Question:
I would like to know for people that are post-op 5 months

what is your daily intake of calories,fat,protein,carbs? and what is your menu for a post-op 5 months. My days are different, i do walk 2miles a day i get in 64oz of water, This is just for today breakfast ham egg & cheese croissant, lunch spaghetti 1 cup and dinner spaghetti 1 cup and snack popcorn 2 cups, by fitday.com 1144 calories, 61 gr protein,117 gr carbs,47gr fat...im just trying to figure it all out and i know i need help in the carb department lol lol someone please give me some advice, i dont need a lecture.    — sexysag37 (posted on July 18, 2003)

July 17, 2003
When I was in my fifth month, I kept my daily carb intake to about 40 grams a day (which would be an average over a 3 day period)-- as a result, my monthly weight loss was over 15 pounds (as of my 9th month, I've dropped a little more than 230 pounds). I used then (and still do) the Atkins protein shakes-- I try to have one per day to get me at least 25 grams of protein. Also, since my 5th month, I have tried to have 1 Atkins bar a day (another 23 grams of protein a day). Every few days, I will have either baked beans or chili (usually about 1/4 cup)-- which is why I balance my daily carb intake over a 3 day period. Every morning for breakfast, I have one soft boiled egg with 2 Ritz crackers. Typically for lunch, if I don't have my beans/chili, I will have some cheese or another soft boiled egg. For supper, I usually have some sort of meat. For an after dinner snack, I will sometimes have 1 tsp. of peanut butter on 2 Ritz crackers. Hope you get good constructive advice--- the further along I get and the more choices I am allowed, the more confused I seem to be getting. As a result, being very fearful of repeating my past mistakes and not wanting to give in to my food demons, I have tended to limit my food choices more than most other people. But, it seems to be working for me. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

July 18, 2003
You already know your balance is a bit too weighted to refined carbohydrates, so I won't drag on about that. But, you may want to consider a different breakfast: not only is the croissant a processed carb, but it is loaded with fat. If you really have to have a fast food breakfast, get the McDonald's Egg McMuffin (skip the hash browns). It is the lowest in fat and carbs and highest in protein of the fast food breakfast sandwiches that I know of. If you can, you're better off to make a homemade breafast of eggs or meat (rolled up deli meat/cheese, for example) or cottage cheese or other mostly-protein stuff. Congratulations on the walking and the water intake.
   — Vespa R.

July 18, 2003
I am 5 1/2 months out and drink two protein drinks a day (or one drink and one bar) and eat three meals. I haven't tracked on fitday for a while but I think I'm probably around 8-900 calories a day now (including the protein drinks). For the most part (95% of the time), my meals are protein based and any carbs that I eat are 'incidental'. I don't think I've ever eaten more than 1/2 cup of anything at this point, and average is probably 1/3 cup. A sample day might be: Breakfast - 1 medium egg with cheese (and occasionally spinach or other green veggie), lunch - lunchmeat wrapped around cheese (hot or cold) or turkey pepperoni and cheese, dinner - chicken, fish, beef, or soy ribs and sometimes a green veggie. And somtimes when I'm in a snacky mood, I substitute my meals with nuts (mostly cashews), jerky, a piece of string cheese, or low carb soy chips. So far, I've done fairly well sticking with protein. Even in my 'worst' two weeks, I've still lost one pound, and usually 2-3. I figure this isn't going to last forever (the easy losing) so, I might as well do everything I can now to help it along. There will be plenty of time for expanding my taste bud horizons down the road. Good luck with your weight loss.
   — eaamc

July 18, 2003
My doctor has all of his patients on a 30/70 program. Maximum of 30 carbs a day and a minimum of 70 grams of protein a day. Easy to remember and it really works! I'm 11 weeks post-op and have lost 71 lbs. Good luck to you!
   — SMG I.

July 18, 2003
There is some tremendous insight listed below here, in the answers you have been given. I am also 5 months post op. My surgery was Feb. 10th. I am also looking closely at my food intake, as my weight loss has been slowing down quite a bit lately. Do you eat much fruits and veggies during the day? This is a great season for them! Also, I try not to eat too much red meat, but that is also because it makes me really nauseous. Pasta is great on my stomach, but I try and only eat it when I go to the gym, for that extra energy boost. Up your protein intake and try eating more foods like fish and fruits and veggies. Good luck.
   — RedHeadBeauty

July 19, 2003
I was 5 months, yesterday, starting at 5'7" and 248 on the day of surgery. I am down to 170.5 pounds as of this AM. It seems to me that your diet is a bit too high in carbs. At our support group last Thursday, the surgeon commented that one reason that carbs are even worse than fat, is that carbs begin to be digested in the mouth, even before they reach the pouch or intestines, therefore we can absorb more of the calories from them. I also spoke to my nutritionist last week and she suggested the following: 3 meals, approx. 5 hours apart, with liquids in between, meals lasting 15-20 minutes, so that the food that passes through does not allow you to eat more than a meal's worth Drink up to 20 minutes before your meal at this point post op as to not feel as hungry when you eat, but wait an hour or so after as to not wash the food through Concentrate on solid foods, such as chicken, meat, fish, cold cuts like ham, turkey and roastbeef, vegetables and fruit, as they keep the pouch full longer Hunger is related to volume, so that a 1/2 cup of Haagen Daz which is 250 calories, won't fill you as much as 1/2 cup of chicken which is 100-150 calories High fiber foods are more filling And regarding carbs, only 2-3 portions daily, consisting of 1 slice of whole wheat or high fiber bread, 1/2 cup pasta, potatoes or rice I am just selecting a few items from the pages she e-mailed me. If you are interested in more info I can elaborate through e-mail. I take this advice about 75%. I don't claim to be a fanatic. I do however, keep my carbs asthe last item on my plate to eat, and many times only have 1-2 portions a day. One of my favorite meals on the grill are a grilled pork chop, juicy, (what I can eat of it) with a bit of unsweetened apple sauce and salad. The rest of my family are big cab eaters, and I try to limit it since they are diabetics--hubby and dad in law. Tuna melts are good, too and I don't finish the read most of the time. I discovered Polly-O lite string cheese, each one having only 60 calories and 8g protein. I eat 2 of them and a friut for breakfast when I am at work, or sometimes and ounce of hard cheese and a whole grain bread slice. At home I will make an egg with cheese over it. For lunch, I love a couple of deli meat slices, ie. turkey or rare roast beef wrapped around a half slice of American cheese, and I eat them without bread. I could go on, but again e-mail me for more. It's hard, and really tempting to eat the carbs. I struggle with it too as many here say often. Best of luck, and I hope I didn't sound like I was lecturing!!!
   — Fixnmyself