Inquiring minds want to know.

Ok, so I know grazing is B.A.D. but tell me what is your favorite, WLS friendly, snack. I would also like to know, 'cause I am just nosey, what type of eating "plan" do you have? And, do you have any recipes you would like to share? My favorite snack is Cheese and triscuit crackers(I know, carb, but it is whole grain). I love the light, laughing cow cheese and it is only 35 calories! My eating plan: I have to eat or have some nourishment at least every 3-4 hours or I crash and burn. My body and mind both say eat something, anything! So I really have to plan the whole day or I wind up eating GARBAGE and way too many calories/carbs. Pre-Breakfast about 0630 Protein drink or smoothie with fruit- 200 calories or less Breakfast about 1000 2-Mini Egg quiches/or cheese and triscuits- 200 calories or less Lunch about 1230 lean cuisine with 1/2 cup added veggies- 300 calories or less Progresso-light soup with 1 can of chicken- 300 calories or less Afternoon Snack: about 1600 protein drink- 115 calories Dinner: about 1900-1930--400 calories or less baked fish and green veg or lean cuisine with 1/2 cup added veggies or any type of protein and veg I try not to eat anything after dinner but... Cheese and crackers, or a handful of nuts if I am craving salt. I don't really "crave" sweets as long as I drink my protein shakes or smoothies. Recipe: (well more of a method than an actual recipe) Recently I discovered something that probably everyone has know forever except for me. I mix crystal light orange flavor drink with my vanilla protein powder and it makes a drink that tastes like a creamsicle. The whole thing is 115 calories and 21 grams of protein. I was looking for a way to get my protein in without adding the calories of milk or any other mixer. One day the light bulb went off and viola! You would have thought I had discovered the cure for cancer! I also make smoothies in the blender with crystal light flavors, frozen fruit and protein powder. For a real pick me up before a workout, I sometimes substitute a low cal/no sugar added energy drink like Tab for the liquid. The blender takes away the carbonation. This idea came to me from my gym. They have a smoothie bar and upon examination of the ingredient/nutrition list, I figured I could make my own versions of their drinks with fewer calories/carbs. They actually have a drink that has over 1000 calories! It is a chocolate, chunky monkey or something like that. It is for people who want to gain weight! Can you imagine??? It reminds me of when Wanda found out that her gym was using Yoo-hoo for the mixer! Anyway, enough of my ranting. Can you tell I am in a good mood? Just thought I would share a bit of my world with my friends. Will you share yours? Hope everyone has a great day. Hugs, Valorie

Like you I try not to graze but I do eat about every three or 4 hours usually. I start out at about 7 with some protein hot chocolate mixed with soy slender. 155 cal and 25 g protein. Then about 9:30 I usually have some Kroger Carb master yogurt (80 cal and 12 - yes you read that right 12 grams of protein) with a half of cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch. Lunch is usually a salad. I pack up the stuff for my salad on the weekend and then just grab the bags in the morning. I usually eat the same kind of salad all week but it changes from week to week. This week it is spring mix, 2 oz chicken, 1 oz Motz cheese, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and balsamic spray dressing. Mid afternoon I often eat a protein bar. I really like one called Power Crunch but... it is sort of high in fat -- I do fine with it though. Supper: Protein and veggies Snack - if I have had enough protein I get to have fruit - apple or bananna usually. I too like the laughing cow's and eat those with my apple sometimes. If I am going to eat a cracker it is a triscuit. Those things still fill me up very quickly. Not sliding on me. Thanks for asking Valorie - I wanted to know too!!!!

Sounds like we have similar plans! It is always comforting to get validation from others that they are on the same page as you. I sure wish I had a Kroger around for that protein filled yogurt. I usually eat the Yoplait digestive help stuff but I think it only has 5 grams of protein. I usually add 1/2 scoop of protein powder to boost it. But of course, this boosts the calories also. Would be nice to get the protein without additions. Triscuits fill me up too. One wedge of laughing cow and 5 triscuits is all I can handle. That is eating them very slowly also. What is your goal for protein per day? I still shoot for 80 to 100 grams. Of course I still need to lose at least 60 lbs. Thanks for your response! hugs, Valorie

Some friend of mine in Tenn turned me on to this yogurt. The protein is similar to greek fage yogurt - which I have not tried. I've seen it and it was not cheap enough that I would eat it every day. I thought that the Carb Master Yogurt was probably a national kind that was just branded as Kroger - you know - but if it is I can't figure out what else it is like. The yogurt is one of my favorite food finds. My doctor says shoot for 60 - I usually try for 80-100. I can and do loose when I follow my plan well - or as I am doing now if I cheat a little I'm able to maintain. I'd like to get away from the cheating and loose a little more. Good luck with the 60 - I know you can do it! Trudy

My go-to snack is string cheese, only lately, it seems I've been living on them! My old go-to was refried beans with cheese and salsa. But I think I either got burnt out on that, or my tastes changed enough with this last surgery to make me not enjoy it as much. I don't really have a good eating plan yet, since I'm still tube feeding, but whenever I do eat, I try to make it healthy. If I'm going to have something with sugar or chocolate, it's either a low-fat Keebler something (just one or two really satisfies that craving), or a few Jr. Mints. Bad I know, but better than other hugely fat choices like ice cream or something. I love my salads recently. Especially the chicken oriental salad at Applebee's. Yum! I like any kind of salad with chicken on it. Try it with different dressings. I also enjoy sauteeing scallops in a roasted red pepper vinaigrette dressing. YUM!

Kim, I still eat the light string cheese too. It is just an easy grab when you are hungry and on the go. I think I burnt out on refried beans very early on after surgery. They were a staple of my diet for a long time. As a matter of fact, I think I may have to give them a new try. I haven't eaten them in months. Maybe they will be more appealing now. Salads are one of my favorite things to eat. I can eat enough of them to really satisfy my chewing desire. Even after over a year, I still miss the feeling of eating to satisfy. Does that make sense? I eat my protein and veggies but usally it is still quite small amounts. I can eat a plate of salad and it makes me seem satisfied, mentally as well as physically. I think I will try the scallops with the roasted red pepper vinagarette. Sounds delish! I have also developed a taste for seafood. I could eat it every day. Thanks for sharing! I really hope you get some answers and relief from the pain today at your appt. Please let us know what they say/do. Hugs, Valorie

I tend to graze alot also, but I try to eat the healthiest snacks possible, such as fruit. But sometimes I just crave something salty, like chips. It's so weird though, because I was not a chip eater before WLS. My favorite snack from the early days is SF popsicles. I LOVE THEM!! I can't handle sugar too well, I seem to dump every time I eat sugar (more than 12 grams per serving), which is good. But I could eat SF popsicles ALL DAY LONG!! Salads are my favorite entrees, they don't give me any problems, I can eat more of them than anything else. I stick to low-cal dressings and grilled chicken. I admire you, Valorie, for your courage to admit what you have on this board!! I, too, have been stuck at the same weight since September (185-190) and I don't seem to be too worried about moving!! I would LOVE to get lower, but I can eat what I want and it fluctuates between those two weights. I'm sure if I really stuck to it and followed my program, I could get it down lower. But I admit, I feel like a failure sometimes because I haven't gotten lower, as all the other girls have who had surgery the same time I did. I hardly post at all anymore on here, I just read it every day. I know I am not a failure in my weight loss, because I did manage to lose 130 lbs. and I feel wonderful and don't look half bad in my clothes. But when I compare myself to the others (which I know I shouldn't do), I don't feel AS successful, but I am working on that. I just wanted to commend you on your courage and strength!! Deidrah

Deidrah, Thank you so much! I really do struggle and this board helps me keep it together. Everyone is always so understanding. I understand completely about the weight not moving. I tried to tell myself that it didn't matter. I was a success at losing the weight I had lost. I was happy, healthy and looked much better so why stress about losing more? Right? Well, I kept telling myself that for about 3 months and my weight stayed relatively the same no matter how badly I ate. I really am happy with my progress but I want to go further and challenge myself to do better. I know I am not a failure! I just want MORE from myself. Plus, I know that I can maintain as long as I exercise and watch portion size. That is one benefit from the past 3 months. The main thing is to do what you are comfortable with. When I reach a size, that I am comfortable with (notice I didn't say a weight) then I will not stress it any longer. At least that is the plan! I am not sure what that size is yet but I will let you know when I get there. Hugs, Valorie

6:00 AM Chai tea with 1 cup Micellar Milk Protein 8:30 AM Yogurt with Kashi cereal and some fruit or oatmeal, cheese and fruit 12:00 PM Soup or Tuna 100 cal cheez-it crackers 100 cal dessert South Beach Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate goldfish something sweet. I always have some kind of 100 cal sweet treat. 3:00 PM apple I am totally addicted to Granny Smith's I bought organic at Super Target, because they are smaller and closer to a portion size. 5:30 PM ½ of a mini crust homemade pizza made with chicken, salsa, banana peppers 2 different kinds of cheese, or a chicken breast or a chicken burger or a steak some fruit or veggie followed by another 100 calorie sweet treat. 8:30 PM Hot Chocolate topped with FF Readiwhip I will usually add a 100 calorie snack in the evening at some point. Now that you can see I'm totally addicted to 100 calorie snacks. LOL. I have found that the hot chocolate really satisfies me at night it's a really good treat that I look forward to I'm not sure if I will like it in the summer, another standby is Jello pudding. I have to say 100 calorie snacks are my favorite. I have really become addicted to Teas partly because I'm always cold. I really like Turkey Jerky because of it never spoils so I can through it in my bag and always have a protein snack with me. I have to admit I'm a terrible grazer so I had to add a couple snacks or things would get out of hand especially at night. Deb

Deb, I have to admit that I am too cheap to buy the 100 cal pack snacks. I always look at the amount of food you get in the regular packs and think it is a waste. Of course that is probably one of the reasons I became obese too. Always looking to get the most food for the buck. Now a days I try to package my own low or 100 calorie snacks. I would probably save more time than money if I just bought the prepackaged. Just one of those things I can't get my mind around. Thanks for sharing! Valorie