I'm pre-surgery and having some second thoughts. One question I have is does Protein first mean pure protein?

Let me explain. As soon as I decided to move forward with gaining approval for VSG, I started dieting on my own. I wanted to prove to myself that I could stick to a diet before I moved forward with surgery, trying to set myself up for success. Anyway, I focus on high protein foods just as I'll have to do after surgery and track my food and Water with myfitness pal.

One of the meals I love is Shrimp Burgers (no bun). Anyway shrimp is a great protein source, but my shrimp burgers include bread crumbs. So after surgery is that ok? Or does the protein need to be ONLY protein? I'm trying to find foods I'll be able to eat post surgery, and just hope I'm not taking myself down the wrong road already.

Any insight would be appreciated.

After sugery you would want to skip the bread crumbs because that will slow down your weight loss- breadcrumbs are carbs.

When they say get your Protein first it is meant- chicken, fish, shrimp, super lean ground beef, turkey- you get the idea and those Proteins should be baked, broiled, boilded, grilled without any breading or high sugar or high fat sauces.

YMMV- some people may choose to have a "little" something breaded as an occaciasion treat. You will have to experiment and do what works best for you.

This is a life-style change and should not be looked at as a never ending diet. You should want to eat healthy 95% of the time the other 5% would be your brirthday, a real holiday etc.,,

• Thanks!

At least at first you'd have to forgo most simple carbs and you'll want limit them later to maximize your weight loss and success. I've read a few blogs by people who are a few years out and they do sometimes have things that aren't straight Protein, they just don't seem to do it on a regular basis.

Also, there are low carb bread crumb options. I think part of the way to work it is to find new ways to prepare old favorites utilizing healthier ingredients. Maybe start looking for a new way to fix your favorite!

My team's rules were no grains period for the first six months (also no starchy veg, no sweets, etc.). So yeah, bread crumbs in a burger were out for me. There are different ways to make burgers though! A lot of people use almond flour or coconut flour as a binder in place of bread crumbs, but I prefer using an extra egg plus chopped dried mushrooms and veggies. You can get lots of ideas and recipes by Googling "Paleo burger" "paleo meatballs" and things like that, since paleo eaters don't use grains either.

Now, your surgeon may permit things like bread crumbs, so you may not even need to go there!

Obviously the "rules" vary from program to program..I have been permitted grains since puréed foods. I have opted not to eat them, but if could. I do use other sources of binders, but I have been low carb for about two years.

I'd like to suggest you check out a website called "dlife". It is a website for diabetics but part of it has receipes with lots of info on carbs, Proteins, etc. Receipes can be sorted by how many carbs you want to consume. (everything from 'carb free' to 'carb safe') They have lots of suggestions for subsituting high carb items. I've been using it to help me in my 3 month supervised diet plan.