10/3

Ok am 8 weeks post op and I have totally confused myself and cant seem to get a good schedule down on when to eat and what to be eating.

----Should I be counting calories (which I hate)

----What is the amount I should be eating

----What do other eat in a day

----My shedule is crazy....up @ 3:30am

leave for work @ 5:45am

arrive @ work 7:30am (have a nonfat latte)

lunch @ 12:15

leave @ 3:45pm

home by 5:30pm

bed about 10-10:30pm

-----Does anyone have any suggestions on when I should be eating for the best possible outcome? Seems I keep finding myself hungry.

-----How to plan your meals and snacks

-----Where can I find a detail list of the types of food to eat, amount, calories, etc.

Please let me know the easiest way I can get this information to be effect in my weight loss.

Thank you in advance for helping get over my confusion. Tired of being overwhelmed by everything and worrying that Im doing everything wrong.

Micki

Okay, I will try to help you get yourself organized, as I know you are being pulled in some many different directions right now, it isn't easy to think straight.

Please understand, these are only my suggestions and I am basing it on how I eat, you may choose to eat other foods and that's okay. I am just trying to give you a general idea.

First - calorie counting is not a necessity, although many of us resort back to

old habits and find that more comforting. But you don't have to.

Second - The amount you should be eating is to eat when hungry and just

as soon as you are full, stop. You don't sound as if you have had

a fill yet, so you probably don't have any restriction. You are going

to find it darn near impossible to control your eating if you have no

restriction. Do you have any idea when you will be able to go for

a fill? You see the restriction is what tells us we are full and lets

us know when to stop eating.

Third - As to what everyone else is eating, is as varyied as the people here.

I do know that you should maintain a high Protein, low fat, and low

carb diet. You should be basically have some sort of lean protein at

every meal, followed by your vegetables (not potatos), followed by

your right carbs, such as whole grain products with Fiber. Once you

eat your meal, you should avoid drinking anything for at least 30min

but up to 1hr to keep the food in the upper portion of the stomach.

Avoid all carbonated drinks as they may expand your upper pouch.

A lot of people here use high Protein shakes and high Protein Bars.

They are great for grabbing and going, no prep if you buy the

prepared shakes. They are great meal replacments or Snacks but

you will still need to eat some low fat meat, veggies and the

occasional piece of fruit, as well as your dairy products. eggs are

also a great source of protein and I particularly like 'Scrambler'

they're like eggbeaters but I like them better and they are lower

in fat than real eggs.

For Breakfast I would start with a good start to the day, you appear to have time for that, so a veggie omelet with cheese if you like, a half a piece of whole wheat toast or english muffen toasted. You might even enjoy some fruit, like a small bowl of melon or berries.

This should hold you until lunch time, but if not, have a Protein Bar

Lunce should be the biggest meal of the day so here is where you should have like grilled chicken, tuna, lean lunch meat of any type, a large salad or bowl of veggie Soup and a suger free Jello for dessert.

On the way home you may want a Protein shake or protien bar.

For dinner you may want a bowl of chili and a small salad.

For the munchies later in the evening, sf jello, or sf popsicles are always a good choice.

If you are feeling hungry before going to bed, have a thin slice of lean meat or some string cheese.

I will do a search for you tomorrow to see if there are any menus listed on the boards.