Back and need to refocus

Hello everyone, I've been out of town for the past 10 days and well let's just say I haven't made real good choices. I ate way to many carbs, which I've avoided for the most part since surgery....now I get to fight the evil carb demon to stay way. Any recommendations on how you got back on track? I know I can do this and will but any suggestions would be great. I am cooking two dishes in the oven now...chicken and squash and sirloin with eggplant, these will be my meal stables this week along with cottage cheese and cheese sticks (which I can't live without). Well, let's hope I didn't hurt myself to bad with all the carbs.....it's just so hard being away from home to make wise choices. Dana

South beach phase# 1...cleans your system of carbs wants. But, I am not sure chottage cheese and cheese sticks are allowed. I just know south beach works for getting rid for the want of the bad carbs. Sandy in Tucson

Thanks Sandy, I have never done the South Beach diet, what does phase 1 consist of....guess I need to buy the book. Dana

Dana, I'm not a huge fan of the SB Diet, but here's a link that will give you info. about it. www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/ I find that when I've gotten way off-track, I can't do something as rigid as the SB Diet--or even the infamous plateau-buster diet. Those approaches just put me in the old diet mentality, and they tend to make me rebel even more. I do better if I get out some good recipes, maybe some of Tooter's that I like or haven't tried, or just some of my own that I tweek to make more low-carb/low-fat friendly. If I take the time to make decent food (as opposed to just grabbing easy stuff) and really plan out my meals, I can get myself back on track. The other thing--if I've gotten off-track w/ my eating, I've also usually been sloughing off on exercising, so I make myself get back to my usual routine w/ that too. I know it's rough getting back off the bad carbs. I don't dump on anything, which makes it even worse. Most of us are struggling right along w/ you. Jo

yes, south beach is rigid. Protein is very important on south beach and as should be for us post ops. South beach works very well. I like it. it brings back to basics. I ate south beach nearly the 1st year i was post-op...had the best weight loss then. Sandy in Tucson

Sandy, I think lots of people follow the SB diet after wls (once they're eating normal food, of course), and I DO think it is a good long-term food plan after the first stage of it. (I do understand that Stage 1 is an important part of the whole thing--but oh my, it's tough!) In fact, with how I'm struggling to hang on for dear life to my weight loss (fluctuate about 5 lbs.), I should probably look at Stage 2/3 again and re-consider it. Jo

hey Dana ... we all (ok, most of us) do things that we know aren't right or good for us, but sometimes can get so caught up in it that we just can't stop. You've taken the first step in acknowledging the problem and I'm sure with the great advice from others here who have been (or are) there, you'll be on track in no time. Karyn

Hey Dana - The thing that helps me the most when I have been appeasing the carb monster is to up my protein ALOT!! Usually I try to get in 75-100 grams per day, but during those times when I can't stand the cravings and the 'need' to eat I just have a protein shake. I am up to four a day and it is helping soooo much. I get in 140-160 grams a day now from shakes and from food combined. It is so hard to break the cycle, cause you REALLY DO CRAVE. I know as soon as I have eaten something too carby - and my sf cookies where the biggest culprit - I get the uncontrollable urge to just stuff my face. Like in the old preo-op days. I would eat NOTHING but carbs, looking back, and couldn't figure out for the life of me, why I couldn't stop eating. NOW I know! I also eat every two hours, right now. That way I know that I get a chance to eat/drink something fabulous and it's only 120 minutes away, max!! Sample day of eating, approx. 140 pro/1300 cals Snack 8am - protein shake [20 grams/130 cal] Breakfast 10am - 1 c. yogurt with 1/2 scoop pro powder [15-20 grams pro/250 cals] Snack 12 - usually an AchievOne or some other protein shake [20 grams/130 cals] Lunch 2pm - veggie burger, plus some edemame or salad [15-20 grams/ 250 cals] Snack 4pm - protein shake, protein pudding or a protein bar [20 grams/130-180 cals] Dinner 6pm - cottage cheese pancake, 1/2 c. yogurt [15 grams/250 cals] Snack 8pm - Hot protein cocoa [20 grams/130 cals]

How do you make cottage cheese pancake? I like your sample menu. I do something similar most of the time...with the exception of weekends when I am burning at both ends trying to get everything done in two days....Thanks for sharing.

I finally made the "fake" pancake last week...yum. This is the recipe I used w/ my substitutions (the recipe I copied from the main board called for whats in the parenthesis)..I have seen several versions, just thought I'd give ya one more for your collection. 1/3 cup oats 1 heaping TBSP cottage cheese 1 tsp vanilla (vanilla to taste) 1/4 cup egg beaters (one real egg) 2 TBSP carb count down milk ( "splash" of milk) I also added: 1/2 scoop unflavored unjury protein powder 2 packs of splenda 1 TBSP sf davinci vanilla I blended it all together with my Braun hand mixer, and it made about 6 silver dollar pancakes. I ate them all, and was very satisfied, you could save half for another time. They are also just sweet enough with the splenda sf davinic vanilla that you could eat them with out any maple syrup or maybe put cream cheese, peanut butter or sf jelly on them instead, hot or after cooled. I use smuckers sf syrup 1/4 cup serving and spray I can't believe its not butter. Can you tell I am anal about my portions LOL....the calorie total with syrup came to 165 calories, and 20 grams of protein (minus the protein powder you will be closer to 125 calories and 10g protein....but the protein powder also added substance and made for more batter) Michelle