A couple of my personal rules on nutritional eating

Sorry if this sounds preachy but thought it might be helpful. 1. Supplements (e.g. protein & energy bars / shakes / vitamins) are called supplements for a reason: to round out a balanced diet built on traditional food sources such as meat, veggies and fruits. That said, we WLSers must always take vitamins daily in order to ensure overall nutrient / mineral balance but many bariatric centers recommend "weaning off" of external protein supplements 6 months post-WLS and obtaining protein through the traditional sources. Bottom line: once your pouch can handle it, be like RockyTop and eat a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread rather than a protein bar.   2. Most "energy bars" are crap and loaded with unwanted calories. More often than not, energy bars are no more than glorified candy bars. To be sure, they're convenient but they are expensive and, in my opinion, all frickin' marketing hype. Bottom line:  once your pouch can handle it, eat an apple, orange, grapes, cherries or banana rather than an energy bar as your snack or prior to a workout.  3. Food labels are deceiving. One item (say a South Beach frozen dinner) may say 20 grams of protein on the package front but the serving size is 100 grams which contains 300 calories. A similar item (say a Healthy Choice frozen dinner) may only say 10 grams of protein on the package front but the serving size is only 50 grams which contains 150 calories. You reach for the 20 gram item thinking more protein but effectively they are the same. More marketing hype.  Bottom line:  I always use a quick and dirty 10 to 1 calorie to protein calculation to figure out my choices. So, if total calories are more than 10X protein grams, NOT SO GOOD. For instance, a protein bar or powder with 20 protein grams should have only 200 calories max (20 X 10). If it has more, I would look elsewhere. By comparing calories to protein, you no longer need to worry about serving size mumbo jumbo. Boner   

Sound advice. Thanks Boner.

Thanks for the info.  I'm so not into the "cool" way alot of people in our community choose to eat (e.g. protein bars, bullets, muscle milk,soy, etc. etc).  Don't mean to **** anyone off, that's just not for me. 

All that other stuff you mentioned (bullets, muscle milk, etc) is disgusting but the protein bars are GREAT! Don't think it's just a "cool" thing haha. If you're having trouble getting protein in and all the other stuff is gross to you I'd suggest trying the protein bars.

"protein bars are GREAT!"  great as in tastes greeeeeeat ala Tony the Tiger

Boner

 

Thanks Boner.  Everybody has to do what they have to and what works for them at that moment, but the rules are great.  Especially, thanks for #3.  VERY helpful.

Lou 

Very good advice and that's what I've been doing since I started on solids. I try to reach my daily requirements on "real" food, which usually isn't a problem but if I don't then I add a protein shake or bar.  And my supplements are a ritual: multivitamin, caclium, b12 at 7AM and then Iron & Colace at 9PM.

The 10 to 1 rule is GREAT.  I will use that from now on.  I always have wondered how to figure out about calories and what not, My nutritionist at my surgeons office is useless.

Boner,
I just KNEW that you being an accountant there had to be math involved
THANKS for teaching us all something new today.

Rich

Ok, I just checked what I have in my desk.

Newman's Own Lightly Salted Soy Crisps
9 grams of protein and 110 calories = 90 vs 110

Soy Nuts
10 grams of protein and 130 calories = 100 vs 130

Looks like I'm cleaning out my desk tonight.

Rich