Meal planning can be an important factor in success after weight loss surgery. You need to get enough Protein and other nutrients and limit your calories while you stick to the allowed food choices on your weight loss surgery diet. Meal planning can be challenging, though. How do you plan your meals?

Select the answer that best describes you, and tell us about it in the discussion below!

I do better with pretty much the same meal plan, four years out, for VSG maintenance. In March, I lost 14 pounds of the 50 regain, after I was fired from DS Surgery. I have discovered coffee shakes, salads and soy protein and vegs for dinner is the best for me,keeping it around 800c and exercising 2.5 hrs daily. I am insulin resistant, and as soon ass my tool stopped working -- regain started -- even though I was not eating carbs...

I only plan in a very loose way, mostly by making sure I have plenty of Protein bars and Protein shakes on hand to cover when I am on the run, which is most of the time. The other staple for me is Greek yogurt.

This is not the best of plans, because I tend to make a lot of choices otherwise. What's out there is usually pretty high in fat, even when I look for the most protein, I can get for the serving (10 - 23 gr.) on nutrition labels, along with the least fat and carbs/sugar, but a lot of Fiber. I try to get at least one small meal when I can, with some meat and a few vegetables,more emphasis on meat, and likely 2 oz. by weight or less. I find that I can eat very little else after I've eaten my protein. So, vegetables, or any type of potato would be 1/8 to 1/4 cup at most. Fruits are occasional.

So far I will go to the store an buy a large variety of different foods along with various fresh vegetables and fruits and then during the week I find I just can't eat everything and end up with quite a bit going to waste. (especially the fresh stuff). I eat primarily meats, eggs, and dairy for protein, which means there is little to no room for fruits or veggies. I end up throwing out most of what I bought of these items each week. It appears it will be a continual learning curve.

We were the same so I decided instead of the fruit and veg going to waste. I would put the fruit and veg through the juicer and my husband and I add 1 scoop of protein powder to it and use it as a replacement for a snack each or every other day. Great way to squeeze the fruit and veg in and to decrease the waste.