Weekend in Grand Forks

My hubby surprised me last week by suggesting a spur of the moment weekend get away to Grand Forks.  I jumped at the idea and off we went.  Had a nice relaxing couple of days and did some shopping but not with my usual gusto. It was weird trying on clothes and thinkging ok, now how will this fit in 4 weeks time???   I did manage to find some good buys to fill in some gaps in the summer work wardrobe though.  The biggest challenge was eating in restaurants.  Breakfast was easy a half a small bowl of cereal and a half a banana in the hotel, great.  Lunch was a bigger challenge, tired scrambled eggs day 1 and that was a no go.  Not sure why but eggs were ok about week 3 but now I can't manage to get them down.  Day 2 I tried a mild beef taco....the waitress insisted that was not enough for a meal she was sure I would need 2 or 3 but I said no 1 would be fine.  Sure enough I managed to eat the filing and half the taco shell.  The poor waitress shoock her head all the way back to the kitchen with my plate.
Supper was great, did Olive Garden soup and salad day 1 and then found a pizza buffet day 2 that again had salad with lots of cooked veggies and I had a small piece of pep and mush pizza.  Then I really wanted to try the soft serve ice cream so I did.....2 tsps and I was totally satisfied and no problems!!!  big change from eating the large cone and wanting more!  I filled in the day with protien bars. 

Thanks Newfie 99999 for telling me about the Starbucks non fat Frappachinos  I had one each day with sugarfee vanilla and caramel added to it.  YUMMMMMMMY!!!

I managed to stock up on sugarfree foods, protien bars and cracker chips as well as protein powder.  I really like the target brand of protein powder it's high protein, low sugar, tasty and best of all cheap.

Now back to work.....

okay, haven't had surgery yet  but am getting close so I am watching how people eat "normally" after.  Did you add protein to any of those meals so you could make your daily quota or were they enough on their own?  I didn't think we would be able to eat much salad or bread due to stomach size restrictions because all the space would be taken up by high protein foods.  I am glad that a more "normal" diet is possible (especially for eating out)   I am so scared to not be able to meet my protien requirements, I hear it is the root of all evil in WLS.  I have visions of protein shakes FOREVER!!!

Hi D 

I am now 4 months out and eat salad quite often with chicken or shrimp. I think everyone is different.  Chewed up lettuce & veggies don't take up too much space. Of course, you still can't eat lots of them. We went to a restaurant for lunch on Saturday and I had to laugh at the mountain of Greek salad I got. I barely made a dent in it and couldn't finish the chicken breast that I ordered with it either. I also find bread very easy to eat, but no more than one slice at a time. 

I have one protein shake first thing in the morning and that's all. My stomach and taste buds really don't care for them since surgery. The instructions from the nutritionist at OCC were that they don't want you to drink protein shakes at all. I personally don't think that's realistic, so I choke one down anyway. I really can't even tell you if I am taking in enough protein.  I'm not really tracking what I'm eating, to be honest. However, the weight loss is continuing gradually, so that's good enough for me. 

Hey GrannyD, I am 5 weeks post op now and not really tracking how much protein I am getting in but trying to get some protein in at all meals.  Eating out was trickier which is why I added protein bars as my snacks.  I see Dr. Andrew for my checkup next week and see the NUT as well so I am going to try to track my food this week to give her an idea of where I am at on an average week.  Oh yeah, I bought a bag of unsalted shelled pumpkin seeds which I love and 1/4 cup has a huge amount of protein.  I think it's something like 18 grams. So a small handful of those or toss them in a soup or on salad is great.

 I still can't get my protein requirements without supplementing . I have click now ! Yay but usually have a shake in the morning .

I can't do veggies much as well with meals . Usually I have my protein ( maybe 1/4- 1/2 chicken breast or one egg. And I can't fit in veggies at all. I can sometimes fit in a couple little pieces . I've been trying to snack on some cooked veggies 

i really hate trying to eat all my protein first at a meal.  I like to eat a bit of everything but I am getting better.  I am up to just under half of an average chicken breast at supper then just a few pieces of veg too.  I am still taking a couple of tiny sips of water at a meal....can't quite go without any water yet.

glad to hear everything is not as "restrictive" as I was imagining and normal meals (although very small) can be done.  Thanks for the info girls!

NGD- I hate to break it to you , but everyone is different . I know I don't have enough room for " normal" meals like salad anymore . I have to focus on protein or I don't get close to my goals . I miss bread but it just fills me up too soon. I can eat one egg and I'm full- there isnt room for anythibg elseI can't eat the filling in a sandwich , never mind the bread ( bread still feels yucky almost 3 months out)though)  

Another reason to eat your protein first with VSG is that the dense protein closes your pyloric valve and keeps the food in your sleeve longer.  Ice cream, fluids, and carbs like chips and crackers go through with

Don't they call those "slider" foods (they just slide on through....) lol.  I can't wait to see what I am going to be like after!  I want restriction but I don't want to to be really hard to get the recommend amount of protein which I know is optimal for maximum weight loss and helps with the hair thing (although I am lucky with the hair thing, but still, why chance it by not getting enough protein....)   Mishyme's pics of hair loss are very sobering - and she had LOTS Of hair (but she is lookin' mighty fine now)

Good afternoon ladies

I am into my third week now and still can't get a whole poached egg in, no room.  I have a protein shake that I sip on all morning and then one in the afternoon.  I am going out for supper tonight though to Wendy's/Tim's and I am having a low fat yogurt parfait of which I hope to get in about 1/3 of it.

I had cream of mushroom soup last night I measured 4 oz and broke up a FF cheese sl in it to try and bump my protein a bit.  I only got about 2 oz of it down and that was it and my sleeve was not happy.  It is happy with just cream of mushroom soup so it had to be the cheese. 

Sondra I had one of the high protein Acai Berry drinks at Booster Juice for lunch yesterday well actually about 4 oz of it, it was good and went in well.  It was nice meeting you yesterday!  Maybe I will see you at the field one of these evenings.

Lorna