Tips Club

This tips club suggestion comes from our own VAGirl00 - Cindy!

Eating at regular intervals and not skipping meals - how do you keep fueled?

TIP -  Keep the body fueled

I have found that I get somewhat cranky when I don't stick to my eating schedule.  When times are busy or stressful it is very easy to forget a meal, or say to yourself, I'll catch that bite to eat a little later.  And then you get to the end of the day and realize - OOPS!  I didn't meet my protein goals or it's been all day since your last meal.  I find that my body performs and reacts best if I stay on schedule with keeping my body fueled by regular meals and snacks.  I plan ahead, pack my breakfast, lunch and snacks for workdays and then make sure I get home at a decent hour for dinner.  For me, weekends are the most challenging since I'm doing my running around, but try and always remember to bring a protein bar with me for a pick me up if I am unable to sit down and eat.

What are your tips?

Absolutely correct in keeping to a schedule.   I am a work in progress.  Hungry or not I keep to a meal schedule.. If not you will end up paying for it later. 

 I do try to keep a bag packed with food, protein drinks and fluids.   I keep my vitamins and pills in an organizer (morning/pm 7 days)   That way I am not confused, did I or not take my vitamins.   I do keep peanut butter and protein bars for emergencies. 

I am learning to beef up my meals with Unflavored Unjury.  Added to lactaid milk it tastes like a richer milk.   Add to a sause.  No after taste.     Soups, I add the chicken flavored.   
NUT feels if I can keep my protein strong in my regular meals, I may be able to drop the protein drinks....  

When I am traveling with a limited selection,  I order a sandwich in a pinch and just eat the center meat and veggies.   

Thanks for your suggestions!




 

I also find that I am quite cranky if I skip eating. When I am home, it is easy because I have 2 little ones who are on an eating schedule. So, I eat when they do...however, I can easily get side tracked on the weekends when I am off doing other things or working. I make sure to keep my glove box stocked with granola or protein bars & beef jerky, and I always keep bottled H2O in my van because I get thirsty often.

This has been a constant struggle for me, because even before surgery, I never found myself "hungry" and could go all day without eating.  Bad, I know.  I have to force myself to remember to eat, even know, 15 months out.  This is particularly true during very stressful times (which I have had a lot of lately). 

My days of a regular schedule are long gone, so what I have started doing is keeping food in my car that travels well and has a decent amount of protein in it (I seem to be on the road a lot)...take RTD protein drinks with me in the event I can't get in a meal...I have started making protein balls again to have available to me in case I need a "snack" ... I cart around a large bottle (32 oz.) of decaffeinated iced tea to get my fluids in, refilling it at least once a day.  I am definitely a work in progress.  The hardest thing to do, I think, is break those old, very engrained, habits.  This is one that I am working hard to get taken care of. 

Not sure about the cranky part, but I have a hard time eating. I forget or just plain get busy at work. Just today (and yesterday) I did not eat or drink the first thing until I got hom around 6pm.

I want to eat, but I just don't know what to eat.

I wish there was a daily menu post on here. Something differant to eat each day. Seems like I just eat the same old thing all the time.

I went thru about 16 months of NEVER being hungry.  I had to force myself to eat.  Hubby used to tell me how sick he was of eating alone.  The hunger does come back eventually.  Even if you do not eat (honestly...I rarely did early out) you need to make sure you are getting in your protein.  I did drink 3 or 4 shakes a day and I still have about 2 a day or more even now.  It is also especially important to get in your water.  We, as post op's, can and do dehydrate extremely easily.  PM me if you want some suggesstions.