Question:
I am 2 months post op

I have lost 73 lbs so far. I have been released to eat anything I can tolerate, except for beef. (Another month Dr says). I have no problem with anything, except turkey. First, Do I still continue the protein shakes, and Second, are nuts and snacks like Cheetos (puffed) bad for me. I can tolerate these pretty well, and I keep ount on calories and amount. Also, could I lose even more if I stop these?    — bubbarino (posted on June 2, 2004)

June 1, 2004
Hi, my doctor said ABSOLUTY NO CHEETOS, FRITIOS OR DORRITIOS..im suprised your able to eat them at all..but i wouldnt recomaded eating them.now is the time to continue with a health lifestyle...dont stat any bad habits now and of couse you would lose weight by elimatating them all together.all the best! Ciao Tracey
   — traceybubbles

June 1, 2004
Stay away from the carbs in Cheetos or other carbs like that as long as you can. They could be a trigger food for you to crave them and it (carbs) could slow down your weight loss. As far as the protein shakes and nuts you need to ask your doctor. Some doctors want you to get your protein from regular food. Nuts are a good source of protein but can be high in calories if you eat too much of them and the nuts if not chewed well can irratate the intestinal track that is healing. Peanut butter is another good source of protein but high in calories. I would stick with a balanced diet with your protein being your primary focus right now until your are much further out.
   — ChristineB

June 1, 2004
What does your surgeon say about these choices? My surgeon's office said I needed to establish healthy habits like 64 oz. water per day, 60-70 grams of protein per day, no more than 20 grams of fat per day and keep the carbs very, very low because they'll stimulate my appetite and inhibit my weight loss. Nuts, themselves aren't bad, but in excess they are because of the fat content. Cheetos and chips--well it's the carbs that will get you there. My eating rules were always protein first, the good complex carbs (fruits and veggies) second and then, only if I had calories for the day left and stayed within the rules, other carbs. So many people think this surgery is the magic bullet to fix their weight problems, but it's only a tool that will have to be used wisely for the remainder of our lives to get the best benefit out of it. Best wishes to you and congratulations on your 73 lbs off so far. I wish you many successes down the road.
   — Cathy S.

June 1, 2004
Read the pouch rules for dummies. Here's the address: http://www.mehtabariatriccenter.com/pouch_rules_for_dummies.htm This is written by a doc that has been doing bariatric surgery for decades. He lists what made his patients successful. Good info there. BTW, since I'm at goal, I tend to follow the South Beach program that is a little more lenient, but still emphazises low fat protein, veggies, whole grain carbs, nuts. Stay away from processed foods like Cheetos! Although you will lose for the first 6 months eating pretty much anything, it won't work for the long haul. If we want to get to and stay at goal, we have to learn new healthy eating habits. Good luck!
   — mom2jtx3

June 2, 2004
These chip sort of foods are the worst because they grind to dust and never make you feel full:( My surgeon says pretzels are somewhat better, since they tend to make you feel full. For BEST results from WLS avoid all bad foods early on, and skip any heavy calorie liquids or sugaery drinks. The fast loose time DOESNT last forever, aso make good use of it while you can.
   — bob-haller

June 2, 2004
i'm 9 months out and still can't eat turkey. i'm fine with all other meats. be very careful in your food choices. cheetoes and other snacks like that aren't a good idea. eventhou you are only 2 months out and can only eat a small amount it will change the longer out you get. use these early months to start your good eating habits. the first couple of month the weight flies off without even trying and even with cheating, but that doesnt' last. your weightloss will slow down.right now you have alot of control on what you eat because you are so newly post-op, but if you dont' have good eating habits now it could cause you to regain weight. at 9 months out it has become harder because i KNOW i can eat things that i'm not supposed to eat.i had to relearn how i think about food. that takes alot of work because i went so many years having bad eating habits. my biggest fear is that i will regain my weight. wls really is just a tool to get you were you need to be, but it's up to you to keep you there. best of luck to you and congrats on your surgery.
   — franbvan

June 2, 2004
I'm with Tracy on this one. PLEASE! Have your 3 meals and start with high protein. The junk food is what gets us into trouble to begin with. Those foods just set the ball rolling to want more. You only have a small "window" of time to lose and you want to follow the "rules" 100%. I know people who have gained anywhere from 10-100 back with bad eating habits and not using the tool the way it was meant to be. Best of luck!
   — ZZ S.

June 2, 2004
I will always say protein drinks are for life, b ut of course, that's assuming we mean the same thing by definition. I don't consider those foods off limits totally. However, leaving a bag of chips open and grazing is deadly. Having 3-4 Puffs with lunch is a different matter. Having 2-3 oz of nuts alone as a snack is ok--you need the oils in them. The question I would ask is HOW are you eating them? Grazing style? (bad) or as an accompaniment with a meal? (good) or AS one of your meals? (depends)
   — vitalady

June 2, 2004
I agree with Michelle on this one. I will do shakes for life. I feel better with them and I don't believe that my body will be able to absorb enough protein from regular food to keep it healthy. I also try to make healthy choices for my meals and if I am in a mood where I just have to eat something it is usually a SF popsicle because I chose to do little damage while dealing with the urge to have something more. I am not carb phobic, but I definitely am making the decision to stay away from any of my trigger foods of the past and I do try to keep the carb count low. If I find myself just drooling over a particular food each day, it will be eliminated from my plan because I realize that it is probably causing cravings that I don't wish to deal with. I am very aware that this tool of mine requires me to make good choices for the rest of my life or it is not going to work. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun

June 3, 2004
I don't mean to be flippant, but I suspect you know the answer to your own question. Are Cheetos good for ANYONE? Wouldn't anyone who want to lose weight give up those empty calories? The longer you can stay away from junk like that, the better, so you should really try to establish healthy eating habits now when it's relatively easy. Things like Cheetos don't fill us up but they sure help pack on the calories and trigger other carb cravings.
   — sandsonik

Click Here to Return