Food Questions

Would you all tell me the amount of fat grams you limit yourself to at a meal? I don't recall my nut telling me a specific number. Also, is anyone else out there eating pasta? I don't "do" bread and very rarely do I eat potatoes or rice, but I do eat some pasta. I've discovered those Chef-boy-ardee single meals and there are 8-9 grams of protien in one serving. They are pre packaged and so easy to take with and warm up. I'm worried the pasta is a "no-no". Diane

Hi Diane, My nut advised me to stay under 10 grams of fat per meal... but each doctor and nutritionist is different, so take that into consideration. As for the pasta.. I occasionally have a LITTLE bit.. three or four bites at the most.. and it typically fills me up WAY too fast to make it worth it. Sometimes I just have to have a mouth full of carbs, though, for old times sake, you know? I try to have a limit though, and it's rare for me to do the heavy starchy carbs. Best of luck! -Jasmina

I don't remember my Nut saying much about fat other than early out to stay away from non-fat foods (your body NEEDS some fats to run). Recently, she's told me I should be getting approx. 100 carbs, 55 g protein and 800-1000 calories a day. I just ran a Fitday report and over the past month, I'm averaging 29 fats, 50 carbs and about 700 calories... Obviously, I'm not doing too hot... I do pasta occasionally but try to stick to ww pasta for the nutritional value.

Honestly, I don't count fats too much. I don't eat really high fatty foods, though (like fried things, etc.) and I eat low fat yogurt, American cheese, and cheddar. But, I eat regular cheese sticks (the Frigo ones), the low fat ones just were nasty to me. I don't intentionally eat fats for the sake of fats, but I don't concern myself too terribly much with fats either. My #1 priority is how much protein, #2 is carbs and/or sugars, #3 is fats. You just can't do it all, ya know? As far as pasta, I allow myself a little bit, but like someone else said, I can't eat a lot of it because it fills me up pretty fast. Like the other day I made chicken pasta primavera and ate about 1/2 cup of the pasta and veggies and about (maybe) 5 pieces of spaghetti. I ended up eating all but a little bit of the meal. I don't really 'eliminate' any foods from my diet, but I choose the best choices of whatever it is that I eat. Like if I want bread, I'll eat 100% whole wheat bread (toasted very well), etc. I have chosen not to eat sugar or fast food at this point because I don't want to start adding those things into my diet at this point. They just aren't good choices for me. But, I know some people who do. One of my best friends who has had this surgery allows herself a piece of chocolate occasionally (real stuff) and a McD's cheeseburger. She's 6-1/2 months out and down 120 pounds, so what can I say?? It's just not a good choice for me, though. Everyone's different. Michelle

Well Diane I don't really count how many fats or calories I have per day. I knew that would never work for me, if it did, I wouldn't have needed the surgery. But I do eat an occasional bit of Fettucini but like the others I can't eat alot of it. Maybe a 1/2 cup at a meal. I don't eat any fried foods only because they all sound gross to me. I also cannot tolerate bread, and I have tried toast a few times but do not like to have to eat tiny bites of toast and chew alot because it wears me out! I do like steamed vegetables and I must admit I put butter on them. I don't drink milk much but I can tolerate about a 1/2 cup at a time of 2 percent. I do sometimes snack on chips or bugles but I am trying to be better about that. I love mashed potatoes (my own) and eat that occasionally also. I really can't tolerate any meats yet although I did by some shredded smoked turkey last night and made me a salad and it was quite delicious!

I think I recall my nutritionist saying less than 10g per meal also

I agree w/ Michelle the only things I look at are 1.Protein 2.sugar grams 3. calories ex: if its more than 300 cals of a serving I can finish and still need to eat veggies for fiber, I will not eat it. These are my personal rules/ideas that I have kept for myself. My Nut. just tells me that I am doing great and to keep concentrating on protein and getting up to 1000cals/day in the next 2 months. I dont worry about fat because most of the foods I eat are not processed and the natural fat that they contain is good for you for the most part. I've also had pasta, rice and bread and sometimes it goes well and sometimes not. FYI: I also ran the report on fitday and for the past month my avg is Cal 717 Fat 32 Carbs 60 Protein 48

I don't limit the fat grams because I am playing a whole different ball game than most. I have not really been able to eat since my surgery so anything I get in and keep in is a touchdown for me. Pasta has always been one of my favorites. I eat a little now and then but like everyone else it fills me up very very fast so I tend to eat the meat first then the pasta. If in doubt ask your surgeon. Good luck, Kat

I'm pretty bad. I don'****ch anything except sticking to low-fat options, and avoiding sugar for the most part. I'm either lazy or contented. My weight loss continues at about 5 lbs. per week, so I guess I'm doing okay.

My nutritionist tells me to keep my fat around 10 grams or less. I am also to limit my carbs to below 22 grams a meal. This isn't too hard as the high carbs usually means high in sugar and make me sick. I just get a piece of meat, some low carb veggie and a small serving of carb either pasta or potatoe. I make spaghetti with ground turkey and i eat a really small amount of the pasta and a nice big scoop of meat and sauce and cheese. The pasta will definitely fill me up. good luck . debbie in NC