Question:
Am I eating too much?

Today for breakfast I had about one scrambled egg, about 3 cubes of hash brown potatoes, and 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and a slice of bacon. For snack a protein shake. for lunch 4 crackers with about a tablespoon of peanut butter, for snack a scoop of no sugar added ice cream (which made me very light headed and gassy), for dinner about 2/3 can Underwood deviled chicken and a piece of sugar free chocolate. This evening, I drank a 6 oz can of v-8 juice. Does this seem like too much? Any ideas about better things to eat or add to my diet? Thanks.    — Linda V. (posted on April 12, 2002)

April 12, 2002
I have to wonder if you are lossing what you sould be at this time. It is not the amount, the the food it self. Remember protien 1st. Eat 2 eggs instead of the potatoes, they are all sugar. Toss the oatmeal out the window! Way high in carbs, so sugar! V-8 juice, sugar! Try looking at the label. It will help. I think the only way I have lost 110 in 7.5 months is by sticking to the rules, protien 1st, water, exercise and no snacking. So what do I eat? Well here is a quick run down. I normally only have 2 meals a day, but at times I do have 3. Breakfast, eggs, sometimes bacon, but that is high in fat. I also eat french toast with sugar free syrup. I make it with thin bread and let the egg really soke in. Lunch, well my favorite is cheif salad, boiled egg, ham, cheese and of course the greens! Dinner, well I eat what ever I cook for my family. Iuse a salad plate and 1/2 is my protien the other is veggies. I know it is hard, but remember this is a tool not a salution.
   — hklang70

April 12, 2002
V-8 isn't bad for you!! It's low cal and low carb. It's just like getting a veggie in liquid form. The other stuff though needs some help. I do think you are eating too many sweet things.. cut out the ice cream and chocolate.. just because it's sugar free doesn't mean carb free! You could still have them as a treat now and again though! You do need to try to get more protein as that keeps us from losing hair and helps us burn this fat off. Fish, Chicken, Beef, Cottage Cheese, String Cheese, PB are all sources of protein. Typical day for us. We are 4 weeks post-op Breakfast: 1 oz cottage cheese, 2 crackers and some veggies or fruit. Lunch: 1 oz tuna (low fat mayo)and some more veggies 1/4 slice WW toast. Supper: 1 oz of chicken.. add some soy sauce or something to spice it up a little 1 oz of potato or rice and veggies again!. Try chicken fajitas just veggies and chicken in there.. you can wrap it in a lettuce leaf so you don't have to use a tortilla. In our plan we don't get snacks just 3 meals a day with 1 protien 1 starch and 1 fruit or veggie. Not that our plan is RIGHT or anything but it does try to retrain you to eat a healthy balance.
   — Allie A.

April 12, 2002
I think you could cut a few hundred clories with the protein shake. It looks like you get plenty of protein without it. Just eat until you feel satisfied NOT full..then you've already ate too much. I think I've lost a good amount of weight and never used extra protein, dranke lots of water and never ate till it made my pouch feel too full. I think your doing pretty good though...just watch your loss and vary your diet a little if it stops.
   — Jenee B.

April 12, 2002
Hi. I am 10 months post RNY and have lost -146 pounds. I DO use protein supplements (110 cal. twice a day) = 60gm. protein PLUS my food proteins. We never know until we are further out just how much malabsortion we are dealing with! Best to be safe, than sorry :-) Suggest: avoid "processed foods" Eat only REAL food. For me, getting rid of white flour & sugar has been a blessing. I only have sugar free products in my "Cool Whip Free" that I add to my "no sugar added" Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa. About once A month, I may eat a few sugar free cookies, if I have to have it. At your stage, I used to eat 5-6 small meals per day. To this very day, I start off with 2 eggs (1 egg white, 1 egg) scrambled with a piece of cheddar cheese or string cheese. I never eat bread, pasta, rice, drink soda pop, never eat pizza, spaghetti, or other binge-trigger-foods that got me fat in the first place. I cook a lot of fish, beef and chicken. I love steamed veggies. The fat free Knudson brand of cottage cheese is pretty good, too. For snacks, I eat pistachio nuts and sunflower seeds. My two main vices! I am working on that one! I use natural Kettle brand tortilla chips, yellow corn kind--for dipping with fat free refried beans or to add to my chili. I never count carbs, calories or anything else. BUT, I do exercise almost every single day and eat REAL FOODS only! For me, this MUST be a lifestyle change. I don't ever want to get this weight back on me, ever. Changing my thinking, will hopefully keep me fit. I'm finally feeling somewhat "normal" (quote-quote)--good luck.
   — Barbara B.

April 13, 2002
Linda, your eating too much processed foods. I am at 9 weeks post-op and just visited a nutritionist who said I was right on track. I eat a scrambled egg with a slice of melted cheese and 1 tablespoon of chili (melt it all together) for breakfast, tuna or crab or lobster salad with cucumbers for lunch-sometimes over 4 crackers, protein shake for snack with fresh fruit in it, and water-not milk to save the sugar content, and for dinner, some type of moist meat or fish with a veggie. Steamed salmon, boneless chicken breasts cooked in chicken broth, bean soup with shredded chicken in it, tiny meatballs with melted cheese in tomato sauce, crab legs,-all fresh, healthy food. For a late night snack, try popcorn-it has fiber in it, or soy chips, which taste like potato chips but has protein in it. I will also have a handful of pistachio nuts every few days-altho high in fat, its the good fat that our bodies need.
   — Cindy R.

April 14, 2002
Oatmeal is a whole grain and a complex-carb. It is a good healthful choice for you. Your body needs some carbs to function properly. Try tuna instead of the processed meat gunk. Much better for you, and a great protein source.
   — Jennifer H.

June 15, 2002
Oh, gosh. I'm 2 months post-op and normally can't eat very much, but am satisfied with the amounts I can eat. This morning we took my husband out for Father's Day and I think I overdid it. Mind you, I have never eaten this stuff before or this much. I'm wondering if my pouch has stopped working all of a sudden. I had 2 over easy eggs, one thin slice of ham and one small slice of french toast with a little syrup and butter - nothing to drink. Have I messed up my weight loss plan?? I had to lie down once I got home. I think the syrup and butter made me ill. I don't know why I ate so much. We were all just talking, eating and having a good time. I just wasn't paying attention. If I get back on track now, can I reverse any damage? Or, should I run to my surgeon for an upper GI? I just don't want to mess things up. Thank you. marie
   — Marie H.

June 16, 2002
i think that sometimes you can eat a little more than at other times. i've noticed this as well. i'm 5 months post-op and this happens to me as well. and my weight loss has not stopped.
   — Sylvester C. B.