Question:
Gaining weight, need a meal menu that will work

I need to find a menu that will work. I had my surgery 6 years ago, unfortunately at the time there were no support groups, at least not in my area. I have gained back 40 pounds and alot of it has to do with my eating habits again. I do not know what to eat, how much to eat, and what not to touch. I have foods that I stay away from such as ice cream, milk, they make me sick. I eat plenty of veggies. Any help would be appreciated. My doctor at the time did not say what to do except don't eat fried foods, no soda, and no alcohol. That truely leaves alot left to touch. It worked so far, but as I am reading I think possibly I never got all the facts. Any help is appreciated.    — Mary C. (posted on August 19, 2003)

August 19, 2003
Mary, I also suggest that you go to the yahoo groups and look up OSSG-grads. That is a group of one year or longer post-ops there and this topic is often discussed. One thing I can tell you is that you are not alone. Lots of long term posties gaining, but on a good note, asking for help and determined to turn it around. First, do you know the pouch rules and are you still adhering to them? No drinking with or right after meals, low carb/sugar/ lots of water and protein, EXERCISE? If any of these have slacked off, I'd say theres your problem. Alot of times, a gain can be traced to the post-op slacking off in one or more areas and letting old bad habits back in. Next, how much are you eating? Your pouch should have stretched out by now to allow you to eat a cup or a cup and a half of food at a meal. I am only 18 months post-op, but here is a normal amount of food for me at a meal: For breakfast, 1 and 1/2 scrambled eggs with cheese will fill me up or just 1 egg with 1 slice of toast. Lunch: 1/2 of a meat sandwich on multigrain with a few chips and a pickle. I try to eat every few hours, no more than 4 hours between meals/snacks, at least 1 protein snack-either a shake or most of the time a small protein bar. Fruit almost every day. I do allow a small amount of carb and sugar snacks- a few hundred calories a day. If you can eliminate those, even better, at this point I don't need to. And consider providing more detail in your profile. We often start there when someone asks a question to get some background info to help us answer.
   — Cindy R.

August 19, 2003
Yep, I second what Cindy said. Here's the link to the Grad group...great people, great info. [email protected] Leslie RNY 8/99
   — Leslie F.