Question:
interested in what people eat
I am 3 weeks post op and will be beginning "real food" and am curious as to what people eat down the road as I find it simple to drink protein drinks because they list exactly how much protein is in them. I am concerned about how I will get 50 grams of protein in when I start eating real food. I am new and have lots of questions and am interested in how people learn to eat again. I am [email protected] — marianneblues (posted on January 11, 2006)
January 11, 2006
I continued to drink Whey protein drinks about 3 months post op. I got out
of the habit when I started eating solids because of the calorie content.
I didn't want to add those extra calories because my weight loss has been
lower than I expected. I am averaging 15-20 pounds per month since the
beginning. I just had my surgery in Sept,2005. I had 150 to lose and
expected the 1st months to be more rewarding. I am very happy though..at
least I'm losing.
I liked the Whey protein that Walmart sells. I do chocolate with skim milk
and freeze it so it's like a shake. I don't really care for most protein
supplements. I went online and looked up all the foods that have protein
but it is difficult to get enough because of the volume you can eat being
so small. I think I am going to go back to the protein drinks. I don't
eat like I should but I've been feeling great anyway. I try to eat eggs
but they just don't sit well and many people say that. I eat chicken,
beans, skim milk, quite a bit of tuna salad. Well not quite a bit but
quite often. I try to keep some tuna salad made up for a quick snack on
crackers.
The Whey protein I was using was about 29 grams of protein when mixed with
skim milk. I would sip on it all day as a beverage. That is probably not
the proper way to do it. I know for normal people who use it as a diet
supplement they use it for meal substitute. But I found that if I sipped
it, my stomach accepted it and moved it on thru. I think my stomach is a
little larger than it should be so this might not work for you. I focused
on the protein drinks so I wouldn't have thinning hair. I plan to get back
to that soon. Good luck.
Carla
— CARLA.M
January 11, 2006
I am only six weeks out but have found it fairly easy to get in the
protein. I still drink a protein drink in the morning, then oatmeal with
milk. (milk has about 1 gram of protein per ounce!) For lunch, usually
bean soup or refried beans with baked chips and melted cheese or 1/4 cup of
chili......more protein!
I usually have another protein drink mid afternoon, so that adds
another 28 grams of protein. I use milk whenever I can.......Carb
something by Hood...........
I am still not able to keep down meat......it's hit or miss and
usually miss. I am trying meat very slowly and very little at a time.
Good luck!
I am also a slow loser.......only 18 pounds the first four
weeks........but as long as it is headed in the right direction, I am okay.
— LauraA
January 11, 2006
I am 11 yrs out. I eat 4 small meals/day and still do 6 protein drinks
(180g). I don't recommend that everyone do that many protein drinks, but
that helps me keep my wt down. I eat regular food. No milk, no sugar, no
grazing. I don't eat fat free things, but watch the sugars. We did clears
for 4 weeks, then started on soft foods (not pureed, not mush), like baked
or boiled potato, cottage cheese, beans, cooked veggies.....
— vitalady
January 11, 2006
Marianne -- 2-1/2+ years post-op here. I still have a daily protein drink
for breakfast, and often have 2, to get my protein in. At your early stage
do not worry about what you will be eating so much, as you probably will
not be able to eat much of anything and the protein drinks will become your
best friend. A tablespoon of very diluted mashed potatoes, sugar free
popcycle, a teaspoon of diluted mashed beans, etc., will probably be your
first steps. As you get into a few months out you will be experimenting
more and more and will find your own happy medium. Don't feel bad about
using lots of protein drinks in the beginning. Your body will tell you
when you had enough of that. Hugs, Missy
— Missy H.
January 11, 2006
homemade blended soups with lots of shredded chicken breast and
veges,minestrone soup with extra beans.In new zealand my drs not a fan in
protein drinks, I eat toast and cheese, or toast and baked beans,or 2
strips of bacon with boiled tomato,or weetbix for breakfast, some sort of
meat of fish and salad sandwich for lunch or homemade soup,then for dinner
i eat what I like but in much smaller quantites and a load more salad
instead of carbs. have fruit or dairy food peanuts or sugar reduced jello
as snacks
— elenav
January 11, 2006
Hi Congratulations on your surgery! At a couple weeks post op I wondered
the same thing as you. On my profile after my surgery 2 Aug. 05, I did
update what I was eating during different stages after WLS. At 5 months
post op I have met my goal and lost about 110 pounds. I now weigh about
150. I have to say that I can eat any food I want. You will learn how much
you can eat and when to stop eating. I had a few times where I ate too
much and had to throw up but after those few times I haven't done it since!
I feel lucky and I have learned to only eat a bite or two of something
sweet if I REALLY want it. I do not deprive myself of anything.
www.fitday.com can help you keep track of daily intake of proteins,
calories, and vitamins in food. It's free and easy to use. You click on
the foods you have ate and it calculates it all for you!
An average daily menu for me is-
a.m.- Carb Solutions (all ready mixed in a can) 21 grams protein shake. I
buy them at the commissary.
a.m. snack- yogurt with sunflower seeds in it
a.m. snack- 1/4 of protein bar
lunch- an ounce or so of chicken or shrimp with chopped spinach or
crustless quiche or 1/2 of grilled cheese or a 1/4 of a chicken or steak
quessidilla (sp?)
p.m. snack- individual cottage cheese, I mix it with chopped pineapple or I
have another yogurt- I only eat Yoplait light.
dinner- I eat whatever I cook for the family. I just eat small portions of
it. It can range from speghetti and meatballs to baked chicken with mashed
potatoes and vegies to pizza... you know what I mean, right?
p.m. snack- 3 triscuits with cheese or 6 wheat thins with cheese or a
pudding.
On days I didn't get as much food as I thought I should, I drink another
protein shake before bed.
It's trial and error. You will learn what works for you. Best of luck.
WLS is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It is 'the easy way
out' for me because it WORKS!!! And I finally have a tool to help me be
successful at losing and keeping weight off. Please e-mail me if you have
any questions. HUGS : )
— jstatkus
January 11, 2006
I'm 3+ years out and I start my day (about 6:30am) with a chocolate Unjury
protein drink made with water (I'm don't do milk for many reasons), then
for breakfast (10am) I will have 1 packet of Quaker Oatmeal Weight control
(this week is cinnamon) and then another protein shake at about 1-2 pm and
then dinner usually after 6pm.
Ive lost 171 lbs and all but 30 of that was lost in the 1st year.
Jessica
— Jessica D
January 11, 2006
I am a year out, and still cannot eat enough to get all the protein in! I
drink a shake once a day. I tried not having one, but then i cannot
physically get enough prtein, since I still can only eat a few oncues at a
time, and can only handle two meals a day. If I eat more, I cannot drink
enough water! Everyone is different, so find what works for you.
— Novashannon
January 12, 2006
Yes, I was conerned about the same thing, and for a long time, I wrote it
down each time I had protein. Now,I know what my drinks are and the foods I
eat, I can pretty much know how much it is. It will become easier for you
hon. My great source of protein along with a shake is beef jerky and pork
rines. Beef Jerky, I make sure I get the original because the others have
more carbs. Your pork, beef, chicken, fish etc has 7 grams of protein per
ounce. So if you weigh out four ounces, you are getting 28 grams at that
time. Your surgeon should give you a packet with this info in it.
Hugs and I hope this has helped :)
— Angelfirewithwings
January 13, 2006
Hi....I too am 3 weeks post-op and have struggled with getting some variety
in my eating. Somewhere I read that lunch meat goes down well...so last
night I got some very very thinly sliced lunch meat and cheese and tried
it. OMG it was soooo good and stayed down...no problems at all. I'm
really excited about my new find. I also sometimes enjoy a cheese
scrambled egg or a creamed soup with melted cheese in it. I get the low
fat cheese. My goal everyday is to drink two protein shakes because my
doctor wants to me to have 70grams of protein a day...but to be
honest...some days I just can't do two....but I do try. Seems like these
days I just can't choke down the cottage cheese or tuna. Hopefully that
will change...cause both are high in protein. Good luck...and I look
forward to what others write regarding this question.
— mmcphee1
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