What are you eating, Really,

I have had the pikk line for 5 weeks now because of dehydration and malnutrition. I had gastritis which caused edema in my pouch. My blood count went too low and they were gonna do a transfusion on me. I refused it and since it went up the next few days they decided on the pikk. I hope to get it out in 2 weeks. Brina

Melissa, you are a sweetheart to keep posting that yummy recipe of yours...I bet it has helped so many new post-ops. Keep up the good work! I love that someone on one of these boards mentioned that Starbucks sells their Cinnamon Dolce sf syrup. Ran right out and bought a bottle...it is heavenly! And it leaves a really lovely pleasant cinnamon aftertaste in your mouth. Mmmm.... I still haven't tested anything bad yet. My 'cheats' are all within sane limits and prob. the worst is my Dove sf chocolates. There are days I end up eating at least 4 of them and days I don't have any but they get me over the sugar cravings and let me know I'm not some chocolate-free freak. Now, I AM a bread-free freak and that bothers most of the people who know me but that is my chosen thing to give up and just a personal choice. As for other 'cheats' sometimes I designate an ounce of soy crisps as a meal and graze on it for several hours instead of doing the regulation 20-minute meal. Makes it tough for getting water in, but it feels more like normal life to me. I just don't do it too often because I don't want to get back into a grazing habit. Because of my past stricture issues, things are still pretty tight inside for me so I still don't sit down to regular meat meals...my meats all go in the food processor for chopping first and always have some sort of sauce. Usually fat-free ranch dressing, taco sauce, salsa or ff sour cream. I still regularly eat my tuna/salsa/nearly-puree with some rice crackers for a meal and have pretty much given up on soups because they run through the stoma too fast. Like you, I still start the day with a protein shake or a hot protein latte. And if I am feeling extra tired I have an Isopure in the afternoon or a Nectar Fuzzy Naval. And if I am really busy I still use a single-ounce stick of low-fat mozz. cheese for a meal. Portable and so quick to grab! I am still eating about 1/3 cup capacity of fairly dense foods and am satisfied with it. Love my revision surgery!!!! Molly

I eat pretty well, I throw in fried food about once or twice a week but my new thing has been jalapeno chips. I dont eat many of them but I do indulge every once in a while. I still wont eat sweets, I ate a brownie once and didnt feel real good afterwards, now, the only time I will eat sweets is through fruit. I did eat some of my sons birthday cake, just a very small piece, and I plan to eat things like that occasionally, I just have to manage it and not let it manage me. Don't beat yourself up about it, just manage it, and dont treat it as a reward, because you dont want to fall into those habits., but just indulge in it occasionally and in small quantities and you will be ok. THe way I eat now is a whole hell of a lot better than I used to eat, the whole bags of hershey kisses or the whole row of chips ahoy cookies, cake, ice cream, chips in addition to my full 3 meals a day with the hefty portions. I have come a long way. Angela

Brina: I am just posting my favorites---there are things I eat, but these are things that my stomach likes best: Dannon Naturals yogurt Kashi GoLean cereal Skim milk Reduced fat cheese sticks Spaghetti-O's at work, mixed with soy unflavored protein powder Peas Asparagus tips Imitation Crab Meat (I'd die without this, it's got protein in it!) 1% cottage cheese Reduced fat block cheese Lite Sour cream Whole grain Melba Snacks (tiny hard wafers) Fish (I can FINALLY keep down 4-5 bites of fish as of last week!!!) Decaf coffee w/ skim milk only Seedless grapes Tiny tangelos Strawberries Green Peppers/White onions Egg Beaters I don't eat meat, so I had a somewhat unique diet. I have not yet wanted any sugar, so the only true sugar I have had since surgery has been from an occasional glass of wine, or fruit. I am down 85 so far, and grateful for every pound released from my body....more to go! WAY TO GO ALL! Best, Megan

I thought this would be an encouraging post for me to read, since everyone is sharing what they're eating... but it's almost exactly the opposite!!!!! I had a VBG (Vertical Banded Gastroplasty), so I don't have any of the 'dumping' issues that my Bypass friends do. It's a slippery slope - I can have sugar, but sugar brings calories... see? Anyway, here's my "diet staples": Genisoy Soy Crisps (BBQ) Fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese Fat-free ricotta cheese Tillamook pepperjack cheese Spice Hunter instant mashed potatoes Queso Marinara sauce Tilapia/Cod/Haddock/Salmon - any flaky fish Spice Hunter instant split pea soup Fat-free yogurt (vanilla, or whatever is on sale) Salsa Turkey breast lunch meat Mandarin oranges Apple sauce I don't know... I'm just feeling like I'm failing right now!!!! I think it's something to do with PMS, but wow. - Krystal 388/278+/- / 210