starting to feel hungry
I WILL SUCCEED.
Let that replace the less committed line that you say a few times, "I will try..."
Your new life takes a tremendous commitment. Commitment to YOU. Commitment to your HEALTH. Commitment to your WELL BEING. We have to get way past the point of "hoping" that things will work out for the best, and way past the point of "trying" to live up to those commitments, even while we make a conscious decision to eat a cookie.
There is a BIG difference betweeen WANTING a cookie and EATING a cookie. You can WANT it and still have plenty of decision time so you can choose not to EAT it.
Say it again.
I WILL SUCCEED.
And every cookie that goes into the trash or down the disposal...every Subway sandwich that you simply say, "I'll pass for now, but thanks" - THOSE ARE SUCCESSES.
Shoot, I feel like posting this on my bathroom mirror and computer monitor right now!
I WILL SUCCEED.
I was going to chime in, but Pam and Liz already covered what I was going to say. :-)
However, you have to think of your "new life" and developing "new tastes" to go with it. Try being a little adventurous - try alternative sources of that all-important protein because this is not a temporary thing for you. Protein will be an important thing for the rest of your life - if you're going to maintain this, then a life of eating chicken, roast beef, and cheese as your everyday menu will be really boring, which will lead you to "cheat yourself" eventually.
So I challenge you to explore a little, even with things that you THINK you don't like. You might surprise yourself. When people tell me they don't like fish, my response is "what kind of fish?" because there are hundreds of different types and there is a HUGE range of tastes and textures - combine that with a variety of preparation and you've got an almost infinite combination. With a little open-mindedness and exploration, I'd bet you'll find that there's at least 2 -3 types of fish you end up liking.
The other things to try would be vegetable proteins... tofu, tempeh, tvp, and similar things... and lentils. If you're not comfy with how to prepare them, start by looking in the freezer section for things like the Gardein brand components. They have "beefless tips" that you can prepare exactly like you would beef tips... slight difference in texture, but REALLY good and very close in taste. Their chickenless nuggets are amazingly good, too... There are other vegetarian entree options out there, too - just keep an eye on fats and carbs because vegetarian does not always equal healthy. You still have to read labels and make good choices.
Your challenge is to redefine your relationship with food in the long run. That means a little flexibility on your part to ensure that your protein intake is appropriate as your FIRST priority. Do that, and I think you'll find a big range of new tastes and textures that help keep your eating experience fun. But you need to think of it as a task, not a hobby. Make sense?
Karen
However, you have to think of your "new life" and developing "new tastes" to go with it. Try being a little adventurous - try alternative sources of that all-important protein because this is not a temporary thing for you. Protein will be an important thing for the rest of your life - if you're going to maintain this, then a life of eating chicken, roast beef, and cheese as your everyday menu will be really boring, which will lead you to "cheat yourself" eventually.
So I challenge you to explore a little, even with things that you THINK you don't like. You might surprise yourself. When people tell me they don't like fish, my response is "what kind of fish?" because there are hundreds of different types and there is a HUGE range of tastes and textures - combine that with a variety of preparation and you've got an almost infinite combination. With a little open-mindedness and exploration, I'd bet you'll find that there's at least 2 -3 types of fish you end up liking.
The other things to try would be vegetable proteins... tofu, tempeh, tvp, and similar things... and lentils. If you're not comfy with how to prepare them, start by looking in the freezer section for things like the Gardein brand components. They have "beefless tips" that you can prepare exactly like you would beef tips... slight difference in texture, but REALLY good and very close in taste. Their chickenless nuggets are amazingly good, too... There are other vegetarian entree options out there, too - just keep an eye on fats and carbs because vegetarian does not always equal healthy. You still have to read labels and make good choices.
Your challenge is to redefine your relationship with food in the long run. That means a little flexibility on your part to ensure that your protein intake is appropriate as your FIRST priority. Do that, and I think you'll find a big range of new tastes and textures that help keep your eating experience fun. But you need to think of it as a task, not a hobby. Make sense?
Karen
Liz- I am constantly drinking, I put drinks in my freezer when I start to get my meals together then have them ready as soon as my 30 mins up _ I seem to only be able to drink if its really cold..
I am drinking SF koolaid , crystal lite and SF cran-grape you can add to your water. I am having trouble drinking plan water in the last week, it seems to taste funny.. I also found yesterday Diet tea with lemonade..no calories or anything.. I jus****ch my tea intake cause of my bad kidney stone problems.. I am going to start experimenting with making myself slurpie type drinks, I love those..
I think you all for your input I will retry seafood and fish cause I knwo how much my taste buds have changed.. what would you recommend to try first .. I hate the smell of fish ... someone told me to try shrimp it has alot of protein. would that just be plain old shrimp- not sure if that makes sense . LOL
Im going to look for gardein brand products- are they in wegmans- i was thinking of going there this weekend cause our giant just doesnt have alot of choices.. and I need to go out to harrisburg or camphill anyways to find some muscle milk light- cause all I have in town is reg muscle and it seems high in calorie and fat..
I am drinking SF koolaid , crystal lite and SF cran-grape you can add to your water. I am having trouble drinking plan water in the last week, it seems to taste funny.. I also found yesterday Diet tea with lemonade..no calories or anything.. I jus****ch my tea intake cause of my bad kidney stone problems.. I am going to start experimenting with making myself slurpie type drinks, I love those..
I think you all for your input I will retry seafood and fish cause I knwo how much my taste buds have changed.. what would you recommend to try first .. I hate the smell of fish ... someone told me to try shrimp it has alot of protein. would that just be plain old shrimp- not sure if that makes sense . LOL
Im going to look for gardein brand products- are they in wegmans- i was thinking of going there this weekend cause our giant just doesnt have alot of choices.. and I need to go out to harrisburg or camphill anyways to find some muscle milk light- cause all I have in town is reg muscle and it seems high in calorie and fat..
GREAT on your fluids! Jus****ch tea too because of caffeine (I know - rules lol) For evey 8oz of a caffeinated beverage you drink you need to compensate with 16oz of a non-caffinated beverage.
Shrimp are good just steamed or sauteed. AS far as mild fish, haddock, tilapia or flounder are probably the mildest. If you go to Wegmans go to the fish counter and have them recommend something - they are VERY helpful. I ask tons of questions! lol
I Couldn't tolerate plain water until about 1 1/2 years out! The surgeon said that it is fairly common post op, not sure what causes it but it happens. I make my crystal light or the similar 1/2 strength (even still) they are just too sweet for me but are great options!
If you have time walk the aisles in Wegmans - they have a ton of great products. I swear I can get lost in that place and well spend WAY too much money! I've found a lot of good stuff there and in their organic department.
Shrimp are good just steamed or sauteed. AS far as mild fish, haddock, tilapia or flounder are probably the mildest. If you go to Wegmans go to the fish counter and have them recommend something - they are VERY helpful. I ask tons of questions! lol
I Couldn't tolerate plain water until about 1 1/2 years out! The surgeon said that it is fairly common post op, not sure what causes it but it happens. I make my crystal light or the similar 1/2 strength (even still) they are just too sweet for me but are great options!
If you have time walk the aisles in Wegmans - they have a ton of great products. I swear I can get lost in that place and well spend WAY too much money! I've found a lot of good stuff there and in their organic department.
Good for you to push yourself! I think you'll be surprised over time at the options and ways to balance your protein. And remember - if you don't like something prepared one way, try it a DIFFERENT way...
Personally, I love salmon (NOT CANNED!!!!). You can try it lightly poached (VERY easy to do - take a small filet and make a little "pouch" for it out of aluminum foil. Put a little bit of white wine, some very thinly sliced lemon, some very thinly sliced sweet onion, and either some fresh basil or fresh cilantro. Close the pouch up really tight and bake in the oven at 400F for about 10 minutes. Open the pouch carefully (steam will be hot) and enjoy it! - as variations substitute some capers for the cilantro or basil... use some garlic or whatever spice you like... it will be moist all the way through and should basically melt in your mouth. If you have to chew it much, you've cooked it too much!
Tilapia is another really yummy and mild white fish. It's very well suited to pan searing, baking, and a ton of other prep. It's also good in soup, believe it or not.
Wegmans is a great source of ideas - just ask the people at the fish counter and they'll have tons of suggestions. Their seafood cooking station is also a great way to taste just a bite or two of different fish and different preparations so you can see what you think.
I love just a plain shrimp ****tail - takes 2 minutes... I get a bag of frozen shrimp. Take out the approx. weight of shrimp (a little over, because there's a decent amount of water) and put them in a ziploc bag. In a separate little bowl, mix low-sugar ketchup, horseradish, a dash of worcestershire sauce and, if you like smoky taste, a drop of "liquid smoke" - there's your ****tail sauce. If you want the shrimp immediately, put the ziploc bag in cold water for about 5 minutes. Otherwise, leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours. High protein, high taste, low fat, low carbs.
As to Gardein, yep, Wegmans is where I've found them... in the organic/vegetarian freezer case, not over with the other frozen entrees.
For water ideas - try just a slice of lemon in your water... likewise a lime (if you like lime), tangerine, peach, or whatever fruit you like. Particularly in the summer, I love taking a few slices of cucumber (about an inch) and putting it in my water, then letting it sit in the fridge overnight - the result is a water that realy tastes like biting into an ice-cold cucumber - extremely refreshing when working out, particularly. And MUCH cheaper than going for the packets every time.
Karen
Personally, I love salmon (NOT CANNED!!!!). You can try it lightly poached (VERY easy to do - take a small filet and make a little "pouch" for it out of aluminum foil. Put a little bit of white wine, some very thinly sliced lemon, some very thinly sliced sweet onion, and either some fresh basil or fresh cilantro. Close the pouch up really tight and bake in the oven at 400F for about 10 minutes. Open the pouch carefully (steam will be hot) and enjoy it! - as variations substitute some capers for the cilantro or basil... use some garlic or whatever spice you like... it will be moist all the way through and should basically melt in your mouth. If you have to chew it much, you've cooked it too much!
Tilapia is another really yummy and mild white fish. It's very well suited to pan searing, baking, and a ton of other prep. It's also good in soup, believe it or not.
Wegmans is a great source of ideas - just ask the people at the fish counter and they'll have tons of suggestions. Their seafood cooking station is also a great way to taste just a bite or two of different fish and different preparations so you can see what you think.
I love just a plain shrimp ****tail - takes 2 minutes... I get a bag of frozen shrimp. Take out the approx. weight of shrimp (a little over, because there's a decent amount of water) and put them in a ziploc bag. In a separate little bowl, mix low-sugar ketchup, horseradish, a dash of worcestershire sauce and, if you like smoky taste, a drop of "liquid smoke" - there's your ****tail sauce. If you want the shrimp immediately, put the ziploc bag in cold water for about 5 minutes. Otherwise, leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours. High protein, high taste, low fat, low carbs.
As to Gardein, yep, Wegmans is where I've found them... in the organic/vegetarian freezer case, not over with the other frozen entrees.
For water ideas - try just a slice of lemon in your water... likewise a lime (if you like lime), tangerine, peach, or whatever fruit you like. Particularly in the summer, I love taking a few slices of cucumber (about an inch) and putting it in my water, then letting it sit in the fridge overnight - the result is a water that realy tastes like biting into an ice-cold cucumber - extremely refreshing when working out, particularly. And MUCH cheaper than going for the packets every time.
Karen
You should be getting 500-800 at this stage . . . you can't get that protein in with less than 400 calories, and you should be having veggies and such . . . plus chewable vitamins add about 100. I have been told a minimum of 500 calories. I think sometimes people don't add all the little stuff and think they are getting less than they are. I went to a support group today and they all ate closer to what you get in than to the 400 or so discussed here.
♪ ♫ ♪ lost 75 pre-op, surgery 1/20/10, 125+ since RNY, 200+ pounds off ♪ ♫ ♪
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