It so upsets me when people are given a list of foods to eat that includes crackers and toast. It feels like you are being given a license to fail. I did not touch crackers or bread for the first three years and still am extremely careful with them.

You need meat, eggs, cheese, fish, poultry, protein shakes and very little else. Flour, sugar, cereal, vegetables (especially starchy ones) and most fruit are things that will stop your initial weight loss. Don't even think about eating them until you are well below your goal weight and don't mind some regain. I did allow myself strawberries and blueberries. I added apples after 18 months.

Hi JMK.. Thanks for your reply. Crackers and toast are actually on my approved list. We have been on soft foods since week 2 and crackers are included in that. However, I probably have been eating too much but it is because of hunger. I have had the ricotta back and that is great. I just think I need to have two protein shakes a day and one or two small soft meals. That should do it. My NUT said around 600 calories a day right now. I was probably getting close to 1000. Anyway.. thanks for your input !

a little over a month out i dont even think I was on solids yet. My caloric intake was about 300-400 calories a day. I was eating pretty much 1 can of fat free refried beans a day. Sometimes I would switch off between the beans and the ricotta cheese bake for a meal. My calories would be a little higher for the day if i had the ricotta. The reason I ate the beans was part because I couldnt stomach pureeing my own chicken(thought of now makes me want to vomit) and I didnt like the taste of canned chicken too much(smells like tuna). And also part because they satisfied me. I would eat about 5oz of refried beans with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar(and i do mean just a sprinkling for flavor) and some hotsauce and it would satiate me.

What are you eating exactly? You mentioned crackers..Not good. Slider food and empty calories. You have to eat something from the approved list..it will be a protein source. I chose the fat free refried beans.

All in All though 12lbs in a month is still pretty good. Just stay away from them slider foods..Drink lots of water..and Follow the Protein First rule Always. If you're hungry after a meal do something to get your mind off of food..Go For A walk..Do a puzzle..Something. Good Luck.

Aloha Lorraine! I am similar in some stats as you, (backpain) so no formal exercise plan (yet). dread the scale (Haven't had surgery YET) Glad to have found this website as well... trying to find somewhere I can fit in (other than any pair of my Jeans... am I right?!)

Do you have any surgery friends that are looking for a workout/accountability buddy? or incorporating something in a local support group? I just started going to one locally and they show low-impact ways to move before every meeting and it's been helpful since I suffer from fibromyalgia.

I don't count calorie sor carbs. I eat protein first for sure. Breakfast is 2 eggs, 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of toast. No lunch. For dinner I will eat anything in MUCH smaller quantities but almost never bread and seldom pasta. Restaurants are difficult. Too much food so I try to share my wife's dinner. She gets 3/4 of the steak and I try to eat the rest. Veggies of course, but the meat is first. I really listen to my body. If I eat too much or too fast I will foam, so I pay attention. As soon as I feel the tightness at the top of my stomach, I stop. That's it. This lifestyle is probably not ideal, but it's working for me.