Never eat a normal meal???

Well in a soulvaki there is processed meat (lamb and beef) mixed together w/ lots of garlic. A bit greasy. The taziki sauce is also fattening. Yes I should not have it but once in a blue moon I'll just eat the insides. (meat, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers)

I get a grilled chicken souvlaki and i suck down the tzatziki sauce like it's mothers milk and i just hum with happiness! I don't eat the pita but i like the idea of having a bite should i ever want it (10 months since surgery, no urge thus far!), i just make better choices and i'm pretty happy. ANDI

I forgot about the chicken. That's a better choice. We need to find a low fat recipe for taziki sauce. Then it will make it guilt free. Hey did you know Burger Kings Fire Grilled Chicken Salad is a healty choice (since I can't eat the whole thing) but if you choose any of the dressing that are not fat free it tacks on 19 grams of fat. GEez!

INGREDIENTS 2 cups plain yogurt 2 cloves crushed garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves 1 large cucumber - peeled, seeded and shredded DIRECTIONS Use a cheese cloth to strain the yogurt over a bowl for 3 to 4 hours, until most of the water has drained. Press excess liquid out of the shredded cucumber. In a medium bowl, stir together the cucumber and strained yogurt. Mix in the garlic, salt, pepper and mint. Chill the mixture for 1 to 2 hours. NUTRITION INFORMATION Servings Per Recipe: 24 Amount Per Serving Calories: 15 Total Fat: 0.4g Cholesterol: 1mg Sodium: 63mg Total Carbs: 2g Dietary Fiber: 0.1g Protein: 1.2g ** I don't think this is a horrible choice, but that's just me and I'm not eating the whole sauce, just a few tablespoons of it ****

I had surgery March 28, 2005. I actually get nervous at times on how much I actually can eat sometimes. BUT that is just my body telling me I am hungry. There are times I cant even finish a grilled cheese sandwich, but then on days I can finish the whole thing. This is a tool that you have to work with. Once in a while I have 2 bites too many, but I move on and do better next meal. Good Luck! Kimberly

Ok i'm going to be the reality check on this one.....you are morbidly obese right, hence the reason you are having surgery.....do you think you eat a "normal" meal right now? I think we (as morbidly obese people) have really lost sight of what "normal" means. I'm 10 months out now and I can eat pretty much whatever i want, i choose to minimize my carbs because they don't leave me feeling well. I don't enjoy hot dogs but if i did i'd go for the all beef ones and leave off the bun or go for a whole grain bun if bread products don't bother you. Angel hair pasta does nothing for me (before surgery i could eat the whole pound myself) either nutritionally or how i'm feeling. You are going to need to maximize proteins a bit more then a hot dog and if you're cooking for your family they will come to your side of the eating way...they'll have no choice, mine eat healthier now and no longer balk at me. Good luck to you. ANDI

Jackie: Hello. Making a educated and informed decision is the best chance any of us have for a successful surgery longterm, most people canlose wt for a yr w/ WLS but not everyone will successfully maintain. The surgery restricts what you can eat for a while, meaning during the first 6 mo give/take you may be limited in the quantity/variety of foods you can tolerate. There is no normal only typical, it is typical by 1 yr out you will be able to tolerate about any food even sugar yes only 505 dump and only early on! But its like a spectrum some do not tolerate sugar and some not milk products some can't stomach past and others can not do certain meets, beef being common. This TOOL is giving us an opportunity to wrap our brains around food as fuel and use it for that nad not emotions! To gain more habits for success such as daily exercise and good food choices, it gets harder as time goes on surely for most and regain can and does happen. I tell people to be worried about the after honeymoon, b/c it happens and be as prepared as u can emotional issues never go away until addressed getting therapy preop and along the way is helpful, just b/c we are not hungry for a while and can only eat a few tablespoons of food doesnt mean our eatingissues are gone, that is the lull of the hoenymoon, it fades and fast so do all u can to be healthy and those habits will serve u well at 1, 2 5 yr out ok! This can be a failed diet attepmt and is for many do not let it be for you, read all u can and learn and ask ??OK. Family and friends have their own issues they project on us, their fear, their lack of knowledge their own food issues. You WILL always have to be aware of food, accountable to yourself daily and consistently, we can worry about it or accept the fact, acceptance lessens the burden. I choose not to eat pasta, I choose not to eat ht dogs, I choose healthier choices as much as I can, becaues what i do 90%of the time matters. when I lost wt and got healthy I had less need for food of poor quality, I still crave things but i am working on my emotional self. Be well, learn all u can and enjoy the journey all the bumps that come along are just opportunities for growth. Youd be amazed after 1 yr what u can eat it scared me, but balance is key. What I can eat and what I choose to are 2 seperate things! I can eat pizza I eat 1 slice and am full but if I wait 10 min I can eat 2 slices, I try not to but I can, its a tool and can be defeated easily by grazing, by drinking calories (many are doing this such as the latees etc they consume) and drinking w food, eating more calorei dense things such as nuts or peanutbutter etc, carbs that dont fill like crackers, popcorn, chips and that may lead tohunger and no satiety. OK off my soapbox. Just know it is not the easy way out, it is probably the most difficult thing any of us will do, living our lives one moment at a time and being accountable and consistent! Take Care, Jamie 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"