Hi guys, I'm in day 11 after surgery, still on soups or creamier fluids. But I was just wondering if any of you introduced whole wheat toast or crackers, bearing in mind that if you chew it properly it will be pulverize by the time it hits your stomach?

In which week did you try a healthy pancake (the oats-egg-milk kind)?

I know I have to keep my carb intake as low as possible but I can't help crave for these things. I'm sure some of you are in the same boat as me. I'm just wondering how can I manage or cope with this.

I was addicted to carbs, sugar, processed foods, fat and diet cokes before surgery. My cravings started coming back at the end of week 2 post-op. My advice to you, which everyone has some, and everyone's will be different, is to not eat the carbs, especially in your second week. I was told I could have a dry piece of toast at the end of my soft food stage. Yuck-who wants dry toast!!! I am now 2 months post-op and I can walk by donuts, free soda machine, M&Ms, all without a second thought. (Our coffee bar at work has at least 5 different sweets in it at any give time). Do I want them - um yeah! But it is my head craving it now, not my body, so it is much easier to ignore. I know it is hard - heck we've been eating all those bad things for years and they were really, really yummy. Protein needs to be your primary focus and for the first four months that is pretty much all you will be able to fit in to hit your protein levels. You want to hit your protein levels as this is what helps your stomach heal, largely contributes to the weight loss (without eating away at your muscle), and keeps your hair from falling out.

Edited April 14, 20179 yr by YeaMe
typo

I was addicted to carbs, sugar, processed foods, fat and diet cokes before surgery. My cravings started coming back at the end of week 2 post-op. My advice to you, which everyone has some, and everyone's will be different, is to not eat the carbs, especially in your second week. I was told I could have a dry piece of toast at the end of my soft food stage. Yuck-who wants dry toast!!! I am now 2 months post-op and I can walk by donuts, free soda machine, M&Ms, all without a second thought. (Our coffee bar at work as at least 5 different sweets in it at any give time). Do I want them - um yeah! But it is my head craving it now, not my body, so it is much easier to ignore. I know it is hard - heck we've been eating all those bad things for years and they were really, really yummy. Protein needs to be your primary focus and for the first four months that is pretty much all you will be able to fit in to hit your protein levels. You want to hit your protein levels as this is what helps your stomach heal, largely contributes to the weight loss (without eating away at your muscle), and keeps your hair from falling out.

Thanks so much for that great piece of advice! I will be strong [emoji1377]!

What's the regular protein goal per day? I'm using the BARITASTIC app and it says 65g by default. Is this everyone's goal?

12 minutes ago, YeaMe said:

My advice to you, which everyone has some, and everyone's will be different, is to not eat the carbs, especially in your second week

Some may have differing opinions, but not this guy, I agree with that 100%. Not only will they cause you to eat more, but they will absolutely pack the pounds right back on. Whole wheat toast, while slightly lower in carbs than white bread is still carb-dense.

Having said all of that, I want you to know a personal experience with me. 2 weeks ago I said f**k it and went to a party and absolutely destroyed some tortilla chips. Yes, I did that. So how bad was this one incident? Well, I gained 13 pounds. Yes, read that again 13 pounds! Did I eat 13 pounds of food? Hell no, not even close, but reintroducing carbs killed my metabolism and since they were salty, it packed on water weight. So, if you want to ruin a weeks worth of work like I did, feel free, but I would strongly suggest skipping the carbs for quite some time. I know I will.

As for protein count, most shoot for a minimum of 80g/day, but many go even higher.

Edited April 14, 20179 yr by Navigating the Wilderness

For me, purging carbs from my life was a necessity to be successful. I restrict myself to 20 carbs per day, and have been that way for over a year now. Once you get used to it, it is just a way of life. I have a passing thought about something carby every now and then, but it passes. Losing almost 190 pounds is worth a lot more to me than any food, drink, or carbohydrate!

For me, purging carbs from my life was a necessity to be successful. I restrict myself to 20 carbs per day, and have been that way for over a year now. Once you get used to it, it is just a way of life. I have a passing thought about something carby every now and then, but it passes. Losing almost 190 pounds is worth a lot more to me than any food, drink, or carbohydrate!

How do you manage 20g carbs a day? Can you tell me what you eat? I've been looking at my stats in the App and I'm around 40g! [emoji33]

18 minutes ago, Carmencita!981 said:

How do you manage 20g carbs a day? Can you tell me what you eat? I've been looking at my stats in the App and I'm around 40g!

I eat the same thing every day. (I am the kind of person that can do that, but I understand that everyone is not wired like that.) I eat 7 times per day, about 2 hours apart. I drink 32 oz of water after Meal 1, another 32 oz after Meal 2, and 16 oz after Meal 3. I also have 16 oz of PowerAde Zero after Meal 6, and 8 oz of water mixed with 8 oz of PowerAde Zero after Meal 7.

The meals look like this:

Meal 1: 1 scrambled egg with 2 oz grilled chicken breast

Meal 2: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T of sugar-free strawberry preserves

Meal 3: 1 string cheese, 5 ParmCrisps, and 2 oz grilled chicken breast

Meal 4: 3 oz salmon with 1 oz green beans

Meal 5: 2 oz hamburger steak (90% lean) with 1 oz green beans

Meal 6: 3 oz grilled chicken breast with 1 oz green beans

Meal 7: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T of sugar-free strawberry preserves

I've been eating this way since I finished working through my food stages at about 2 months post-op. But, I kept my carbs below 20 grams even during the food stages. I stayed on liquids an extra week because I wouldn't eat the next stage's foods (ripe banana, cream of wheat, etc.), and I just avoided anything on my NUT's list that had carbs. It was tough, but it was the only way I knew that I could be successful.

I hope this helps.

Do you work out? I would think that your body would need more than 20 grams of carbs a day for working out.

I eat between 20-40 carbs a day. That's total carbs, not net carbs. I haven't started working out yet but will be starting soon. Once I start working out, I plan to keep my carbs between 30-40. My carbs come from yogurt, nuts, sometimes beans, and half a protein bar each day.

32 minutes ago, shannybananny71 said:

Do you work out? I would think that your body would need more than 20 grams of carbs a day for working out.

I eat between 20-40 carbs a day. That's total carbs, not net carbs. I haven't started working out yet but will be starting soon. Once I start working out, I plan to keep my carbs between 30-40. My carbs come from yogurt, nuts, sometimes Beans, and half a Protein Bar each day.

I walk, but I don't do any gym work. I made the decision a while back that I wanted to finish losing the weight I needed to lose (i.e., to a weight of 180 pounds) before I begin to think about the gym and putting on muscle. It isn't the strategy for everyone, but it is what will work best for me.

I eat the same thing every day. (I am the kind of person that can do that, but I understand that everyone is not wired like that.) I eat 7 times per day, about 2 hours apart. I drink 32 oz of water after Meal 1, another 32 oz after Meal 2, and 16 oz after Meal 3. I also have 16 oz of PowerAde Zero after Meal 6, and 8 oz of water mixed with 8 oz of PowerAde Zero after Meal 7.
The meals look like this:
Meal 1: 1 scrambled egg with 2 oz grilled chicken breast
Meal 2: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T of sugar-free strawberry preserves
Meal 3: 1 string cheese, 5 ParmCrisps, and 2 oz grilled chicken breast
Meal 4: 3 oz salmon with 1 oz green beans
Meal 5: 2 oz hamburger steak (90% lean) with 1 oz green beans
Meal 6: 3 oz grilled chicken breast with 1 oz green beans
Meal 7: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T of sugar-free strawberry preserves
I've been eating this way since I finished working through my food stages at about 2 months post-op. But, I kept my carbs below 20 grams even during the food stages. I stayed on liquids an extra week because I wouldn't eat the next stage's foods (ripe banana, cream of wheat, etc.), and I just avoided anything on my NUT's list that had carbs. It was tough, but it was the only way I knew that I could be successful.
I hope this helps.

Thank you so much for all the info!

I will try this for sure when I'm allowed to have chicken and green beans. Your regime sounds really tasty and not boring at all. It's got everything and specially something sweet between meals!! I love it. I also don't have a problem sticking to the same food for long periods of time, specially if it's as tasty as that menu.

I do love exercising, mainly doing cardio so now I'll focus on keeping Carbs at 40g but will keep exercising. When time comes I'll see how this meal plan works out but I know it would be perfect!

Just now, Carmencita!981 said:

Thank you so much for all the info!

I will try this for sure when I'm allowed to have chicken and green Beans. Your regime sounds really tasty and not boring at all. It's got everything and specially something sweet between meals!! I love it. I also don't have a problem sticking to the same food for long periods of time, specially if it's as tasty as that menu.

I do love exercising, mainly doing cardio so now I'll focus on keeping Carbs at 40g but will keep exercising. When time comes I'll see how this meal plan works out but I know it would be perfect!

The cottage cheese with the sugar-free preserves is the best thing ever. I never imagined in my entire life that I would love cottage cheese so much! :-)

The cottage cheese with the sugar-free preserves is the best thing ever. I never imagined in my entire life that I would love cottage cheese so much! :-)

I tried it preop when I saw you post it, although with regular not sugar free preserves and it was great. I'm only 2 weeks out today and not sure the preserves is allowed yet, but cottage cheese is and is a lifesaver for me [emoji4]

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