What are you eating and what's eating YOU? Plus a word of caution

Hi gang!

First of all, I want to congratulate Wendy for doing so well on her eating while staying with Mom in the hospital. It's dang hard to get a decent meal there, but she managed to stay on plan!  Way to go Wen!!

I just want to throw out some words of advice to you all.  This is not meant to be a flame on ANYONE, just general WLS advice. 

Please remember that no matter what surgery you had, you still need to be mindful of the trap of fast food. Even if you HAVEN"T had WLS, fast food is terrible, at best. It's loaded with fat and sodium, generally fried, and don't even get me started on the preservatives!  Yes, even I occasionally have to resort to a drive through, but PLEASE, PLEASE stay away from hot dogs, corn dogs, biscuit breakfasts and such.  Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD!!

Planning ahead is the key here. If you're running late in the morning, a slice of whole wheat toast with some PB on it is a quick and easy on the go choice. If you know you're going to be out shopping, running errands, or working, think about a small cooler and pack healthy things to eat for snacks and your lunch. I have a great insulated lunch bag I bought online  that has saved my day many times. It's even cute!

The whole idea of having WLS is not just to lose weight, but to become healthier people too. Now is the time to break old habits and take full advantage of the tool you've been given. Long term success depends on changing your lifestyle!
If anyone wants some meal suggestions, let me know, I'll be happy to post some things.

Ok, off the soapbox....here's Friday

latte

ww tortilla w/ eggbeaters, 2 tbs 2% cheese and turkey bkfst sausage

whole milk latte

1/2 baked potato w/ turkey chili, broccoli

sliced apple, pineapple chunks and grapes

1 oz almonds

gyros sandwich---1/2 the meat and 1/4 of the pita


cals:  1332    fat 56  carbs  130 protein  89

It is SOOOO good to be home "full time" now.  Here was my Friday (part of which was spent in hospital - but the other part wasn't)...

FOOD/FLUIDS	CALORIES	FAT	CARBS	PROTEIN	FLUID OZ
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Bar	180.00	7.00	30.00	5.00	0.00
1 tbsp True North Peanut Crunches	37.50	2.00	3.25	1.25	0.00
1 carton FF milk	90.00	0.00	12.00	8.00	0.00
20 ounces water	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	20.00
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Bar	180.00	7.00	30.00	5.00	0.00
1 tbsp True North Peanut Crunches	37.50	2.00	3.25	1.25	0.00
1 carton FF milk	90.00	0.00	12.00	8.00	0.00
4 oz Blue Bunny FF NSA ice cream	80.00	0.00	20.00	4.00	0.00
20 ounces water	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	20.00
1 cup Kroger Deluxe Frozen Yogurt & 1 tbsp blueberry protein powder	212.35	3.00	34.12	12.12	0.00
1 medium egg, 1/2 turkey sausage patty, 1 slice 2% american cheese & 1 slice Nature's Own SF wheat	195.00	9.25	14.25	16.25	0.00
2 cups skim milk, 2 tbsp SF chocolate syrup & 2 tbsp chocolate protein powder	231.16	0.92	29.38	25.30	16.00
2 homemade SF peanut butter cookies	164.58	12.56	7.72	6.66	0.00
1 tbsp True North Peanut Crunches	37.50	2.00	3.25	1.25	0.00
total	1535.59	45.73	199.22	94.08	56.00

Did you make up an Excel spreadsheet or do you use a program you bought/downloaded somewhere to track your intake?

I use an excel spreadsheet I created.  Most of the online food tracking places do not adequately account for true carb percentages (they get off due to sugar alcohols and fibers which they don't account for).  I wanted a more real and tangible set of numbers that I knew were correct.  So the only way to do that was for me to create it myself.  It's a little more work because I have to cut/paste the lines day by day, but it's worth it to me. 

Another beautiful day in the Rock.  Played golf this morning and building a pergola over the patio this afternoon (actually started yesterday - when did lumber get to be so heavy).  Hope everyone gets to enjoy some good outdoor time.

Here's yesterday:

		Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein
Breakfast
	Bread - Whole-wheat, toasted, 1 oz	78	15	1	3	remove
	Sargento Light String Cheese - Light String Cheese, 1 piece	50	1	3	6	remove
	Kroger - Unsweetened Grapefruit Juice, 1 can	80	18	0	1	remove
	Bacon Hickory Smoked, 2 slices	80	0	7	4	remove
	Add Food     Remember Meal	288	34	11	14
Lunch
	Cottage cheese - Lowfat, 1% milkfat, 2 cup (not packed)	325	12	5	56	remove
	Add Food     Remember Meal	325	12	5	56
Dinner
	Starkist - Tuna Chunk Light In Water, 4 oz. drained	100	2	2	22	remove
	Potatoes - Baked, flesh, with salt, 0.5 cup	57	13	0	1	remove
	Lettuce - Cos or romaine, raw, 1 cup shredded	8	2	0	1	remove
	Weigh****chers - Cheddar Cheese Snacks, 2 pieces	90	1	6	7	remove
	Add Food     Remember Meal	255	18	8	31
Snacks
	Chicken Breast - Baked Chicken Breast, 1 breast	100	0	1	24	remove
	Apples - Raw, with skin, 1 medium (2-3/4" dia) (approx 3 per lb)	72	19	0	0	remove
	Jif - Peanut Butter, 2 Tbsp. (32g)	190	7	16	7	remove
	Add Food     Remember Meal	362	26	17	31
Total:		1,230	90	41	132
Your Daily Goal:		1,250	94	42	125
Remaining:		20	4	1	-7

I am really glad you posted your words of caution, this is something that's been weighing on my mind all weekend.  I'm only just beginning to be able to eat my miniscule amounts of "real" food again, so it's been a challenge to stay mindful of the quality of my food.

I won't appall you with my less-than-exemplary diet, but I'm making a fresh start now!

My sister and I had this discussion this weekend. She was high risk during her past pregnancy and had to be on medicine to control her blood pressure. First time she's had any complications and this was her 5th. About a week after having my nephew, she was taken off of her meds because her BP was back in control. They were moving to a new house all last week and due to her kitchen being packed, they had nothing to cook with. They ate a lot of fast food and when she went to her doctor on Friday, they told her they were going to put her back on BP meds because it was high again. I told her that it may have a lot to do with eating out so much last week. All that salt!!!! Anyways, fast food affects "normal" people the way that it does us, too!