I just started my 3 month supervised diet and I am struggling already, craving bread and pasta just because I can't have it! What did you all do to get through the diet? What sort of substitutes did you use? I already sub ground beef for ground turkey, and I try not to eat white bread but now that it's off limits I'm craving it. How did you get past it? I know that the first 2 weeks of a diet are the hardest and I just want to get through these two weeks without cheating so I can make myself stick to it! Any advice would be appreciated

My insurance required a six-month diet program as part of the approval process. I followed a high protein/low carb/high healthy fat way of eating throughout the program, and I lost 99 pounds (from 397 to 298) by the day of surgery. I have continued to follow that way of eating post-op (and I've lost 85 more pounds since my surgery on September 28, 2016).

I find the low carb way of eating to be satisfying, and you're going to have to focus on protein post-op anyway.

As far as settling into the diet program, there is no magic trick. You have to set parameters for yourself and stick to them. I began with 2000 calories and worked my down to 1800, 1500, and finally 1200 for the last 3 months of the 6. I kept my carbs below 20 grams and my protein above 100 grams from the beginning (and I still do, now).

This entire journey requires patience, grit, and perseverance. The required pre-op diet programs should be used as a time to redefine your relationship with food (and following a specified way of eating is an aid in doing that) and get yourself ready for a successful post-op life. I wouldn't trade my pre-op experience for anything, and I wouldn't have had the success I have had without that time.

Good luck!

Edited March 28, 20179 yr by blizair09
typo

21 minutes ago, blizair09 said:

My insurance required a six-month diet program as part of the approval process. I followed a high protein/low carb/high healthy fat way of eating throughout the program, and I lost 99 pounds (from 397 to 298) by the day of surgery. I have continued to follow that way of eating post-op (and I've lost 85 more pounds since my surgery on September 28, 2016).

I find the low carb way of eating to be satisfying, and you're going to have to focus on Protein post-op anyway.

As far as settling into the diet program, there is no magic trick. You have to set parameters for yourself and stick to them. I began with 2000 calories and worked my down to 1800, 1500, and finally 1200 for the last 3 months of the 6. I kept my carbs below 20 grams and my protein above 100 grams from the beginning (and I still do, now).

This entire journey requires patience, grit, and perseverance. The required pre-op diet programs should be used as a time to redefine your relationship with food (and following a specified way of eating is an aid in doing that) and get yourself ready for a successful post-op life. I wouldn't trade my pre-op experience for anything, and I would have had the success I have had without that time.

Good luck!

What are considered low carb if you don't mind me asking? im trying to do a high protein, low card too but im not sure as in what options I have for low card. @blizair09

1 minute ago, kaypitre5 said:

What are considered low carb if you don't mind me asking? im trying to do a high protein, low card too but im not sure as in what options I have for low card. @blizair09

I eat mostly lean meat (chicken, 90% lean hamburger meat, pork loin, salmon), string cheese, cottage cheese, and green vegetables. I haven't had bread, pasta, potatoes, corn, sugar, etc. in over a year now. And I don't plan on having any of those things anytime in the foreseeable future.

What I do is ultra low carb. I think you can technically still be low carb if you stay below 50 carbs per day. But you have to figure out what threshold works for you.

1 minute ago, blizair09 said:

I eat mostly lean meat (chicken, 90% lean hamburger meat, pork loin, salmon), string cheese, cottage cheese, and green vegetables. I haven't had bread, Pasta, potatoes, corn, sugar, etc. in over a year now. And I don't plan on having any of those things anytime in the foreseeable future.

What I do is ultra low carb. I think you can technically still be low carb if you stay below 50 carbs per day. But you have to figure out what threshold works for you.

That is amazing!!!! I plan to have my surgery done in the early part of May. im basically done with the required things to do, I have 1 more weigh in but I do still want to lose as much as I can before surgery. my surgeon only wanted me to lose 5 lbs. but I lost 7 so far. I was just wondering how to kick start and lose more. and I see people doing low carb high protein and I kind of wanted ideas on the meal plans because I see that it does work for you all!

2 hours ago, mareana said:

I just started my 3 month supervised diet and I am struggling already, craving bread and Pasta just because I can't have it! What did you all do to get through the diet? What sort of substitutes did you use? I already sub ground beef for ground turkey, and I try not to eat white bread but now that it's off limits I'm craving it. How did you get past it? I know that the first 2 weeks of a diet are the hardest and I just want to get through these two weeks without cheating so I can make myself stick to it! Any advice would be appreciated

Sounds like you need some fat. Remember, eating fat is not bad if it's from a natural source such as butter, cream, animal fats, etc. If you eat fat while consuming high carb, then that fat has something to stick to...the starch. When you keep your carbs low, the fat will go right through you. Your brain and body needs it for energy, to combat those cravings and keep you full.

When I'm eating under 20 net carbs (carbohydrates minus the fiber equals net carbs), I aim to eat 100 grams of fat a day. So for breakfast I'll have an omelet with a couple of slices of bacon. Lunch can be tuna salad over greens or home made cheddar broccoli soup. Dinner can be chicken/beef/pork with green vegetables. Always use real butter over margarine and never eat sugar. If you've never ate like this before, it will be a mental struggle since all you've known until now is that fat is bad. Also, you'll go through sugar/carbs/crap detox for a several days. That means a lot of peeing, pooping, and irritability. Just like any detox. Once you ride that out, you'll find a natural high like never before. When I'm in ketosis, I find it hard to sleep because my energy level is so high. I also lose between 15-20 pounds a month. Remember to take your vitamins and make sure you drink at least 64 ounces of water!

You can do this!

Mine isn't too bad. I've just switched out my breakfast for a protein shake and make healthier alternatives. Started taking more vitamins. I've always managed to make healthy meals, so it's easy on that part, just opting for more plant based foods. When I want pizza, I go for all veggie and thin crust (2-3 small slices). Say what!? "She's eating pizza!" Lol. It's all in moderation. If you can get moderation down, then its all good. Can't stand pasta, rice, and sweets, so I'm pretty safe there. But the hardest part for me is the NOT drinking during meals and sipping. I know I'll be forced to sip, so I'm confident I'll be ok. Just hard to practice it now.

my advice to you is to not have those things you shouldn't have (or you can't control yourself around) in the house. It's a mind battle. Your body will be just fine without it all.

Edited March 29, 20179 yr by Newme17

Shalom

Hypnosis/Meditation works wonders for me if I us it faithfully. I use "THE WAIT IS OVER" by Roberta Shipiro available on amazon.

Blessings

Ari

Sounds like you need some fat. Remember, eating fat is not bad if it's from a natural source such as butter, cream, animal fats, etc. If you eat fat while consuming high carb, then that fat has something to stick to...the starch. When you keep your carbs low, the fat will go right through you. Your brain and body needs it for energy, to combat those cravings and keep you full.
When I'm eating under 20 net carbs (carbohydrates minus the fiber equals net carbs), I aim to eat 100 grams of fat a day. So for breakfast I'll have an omelet with a couple of slices of bacon. Lunch can be tuna salad over greens or home made cheddar broccoli soup. Dinner can be chicken/beef/pork with green vegetables. Always use real butter over margarine and never eat sugar. If you've never ate like this before, it will be a mental struggle since all you've known until now is that fat is bad. Also, you'll go through sugar/carbs/crap detox for a several days. That means a lot of peeing, pooping, and irritability. Just like any detox. Once you ride that out, you'll find a natural high like never before. When I'm in ketosis, I find it hard to sleep because my energy level is so high. I also lose between 15-20 pounds a month. Remember to take your vitamins and make sure you drink at least 64 ounces of water!
You can do this!

Thank you for the advice!! What kind of real butter do you use? Country crock?
I am good about drinking water and staying away from pop. So far I have been eating Greek yogurt for breakfast, chicken, brusselsprouts and red potatoes for lunch and chicken and veggies for dinner. I am doing ok but last night I wanted to cave so badly. I didn't, but I almost did!! I'm just trying to get through two weeks with out cheating because I feel like if I cheat early on I will have less success.

43 minutes ago, mareana said:

Thank you for the advice!! What kind of real butter do you use? Country crock?
I am good about drinking Water and staying away from pop. So far I have been eating Greek yogurt for breakfast, chicken, brusselsprouts and red potatoes for lunch and chicken and veggies for dinner. I am doing ok but last night I wanted to cave so badly. I didn't, but I almost did!! I'm just trying to get through two weeks with out cheating because I feel like if I cheat early on I will have less success.

I love the Kerrigold Irish butter, or land of lakes, but I usually get whatever is on sale. I don't believe country crock is butter, that's margarine. Margarine is man made and not natural. Stay far away from that stuff. Artery cloggers. No red potatoes for me either. As much as my taste buds love potatoes, my hips love them even more. When you eat carbs, you keep craving carbs and potatoes, unfortunately, is one of them. A delicious one, but a carb no doubt.

I have a theory that all of us in this fat situation that we find ourselves in are 'all or nothings' kind of people. We know what balance is, we are just terrible at doing it. If I could only eat a half of a potato at dinner I wouldn't be in this mess I currently find myself in. If I end up cheating on my diet, I binge eat the rest of the day as if tomorrow doesn't exist. Stay strong, you'll figure it out!!