I am confused...

Hello All, I haven't been around for awhile but I jump in once in awhile and check what's going on. I am now five months post op, 70#'s down and confused about different things I've been reading. The whole thing on the protein in a prior post and some folks are allowed to have protein bars already. I was told that I couldn't have protein bars for at for at least 10 months, which actually doesn't bother me because I am pretty much addicted to Protidiet from SFWLC and drink three to four packets per day. Which also has me confused because those postings led me to believe that there is a stopping point for the protein??? Also, I know I have to be eating too large of quantities and I'm scared to death of stretching my pouch. I have never had a problem with dumping, and most especially yes I know where my stopping point is with a meal. But, it's more than 1/2 cup in quantity. I try to eye the amount and perhaps it's just in my head that it's more than 1/2 cup but I am worried about messing up what I've worked so hard to have. Ok, now here is my "other" problem. Now I can have popcorn, how much popcorn would someone eat?? 1/2 cup??? How accurate do the size amounts really have to be? Linda, Sherri & Angie I know you all have some great advice...please help. Of course when I ask at the center I'm told you have to stick to the 1/2 portions and that I'm doing great and have nothing to worry about. Thanks! Julie R.

well we both go to stfwl so not sure why you could not eat a protein bar....when i said i ate the 100 calorie pop corn she told me to just eat a cup..****LOL i eat the whole thing though at first i would eat some and be scared to eat the whole thing.... I just felt from my years of researching this surgery the ones that stay on the protein appeared to me to have a better weight loss and better to maintain that weight loss...now i do not do the protein every day.... and maybe not every week...(this year has not been the best for me thats for sure, now hopefully things can get back to normal) and i still have a hard time getting in my 64 oz of water ....heck 64 oz of any liquid is next to impossible for me... i believe everyone has the fear of eating to much....but a friend who was the first person i ever knew to have this surgery.....she gained all her weight back...and then some and only ever lost like 60 pounds anyway...she started back to weigh****chers and has gotten some of it back off and so much easier for her..using her tool..she has lack of education for having this surgery....she even said it is not like she sits and eats before the surgery...but it was all day long eating..anyway in 2 months she lost 35 pounds...and she had her surgery in 99 or 2000 hey next month you get to go to the 6 month out meetings...

Julie, I am a year out.. I agree with Angie.. Protien fights fat.. the more protien you get the less fat.. You need to stick close to your yellow sheet but you can have a protien bar..heck I survived the first few months head hunger with protien bars... Bariatriceatting.com has some great chocolate wafer crunch bars that give you protien ans a treat with out killing your diet or feeling heavy. See, I am stuck in a size 16 now for a couple months.. I am going to start tomorrow back to basics.. string cheese, milk and water!!! Green tea with Splenda.. Good luck to you, remember as I have had to do the last few days.. REMEMBER WHY you had the surgery... I even plan on putting a before picture up in my cube at work to remind me why I DONT snack any more!!! Linda

Julie, I think I was at about 4 months or so when I started having protein bars. I had shopped around and read every label I could find and settled with Strive, from BariatricEating.com. They are 230 calories with 20g protein. Calorie per protein ratio was better with them than any others that I found. Well..any others that I liked the taste of. I get the chocolate pb crunch. I don't do them very often now..basically if I know I'm going to have a hard time getting 3 squares. Popcorn...I was about 5 months or so post-op and like Angie, I get the 100 calorie bags and eat the whole thing. I know me and popcorn. There is NO WAY I could pop a bag and eat 1 cup. I rarely do the popcorn anymore. My snack of choice is bariatricEating.com's pork rinds. They are 130 calories, 23 g protein, 4 g fat, 1 g carb per serving (you do have to eat ~1 oz of other protein to complete the protein chemical chain however so I eat 6 lowfat cheese cubes. Total nutrition then is: 220 cal, 10 g fat, 1 g carb, and 31 g protein). That makes a pretty healthy snack for me. Protein drinks: Still do them. Will probably do them till I'm 6' under. Do I do them every day? No. But I have 4 flavors of Achiev and 2 flavors of powder protein on hand to help with whatever I have a taste for. BTW...I don't work for bariatricEating.com. I get no commission or anything else. Theirs just happens to be where I have found the products that work best for me. I have heard of the Achiev being available at other places but I figure it's easier for me to get everything from the same place. When in doubt of what you're eating...measure. I find that I can pack a whole lotta meat in a 1/2 cup. Rule of thumb...the size of a deck of cards is ~3 oz. That, I'm sure, is by weight however, not volume. I have these containers that the smallest ones will hold 1/2 c meat, but 3/4 c cottage cheese. I chalk that up to less space between particles with the cc. That's the scientist in me..lol. The next size up will hold 1 c of salad or raw veggies, but 12 oz soup. With all of this Julie, the best thing you can do for you is (1) talk with your dietitian/surgeon and (2) use your common sense. For instance, I knew that 1/2 bag of popcorn was an impossibility for me so I just plan those calories into my daily allowance. Have you asked the dietitian what those should be for you at your stage? Do. I track my calories, etc all day with fitday so that in the evening I will know if it should be a pork rind snack night or a protein drink or a slice of watermelon. I think I would get in trouble if I just assumed that drinking my protein drinks would be ok....or any other protein form. I make sure I include those calories in my daily allowance. Sherri

I said it before and I'll say it again...I'm amazed at the variety in the after care from the same operation. I go to StFWLC, too. I'm not quite 12 weeks post op. I've lost about 75lbs. I'm on 3 ounces per meal 3 times a day. No protein bars. The dietitian explained that there were grains in most bars that 1) were too difficult to digest and 2) would/could/might swell and cause damage. I was interested in them for the fiber. My innards are struggling without fiber. My protein goal is 100-120 per day. Sometimes I don't make it. I only count the protein drinks. This Wednesday (May 17) will be the next support meeting. If I remember, I'll ask about protein bars again. I asked a body builder/weightlifter that I work with what protein she recommended and she wholeheartedly said Prosource NytroWhey Extreme from Prosource.net. I have some on order, I'll let y'all know how it tastes. Rob

Popcorn is mainly air....so it may appear large...but in reality...with the 'air'removed...it's not that large Same thing with watermelon...in the first few months out...I could always eat a cup or more of that stuff. Can't comment on the protein products...they were all nasty to me And now that I am almost 2 years out...I no longer have to worry about them So keep up the good work...sounds like you are doing great!!! If you are conderned about portion size...don't eyeball it...put it in a measuring cup and know for sure-yes-it is easy to stretch the pouch out!! Happy journey to ya!!!!!!