Nervous about meal planning after surgery

Hi there, 

My surgery is not until the middle of March.  I'm quite nervous about mealplanning after surgery. I went to the nutritional classes, but  they went over the stages of eating after surgery.  They didn't particularly state how much of what to eat. They said no carbonated beverages after surgery,  no alcohol for six months, no using a straw and low fat.We met someone who had gastric bypass surgery and told us rice, flour and pasta was bad.

I'm used to cooking and eating rice, flour and pasta, potatoes - all starchy food since I was young. I'm nervous what do I prepare after for myself.

My questions are:

• how much protein are we supposed to have per day?
• Is there a certain weight meat is supposed to weigh 
• Are protein shakes good to have for breakfast 
• Dolly I replace something for starchy food like quinoa (is quinoa low carb high protein)
• Is there a recipe website for wls patients? 
• What to have for each meal- do I cook something enough ffor leftovers? 

Basically,  I'm not used to cooking "healthy" - what should I do to make my weight loss experience a success when it comes.to meal planning. 

Sorry about my nervousness. Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks,

Jen

I bought the book weight loss surgery for dummies because it covered all the basics of the first few weeks after and then moved on to recipes for after your on to real food again, it was a good price on Amazon

Thanks kris, 

I have that book I think I need to sit down and read it properly. I've been really busy. 

Hey Jen,

Dont be nervous-I know its hard but try. Follow what your surgeon tells you to do. From what I am hearing breads, pastas heavy starchy food is out, at least for a year or so. Its going to be a day by day thing. Try and find out what your surgeons advice is and see if you can plan ahead for your meals. Im on the liquid diet now, and have been trying all of them to see which ones I like the best. I know my taste may change a bit, but the ones I like now-im sure I'll like after.

My surgeon's office recommends 80 grams of protein per day.

After surgery, you will be able to eat 2-3 ounces of meat.  That amount will increase over time as your pouch relaxes.

I still drink a protein shake for breakfast five days a week with a shot of Miralax.

Plan on avoiding starchy foods entirely if you want to lose weight.  I don't eat pasta, potatoes or rice even now.

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/puree d-foods.html  Here is a great website for food ideas after surgery.  There is also a recipe forum here on OH.

There is a daily post in the RNY forum called "What are you eating today?" or something to that effect.  Read it to see what other people are eating.

I cook many things in my slow cooker, then portion it out and freeze it for meals.

For me, I eat dense protein with vegetables (excluding anything that's starchy like potatoes and corn).  

Track everything you eat using an app like My Fitness Pal.  Weigh and measure everything you put into your mouth.  As obese people, we waaaaaaay overestimate what a serving size is.

Don't be nervous.  It's all about changing your lifestyle.  This isn't a diet.  It's a permanent change to how you approach eating for the rest of your life.  And it's not always easy.  Carbs create cravings for more carbs.  After surgery, I kept my daily carb count to between 30-40 grams.

Thanks for your reply. Yes I think I will need do avoid the starchy food if I want To lose weight. 

Thanks fir the website,  I will definitely look at that.  And I have been reading the posts on what's on your menu" - this is what actually led to this post. Lol. 

80 grms of protein and like the norm, according to other posts. I guess it's really important to weigh the food. 

Thank you so much for your reply. 

Don't be nervous honey! If I can do this after a lifetime of bad eating you can too. My surgeon wants us to have 70 to 80 grams of protein per day. The amount of meat you can eat will vary because your pouch will relax a bit. Starting out I could only eat a few bites of meat but at 3 years out I can eat 4 ounces of meat at most meals and a total of one cup of food per meal. I still measure every meal I eat at home. I don't eat rice,pasta,or bread but do still make them for my husband. I substitute non starch veggies like broccoli or green beans and have an occasional serving of sweet potato. I also got a cutter that makes zucchini and carrots into noodle like spirals. I've tried quinoa but just don't really care for the texture of it. I make big batches of things and split them up into one cup servings and freeze them for later. I also have become a bargain meat shopper so it's not too expensive to get the good protein that I need. I don't really use protein shakes anymore as my surgeon prefers dense foods when we can get our protein that way. I do sprinkle protein powder in my steel cut oats in the morning but I did not add oats until I was in maintenance mode. Many people do use protein drinks and enjoy them. You will find what works for you just like I did!

Thanks karen for your reply. That sounds like what u was thinking of doing-making big batched and freezing it as I wind probably only be able to eat one cup of food at a time. (I assume one cup includes the meat and veggies or whatever is on your plate ).

I'd it bad to eat oatmeal or oars at first - is it hard to lose weight that way? 

What is that carrot/zucchini peeler /knife caked and where can I purchase it? 

Thanks so much, 

Jen

The peeler is called a Veggetting Pro and I found mine at Walmart near the front of the store in the seen on TV area. Oats are a carb though not a white highly processed one and might slow your weight loss or make you crave more carbs. I added them after I was at goal because I need some fiber and a small amount fill me up until lunchtime. I do add protein powder and peanut butter to them also. The one cup of food is a total between meat and non starchy veggetables.

Silly spell check. That's Veggetti Pro.