Poor food choices

Kay, sweetie, I don't think she was judging you or anyone who's menu is like that. She's actually saying the opposite....she wish she could do that. People don't post thier menus, because some are ashamed of what they eat.....which they shouldn't. Everyone's plan is different. Not everyone has the same doctor who has the same set of rules....that's okay. If someone wants to eat an ice cube for a snack....it's okay. If they want to eat egg rolls and ice cream....it's okay, and that's their business. It's not up to anyone on the board or where ever else to judge them. You're doing great with your plan, so keep up the good work girl! April

I rarely read or post anymore...but I was perusing the board and had to post on this thread. I eat just about anything I want now, but I stay within normal WLS portions. According to my surgeon, I'm supposed to eat 8 small "meals" a day. A "meal" could be a few strawberries dipped in Cool Whip Lite, some cheese and crackers or some peanut butter on half a banana. It can also be very protein-dense such as chicken breast. I try to drink 2 protein shakes a day...I always get one in for sure, and there are days when I can do 3. I settle for two. To some, I suppose it would seem as if all these "meals" look like snacking because I eat more than 3 times a day. My doctor (and my trainer) don't see it this way and they and I think I'm doing wonderfully and that's what counts, IMHO. ...I do have a treat once in awhile and I allow for them. I am learning to truly be satisfied with a very small portion of something. I do not dump unless I have a LOT of sugar and I don't even get close to that amount. Ever. I LOVE Mary's suggestions...every single one of them and I agree wholeheartedly. I do those things myself. This period of time is when we should be learning new eating behaviors, right? It's a process. You cannot compare yourself to others on the list because they have to answer for themselves in the end. I happen to know someone personally who had WLS, starved herself by eating very little and never getting her protein in....and ended up in the hospital with vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. She lost the weight, but she has lasting problems now as a result of her neglect. DISCLAIMER: I am not referring to anyone here in particular in any way...so think in general terms, please. Be honest with your doctor and yourself. Get the required nutrition in, if you can! I don't always do this myself as I am in no way perfect! I just forced myself to drink a protein shake when it is literally is The LAST thing on earth I wanted to consume. I'm going to take the kids to McD's today and I know I'll sneak a fry or two from a Happy Meal. That's all my pouch will allow, thankfully. In the "old days" I would have had my own large size AND a double cheeseburger. I am allowing for that and that is FINE with me. Start off the day on the right foot...if I get a protein shake in early on, I notice that I'm far less likely to want to munch on junk throughout the day. When you want to munch on junk, how about reaching for something to drink instead? Sometimes we're actually just thirsty! I have never posted on "What is on your menu today" posts because my "meals" don't look anything like those who post. They never have. It doesn't mean I'm not following my plan or not doing well. So you can include me in that category! Cya... Chele

YES This is reality for me too!!! Well said!

I feel like you have been sping on me and am writing my story. I have been eating crap too. Mine is not som much sweet as salty and too much when I do eat. I have not lost weight in 3 weeks and am actually up 4 lbs. I have 30 lbs to goal and don't know why I am doing this. I continue to go to the gym doing weights and walking every day. It is just me eating........ I am on vacation next week at the beach with my health conscious sister and her family so I hope I will be busy and back on track.

I'm with you guys. That's why I never post on the daily food intake. I think I eat way more than 4 oz of anything. my meals look more like this. B-nothing L-dinner salad which is lettuce,tomatoes and cucumbers with ranch dressing on the side.. I dip my fork in the ranch then get some salad. I can eat the whole dinner salad. (sometimes I steal a couple of french fries off my DH's plate) and eat a couple of crackers. I justify all this because I don't eat breakfast. S-chips with salsa or some nuts, or both S-popsicle sf D-bowl of chilli or soup.. or pintos and beans or bean burrito from taco bell. I have no idea how many calories I eat.. I'm sure I don't get enough protien. I usually only manage 40 oz of water or liquid. I'm still losing...just very slowly.. I'm 35lbs from my goal. My Dr. still says not to count calories..that I'm still not eating enough to worry about. I do know that some days I eat hardly nothing..so maybe it balances out.

OKay - so in spirit of posting the true menu for yesterday it looked like this LND: Salad with turkey and cheese, a few bites of Mac and Cheese S: graham crackers B: protein shake S: bite of brownie and some flaming hot cheetos L: grilled chicken and some flaming hot cheetos and more brownie S: Zone Bar D: chicken with mushrooms S: #2 sugar free pudding and teddy grahams S: snack size box of Nerds from Isaiah's candy stash. I threw the brownie away this morning when I got to work. It was a brownie from Fuddruckers and I promised myself that I would only take 1-2 bites a day. Well I was sticking with it but I felt guilty so I dumped it this morning. I do feel like I am able to eat more in one sitting. Sometimes when I make the right choices on my dinner like last night, I was really pleased on the amount I was able to eat. But when I eat stuff like fried chicken the only way I justify it is by saying I am getting my protein! I know that sometimes I'm not completely honest with my food menu or with myself, when I post. I'm apologize that I do that. I do find myself grazing on whatever candy they have here in the office but no more!!! I will limit myself to 1 snack a day of the bad nature (in example 3 bite sized snickers) and only after I get atleast half of my protein in. That is my new goal. I also swore off the Zone bars a while back because of the carbs but since they are chocolate flavored and have 16 grams of protein, I will start considering those to be my treats. They are totally satisfying to me. Thanks you guys for your input and support. I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this! Dana

Dana, some days I make very bad choices. THE CARBS ARE CALLING MY NAME!!! I have come to realize that it's sooooo normal for us to kinda backslide like that. Already, you have realized that habits that you have are bad for you and you want to change them. That's a great start! I think our hardest battle has not even started yet. We have to get to goal and then we have to maintain for the rest of our lives!! You haven't ruined it....not at all! Don't be ashamed either, you can still change, and it seems like you've already put it in motion. You're doing great! April

Good for you for throwing out those stupid cheetos I know that took alot of willpower to do that. How about having lots of good things you CAN have in your office: 1. Qsmart Bars 2. Luna Bars 3. Jerky 4. Fruit 5. Fresh Veggies & low fat dip 6. Yogurt 7. SF Puddkng or Jello 8. Soy Chips (great crunch and has protein too) 9. Almonds Keep things handy so if you want/need to eat you can and then you don't have to feel guilty Sending hugs, Ronna

To Dana & Kay: Kay, Valerie wasn't trying to say that was anyone's menu. YOu know I post pretty much everyday unless I'm gone out of town and I've never seen anyone post an ice cube as a snack. I think her point was, with her using humor, "I eat more than some of these folks and I'm embarrassed to post what I eat, because I don't want anyone judging me". I've met Valerie and she is a genuinely nice person and wasn't flaming anyone. I feel you eat an average amount of food. Sometimes when I post, I feel I eat more than many, but I'm still losing and my doctor's okay w/ it. Sometimes things touch our nerves when they wouldn't ordinarily. You know that's happened to me on here at times. Dana: Hang in there and good for throwing out the bad choices. We all would love to eat a big old warm homemade chocolate chip cookie, but we probably shouldn't. I took one bite last weekend of a storebought cookie thinking it would be great, and it wasn't. I did eat a handful of Fritos one day on a salad, and they sure were good. I keep nuts on hand to eat if I need something crunchy and salty. I eat a SF cookie (just 1) every once in a while. I've thrown things away so I wouldn't eat them either. We're all gonna be tempted and eat things that aren't the best choices at times. Just limit how much, and tell yourself not more than once a day at the most. You'll feel good when you pass the stuff up. You can do it! I'm w/ Kay on I was one of the biggest ones on this January board and I have a lot more to lose: 81 more pounds. NOne of us are perfect though. Just make sure you get enough protein so you don't get nutritional deficiencies: this is my home economics degree coming through. I don't want to see anyone in the hospital a ways down the road because they've not gotten enough protein every day. You look great, and you'll keep looking great. Karla 337/231/150

Hey Dana, Just to let you know that normal sized people make bad choices on occasion too. I have a sister in law that is 5 ft 2 inches and has always weighed about 110 lbs. She's never had a weight issue, but I've seen her pig out just like all of us on the boards. The difference is that she only does it on occasion as opposed to me doing it on a daily basis (before surgery that is). I think everything is about moderation. You'll get back on track soon, just don't let it get you down. As far as posting to Kay's "what's on your menu", I try to do it everyday. (when I'm home). I'm so glad that she takes the time to do it. It helps me to be accountable of what I'm eating. My main reason to read it is to get new ideas for meals. I tend to fall into the old rut of eating the same thing day in & day out. That's not a good thing either, because nobody could keep that up for the rest of their lives. I think we all need to find our own "key" to what works best for us. We have Dr's and nutritionist to help along the way. Good luck finding your key & keep posting even when you're having problems. Kathy