I'm just curious on how long it is..Still wiating...

Congrats on the new apartment!  How fun is that? I think you'll do really well on your own with your program. No one else to worry about and all you need to buy for is yourself.

I can only go by what MY program was from Dr Gibbs at three months out. I'm sure it's very close to Baker's rules, but maybe someone will hop in and correct anything for you. So, here goes....

I was on 600-700 cals a day. 50% protein, 30% carbs, 20% fat. If you use fitday.com they will show you on the chart your percentage. As far as measuring meat, cut it up before you measure. It's about volume, not weight, so it won't be accurate for the plan if you weigh it. My Nut always said eat your protein first, then carbs if there is food left (of your 6 tbs). The fat that is in your meat, or tiny bit of butter you might put on your veggie, or whatever, will get your fat in without too much worry.

As far as planning meals go, it depends a lot on what you like. I bought (and still eat) sliced roasted turkey spread with whipped LF cream cheese, or wrapped around some string cheese. You can use ham or roast beef, too. It's so thinly sliced that you will most likely not have a problem with it.  A quarter lb of each will last you lots of meals.  Or, you can buy some chicken tenders and season them up, bake them and keep them in the fridge, ready to go. If you like shrimp, a bag of the cooked medium shrimp will last you all month....11  are about 21 grams of protein. You might not be able to eat that many yet, but after you figure that out, just pull what you need out of the freezer bag and let it thaw. I like to dip them into ****tail sauce. Very yummy!

Oatmeal with  some PB2 in it would be a great breakfast. Jeeze, I'm running out of ideas. I'll go back onto my log and see what other ideas I can come up with for you. Hopefully others will chime in and give you some suggestions!

Good luck, keep us posted!

Hello all!  So I am a newbie and am about 3 months post op from my bypass surgery in May.  I admit that during the summer, particularly the past month or so, I have slacked off on working out and keeping up a food journal.  But I just moved into my own apartment and want to us this change in environment as an opportunity for a new start.  I have what I need to do this right except some information.  I am still a little foggy on how to reap the fullest benefits I can from the surgery.  So here goes.

1.  How many grams of protein, fiber, fat, and carbs are we supposed to aim for in a day?

2.  How do you all do your portions?  I know mine is about six tablespoons, but how do you balance a meal with such limited portions?  Like, how much veggie and meat in one meal and how do you measure meat portions?  It seems hard to measure whole meat in tablespoons. 

3.  As a college student, I work on a tight budget.  Any meal planning tips?  I grocery shop each week so I'm trying to work out how to plan my meals a week at a time.

Okay, so I think that's all for now.  Should give me a good start.  I just really want to do this right.  I think I've been slacking a little because it's still hard for me to think of myself as being anything other than the fat girl.  It's hard to aim for a change that you have a hard time believing in.  

Anyhow, I'd appreciate any help.  Hope everyone is doing well!!  Thanks!!!

I'm doing ok I think... I've slipped on the exercise routine a bit, but now that my daughter is back in school and the days are all mine again (least till 3) I can get back into the swim of things.  I've cheated and sucumbed to the chocolate monster a couple times- tummy doesn't feel well afterwards, but boy did it taste good going down..lol--bad bad bad, but I can admit my mistakes. Least I'm not eating an entire candybar each time, but a few bites and leave it. Umm, I'm finally loosing again after a 7 week stall, down to 236- never thought I'd be under 300 again when this started. Now I'm shooting for being under the 200 mark! 

I absolutely LOVE the attention I'm getting from men.  While I feel they're all shallow as I wouldn't have gotten the remarks at 395 that I get today- it's still fun and encouraging to hear them!!  I've been in LTR or married for 17 years of my life... so this is new and exciting!  I can't wait to reach my goal....

How am I doing today?

Well, I am doing great.  I just had my boiled egg and carrot sticks for lunch.  My what a great boiled egg it was.  All white on the outside and a beautiful yellow center.  And just to jazz it up, I even put some salt on it for extra flavor.   And the carrot sticks --- beautiful orange color and crispy texture.   This was so much better than some dumb old fat laden cheeseburger with chili cheese fries and a milkshake that I might have eaten in my prior life.  OK, so this is a little tongue-in-cheek, but I am seriously more satisfied with today's lunch than I would  be with the old crap I used to eat.

Tammy, nothing to be ashamed of.   Life is full of imperfections (at least that's what my wife and kids say about me - not that Ive ever agreed with them), but you have lived the WLS life for a long time now and are naturally going to have times that are less compliant than other times.   Just get back on that horse and work it again, but never be ashamed of yourself.  No one on here is ashamed of you.  We are all on your team and cheering for you.

Courtney,  I am really proud of your progess and glad you are enjoying your transformation. 

Susan, thanks for hanging with the board and prodding us to keep the support flowing.  It is so beneficial to me and I know that future successes will need the support that you and others on here provide.  Thanks for all you do for all of us.

I will try to be a better team player and get back on here more often.   When I don't follow through on this, please apply the appropriate boot to my smaller than it used to be posterior.

Best regards to all.