What's on your Thursday Menu, RNYers?

Good morning everyone! Before I jump into the QOTD, I am looking for a couple recommendations:

1. I am considering adding a sweetener to my hot tea (all decaf- mint, lemon or other tart/fruit flavors). What is the least bad sweetener?
2. I do morning work outs via YouTube and was wondering if anyone liked a particular 5 or so minute morning stretch video? Looking to add Stretchs.

Now: QOTD- I was a very active little kid living on a ranch with my grandma before age 7 when I moved into my Dad's house. I had a lot of emotional things happening and my Dad and Step mom helped comfort me with food and allowed me to eat and drink whatever I wanted. Not that I am blaming them by any means, I think they just didn't realize that they were contributing to what I am struggling with today. By 3rd grade I was the fat kid in class. I remember pouring myself 12-16oz glasses of milk every meal and almost always having dessert after dinner. I was still active, always out riding my bike or running around, but I just consumed a lot. Those habits remained true into adulthood. I still like to think I'm active, especially in the summer months, but I've always eatten way too much!

B: Protien smoothly- Chocolate Unjury, kale, PB2, Fairlife Milk

L: leftover homemade chili

S: Fuzzy Navel Protien

D: TBD probably tuna- something with no carbs and high protein :)

Totals w/o dinner: calories- 431, protein: 70, carbs: 24

I like stevia. But I think most of the artificial sweeteners are ok post surgery...

Hi Melissa,

I use Splenda all the time, mostly in my daily coffees (which I drink a lot of). I think you can use what ever you like, I only like Splenda. "NYMom222" aka Cynthia has a liquid one she buys that tastes great, I think she gets it off Amazon, reach out to her, I think its called "Sucadrops", a little blue bottle.

Sorry I don't use Youtube video's, I go to the gym. But I am sure someone will chime in here and tell you what they use. "SuperShopper" aka Hillary is a savvy shopper and does free online workouts she might be able to recommend something for you.

Great stats by the way, good job!

Thanks, I have been making sure not to eat beans more than once or twice a week. I think I was leaning too heavy on them and had also added in some blueberries and they were making my carbs too high. I am glad you guys are here to help keep me in line as I continue down this path. I am 6 weeks, 2 days post op and hit the -40lbs on the scale today which feels really good. :)

I use either Splenda or Truvia for a sweetener. I don't taste much of an aftertaste with either.

I have been trying to switch over to splenda from sweet & low. I saw a special on TV last week and they suggested using either splenda or stevia but who knows?

Thanks, I thought I remembered seeing something about which ones were better than others for WLS specifically but can't find it now.

Sounds like a fun day at work! Enjoy...

QOTD: I remember starting to gain weight in first grade...being the youngest of 5 with 3 brothers... they had plenty to say and torture me with...didn't even have to be outside kids. I was the only fat kid in the family when we were young...as adults everyone has struggled with their weight, except my oldest brother- He had a brief foray into the 'overweight' category and cured that with his famous ice cream diet....like the twinkie diet only ice cream.

B: Coffee Latte w/fairlife/miralax/sf syrup
scrambled eggs and real bacon bits

L: TJ Turkey with TJ Spinach kale dip and cheese melt

S: steak, broccolli

D: Shrimp stir fry

S: Chocolate chai latte, greek yogurt with berries

EX: Personal trainer at gym.

Edit: MFP stats if eaten as written:
1,271 calories Protein: 156 Carb:41 Fiber:9 Fat:57

Morning everyone! Hubby left last night and is out of town till Sunday. I loved that he took the boys last night and showed them how to secure the house for a the night and told them That they are the men of the house while he's gone. Wish I could say I have fun plans with girlfriends while he's away-- but I'd have to have girlfriends for that to be true.

Qotd: childhood weight memories. i only recall food being hidden in our house because our parents felt we ate too much. Also recall being berated about my weight from my Mom-- told to go run around the block, forced to eat cottage cheese and pineapple, and being stuffed into restrictive granny panties at a young age. I don't recall ever being teased etc by schoolmates-- but I knew I wasn't in the 'in' crowd largely due to my weight (which back then want really even that bad. Or maybe it was the perception I carried about myself that made me feel like the outcast...

197 today, 23 months out

m1: 1 fried egg, 3.4 oz ham

m2: Greek yogurt, berries, granola

m3: 3 baked chicken wings, 4oz rice & peas

m4: ?? I Still have leftover roast and more chicken wings

Good morning menu peeps. Beautiful day here in Illinois but rain is supposed to be here later. Lily and I got our 3.2 miles in already and will try for at least another mile this evening if possible. QOTD I could write a book here. I was overweight from about age 5 on. My parents divorced then and in the 60s that was a rare thing. I was tormented at school for that and for the fact that my mother was a teacher. Basically food was my only friend. My mom had to work so I had lots of responsibilities growing up to care for my sister,clean house and start supper before mom got home. That left no time for active play outside or trying to find friends. Mom was an amazing baker and there were always tons of cakes,pies and cookies in the house. Mom made sure the treats were there and in my loneliness I made sure to eat them. Family never commented on my weight but schoolmates sure did. When I went away to college I tried every diet known to man and never had the willpower to make a permanent lifestyle change. Post op 4 years 7.75 months and weight at 117.2 today. Managed to avoid extra snacks yesterday with lots of determination. Here's today's food B 1/2 c steel cut oats with protein and peanut butter added L 31/2 oz lean pork chops 1/2 c Tuscan veggie blend D 31/2 oz salmon burger 1/2 c Santa Fe veggie blend S mission one chocolate chip cookie protein bar. Have a great day everyone and make some smart and conscious choices that move you one step closer to your goals!