What's on the Menu today (Thursday) RNYers?

I'm so thankful for this place too. Hubby is a big support for me but lots of stuff he just doesn't get because he hasn't been there. I know that all of are here with me and when I struggle with good choices I am not alone. You'd think after 4 years and since I dump the sweets would be easy to skip but not so much!

 right back at ya Kelly!  I would also be lost with out this group, without the Vets who post on the main boards and also LOVE eggface, I used a lot of her recipes early post op.

Thanks for taking the time daily and posting and supporting our menu family, you are the best! 

Good Morning Everyone!

QOTD:  I have learned so much from this site!  I also did not realize there was a honeymoon phase and that weight loss would slow after a year.  I didn't realize we would have to eat so few calories for the rest of our lives in order to maintain our weight losses.  I also wasn't prepared for the amount of hair loss that has occurred.  (I don't think my center even mentioned that to me).  I've learned to plan out my food in advance and stick to my menu.  I've learned that protein bars and microwave meals are not good choices.  I've learned to listen to the vets and also not get offended if they criticize you.  I've learned that the people on here genuinely do care about me and are some of the kindest, sweetest friends I know!  Thank you SO much for being here, everyone!   

My menu for today is a bit up in the air, because I need to go grocery shopping.

Breakfast:  crepe w/ peach, cream cheese, cool whip

Lunch:  Hot dog w/ cheese (no bun)

Dinner:  Unsure

Snack:  Light & Fit strawberry cheesecake Greek yogurt

Snack:  Mr. Cheese O's

Exercise:  Walking the dogs.

~ Karen  

Karen, you are truly a gracious and have a beautiful heart.  I LOVE that no matter what we "Vets" and I use that term loosely as I am 3 years post op but not really a "Vet" per se... but we give you advice, suggestions, some constructive criticism and you take it and run with it.  Truly you are a warrior in my books for not running away from us, taking it all in stride and changing your menu and coming right back to the menu post the next day with the changes made. Thank you for that! 

Yes the "honeymoon" phase is real, as Grim likes to say RUN don't walk to getting your weight off, honestly I got all my weight off in under a year and I swear it was like an invisible switch went off at the 9 mos mark and that's when it got really really hard.  The weight stops coming off, suddenly you can eat more, old habits creep in, its been so easy for so long that you "forget" and you reach for the bowl of cheezies (or whatever treat) so yes work your butt off to get the weight off as fast as you can!

Hair loss, yup it was coming out in literal handfuls for me around month 4-7, I wanted to die. But its pretty much back to normal now, a little thinner but close to normal.

Thanks Karen for being a part of our menu family and posting and supporting everyone every day! 

Awww, Daisy, thank you so much for the kind words!  You are so sweet and I love how you individually reply to each person when you run the menu board.  That must take you a lot of time and you are always so supportive!  And you love dogs like I do!    You are awesome!!!

I hate the cold but I love fall weather. I don't even know how to explain our weather down here in the south. We get fall for like 2 weeks maybe. Some years we don't even get a winter...like last year! 80 deg on Christmas!!! Even though I hate the cold that bummed me out!

QOTD - I'm going to be straight up honest with yall. I had lurked around here for so long that I kind of already knew that I wasn't going to follow my nut or surgeons diet. I chose my surgeon because I personally knew a few people that used him and his stats were really good. He is a reputable surgeon and he is involved in quite a few charity events in the area. I only talked to my nut one time and it was a facetime session on and ipad. She pretty much told me to not eat carbs and emailed me some recipes. I have not been given hardly any info by my surgeons office. The information that shocked me the most is that my surgeon told me I can eat 1100 calories a day at my 6 week check up. I am so grateful for all of you on OH! 

B - Protein shake

L - Chicken & caramelized onion meatballs

S - jerky & cheese

D - Pepper steak

S- SF popsicle

Liquids - on track

Vits - yep

Have a great day!

If you ever want to feel real cold feel free to come on up to me here in Canada, LOL!  

You are yet another poster who did not get a whole lot of info from your Centre.  I think we can all say we had great Surgeons, they a experts in their fields of operating but advice on eating post op, not so much. Thank goodness you "lurked" for a while and got lots of good info.  Welcome to the menu post and hope you stick around!

Do you use MFP?  Do you have stats to post?  I think its important to know where you are in terms of your calories, protein and carbs.  Your meatballs sound awesome, great looking menu!

Good morning DD2 and the gang.  As today is my day off, I slept in. Actually, what happened was that we got the little to sleep in his own bed last night for the first time in ages, so hubby and I went to bed early... lol.  But my kiddo climbed into my bed at about 2:30 and woke me up, and I couldn't get back to sleep.  I stayed in bed for well over an hour before I came downstairs and worked on my latest crochet project.  I finally went back up at 6 and climbed into bed with the little, and we slept until about 8:30 this morning.  So, while I technically got enough sleep (6.5 hours) it was completely broken.  

I'm just drinking coffee this morning, since I'm not feeling motivated to cook anything right now.  

DD2QOTD: I have learned the bulk of my knowledge about WLS here on OH.  Most of what my nutritionist told me does not apply to me.  I think what I've really learned here on OH is that every persons needs are different.  While all the basic rules of WLS apply to everyone, we each bring our own issues with food which make each person's needs different.  One person may be able to let some things slide just a little, where another can't.  I have also learned to be humble and accept advice without feeling like I am being judged.  This is a hard one for me, and it's not something I've historically done in my life.  This weight loss surgery has changed a lot about me, and there are things that don't relate directly to food that I have had to change.  It isn't all about the food. 

so, I really haven't even planned my day today.  So far I've had 2 babybel light rounds and 1.5 ounces of deli turkey.  No plans for lunch or dinner yet, but I'll pop on and update later when I get my ass moving.

Broken sleep sucks!  I don't know how you do it. Fingers crossed Kal starts to sleep through the night soon, that must be really hard on you and hubby.

Your answer is very insightful Deanna, its so true that even though we all had WLS our needs are all quite different aside form the standard, high protein, low carb thing.  Its great that you have learned so many things about yourself and have made positive changes and as you said even if they are not all directly related to food.  It must feel so great.

Hope you got some sleep and had a good eating day!

QOTD:  my center recommends a more-or-less balanced diet.  Not as carby as some centers push, but more than what a lot of WLS'ers eat.  I do eat more carbs than most of you, but it's still moderately low - usually under 80, almost never over 100.  A couple of other things that come to mind:

1)  avoid Flintstones (my center recommends them.  I've been taking Centrum or the generic equivalent since the beginning because of you guys)

2)  three-week stall.  I am sure to tell the pre-op classes about this (I'm one of the "guest speakers" at them), because I don't remember ever being told about it before OH - and I think it's important to know so people don't freak out

I'm sure there are lots of others - but those are the biggies

16 months out:

B:  Greek yogurt with added protein powder, four strawberries

S:  protein shake, coffee with half & half

L:  1 C cottage cheese, baby carrots

D:  probably leftover chili (1 cup)

probably another Greek yogurt somewhere in there....

I'm staying at my stepmother's now.  Boy is she pushing food.  She thinks I'll starve to death (she's one of those rare birds who's  naturally thin and eats whatever she wants.  Boo!!!).