What's on your menu today (Wednesday) RNYers?

how far away are you from Dayton? I go there for work sometimes.

I think it's about an hour away, we should meet up need time you're out this way!

I rarely buy any clothing at full price, preferring to wait for sales. When I was a kid, retail sales were much less frequent than they are now; nowadays there is little reason not to wait. I buy most everything new, though I have in the past purchased some $$ items from consignment shops, mostly classic St. John separates, which travel well and always look good. I like Talbots and their sales are excellent. Ann Taylor is usually good, too. But those are all places to shop when I weigh less than I do now. For the time being, I neither need nor want to buy new clothes (though I was smitten with a Talbots dress last month and purchased it for my future self). I am down 40+ pounds, but still am wearing the same clothes as before I started my 2-week pre-op diet. They are loose now but not too loose, and when they become too loose, I have some 1X items which I reluctantly bought on my way up the scale, then a couple of size 16s and 14s, and finally, closets full of smaller sizes.

First: Cappucino PPP

B: 2 oz. Turkey/cheddar

L: 2 oz. Deli ham/cottage cheesecheese

D: I may break out and try some tuna with a little lemon and mayo or cottage cheese. I haven't had any tuna or mayo yet post-op, hope I have no trouble with it.

S: I may have a 2nd protein drink.

I am finding it hard to get in enough protein without that second PP, but doing so puts me over 600 calories, which makes me nervous.

[Disclaimer - I am an ignorant newb here, just sharing my own experience and thoughts]

[Edited to add- I'm not working out to burn calories and help my weight loss phase so much as I'm working out to reach my NSV goals of being physically fit and strong etc...]

Are you exercising? I've come to the conclusion that when calories and protein are in conflict, protein wins if/when I'm working out hard. I was suffering from serious fatigue issues the last month and my NUT convinced me that I wasn't providing the raw materials my body needs to recover from my active lifestyle. She wanted me to up my protein after workouts (post workout and first thing AM) and to increase my carbs to the 50-75g range through the addition of fresh fruits and veggies. I have revised her plan back some, only adding veggies because the additional fruit seemed to fuel carb cravings.

Yesterday I biked to work and finally was able to pump up my speed to the slowest option on MFP LOL! It's seven miles each way and I was a sweaty mess so I counted it as exercise (plus my heart rate was elevated for the entire 40 minute ride so that makes it legit!). Today I'm planning a 20 minute swim plus a run which will cause me to feel totally achy/sore/tired and if I eat on plan I'll be up over 800 calories because I'm going to have Greek yogurt with protein powder before I crash for the night.

I am 7 weeks post-op and am walking daily and upping distance, but not yet doing more. As I lose, I know I will up my exercise intensity, but for now this is all I am doing. My plan calls for me to be taking in 60-80 grams of protein daily; I don't reach that on 6 ounces of solid food per day without also having 2 protein drinks.

You know your body, if you think you're putting physical stress on it, or that you're still healing from the surgery (which at 7 weeks you likely are) you may want to add a little more protein. If you're pretty sure you're body is happy and burning fat without having to "feed" off other lean tissue, stay with what you're doing. I started a 5K training app right around 7 or 8 weeks post op and that's when, looking back, I should have started really pushing for 100g of protein every day.

I feel that my exercise level is ok for now, and I push to increase a bit every day. I am nowhere near ready to train for a 5k, and honestly kind of doubt I will ever be there, thanks to my knees. But I could surprise myself! I love to walk. Next will come yoga classes, plus more walking/hiking, and finally I would like to start beginner pilates. I have been this heavy before and lost down to a slender point, though obviously I did not successfully maintain. I know at what point I am able to click over into more intensive exercise; it is a matter of how much weight am carrying and how much I hurt. I did have two protein drinks yesterday for a daily total of 617 calories with 75 grams of protein, and this morning was down 2 pounds. I am undoubtedly not the fastest loser, nor the most athletic, nor the fittest, but I am plugging along!

You are doing great. It's really the diet that gets you where you want to go. You are wise to not jump in to a brisk exercise program at 7 weeks!

Thank you, Deb, I appreciate your response. I do look forward to being less heavy and lighter on my feet. I know I will feel better, which will spur me on to more exercise. I wouldn't mind taking some dance classes too - not ballet or hip hop or tap, but maybe salsa or different types of swing. I have always loved swing dancing, it's so fun! And it's great cardio! But I have yet to grasp even the most basic salsa moves and as yet can only awkwardly attempt to imitate.

I am trying hard to minimize carbs, eat protein first, and generally incorporate the vets advice here. At the 2-month point (soon!), I will be able to have soft vegetables! I am definitely looking forward to broccoli and cauliflower and Brussles sprouts, but I will measure and count everything, everything! In an attempt to keep my daily carbs under 30 grams.I

I live on the central coast of California now, but will be moving to your town within the next couple of years! My son and his wife are in the process of a cross-country move from Philadelphia to Seattle, and I want to live closer to them, especially when they have kids (hopefully soon!). I love it here but I love Seattle too - it is so clean, the air is so silky, and the gorgeous trees are so tall! I just hope I will adjust well to the shift in daily sunlight, especially during the winter months. I've heard of Californians who couldn't manage to adjust to the overcast skies, and who moved back to CA after a couple of years. But I doubt that will be me, I love the rain.

Onward and downward!

Those are pretty fibrous vegetables to start with. I had a hard time with broccoli for a long time. Still can't eat it unless it's cooked to death.

I did not count carbs going down. I counted protein grams and fluids. I just ate very little. I remember having some watermelon about 6 months out that was like ambrosia.

I would not live anywhere else in the world.

Movement is a gift you get from WLS. My favorites have been walking my dog at a great off leash park, swimming with a snorkel in an inside pool, and running around with the boy child.