Diet advice

Hi everyone!

I am very early in the process (I'm still a month away from my orientation session), but I want to start working on making changes to my diet. 

For anyone who has been working with a nutritionist, do you have any advice? Do they recommend that you watch your calories, or are they more interested in having you eat nutritionally balanced foods, or something else? I've been trying to do a paleo diet for a while, but it seems to be pretty high in calories and fat but low in carbs, so I'm not sure if it's a good diet to use going into this. 

Anyways, any advice anyone has would be awesome!

Thanks!

When I started the process I gave up diet coke and made my meals protein heavy.  Cut the carbs and sugar back, I measured my food so I wasn't eating more than 4oz of protein at each meal.  I would have a protein shake every morning for breakfast.  I also bought protein friendly snacks like turkey pepperettes and yogurt.  Any changes that you can make now will help you be successful in the future!  Read the labels on everything.  Really opens your eyes.

Good luck!

Monica

Every centre seems to give different advice so it really depends on where you're going through.  The nutritionist at my Centre was more interested in a nutritionally balanced diet.  At least 3 food groups at each meal, 2 snacks that include a protein and a carb.

As Monica said, try to cut back on the carbs, potatoes, pasta, rice, bread.  Watch your sugar!  Don't drink calories (unless a protein shake), no fruit juice, pop etc.

Thanks very much for the advice!

I think I'll keep trying with paleo then - I've been working on getting rid of the sugar, wheat and anything that I can't pronounce.  Which means I've gotta break up with bread...oh bread, I will always love you.

I cut out the junk food, soda, switched to decaf. I worked with a dietician but basically it was just a well balanced meal plan following guidelines. The RD just wants to see you make healthy choices - cut out fast food etc...

That's good to know, thanks very much! 

Just curious, why the switch to decaf? Is caffeine not permitted post-op?

Guelph does not recommend caffeine and I think some other Centres have similar recommendations.  I was told by my Centre that caffeine inhibits the absorption of iron and some vitamins and is an irritant to your new pouch.

That makes a lot of sense, and really good to know well in advance...I drink too much coffee as it is, so it will be good to have some time to wean off it. Thanks very much!

If you do not already start drinking a lot of water. Find ways to get in your fluids without adding calories

Thanks! I'm working on that one now, maybe I'll start trying to switch out a coffee for a glass of water