Hello everyone. I haven't posted for a while. I hope you are all doing okay.

I am at the stage post op where I can have all textures of foods. Problem is I don't really have a specific plan to follow, and it is difficult to stick to the diet when there aren't specific instructions. I've found that now that I can eat, I want to eat everything. Being hungry for the 3 weeks ppre-op, and then the past 4 weeks post op was difficult, and I think now that I am able to eat anything, I want EVERYTHING. I did not do well during the mushies stage, and in fact, I had a lot of high calorie puddings and yogurts. I was so hungry and after feeling deprived, my brain kept telling me that it was okay to eat. Anyway, I need to get recommitted and get started losing weight. It has been 10 days now since my 2nd surgery (unrelated but I have 6 inch incision in my abdomen and a 2.5 inch one in my back, and the recovery hasn't been easy). 2 surgeries within a month was a bit much for me and I haven't had the energy to fight through the dieting.

So, I need to get completely back on track. What kinds of menus are you guys having. I need suggestions.

Thanks,

Cindy

This may or may not work for you, but I was having the same feelings of wanting to eat everything...........well guess, what we can't or we have already failed this tool. I prepare my meals twice a week. Here is an example of what I HAVE to stick to whether mentally and physically I want more or not:

Breakfast - Two 8 oz cups of coffee, 2 Tbsp. 2% milk;

Mid-morning snack: Sugar free yogurt (usually peach or strawberry) and 3 oz. of protein - usually an egg or a meatball.

Lunch and Dinner: I eat 3 oz. portions of meat or some other protein and 3 -5 oz. of vegetables (usually carrots or green beans due to them being softer).

Dessert snack: Sugar free pudding or jello.

My protein of choice lately has been turkey meatballs flavored with garlic, onion and green pepper. I add spaghetti sauce, salsa, terryaki or a fat free bernaise sauce. Chicken, steak and I are having some "stuck" episodes, so I have moved to softer things. Ice cream scoops offer just the right serving size.

Instituting enough water in my diet has been a beast - I have set timers on my phone for every hour past 9 a.m. and I consume at least 4 - 8 oz. of water every hour that I am not eating.

My husband likes to eat out, a lot, so I order something off the appetizer menu or soup and then take most of it home. My comfort zone has become the consistency of having things pre-made and measured out. Life is stressful and messy and to make this work, for me anyway, I have to consistently make my meals up ahead of time. When I forget, I keep 1 EAS Carb Advantage shake in my purse at all times - then I know I have something with me and the temptation to cheat is still there, but I have no valid reason to do it. Friends and family members can make it easy for us to sabotage ourselves as well as the band - we have to be strong enough and find our own way to make this work for us and not against us.

Please take this statement as encouragement: We waited too long to get this surgery to not contribute fully to making this work for us. It is not easy, it is a journey and when we accomplish our goals it will be with the confidence of knowing that WE did this, the band was our tool, but WE did it.

Take your time, plan, prepare and most of all be good to yourself. Encourage yourself and if you have a bad day, don't beat yourself up - just plan that tomorrow will be better and make it happen.