Which is the better choice? (food question) - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Lynette · 08-16-2009, 08:32 PM

I will be 2 months out this Wednesday. I lost 25lbs the first month and as of last Wed about 8lbs so far this month. I have not been eating a bunch of carbs or overeating, I think my problem is more the opposite since I find myself rarely hungry so I don't think I am getting in enough calories and protein? I struggle with protein because even though I think I am chewing it a million times for each bite it often gets stuck. I also found that if I have no carbs at all with a meal, I am not hungry for hours and hours but if I have a little bit, I have an appetite at the next meal time. So, my questions are:

Is it better to try and get down straight protein and then just eat according to the clock because I have to or get in a few carbs (a Wheat Thin or two) and have an appetite?

Is it better to try and choke down plain, straight protein (roasted chicken, or baked fish plain) and maybe not get as much in either because it hurts, I lose interest, or I end up throwing it back up or dress it up a bit and make it moister with a little bit of gravy or a sauce?

For example, for lunch I had (or TRIED to have) tuna and threw up twice so who knows how much, if any, stayed down. For dinner I tried two turkey meatballs with some marinara and it was fine, no pain. It goes against every diet plan I know to slap some gravy or sauce and eat crackers of course but at the same time there are days where I know I am getting maybe 400 calories maximum and I am not sure that is working either.

Or maybe at nearly 2 months out 8lbs in 3 weeks (no stalls, just slow) is just fine and I should stop my whining?? Thanks for any input!

jerseygrl684 · 08-16-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynette

I will be 2 months out this Wednesday. I lost 25lbs the first month and as of last Wed about 8lbs so far this month. I have not been eating a bunch of carbs or overeating, I think my problem is more the opposite since I find myself rarely hungry so I don't think I am getting in enough calories and protein? I struggle with protein because even though I think I am chewing it a million times for each bite it often gets stuck. I also found that if I have no carbs at all with a meal, I am not hungry for hours and hours but if I have a little bit, I have an appetite at the next meal time. So, my questions are:

Is it better to try and get down straight protein and then just eat according to the clock because I have to or get in a few carbs (a Wheat Thin or two) and have an appetite?

Is it better to try and choke down plain, straight protein (roasted chicken, or baked fish plain) and maybe not get as much in either because it hurts, I lose interest, or I end up throwing it back up or dress it up a bit and make it moister with a little bit of gravy or a sauce?

For example, for lunch I had (or TRIED to have) tuna and threw up twice so who knows how much, if any, stayed down. For dinner I tried two turkey meatballs with some marinara and it was fine, no pain. It goes against every diet plan I know to slap some gravy or sauce and eat crackers of course but at the same time there are days where I know I am getting maybe 400 calories maximum and I am not sure that is working either.

Or maybe at nearly 2 months out 8lbs in 3 weeks (no stalls, just slow) is just fine and I should stop my whining?? Thanks for any input!

Your stomach might just be a little irritated, when that used to happen i would stick with softie type stuff OR honestly whatever worked i ate.

Turkey meatballs with marinara don't seem too bad... When your body isn't getting enough calories, it tends to hold on to the fat... so that is maybe why the weight loss has slowed.

Try some smoothie type protein shakes... maybe to sooth your tummy/throat.

mistymee · 08-16-2009, 08:41 PM

Hey Lynette.. sounds like you're struggling..

So sorry to hear that. My nut was very clear that moist food is better for our pouches early out and honestly.. I still do much better with moist food.. dry food feels like a rock, most of the time.

I think if you're only getting 400 calories in at this point, there is a problem. Your low loss/stall (ish) in your second month probably speaks to the fact that it isn't enough, as it seems you know.

I would try to stay away from crackers/processed carbs but I would try adding low fat gravy on your chicken for instance. It wouldn't take much to give the little bits of chicken you're eating enough moistness.

Also, I'd suggest you give something like Fage greek yogurt a try.. 2% fage has 130 calories in 7 oz container and 17 grams of protein. At your stage you wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing but it can bump up your protein.. try adding it to your shakes. I have one for breakfast with kashi honey almond flax every day! (I add a pkt of splenda as it tastes a bit sour, lol) YUMMM

Good luck, hon!

Lynette · 08-16-2009, 08:52 PM

Yeah, I think I really need to get back to hunting for a protein shake that I like. I tried a few for the first month and I liked them ok for a couple of days and then...blech. I have 3/4 of a Costco box of Light Muscle Milk on my counter right now actually. I did get some Fage yogurt though and mixed in some protein shake mix for flavor and it was ok but I do think more experimentation is in order. I am going to search the archives for people's favs.

Why can't it be as easy as less calories = more weight lost?

poet_kelly · 08-16-2009, 08:53 PM

I don't think 8 pounds in three weeks is too bad. A little on the slow side, maybe, but not too bad. I wouldn't get too worried about it. However, increasing your calories a little would probably help.

I would definitely put sauce or gravy or something on the meat to help it go down. Try for low fat sauce of some sort. It won't add that many calories.

As far as a Wheat Thin or two, I know some people steer clear of crackers and the sort altogether, but I eat crackers occasionally. However, you're still pretty early out, and you may not want to get into the habit of eating them regularly, especially not yet.

Kelly

poet_kelly · 08-16-2009, 08:55 PM

For protein shakes, visit Vitalady.com - Protein Supplements, Vitamins & Minerals, and Safe Snacks! and get some samples of different ones. Syntrax Nectar is one a lot of people seem to like. Chike is another. I can also recommend Lean Dessert Protein. You can also find a lot of good recipes for protein shakes at theworldaccordingtoeggface.

Kelly

mistymee · 08-16-2009, 08:58 PM

Another popular Fage meal is to mix it with Jello sugar free pudding mix (the powder)... needs to be the instant variety.

mix about 1/4 of the box, with a container of fage and a little bit of milk and splenda (I usually mix the powder and milk really quickly with a whisk then blend in the yogurt and a pkt of splenda.) If you tolerate sliced almonds, those are a nice treat to top it with.. or maybe a little bit of granola - or even the kashi cereal! LOL

(I was just called a Fage pusher, LOL-- I admit I am a huge advocate for those things that really work well for me! If I were on desert island and could only have one meal, hands down it would be my Fage w/kashi cereal!)

jerseygrl684 · 08-16-2009, 09:03 PM

I called her a Fage pusher. Look for her face on the box next, after the celebrate vitamins.

Phoenixfire · 08-16-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynette

Is it better to try and choke down plain, straight protein (roasted chicken, or baked fish plain) and maybe not get as much in either because it hurts, I lose interest, or I end up throwing it back up or dress it up a bit and make it moister with a little bit of gravy or a sauce?

For dinner I tried two turkey meatballs with some marinara and it was fine, no pain. It goes against every diet plan I know to slap some gravy or sauce and eat crackers of course but at the same time there are days where I know I am getting maybe 400 calories maximum and I am not sure that is working either.

Or maybe at nearly 2 months out 8lbs in 3 weeks (no stalls, just slow) is just fine and I should stop my whining?? Thanks for any input!

First, stalls are normal. If you aren't getting in ENOUGH calories then yeah, it can slow weight loss. But stalls are a fact of life postop. Here's a tip I can pass on. Go through the forum and read old posts from people...then look at their signature line. You'll notice that their posts at 2 months out were sad, worried, freaking out. Then you'll see in their post from this month that they are at or near goal. Trust me, you'll see it alot. Bet it won't even take you 15 minutes if you do a search for "stall".

Other thing on the meat. Yeah, even when you are as far out as me, you may need to sauce it up when it comes to protein. Dry protein never would go down for me either. I add saucy stuff and I'm fine. I never counted calories EVER postop, that was per doc's instruction, and it did work obviously. My suggestion is to use whatever saucy/wet/gravy-ish stuff it takes to get the protein down. The calories that sauce will add really don't compare when you think of how much you lose when you barf up the dry protein, right?