What are you eating/doing today ( Friday )

RNY  6 Years 8 Months Post Op

Morning

Nothing on my agenda other then taking a friend to a doctors appointment.  I am looking forward to being home tonight and catching up on my shows. 

STEPS - 6621

EATS

B - 2 large mugs of coffee

    Premier protein shake

L - 1.5 cups of steak and veggie soup

    1/3 cup of shredded habanero cheese melted on top

D - 1.5 cups of kale salad

    4 oz weighed of chicken souvlaki

    2 TB of tzatziki sauce

S - Source dessert yogurt with squirt of topping

MYFITNESSPAL totals for the above menu are:  Calories - 1,063,  Carbs - 72 Grams,  Fat - 38 Grams,  Protein - 114 Grams,  Fiber - 11 Grams

All water and vits  - more decaf coffee

Have a great one  

Good morning everyone.  Birdiegirl I have been meaning to ask you about you feeling empty further out.  Is it uncomfortably empty or just not full?  Do you feel hunger and just have to ignore it or is it am empty feeling?  I am having trouble feeling full for any length of time lately and I am wondering whether this is just my new normal further out.  Your steak and veg soup sounds awesome, I still have not made it but it is on my list to try.  Just work and home today, did not sleep well last night, I think it was the decaf in the evening, there is still some caf in it. 

15 months post op

b - gnc protein shake, chocolate with a little decaf coffee crystals added

s - decaf coffee, later... simply protein bar, cocoa flavour

l - veggie and protein of some kind at restaurant for holiday party

s - packet of almonds

d - leftovers from lunch

s - bell pepper with cheese melted on it

all water and vitamins, have a nice day everyone!

I feel everything various days.  Some days I am hungry an hour after eating - especially if it wasn't dense.  Empty is a common feeling on those days I am really trying to cut back and its usually in the late afternoon.  I try to ignore it most days

When I feel hunger I usually eat.  However it might be something as simple as a bite of cheese - like 1/2 oz just to kill the pangs until its time for a regular meal.  Some days I just ignore it or drink water or a decaf and it goes for awhile.

If I eat dense protein - I am not hungry at all.  I may get "empty" at some point which really I try to ignore but not hunger pangs.  I look at empty as head hunger and I know I will feel this when really watching what I eat.  It will pass if I just give it time.

I try to remember that hunger is not an emergency.  It will pass if I ignore it for a bit and get busy doing something. 

Water is our friend.  Coffee is a real life saver for me too. 

Look, its a daily struggle - some days easier then others and some days are just tough.  If you are hungry most of the time then look at your choices.  Too much sugar or white carbs - well you know what they will do to you.  I can eat a loaf of bread in one sitting.  Seriously.  It just mushes down and doesn't really feel like anything in your pouch...but chicken is another story.  Sometimes I cant get 3 oz in but most days I can eat 4 and feel really full.  Not uncomfortable but really pleasantly satiated.

Personally Zizz, I would ditch the simply bar as they are really just a delicious candy bar.  Also the almonds really aren't very satisfying and how tough it is to just eat one package.  I could sit down and eat a lot of nuts.

I also realize that eating chicken and other dense proteins does not a life make!  So its finding ways to balance your eating so you mainly have those dense proteins to fill you up....and then a few bites of other items for taste and color/variety in your eating.

I am afraid there is no easy way to manage things.  Long term we have to come to terms with finding a way to eat to satisfy ourselves both nutritionally and satiety wise.  For me that is eating protein centered 80% of the time which allows me tastes of other types of food and wine the other 20%.  I also know my triggers that encourage me to eat more then I should - such as a simply bar or granola bar...bread which I try to limit to restaurant dining and only when delish...pasta a few times per year and bites of dessert on occasion.  I do not feel deprived.

I think you are at the toughest part of the journey and that is figuring out how you are going to live going forward.  If you are at maintenance - what are the calories that will sustain this weight - how am I going to manage my hunger/satiety on these caloric totals and getting the mindset that this is IT....and no going back to old ways

One last thing.  You are still likely in malabsorption so really watch between year 2 - 3 when things change and all of a sudden you cant eat what you could and maintain.  That's when you have to get hold of things and find that magic calorie total for maintenance - at a weight you can live with

Morning all. Nice response Barb. Very hard after the first two yrs and it's a learning experience for sure. Hope your pooch gets well soon Pat. Just finish Sociology exam and will be heading home soon, then work 2-9.

2yrs post op

B - 1/2 cup steel cut oats with protein powder, 1 tbsp. pb

L - 3oz chicken thigh, 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin

S - leftover from lunch

D - 3oz chicken breast, 1/3 cup cauliflower

S - tea

630 cals, 31 carbs, 20 fat, 58 protein, will add some more protein somewhere

Have a great day all, Nia

Thank you for taking the time to post this detailed reply birdiegirl, it really helps give me an idea as to how things will be moving forward.  Pre-op I practiced for many years only eating when I am hungry, so I think I have that part under control. It is the what and the amount to eat to feel satisfied that has changed for me now, and how much I am able to and should eat.  I agree with you regarding the bars and nuts, I need to be careful for sure moving forward, they are tricky foods. It is very confusing for me because one day I have to force myself to eat anything and the next day I feel I could eat a lot more than I should.  I like your idea about eating a little piece of cheese if I get hungry between meals, or drinking coffee or something else, great idea.  Probably the biggest thing I have noticed is how much my mood effects my hunger and vice versa.  If I do not eat or address it when I am hungry then I feel physically sick, if I am stressed and feeling depressed or anxious then I either get super hungry or lose my appetite entirely and have to force myself to eat or I get dizzy.  I need to find a balance, a way that will work for me moving forward, but it is not easy, especially when you are going through a lot emotionally.  I was on training for 4 days recently and at the end of it I felt like myself again because I was away from my work environment and all the negativity and taking positive action with the training.  Two days back at work and I am a stressball again, its really hard to cope.  I am looking for other jobs but my self-esteem is low, which makes motivation difficult, including motivation to stay on track with my eating.  

Sounds like you are very aware of your issues and triggers.  

Hang in there and love yourself enough to make good choices for your long term happiness 

Thank you :0)

Good morning all. My dog appears to be ill. I am staying home this morning to take him to the vet. I am hoping they can see him. Out tonight.

Our church is putting on a reading of a Christmas Carol with carols included. All proceeds going to 2 charities. I am going to help sell tickets and then enjoy the production.

b greek yogurt, raspebrries

l chili

s baby bel

d chicken

s try not to eat the treats at church.

Have a good day everyone

Good Morning! Barb, I enjoyed reading your response to Zizzler, good advice and information 

Just some light work around the house, still on lifting restrictions.

Feeling better though, and feel I have a good day of meals planned for today.

B- source greek lemon with tbsp walden farms cranberry sauce

L- lean roast beef roll ups with nsa pickle, 2 LC wedges, some sliced cucumber 

D- 2 baked lemon pepper chicken drums, sliced cucumber

S- syntrax fuzzy naval, 1 chicken drum.

mfp totals: calories 656, carbs 13, fat 27, protein 89

Hope everyone has a great weekend, bye for now 

judy

B: Decaf Coffee with 1/2 cup Premier Protein Shake

L: 1/2 cup Non-Fat Cottage Cheese mixed with 1/2 Avocado

S: Yoplait Source Greek Yogurt Apple Pie Flavour

D: 3 sticks (90g) Alaska Pollock (Imitation Crab Meat)