Tuesday, April 23, Cardio & Cafe

Good morning, BOTT friends! It's finally spring here, in the 50s and raining--yea! Woke up in the middle of the night with pink eye, courtesy of my 2-year-old. Really just an annoyance and I do get to stay home for at least two days. Started seeing a RD last week whose worked with GP patients. I'll see her every Monday for accountability, to review my food and exercise log on MFP. Saw her yesterday and down 3.4 pounds last week, 13.7 total -- yippee! Exercised every day for at least 45 minutes and calorie range was 1050-1300. Today's plan:

B protein coffee
S shaved ham, orange pepper, ranch
L 2 hard boiled eggs, sugar snap peas, blueberries
S sugar snap peas, SF pudding, scoop protein powder
D spaghetti sauce with ground round, salad with ranch on side
S quest bar

Exercise will be a long walk with the dog and I'll make sure to take my evening vitamins (morning already taken) and drink at least 96 ounces fluids.

How are you doing today?

Hi, I was new to this group for a short time just a few months back and then because of a special assignment with work, I haven't been able to be on here.  But I'm glad to be back!  It's been 4 years since my surgery and I have gained back 10 lbs and have never been to my goal weight (40 lbs from Drs. goal) as I've been a GRAZER!!  So I'm BOT but my question is what should my calorie range be at this point?  I hear some are as low as 600-800 (which is really tough at this point), and then I see some eating around 1300 and more.  I guess I'm confused as to what I should be eating now.   And maybe I just need to go back to my NUT and see what she says.  I have to pay $150-200 each time I see her so would prefer not to have to pay that out, but if I need to I will.  Any thoughts???  Thanks!!

Here's what I'm eating today and trying to stay at 800-825 until I hear differently. 

B - GNC Protein shake

S - Coffee and SF creamer

L -1/2  Adkins RTD shake, pear

S - other 1/2 of shake

D - Taco salad - minus the shell

S - 1/2 GNC protein Shake

Exercise - Zumba for 1 hour

Water and Vitamins - on track

I'm finding these posts about calorie numbers really interesting.  My question is, does it still depend on our size, height, activity level, etc., as to what we should be taking in?  Or does all that go out the window after WLS?  I had mine 10 years ago, and gained back most of the weight, but I wasn't following any real kind of program either, so it's mostly my fault.  I still cannot eat very much at one time, but I can sure graze and eat all kinds of bad stuff, which is why I got into my predicament of re-gain.  

That being said, I'm trying 1600 calories a day, and that is not easy!  I can't even imagine trying to stay at 1200 or below!  Basically, though, at 1600 for the past several weeks, I am maintaining, not gaining, but not losing either.  So the X factor will be either lowering calories again, or getting into regular workouts, which I also have not been doing.  My hubby and I are actually planning to do this, as we just purchased an elliptical trainer and are awaiting its delivery.

Big congrats on your weight loss!  That is really great.  I'm interested to know, because of my question above, how much do you weigh now, what is your body's size (large, small frame?), and how tall are you?  I'm large frame, 5'9", and also 55 years old, so have menopause issues working against me too.

Thanks for posting and sharing.

 

Carla

Carla, what's your typical day look like with your food?  Just wondering how much protein, etc. you're eating.  I'd love to be eating more but I'm just not sure at what level I need to be at to lose consistently.  thanks!

I have been averaging about 80 grams of protein per day.  Some post-ops shoot for 100+ but I have always found that difficult to do unless I supplement with protein drinks.  Sometimes I do.  Most days I am "over" on my carbs - always a challenge for me.  I'm using myfitnesspal.com to track my food, and it automatically sets a goal for you with protein, sugar, carbs, etc.  My carb goal is 140 grams per day, but as I said, I'm usually over.  I'm doing better with the sugar than I had been, though, so I'm happy about that.  The site set 60 grams of sugar as a goal, and I've been hitting that for the most part.  I feel better, also, when i'm not eating as much sugar.  My belly feels flatter, and I'm not as bloated and gassy.  I have been diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth which a lot of WLS people get, I hear, and it's better to reduce sugar and carb consumption due to that.  Here's a typical day:

B - scrambled egg, 1/2 eng muffin with peanut butter

S - fruit or yogurt

L - Lean Cuisine entree or Salad additions

S - protein bar or snack bar

D - meat/fish/chicken - potato, veggie

I also have been trying not to eat after dinner in the evenings, and that seems to be helping my stomach issues as well.  I also have been trying very hard to increase the amount of water I drink, and going back to the "no drinking for 30 minutes" at least after a meal.

Carla

Good afternoon everyone.

It is a cold day here in North Texas.  We can't decide if we are doing spring or winter.  My great NSV is that I actually walked on the treadmill yesterday.  After I cleaned it off and chased away the dust bunnies.  I walked for 25 min/ 1 mile is how far I walked.  I was sweating like a pig and breathing hard!  Yeah ME!

Calories, interesting question.  I am 44, I had RNY in Nov. of 2006 (so I am about six and a half years out).  I am 5'5" I started at 358, lost down to 168 and am back up today to 276.  So I have gained back over 100 pounds.  I find still that my mind often overrides my stomach.  I am rarely hungry but always want to eat.  So to begin getting on track (and may until I loose a lot.)  I am drinking/eating protein.  When I start deciding on food, it get to be a slope downhill.  I start out deciding spinach will be fine and end up with a spinach and cheese omlet with a side of bread.  So I am eating protein bars and drinking protein drinks.  So my calories for a day may be between 800 and 900 with at least 100 grams of protein.  My Bariatric surgeon calls it a "time out".  I guess if  you can't eat correctly you don't get to eat at all!  Anyway this is comfortable for me right now.  

So I am on track food wise (have a nasty sugar free vanilla iced coffee addiction just one a day though).

Exercised yesterday and plan to today.

Vitamins are looking good.

Water?  Ugg... you had to ask.  Well I drink a lot but it is Propel or crystal light or even (gasp) diet sprite.  Getting in my water is on my list of things to improve.

I hope everyone is having a great day and if you aren't remember that "You can never go to far down the wrong road, that you can't turn around!"  Oh and NEVER GIVE UP!

Hi Trudylea - so hows it going with just the protein only and 800-900 calories?  Are you losing and how fast?  When I first started out I never worried about calories because I couldn't consume much at all...but now 4 years later and even having gained back a little, I'm concerned about the calorie count.  I want to be able to continue to watch what I'm putting in my mouth but not sure if I can continue the 800-900 calories per day - I feel very restricted and I also find it's hard to get in the protein I need within that calorie restriction.  It worries me that I might not be able to maintain this long term in order to get to my goal weight.  Also I worry that it's not enough calories and therefore I could be putting my body into starvation mode which will really delay my loses.  I'm just not sure at this point as to what calorie count to go with. 

I'm not in the medical field.  I think there are a lot of factors and seeing a nutritionist may be your best bet.  

 

My doctor has be do the protein for two weeks and exercising for two weeks.  He then has me continue the exercise and eat a "normal" baritric diet while being sure to get at least 60 grams of protein.  I have only done it for a week and lost 10 pounds - remember though I'm close to 300 pounds.

thanks for the input.  I probably will try to get into my NUT for additional help.  I just don't want to waste a bunch of time trying what I think is right to only find out I might be doing it all wrong. ;)  I'm sure if I keep at 800-900 calories I'll lose, but it's just difficult to stay at that small amount after eating more for the last year. 

Good evening, BOTT friends,

 

Tried posting this last night (Tues) but had more pc problems, so here it is today. 

 

Great day for me water wise, and exercise wise.  I got my recumbent bike workout in this evening for 50 minutes, covering 6.5 miles, THEN I got in another 30 mins of strength training for my arms which are in need of some muscle building.  Due to my back problems, I can only lift 10 lbs max, and have to be sitting.  No walking, climbing, stooping, bending, etc, so my treadmill is definitely out as well as my elliptical.

 Today I ate:

B:  1/2 oz low sodium deli ham, protein shake made w/coffee, 1/4 c 1% milk and 2 tbsps half&half

L:  6 ozs leftover lean beef meatballs with marinara, 1/4 c mozzarella

S:  apple slices, 1 Laughing Cow cheese wedge, 10 natural almonds

D:  4 ozs low sodium roast turkey breast on sandwich thin, 1/2 oz cheddar, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onions and 1 tbsp light vinaigrette

 

Good night to all :)