Challenges

Thought I might post some of the challenges I face and ask how others deal with the same things when they happen to them.

GOING OUT TO EAT? I have to admit I did not go out to eat the entire first year and a half after my surgery. Are their certain things on menu's you look for to order? And what about salad dressings? 

HAVING DINNER PLANNED OUT AND UNEXPECTED GUEST SHOW UP FOR DINNER: When I plan my meals a head of time I only make enough for just my husband and I because our children are all grown. And we very seldom have company over to the house. But on the occasions we do, and when it is unexpected I fall back on bad habits of just going and getting pizza or something :( What idea's might others have?

BAD MOOD DAYS: Those are days that I get upset over things that might happen or end up working VERY late and don't have time or energy to deal with making healthy meals or meals at all for that matter! I end up getting fast food and for me, one bad meal and I'm back to square one with keeping cravings away. Any tips?

Well here are a few, mostly from this current week. Any idea's or tips you all might have would be appreciated. If you find other things a challenger for you please list and I'll try to share any idea's I use. Best of luck to us all.

Hi

1. We eat out all the time.  I order water (lemon, no ice) and sip on it while my company have bread or salads) I pick grilled meat, fish with grilled veggies... Skip meals with sauce, or ask that to be put on a side. Ask for salt and pepper, and... Yellow mustard. Skip starches, ask for extra veggies.   Typically I can't finish the whole plate even now , 7 years post op.  Fast food - burger with veggies, skip buns, with extra mustard and pickles... Nuts is my go to snack - a few helps carb the hunger... 
2. I have large freezer - that have almost ready to eat food like precooked sirloin burgers, ready to eat meat-only dish by Hormel, homemade baked - cooked meat..etc.. I can whip up a meal for 2 -6 in 30 min flat.  But if my party wants pizza - that is what they have - and I have my meal. In the past - I may eat topping from one slice...leave the crust.  Or I would order chicken wings (not breaded) or cesar- chicken salad my pizza place also sell... I don't need to eat what they eat. 
3. Bad mood days - stress days - again - I have meals I can whip in 10min... (heat up time) but if I need comfort food - I have my own baked goodies (no sugar, no grains) that I can warm up and eat.  During worse days - eating peanut butter from a jar...(NSA - no sugar added, organic) is my "sinfull " pleasure.. I made my own sugar free chocolate candies (not low calorie treat - but it does not make me crave more foods).  Nuts - though high calories are a good snack for me... Hot herbal or flavored green tea - makes me think I am getting a treat... 

Yesterday I needed "comfort food". I made coconut waffles. I used stevia to make them sweet, but even adding a few berries and a small portion of Whip cream would be decadence... Not only they are very filling - but they are good for me... Sometimes I add protein powder to the recipe - if I know I need more proteins..

. http://meghanbirt.com/2014/01/fluffy-coconut-flour-waffles/

The "cake" I make: - I posted some recipes before....very simple... 

You should be so proud of yourself for having the willpower to stick to doing what is right!! I use to have GREAT willpower and would not even consider 'cheating' on my plan. But once I feel off that wagon, getting back on feels just like it did before surgery-near impossible :( I have been looking more into cooking the weeks worth of meals ahead of time and freezing them to help out but as of yet have not started to do it. While I was on my plan I also did like you still do and allow those around me eat whatever they would like and I had no problem eating a different meal. We did have children still at home then and I am not sure how that would go now that it is just my husband and I. I feel like I would be either cooking 2 meals a night (and I have enough issues finding time to do one) or I would be saying, "hey you take care of your own dinner and I'll take care of my own". 

I am not perfect. I had way too many days or weeks that i was off the plan.  But eventually I go back... First few days - up to a week - on a very low carb diet - is really really tough.  During that time I don't limit why of food or fat. Just limit what I eat.  I.e macadamia and peaches are low carbs and even though they are high calories food - they are mine - "eat as much as I want" during my induction days. 

I also allow myself 85% dark chocolate. It is relatively low carbs, and 1-2 large squares, as it slowly disolves in my mouth, takes care of the chocolate cravings. 

My BF is with me mostly on werknends only.. (we slowly transitioning from 2 houses to 1) and he is very supportive of me and my crazy diet. Foods that are my triggers we don't keep in the house. 

But if I am on low carb eating - it is so much easier not to have even one bite, than to limit portion. Beavuse if I start eating carbs - then I want more and more and more...and some more.  And again...so I get that. 

When I eat clean - I really have great restriction, as long as I chose proper food. 

Btw - when we are out - and I really want fries - I order sweet potato fries. Take 5-6. Give the rest to BF.  If I am by myself or he or my other person I am with don't want the rest- I dump something on them - like ketchup... Or some other cause I don't like. 

I am very sensitive to sugars so I have to watch for any sweet sauces. If I forget to ask them to put it on a side - I use paper napkins to blot that out. 

I typically cook/bake on weekends.  One day in a month.  Now - I got brand new pressure cooker - so most meals - like pork or beef stew - in an 1-2 hrs max from start to finish, with cleanup and things are portioned and put away. I have electric - Instant Pot... 6 quart. Can make a lot of food i. 2 hours.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=7+in+1+instant+pot &tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=60682978152&hvpos=1t1&hvex id=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12424574437457814984&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvq mt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_5zf9f5nfu6_b

 You know how easy it is?  And cheap? 

Take cubed beef + add some fat+ add fresh or frozen low starchy veggies, season, put in beef or chicken stock (not a lot) close the lid... Push a button "stew".. Walk away... 1 hour later - it is done... I typically strain the liquids, portion the hot stew into jars, close the lid, and turn a jar upside down. As the jar is cooling - it automatically seals and can be either frozen or kept in a fridge for up to one month. If I have the time - I sear them meat in the pressure cooker before I make the stew... it has that option. 

I can cook 2-4 cups of food ..or 4-5 quarts... 

 I use the leftover liquid to make a very quick homemade eggdrop soup when I want something light, yet tasty: heat up the stock, in a meantime break 2-3 eggs (4-5 for 2 people). When the stock start boiling - pour the blended eggs into the stock. Stir as it is heating. Once it start boiling again take it off the stove and serve garnished with some dill or fresh green onions or .. Pat of butter.  Want a diffemt taste - mix 1 TBS of salsa, and drop in some chopped avocado... .

I love Costco. They not only have cheapfood but they have a lot of organic food - frozen organic veggies.  

I use steamer bags to cook my frozen veggies in microwave... 6 min...Then just add a pat of butter. 

Chicken soup, rice, grains, even fish... ?I can be back from work at 7 and eat my freshly cooked meal at 8.. 

Low carb works. But I can't do low carb low fat. It is impossible. At least for me..  My low carb is higher fat.  It just does not work any other way. At least for me. 

Also.... Check IF - intermitent fasting... I started doing that to help with my IBS and SIBO. I have to eat LNS before bed to prevent middle of the night hypoglycemia... But then I don't eat until noon or after. I typically eat between noon and 9 pm.  Then push water only, or no caloric drinks like coffee, tea..etc..

I may get hungry in themoring, but knowing that I will eat at noon... Makes it easy to handle.  I am also more busy in the morning.  

Some people stop eating at 6 pm, and they don't start until. 9 or 10 am the next morning. Just an idea. 

I really like the idea of when your starting to do the low carb to just limit the carbs and not worry about how much fat you eat. That would help me not feel so deprived when having to give up carbs. I am lucky as far as my husband also like to limit his carbs because he says carbs bloat him and he feels better when he avoids them (besides the carbs in vegetables). I also need to go back to setting eating times. Lunch at noon and dinner at 6:30. I typically don't eat a breakfast. My dinner time may end up being later (some time much later) due to work but at least on my work days I am able to avoid grazing or in between meals eating. It's my days off I need to be better about.

Btw - the waffles - I did not follow the exact recipe... Way too many calories, even though I tolerate a lot of fat - that had way too much even for me. 

I used 4 eggs, 1/4 cup coconut milk (had the canned type, but often use jus****er), 3 TbS coconut flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, stevia.

Mix all together. Let it stand for 10 min. It will thicken. If too tick - add with a an extra egg. If too thin add 1 tsp of coconut flour at a time. Then see. Coconut flour has a lot of fiber so it will absorb the water - don't add too much. 

If I don't use canned coconut milk - I add at least 1 TBS of liquid fat - either coconut oil, or some of my other oils that are good for high heat...like almond.. (i don't care for olive oil...)

I made 2 large servings... 4 waffles... I can top that with some SF strip or frruits or just eat like that. 

Sometimes I add protein powder - for every 1 tsp of coconut flour - replaced with 1 TBS protein powder. That worked for me. But experiment... 

That batter can also be baked in oven and use as baked items... Trow so a nuts in it - form "cookies" and bake until done...

Refrigerate or freeze for later... 

  Also - ready to drink protein shakes used to be my "to go" food when I needs to do groceries. Pour one in a coffee cup on ice and sip while grocery shopping... I can't do that anymore because I developed allergies to milk proteins ..and soy...  

Yesterday I went out for brunch and ate an entire skillet and whole wheat toast.  I am going to be better today, but it really set me back.  I don't know how many calories I ate.  I know what you mean.  I think looking at the menu when I was really hungry did me in. We tend to go to the same restaurants. Usually I know what I am ordering and skip the menu.  Tri

I need to start looking for better choices on  menu's. I do keep a log in my phone for the different restaurants we eat at where I make note of certain foods I do not like etc. Now I need to change that into the options I find that fit my plan at each restaurant. Going to restaurants while hungry is just as dangerous as grocery shopping while hungry!! BIG mistake but I have to grocery shop when I have the time so going after eating isn't always an option. H.a.l.a. B. mentioned taking a protein drink in a coffee cup with her while grocery shopping and I think that is a great idea! I but I also can not drink protein shakes anymore due to being lactose intolerant now since surgery. Might have to come up with another option.

I eat - chew on other foods. I.e - individually portioned jerky.. That things are so hard to eat - that it takes me a while... Even just drinking coffee (i.e decaf if you sensitive to caffeine) with some SF coconut milk and some stevia... Now imagine that to be like nice hazelnut flavored coffee....- can you SF hazelnut syrup.. Yum.. Whatever works - makes my pouch Think I "eat yummy food". Sampling things like cheese..or a few nuts... 

Good luck... Watch for artificial sweeteners - drinking diet soda makes me hungry.. Like..really hungry... And then I eat... Too much.