What's on your Menu Today (Wednesday) RNYers?

Good morning Daisy snd menu people... Daisy if you'd like an example of total obsession... I'm still thinking about your birthday sundae. Also hope that you and Amy are feeling better.

I'm 6 weeks out from surgery. Consultation wt. 345 pre surgery 305 today 260. Surgeon's goal 210 (Im 5'8".) I'm supposed to be on solid foods now but am kind of paralyzed at this point. I will try emiepie's egg salad for my first step into the world of solid food.

Post rehab I'm now able to walk s quarter of a mile (with my PT). Hoping to add to that so I can get to the grocery store. Today: B 3 oz of okinos triple zero yogurt 1/4 banana S protein shake L egg salad 2 crackers or 1/2 slice of toast S wedge of babybell cheese 2 tab of hummus D 1 cup of lentil vegetable soup S 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce.

Have a great day. I'm fixated on gooey cinnamon buns now. Used to make them but ate them all. That was the drill...make a cake...eat the cake. No more baking for me.

Nance

Hi - just wanted to chime in that most of us have surgeon's who give us no goals or very high goals, based on some stat somewhere that people don't lose 100% of their excess weight. Please don't take your surgeon's goal as gospel - depending on how YOU choose to eat, you can blow his/her goal out of the water :)

Are you vegetarian? I ask because your menu has a lot of foods that post-op plans have on them but are truly not valuable to your body. Greek yogurt and eggs and protein shakes and cheese are great - they are soft yet dense protein. Banana, crackers, toast, applesauce and vegetable soup are doing nothing for you, especially this early out when you need to be working towards 60 g of protein or more. I am 5'4" and I went from 351 day of surgery to 160, but I cut out all unnecessary carbs and prioritized protein. I know there are people who can do "everything in moderation" but I realized I was not one of them (helloooo, how do you think I got to 351 lbs?!). Be careful with foods like crackers and toast - they are called "slider foods" for a reason - they slide through your post, leaving you hungry sooner, and they have zero protein so they aren't helping you build and repair tissues. The same goes for fruit. And this early out, fruit and veggies should be a bite every now and then. Sorry for the unsolicited advice, and of course you are welcome to ignore me, but too many surgeons send people home telling them to eat mashed potatoes and cream of wheat and crackers and it's honestly not going to get you to your goal :(

Just my two cents from someone who wants to see everyone succeed :)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I never thought of questioning my surgeon or team. When I think of it the goal of 210 was presented as a "realistic" goal I think 175-180 is better. The nutritionist has recommended the bread etc. I'm usually too full to eat the carbs anyway. But now i'll feel much freer about sticking with the protein and keeping the carbs and fruit at bay. You've really helped me alot. Thanks for your wonderful and thoughtful advice. Nance

Oh Nance...I also had a nutritionist who had never weighed more than 125 lbs and she recommended mashed potatoes as a wonderful "soft" food. Again, opinions will vary, but from my almost 4 years on this site, the people who have had great success AND are maintaining a loss, eat very high protein and to varying degrees, low carb. Especially in the first 12-18 months after surgery, commonly referred to as the "honeymoon period", don't use up your valuable real estate for chips, crackers, potatoes, etc. Your body needs protein and protein will keep you full longer. I advise everyone to take advantage of the honeymoon period to lose the weight - it just gets harder and harder once you reach your goal, your stomach is bigger, the compliments stop, and your size is your new normal. Bad habits can sneak back in, whether that is having sweets or having some bites and tastes while cooking or grazing on carbs. There are so many great ways to avoid carbs in the first year or so - you can microwave pepperoni or parmesan cheese to make "crisps" or eat pickles or even some nuts (but weigh them - a lot of us can eat a lot of calories in almonds!). I am posting my initial posts that I wrote along the way, just in case they are helpful. I say, set your own personal goal, and then go below that if you can, since a little bit of "bounceback" or "regain" isn't 100% going to happen, but it seems to happen to quite a few of us in year 3. Just my two cents! Keep coming to OH for advice and tips. There are a lot of great people here!

Plastics: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/5309071/X-p ost-Everything-I-wished-I-had-known-and-everything-I/

Two year surgiversary: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/5445401/My-two-year-su rgiversary-with-a-before-and-after-picture/

Three year surgiversary: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/6014459/Three-year-sur giversary-before-and-after-pics-included/#50165149

We must have the same nutritionist! No kidding, mine is a very sweet petite person with no sense of irony... Who wants me to eat carbs. Like you I have to be all in follow the plan to a tee. I'm glad I've started.posting. I really like the menu people. Nance

Surgeons are good for cutting and post operative complications. They are very important in the process but really just for the first part.

So many nutritionists working with Bariatric Surgeons give out exactly the same advice you were given. I think it's malpractice.

You will NEVER lose as much weight as you are going to lose this year. The advice most everyone around here is going to make is take advantage of this so precious time.

And keep posting your food. That really helps.

Best of luck to you.

I won't repeat it because it was perfect but listen to everything DC girl said

Don't worry. She's an inspiration! She's helped me alot. (Sorry about the type size... It changed itself and ...of course... I can't fix it Nance

Good morning! I am not feeling the accountability thing this morning since I logged in nada yesterday. I ate fine, nothing way off, though I added several handfuls of damn pretzels...so yummy and so evil. Going in for surgery on my foot tomorrow so I will probably catch up with you guys Friday.

Menu plan for today is looking good. Greek yogurt with strawberries, turkey slices and cheese with mustard, and dinner is ham steak with veggies.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

~Elizabeth

Good luck tomorrow, will be thinking of you.