Question:
I feel guilty... but am I being ridiculous?

Last nite for dinner all I wanted was steamed broccoli. I didn't want anything else. This is pretty common for me to only crave vegetables and nothing else. After I had my broccoli I felt guilty because I didn't eat any protein. Now, I do drink my protein shakes and get in over 60 grams of protein that way, and I make sure to eat protein at other meals during the day... so is it really so bad to only eat vegetables at dinner if I'm craving that once in a while? Seriously, am I harming myself? Or is the protein that I'm getting through the shakes sufficient? Thanks!    — Renae (posted on May 15, 2003)


May 15, 2003
Personally I dont see any harm in it. In fact, you said your getting your total grams in elewehere. BUT what struck me was that you are 'listening' to your body! If you ever have 'watched' a truely thin person - it seems the majority of the time they are 'listening' to their bodies! Like 'oh I just ate the one bite' or 'thats all I wanted'.... IMHO I think you are doing yourself a service and listening to your body and NOT just eating..
   — star .

May 15, 2003
Helen said it all! It's great that you are listening to your body. I only count the protein from my shakes, anything else is bonus. I get the same cravings for steamed broccoli and I just enjoy it (it seems like you can eat alot of it too) Now if I sat down and only ate potatoes for dinner, I'd stop losing and it would make me feel drained. But the green veggies are great! Just think, prior to surgery, would you have actually ONLY ate the broccoli? Probably not, because we had room for ALL of it! I know I would have eaten it all.
   — Dana B.

May 15, 2003
I don't know about everyone else, but one of the reasons I wanted this surgery was to not feel guilty anymore. My objective is to get the proper protien and water in and then not worry so much about the rest. What harm could eating steam vegetables do? The best thing is you weren't craving a piece of cake or pie. Don't let the rules control you, you control the rules :)
   — Cheryl S.

May 15, 2003
Isn't it wonderful that your cravings are things like broccoli and not chocolate cake? Seriously, as long as you are getting in enough protein during the day it is perfectly alright not to have protein at every meal. Michelle Curran drinks several protein shakes a day and then has veggie only meals all the time.
   — Cindy R.

May 15, 2003
Like Cindy said, what a pleasure to feel guilty about! lol I'm not making any light of your question, I've felt guilty so many times about doing stuff like that. Then I say to myself "it's not chocolate it's veggies" or it's cheese or something else. I felt guilty for a couple days when my mom had me eat rice soup, which under any normal circumstances is not good, the carbs- it being rice esp. and no protein. But I was horribly ill and it really helped my stomach- so my mom told me to stop that thinking and worry about yourself. I think as you reach further and further post-op, you'll learn to deal with those guilt feelings and not to say you won't care, but realize that you're still eating healthy and doing okay. I don't think there is anything wrong with your choice, esp. since you're still getting in your protein. If it was a big piece of choc. cake instead of a meal, then ok no good, but you're really doin fine! :-)
   — Lezlie Y.

May 15, 2003
So, what is it about steamed borccoli that is so addictive? All I know is, thanks to you, that's dinner for me. Chicken for the fellas, broc for me! Yum. I do my protein in shakes (chocolate is my preferred form) and I prefer veggies for meals, though I certainly do eat meat when I want it. If your protein shakes covers your protein, and your vitamins & calcium cover your RNY-specific stuff, then why would broc or salad be bad?
   — vitalady

May 15, 2003
Diet is all about the big picture not being obsessive about each bite. If I were to decide to have broccoli only for dinner I would have to know that I had gotten all of my protein previously. My only real concern is how can that be satisfying and keep you full? AND on what planet pre-op would you have felt guilty over eating broccoli??? That cracked me up.
   — Carol S.

May 16, 2003
Veggies..YUM! I have always enjoyed salads and most veggies. I have noticed since WLS I CRAVE them more. I have a little bit of a guilt trip goin' on too if I choose proteinless foods ONLY. Even if they are low cal veggies. Sometimes I take a bite of the veggies WITH the protein. Works for me. Don't feel guilty. Like our friends are all telling you, you are getting in your protein and you are NOT eating JUNK in place of good healthy foods. Not to worry.
   — Ginger M.

May 16, 2003
Just wanted to say THANKS to everyone for your reassuring responses. I don't know what it is, but I crave veggies all the time. Last nite I had asparagus with my chicken and I wanted more of the asparagus than the chicken. Oh well, I won't worry too much as long as I know I'm getting in my protein and vitamins already through other sources. Like many people have said on this site, most of us didn't have WLS to be on a constant diet, or to continually worry about what we're eating... we did it to be normal. If I want veggies, I eat veggies... and that makes me feel normal. I just had to ask the question to reassure myself. Thanks again!
   — Renae




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