Most of us have a set of rules we were taught will help us succeed with our weight loss after surgery. Not all docs subscribe to the same rules, which leaves a little room for interpretation. I do try to follow as many as I can, to ensure my success. I even follow some I don't think are really necessary, and there's some I break even though I think I shouldn't break them.

**Disclaimer** I suggest everyone follow their own physician's plan. I am not recommending or suggesting anyone break any rules, but it's a frequent topic of conversation and thought it would be interesting to see individual approach in a real life setting.

I do the following (95% or more of the time)

No grazing

No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals

Protein first

65 or more grams protein per day

Take Vitamins as prescribed

64 ounces or more of fluids per day

Stop eating when full

Measure or weigh food

No straws

Nothing carbonated

Go to support group meetings (not a requirement, but a suggestion)

I do not:

Practice mindful eating. I often eat while watching TV. Since I measure my food, I'm not going to over eat.

Chew, Chew, Chew. Hard to do when you are not mindful.

Watch sugar or fat grams. I don't have issues with dumping, and I eat so little calories, I don't focus on them.

What about you - Do you follow the rules? Discuss.

I am too new at this, but I want to see the responses that will follow.

My rules are very similar to yours except I am also not allowed:

Caffeinated beverages

Alcohol

Spicy foods

Things I decided not to eat anymore:

Potatoes

Rice

White flour

Pasta

A rule I added:

Exercise daily

Edited February 13, 201511 yr by ProjectMe

I always eat either watching TV, reading or browsing the internet. I eat too fast (always have) and I find it helps me slow down a little. I also don't count fat or sugar grams. Other than that, I follow the rules pretty well. Mostly

Edited February 13, 201511 yr by Babbs

Oh I forgot to add: yes, I follow the rules. One of my biggest fears is cheating my sleeve in small ways only to become cheating in bigger ways. So yes, I follow the rules

Edited February 13, 201511 yr by ProjectMe

I follow the rules you described above.

About 95% of the time.

I'm a roaring success!

Another thread reminded me of another rule I don't follow....caffeine. I currently do and always have consume a small amount of caffeine every day from either tea or coffee. I just couldn't give it up. Don't judge me!

Oh, no caffeine wasn't one of my rules.

Me either.

_{I am 11 months out and I still follow the rules. I am so fearful of gaining weight back that I have to be reminded that healthy is more important than anything.}

_{I keep track of Protein, watch sugar intake and track exercise. I don't count calories.}

_{I drink coffee daily, but have to push to get all my Water in.}

_{I exercise 6 days a week - at least 30 minutes. I alternate between cardio and weights.}

_{I also have chosen not to eat certain things: Pasta, rice and bread still hurts. Fried food hurt and I can't stand the taste of sweets (Cookies, cake, pie, etc).}

Grapes take care of my sweet-tooth.

The hardest thing I'm working on now is body image. I still see the fat girl in the mirror and I panic when I gain a pound. My husband has now hidden the scale to help me. Also, this fear / obsession didn't start until I hit my goal weight. I'm reading a couple books on post-op living and attending some support groups. In my opinion the surgery / weight-loss was the easy part. Overcoming these emotions and self-image are the hardest.

@@Terribj how much are you weighing your protein out to cause my dr is a little diff????just wanna stay on track and I'm 1 year out

Edited February 13, 201511 yr by claudi2103

@@claudi2103 I have a Protein shake in the AM (23 gr of protein). I try to eat 3-4 oz of meat for lunch and dinner each. I have a scale, but after using it often enough you'll know pretty close what each serving weighs. Most of the sides I eat are high in protein. (Beans, cottage cheese, eggs). I track it all through my fitness pal and focus on protein. Does that answer your question?

Thanks you so much for that info @ Terribj ???? I been eating 3 egg whites for breakfast in the morning and I have protein 3/4 ounces for lunch and dinner and in between meals I have peanuts Sometimes , but thanks I just don't want to fall off track and I don't have any friends in my daily life who can relate to my surgery plus my dr wants be to have 4 ounces protein at every meal

Confession time i don't follow all the rules...i do eat in front of the tele... i do wait half hour most of the time...Protein first ...I don't eat rice..pasta or my BELOVED Brioche's i've stop having latte's since surgery no sodas or cake...and since i skirted the rules sometimes i have a permanent resident card to the gym 7 days a week WOOT!!!WOOT!!!..LOL!!

Edited February 14, 201511 yr by Pepper123

@@MichiganChic My list is pretty identical to yours.

I don't follow all the rules but I do the gym sometimes 3 times a week I use to go 5 days a week but my car broke so I slowed it down some but I do always wait the 30 mins with drinking and food and I always watch tv when im eating and I know I eat fast

I don't eat much bread, rice or Pasta, and I rarely drink alcohol. I still love the bread, rice, and pasta, but the alcohol doesn't appeal much.

I drink plenty of coffee. It was a rule that I told them pre-op I was not planning to follow. I was cleared at 6 weeks to drink it. It interferes with Calcium absorption, but my calcium level borders high with no supplements, so I just try not go nuts with it.

Honestly, I don't think pop or carbonation would really hurt the sleeve, but I still follow that rule just in case. I also don't think a straw would somehow stretch my stomach, but I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love being thin, so I'm not taking chances with things that are not important to me