The Perfect Day

All right, folks, here's the deal:

I am 4 years post-op.  I started right at 300 and I'm down to 175.  And STUCK!! 

I feel like I've gone back to eating the way everybody else does, and that's causing me all sorts of problems.  But then again, I'm not sure what I actually should be eating.  Should I worry about fats?  Carbs?  Sugar?  Everything?

So here's my question to you:  what would a perfect day of food look like to you on this side of WLS?  What would make you feel your best and keep you satisfied?  How many meals would you eat, and how much would it take to fill you up at each?

I'd really appreciate your comments, as I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed...

Thanks,
Corrie

First, you've lost 125 pounds!  What's wrong with weighing 175?  Congratulations!!!!  When can anyone say they've lost 125 and kept it off for 4 years????

OK, so you'd like to drop a few pounds...I feel your pain (as Bill Clinton used to say).

Here's what my day looks like (and I'm still working on the last 20 too).

1300-1500 calories  125+ grams protein, 100 grams of net carbs

six small meals (I still can eat no more than 1-1 1/2 cups per meal).

Breakfast:  SB high protein bar and coffee
Second Breakfast:  CarbMaster Yogurt/Kay's Natural O's cereal 
Lunch:  3 oz. turkey and cheese, 1/2 serving all-bran crackers, 1/2 c peaches in splenda
Brunch:  AchievOne
Afternoon Tea:  1/2 C. cottage cheese/1/2 C. salsa
Dinner:  3 oz. steak, 1/2 small baked potato w/NF sour cream, 1/2 c. Veggies or small salad.

3 dark chocolate kisses or equivalent....

cardio/strength exercises - 30 minutes average daily

Hope this helps.

Hi Corrie! I have to say Congratulations too! It sounds like you've been very successful at keeping off 125lbs for the long haul!!!

A perfect day is not always what my days end up to be, LOL! But, I do strive to be as good as possible on most days. Here's what I had today and I feel pretty good~

B~protein shake
S~banana w/activia light
L~salad w/shaved deli chicken, cheese, croutons, ranch
S~protein shake
D~2 egg omelet w/a cut up meatball and some cheese inside
S~protein shake

I don't always do 3 protein shakes, but I'm working hard right now to drop a few pounds and have really increased my exercise so I feel I need a bit more to run on. Today I walked 5 fast miles and rode the recumbent bike for 30min (7.5miles). I also did a 30min upper body workout with weights. When I'm not trying to lose I eat a bit more~usually around 1800-2000cal per day. Right now I'm hitting about 1300-1500daily. I track my food/exercise at thedailyplate.com every day~its so addicitve, LOL! Other things I eat often are cottage cheese, cheese sticks, banana w/pbutter, strawberries, nuts, fiber one cereal, chili, chicken breast, tuna w/multi grain crackers. Hope this helps!!!!

what would a perfect day of food look like to you on this side of WLS?

A good day would go something like this:

Breakfast:
1 cup Greek Yogurt
1 Bannana
1/2 cup Granola

Mid Morning Protein (Syntrax Nectar)

Lunch
2/3 cup cottage cheese
1/3 cup Apple Sauce
Granola Bar
2 sticks string cheese
6oz Yogurt cup

Mid Afternoon Protein (Pure Protein Bar)

Supper
6" Subway Club or a bowl of homemade soup or some leftovers

TV Snack
Popcorn (1/2 cup unpopped) or 1 cup cereal or 5 prunes or pretzels depending on mood

Nighttime protein (smoothie made with fruit, yogurt, GNC vanilla) or powder mixed with SF Jello Pudding.

Thanks for the input, everybody! 

I'm trying to give myself a fresh start using my pouch as a tool, and it is SO helpful to hear from those of you who know exactly what I'm going through.