What to Eat

[kerri76 0]

I don't know how many calories I should be consuming. The dietitian didn't spend a great deal of time with me. I am eating 3 meals a day and only snacking if I am absolutely physically hungry. Here is what I ate yesterday:

• Breakfast: Weight Control oatmeal (1 packet)

  
  

• Lunch: tuna salad (5-6 forkfuls), Refried Beans (1 cup) w/ sprinkle of cheese, Salmon (1-2 oz)

  
  

• Dinner: Sloppy Joes with Turkey meat (2 sandwiches WITHOUT the buns), Green Beans (1/2 cup), Fries (Handful)

  
  

• Water (2 liters)

  
  

• No exercise yesterday :-(

  
  

I have absolutely NO restriction and am able to eat nearly anything (haven't tried everything) and a fairly large quantity. I stop myself when I think that I am "satisfied" even though I would love to eat a LOT more! I am still struggling with head hunger and emotional urges to eat but I have done really well with distracting myself and it goes away.

What should I eat?

Dr said NO CARRBS, lots of Protein!

How many calories?

Is there an easy way to count calories for items that are in bulk? food scale?

[vlp1968 83]

You are in what is known as bandster hell. The time after surgery before you get restriction. Hang in there! It will get easier. Your doc. is right to watch the carbs- I also eat very low fat. Lots of protien! Try to stay away from prepared, processed foods. I would ask your dietician to go over some specific guidelines for you. Doesn't sound like he/she has been real helpfull so far. Best of luck!

[BetsyB 9]

Does your doctor have a nurse coordinator or nutritionist who participates in patient education? It must be terribly frustrating to be operating with so little real information about what is expected of you!

At first glance, two things leap out at me about your posted meal plan. First, there are an awful lot of carbs if your doctor's told you no carbs. And secondly, you're taking in a larger volume than I would think a good idea for a new pouch. (You really don't want to dilate it by overstretching at this point.)

I understand that you are hungry. Hunger is part an parcel of the period after banding when you do not yet have restriction; it may persist for several months as saline is added to your band.

That means that, in the meantime, you have to really carefully monitor what you eat---because your band won't be telling you to stop.

Journaling at a site like Fitday can help a great deal. It will let you know whether you're getting enough Protein, the right number of calories, too much carb, and so on.

Weighing and measuring portions is a good idea. Of course, it helps if you have guidelines from your doctor about what to aim for! (Did he at least tell you how many grams of Protein to aim for? Recommend a good bariatric Multivitamin? Specify a volume of food you should not exceed at each meal?)

In the absence of more specific information, I would say that a pretty standard maximum volume of food to eat at each meal is 1 cup. I would focus on lean protein and nonstarchy veggies---and I would avoid foods like fries, which offer little nutritional benefit.

I know it's frustrating to feel as though you're on a diet, but it is the last time you will be hungry in the name of weight loss. And it's a great time to practice the behaviors that you'll need once you do reach restriction.

(I so wish that everyone had a doctor as good as mine, with an eating plan that produces great results. It's hard, during bandster hell---but seeing great results makes it so much easier!)