This is just for a day. Not for life, so no, it will not kill you.

Step One: For a day, eat as MUCH protein as humanly possible. Get protein into every little corner of your world. Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, eat cottage cheese, have a protein shake, lunch meat, tuna, whatever you do. Aim to go way higher in protein than you ever have before.

Step Two: Track your calories that same day.

At the end of the day I can almost guarantee you your calories will be drastically less. There's a reason protein first is the BIG rule. When you eat overwhelmingly protein forward foods, you don't eat as much on the overall (at least that's been my experience and the experience of nearly every other post op I know).

So what do you DO with this information?

You use it to evaluate how you were eating BEFORE you did the experiment. What needs to go out of your daily plan? (or at least be heavily moderated) What needs to come back in?

I found lately that by eating a lot of the things I ate when I was a new post-op, my appetite is very reasonable, I get less cravings, etc.

I know this isn't a "one size fits all" game, but if you are flipping out about eating too much, what have you got to lose by trying this?

I love this, Nik... what a great idea.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the power of protein.  It helps us maintain our muscle (and thereore LOOK BETTER, no matter what our weight), and it fills us up to the point of not having much room left for anything else.  It fuels our body without creating raging blood sugar spikes and wicked cravings... without busting our calorie budgets for the day.

I'm going to designate today my mega-protein day. I'm going to re-prove to myself that if I follow my rules explicitly that I can maintain my results.  In the entire duration of my RNY process to date, no one ever said there will come a day when I can stop playing by the rules (no drinking after eating, eating protein first, getting in X number of grams of protein each day, drinking at least 64 oz. of fluids each day, etc)... so why do we just decide at some point to quit what works?

Nuh uh, not me... I'm taking this to heart and jumping back on the protein train full force.  Thanks for the great motivation, Nikki...


tori

This is great Nik! I already KNOW that when I keep protein first I eat less and crave less. Don't know why I allow myself so much extra wiggle room sometimes.

You are SO right. Thanks for the reminder. I don't count calories so I won't be "weighing" in, but I will be def focusing on the whole protein thing much more.

 Niki- thanks to this post I am going to make sure today is the day I get all my protein in. I am still newly out but have been having a hard time getting it all in...well not today. I so needed this post! 

Thanks!!

I lost 3 lbs last week, instead of my usual 2, and the only thing I did differently was pay more attention to my protein intake. Protein is the key.

-Michelle

Thanks Niki, I needed this reminded.  I am 19 months out and staying with in a 5 lb. range but I have to get off of the carbs or I am going to start gaining again.  sometimes a simple reminder of what I should be doing gets me back on track. 

You are a goddess of wisdom!

Oooh... I LOVE a challenge!

And, since I once again find myself close to my self-imposed 5-pound "swing" limit, I accept your challenge.  Tomorrow.

I already know what needs to get cut out... the pretzels and popcorn I was snacking on while watching the ballgames this weekend, the ice cream I ate of out emotional distress on Thursday night, and the small amounts of baked potato (with butter, of course) I have been having with dinner recently. (I already took the jelly beans that someone gave me(!) to work to let other people eat those suckers up!)

Fortunately, in general, I do have pretty good eating habits (the past week has been an emotion-fed anomaly), so my protein count is already pretty high and my calories are pretty low (about 1400-1500 when I track them)... but we will see what happens tomorrow!

Lora