sweet drinks anymore after surgery).

I would have 2 scoops of it, 1 tsp Decaf instant coffee crystals, 2 tsps Benefibre, 500 ml Water and a handful of ice. shake it all up in shaker bottle/cup and enjoy!

oooo does it taste like an iced mocha?

58 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

I'm almost 5 ½ years out. At this point i don't have a "typical" day of eating at all. It all really depends whats in my fridge, or where i am or what i feel like eating (and yes that includes Cookies and bread).

Now yesterday we went to costco and i loaded up on my fave lettuce mix (bought 2 boxes), also picked up a bag of avocados. so i had a salad for lunch and will probably going to be eating salads with avocado for the next week or so if/when i'm home...but its fair game to whatever when i'm out and about. for instance last night was margaritas (2) and 3 spicy chicken wings (oh and i bite of my pals' dessert crepe..spoiler alert it was NOT good) 🤷🏻‍♀️ i average 1800-2000 cals a day these days tho.

BUT...at your stage (2 months post op, if i do my math correctly?) here is a sample of what i ate for a week back then:

this week was the xmas holidays for me tho, so there was alot of eating out and not so much prepared foods at home. and you can see that i consumed almost double the amount of calories i normally take in on xmas eve...and i remember having a barf at some point that day (i was still learning my full cues so barfing was pretty common for me around 1-3 months)

overall, slightly higher than normal calories (for ME at that time) on a couple other days that week. i also remember that i probably would have eaten more on the actual xmas day, but i drank a few sips of a super sweet alcoholic drink that night and i was counted out for the night due to a bad bout of dumping. yikes...it was NOT pretty. *shudder*

anyway here are some screenshots from MFP for the week at my 2 month post op mark:

also note that while these are logged as "meals" i generally pecked at each "meal" throughout the day and didn't actually eat all listed at one sitting. note also i did NOT make my Protein goals by any means. i didn't come close to doing that regularly until sometime after the 3 month mark. and why there doesn't seem to be any Protein Shake consumption this week, i do not know!

lastly, i had a lot of fun looking up my old food logs, so thanks for inspiring me to, lol.

I am eating triple what you ate at this stage. Wowza! I must be doing something wrong. I am trying to cut back to 900cal. Typically is 1000 cal a day

I love Mexican food and deli sandwiches lol! So the week before my husband told me to choose foods that I wanted and the whole family would eat it. Then I ate chocolate, cake or sees candy. All the things!

1 hour ago, BlondePatriotInCDA said:

I use either a crockpot or a tall pan (it takes no more than 15 mins) it makes several weeks worth, I freeze half! The Beans is where I get 90+% of my carbs 😕 but it gives me my fiber so its a trade off. Fiber is carbs.

1 large package ground turkey

1 large can kidney Beans

1 large can chili beans in chili sauce

2 cans mushrooms

I occasionally mix in with each bowl after cooking banana peppers.

3/4 jar of G. Huges sauce either the Thai chili sauce (its sweeter) or their BBQ Sauce. Brown the turkey drain, mix in beans, mushrooms and sauce. That's it. I Iove sauces and G. Huges has tons; yum yum sauce tastes like chic filet sauce, Polynesian sauce, several bbq flavors to change it up, chili Thai is sweet kinda like Chinese plum sauce and numerous others. All very low calories and low carb - no sugars ... They sell quickly so I always buy several when I see them!

I have his Teriyaki sauce! Its so good! I will have to try the Turkey chili thank you!

I had the sleeve and work at a desk job, I took 3 weeks off and loved every single min! my hubby took the first week off and took the kids to school for me that week. I was so tired from barely eating and recovery. I "could've" gone back after 1 week but I enjoyed the time off, as I was paid for it anyways.

5 minutes ago, BlondePatriotInCDA said:

I'm apparently more anal retentive than everyone else who's responded so far, but most are in maintenance so they can and have learned what works for them.

My daily intake is very structured because I really don't like cooking or trying to figure out what to eat. Plus, unfortunately I'm a slow loser.

Breakfast:

Either I have 1/2 cup high Protein overnight oats made with Fairlife Core Power milk (42g protein) but only use half of the bottle so 21g for a total number of 30g +-

or

2 low fat turkey bacon slices and 1/2 bottle of my fairlife Protein milk 30 mins later, either meal with a half cup of coffee 30 mins beforehand.

Lunch:

1/2 c homemade turkey chili with 2 tablespoons Fage Greek yogurt 14g+- protein total or

Pacifica organic Soup 1/2 cup

Dinner:

Either the turkey chili again with added 1 tablespoon cheese on a low carb high protein tortillas or

3oz chicken (20g protein) cut into cubes with G.Huges chili Thai dipping sauce (low carb - 2 carbs, low calorie - 5) 2 small florets broccoli, 1 tablespoon skim cheese and Fage Greek yogurt on a low carb high protein (7grams) tortilla 32+- total grams protein

Snack:

1 no sugar added fudgecicle (40 calories) or 1 tablespoon no sugar added chocolate chips (70 calories) or

a fiesta string cheese (70 calories) or

Homemade "brownie batter" or "chocolate chip cookie dough" protein balls (neither really taste like the title says, but its what they're calling them on the recipes 😋

This works out to:

80 grams protein

800 calories

50 net carbs

19 grams sugars

Fat 16 - 28g

Boring I know, but as I said if I think about what I want to eat to much..its not healthy foods or foods I'm allowed to have 6 months in. I'm trying to eat to live not live to eat.. So I keep it regimented so I know where I stand. As far as exercise I was walking 3 miles a day with light weight training..but I'm having hip abductors and hip flexor issues now plus my bum hurts (I never contemplated before surgery losing weight would make sitting/bum hurt) so I'm starting PT on Monday so the exercise has stopped for now.

NOt boring at all! I like structure! this week I haven't had that. I am making foods on the fly because its been busy this week. But I would like to try and cut back my calories somewhere. Idk where but I feel like I can cut it back somehwere lol I like your lunches! do you just make that in the crockpot?

11 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I really love my porridge. I initially began with instant oats - less coarse & easier to tolerate. I ate them from purée. Can’t recall when I transitioned to traditional oats. I do make them (oats, seeds dried cranberries & milk) overnight but I still cook them the next morning. I cook a little longer so about 4 mins in microwave stirring between & adding more milk. Then add yoghurt, more milk to a texture I like & then blueberries. If you add the yoghurt before cooking it curdles - not appetising.

PS - Watch some instant oats if you start there. They can be loaded with additives & other ingredients. Find ones where the only ingredient is oats.

this sounds delish!

15 hours ago, Spinoza said:

I am almost two and a half years post sleeve. At your stage I was eating around 800 calories I think, but if I've learned anything it's that we're all totally different!

Well into maintenance, my typical day is:

Breakfast: full cream milk latte. I have never eaten Breakfast at breakfast time and never will.

Mid morning: one or two fried or scrambled eggs, depending on how hungry I am. Generally one.

Lunch: a salad with some Protein (last night's dinner meat, tinned tuna or deli meat - sometimes cheese). Or more often Soup - usually homemade and usually with either chicken or pulses for Protein. Or occasionally, if I'm feeling really lazy and can take the sugar hit, 100g tinned baked Beans with cheese and hot sauce.

Snacks, probably three a day at this point: cheese (and usually a couple of crackers with that); 150mls [approx] full cream milk kefir or a kefir yoghurt; nuts (30g approx); seeds (20g probably); deli meat; fruit (I eat at least one portion of berries or an apple every day). I tend to keep lots of meat Snacks in the fridge as they're filling and help me reach my protein goal.

Dinner: whatever I've cooked for everyone else but without the carb element, or just a tiny bit. Basically protein and veg - in that order. But that includes fried chicken, bolognese, casseroles, sausages, roast dinners, fish pie (no potato topping) - everything I used to eat before my sleeve.

Supper: I do most of my carb intake here. Toast and butter, porridge (oatmeal to you lot) with stewed fruit, crackers with butter (or cheese if I haven't cheesed out by then).

Exercise: I do a 1 hour aerobic exercise class 3 days a week. I walk between 2 and 4 miles every day and I jog about a mile once or twice a week instead of walking. I am still amazed by what my new body can do. I probably should do more.

This is my diet 90% of the time. I have lots of days when I stray badly off the path and eat chips (crisps) and occasionally chocolate. I also drink wine every weekend, which I accept is totally empty calories with no nutritional value. I just track everything and try to adjust if I can. I've had a couple of regains of a few pounds now (4ish), but so far I've been able to jump on those, ditch the rubbish (carbs mainly), up my exercise and get back to 140 or thereabouts. It's no problem at all - a couple of weeks of being more vigilant about what goes into my mouth and a few runs instead of walks. I really hope I can keep doing that. I may have to accept that my set weight is higher than 140 but I am loving it here!

this sounds fanstastic!! I am eating around 1000-1100 calories. I cannot seem to cut anywhere without getting really fatigued and dizzy. I walk 5x a week nothing crazy a little bit of terrain but havent found time to work out outside of my lunch break yet. So I am accepting that I need those calories. I have been doing the same thing for dinner as you, eating what everyone eats just taking out the carb element. We both had similar starting stats.

Do you remember what worked for you at this stage? How long did it take for you lose the weight? Stalls? Any advice would be amazing! I never in a million years can imagine myself at 140! I am in disbelief I am at 226!

16 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

6+ years post op:

I have a routine. I always starting and ending my day with a cup of tea. Everything in between depends on how hungry I am, however it is mostly liquids. For instance I didn’t eat today until 6pm because I was busy, so I won’t reach my Protein goal (I usually do) but I will still easily reach hydration goal.

Typical Snacks are fat/carbs:

nuts, cheese, fruit, Cookies, chocolates

Typical meals are mostly protein/carb combos:

-breakfast sandwiches (egg/bread)

-cold salads (egg, chicken, salmon/ vegetables/crackers)

-meat and potatoes (chicken, lamb, turkey/ mashed/baked/fried)

-soup

you eat Cookies? ! I havent let myself yet lol Its a slippery slope for me. Do you have a typical bread that you like to eat with your breakfast sandwiches.

15 hours ago, BeanitoDiego said:

I'm transitioning to maintenance phase, so I don't have a typical day nailed down yet. But I aim for at least 80g of Protein, and usually end up getting 90-100g. My activity level is quite high with at least 60 minutes of exercise or training every day. Swimming, yoga, HIIT, walking or jogging with my PupTart, dynamic stretching, PT for the hurty bits, and strength conditioning are my primary activities.

All of that training allows me to go hiking, bicycling, backcountry camping, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving. I love being active and hope to keep it up for a loooong time 😁

You and I have similar starting numbers, HW was 297 and when I started my journey I was 270 and am 5'9.

What was your original weight loss goal? I am shooting for 190 but the way that I am losing weight I think I am going to surpass that.

What was your typical day in your weight loss phase? How long did it take to get there? Right now I am eating about 1000 calories, 100g of Protein, 50g of carbs, 25g of fat. I am not sure if I am eating too much, the scale says I am not but I also do not want to stretch out my stomach.

When did you start HIIT? I miss it so much but right now I just walk 35-55min a day (I know odd it just depends how long I can squeeze time outta my lunch break lol)

Sorry for all the questions LOL

12 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Like @GreenTealael I have a routine too. It makes me comfortable about my choices & I don’t have to think too hard about what I’m going to eat, how much, am I meeting goals, & so on.
Breakfast: rolled oats & milk with high Protein yoghurt, mixed seeds, dried cranberries & blueberries

Lunch: multi grain crackers with labneh & Tomato or with liver wurst & pickled onions. Occasionally gyoza or calamari. Used to have salads with chicken or prawns but got tired of it & then was making omelettes with lots of vegetables & cheese but my tummy decided it didn’t like eggs (after 4 years 🤷🏻‍♀️).

Dinner: usually pretty simple - a Protein (last night was trimmed lamb cutlets with a dukkah crust, the night before chicken breast & gravy) & vegetables (green Beans, sugar snap peas, asparagus, broccolini & zucchini or cauliflower).

snacks: 3 of either macadamia nuts, grapes, string cheese, peanut paste, Protein Bar, left over Breakfast or similar

Activity 4 sessions of about 5 minutes (3pm, 4 pm, 5 pm & 9pm) of stretchers & resistance bands. Usually do this every day or a modified version of them.

There will always be days when we eat a little more of this & a little less of that, skip a meal because of the busyness of life, etc. like @GreenTealael referred to. Same with your activity. As long as you aim to do your best most days, it all works out in the end.

PS - Glad you’re back on track & feeling stronger about moving forward.

how do you make your oats? are they overnight? in a rice cooker? I am wanting to do something more simple for the weekends. Right now I am having a RXbar for bfast which is yummy! but I am starting to want oatmeal again lol

3 hours ago, FifiLux said:

For me now I am still trying to get into a routine of what I can and cannot tolerate but it is usually;

Breakfast - pot of greek yogurt, tsbp of cinnamon (good for inflammation) and a 1/2 cup of granola or oats. (approx 20g protein). At weekends I do a Protein pancake with fresh fruit. (15g protein)

During the morning/afternoon - coffee with a scoop of collagen powder (10g of Protein in the scoop) * 2 (20g protein)

lunch - usually a Soup I have made in my slow cooker, at moment red lentil, chili & carrot which is delicious. (5g to 10g protein depending on the soup)

dinner - again something homemade in my slow cooker like a beef goulash, bolognese or chicken dish. I don't usually have a side with them, as not eating enough to sacrifice stomach space for a non protein element, but I do include some veg within the cooking process so I am happy with that. A few times I have had rice with the dishes but at the most 1/2 cup each time. Sometimes I will have the same thing for lunch and dinner as I batch cook so much my freezer is overflowing. The protein amounts very from about 8g to 25g depending on the food, for example a Peanut Butter (protein) chicken dish I made only has 241 calories, 8g fat, 14g carbs and a whooping 26g protein.

On a Friday I treat myself to a 1/4 of a frozen protein vegan pizza (11g protein). It is the one thing really that I don't prepare myself.

During the day if I remember to eat I might also have a Protein Bar, some nuts or 2 squares of dark chocolate. I am trying to get some fruit in also but it is hard to find the stomach space and the time (considering not being able to eat 30 mins either side of a drink).

On activity, I have started the One & Done 7 minute exercise program, it is just three times a week as I am a beginner. I do 45 minutes of aqua aerobics once a week so that is four active days more than I did pre-op I try to get a walk in a couple of times a week also but find it hard to be motivated to do that unless it is around the shops which is then dangerous for my wallet!

I am still in the Weight loss phase, what type of granola do you eat? I am struggling to find that one that isnt extremely high in carbs.

What is this PB chicken recipe?! Sounds amazing!

HI all!

Me again I have gotten over my guilt of my "cheating" and took all you wonderful peoples advice and kept on truckin!

What does a typical food day and activity day look like for you? recipes are welcome! I am ready to venture out.