Soup is sabotaging my WL efforts!

I love soup!  Year round I often enjoy a can of soup for lunch because, depending on the variety, I find it filling, comforting and easy to eat.

Here's the problem.  For the first year post op I rarely ate soup because my nutritionist didn't recommend it because it's considered liquid calories.  But as I became bored with my post op diet I started adding in some foods that seemed harmless calorically.  After all, a can of soup is generally 300-320 calories.  Not bad for a meal if that's all you're eating.  Right?

But here's what I've discovered and am finally "getting real" about my soup obsession.

1.  A can of soup can have 600-1500 mg of sodium
2.  Soup is a slider food
3.  Soup is generally not high in protein

Most of you that know me know that I lost all of my weight in the first year post op because I was very strict and regimented in my food choices.  It worked for me and I have maintained (within 10 lbs) that initial WL.  However, in the past 2 years I've lost zero additional weight.

I just came back from 10 days in Mexico and was thrilled and perplexed to find that I had lost 6 lbs!  I couldn't figure it out because while I was active, I wasn't more active than I normally am. I ate plenty and more than a healthy amount of quacamole.  But, I still lost weight.  So I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out what the diffrence was.  I think my calories were about average to my norm so what DIDN'T I eat in Mexico that I eat normally when I'm home?  Soup!
I also drank a lot more fluids than I have been because it was 94 degrees in Mexico.

This week I've been tracking my food faithfully to get the reality check that I so desperately needed.  Yesterday I was home sick.  I ate 2 cans of soup, 1 for lunch, 1 for dinner.  I just logged my foods for yesterday and my sodium was almost 3000 mgs.!!!  The USDA recommendation was just recently lowered from 2200 daily to 1600.  I was almost double the recommended sodium intake!  Low and behold, I was up 1 lb this morning on the scale vs. yesterday morning.

This is my experiment, but if your WL has stalled maybe it's time to look at your sodium and water intake.  Are you eating a lot of prepared foods, packaged seasonings, pickles, bottled dressings?  Even cottage cheese is extremely high in sodium.  Did you know that?  I used to plan my water along with my meals and I've gotten away from that healthy habit as well.

So...I'm giving up soup for 1 week to see if it makes a difference.  While I'm happy at my current weight I would like to lose 30 more lbs to reach my original, very realistic, goal of 190 lbs.

I'll report back my findings.

Lisa O.

Can't wait to hear how it goes. I too have become complacent and having the same issues. Need to recommit to lower sodium fewer prepared foods and kick up my water.

Hi lisa.

You can still eat soup, just not the liquid part.  What about chili?  

Pre WLS I hated ramen noodles with liquid, so always cooked it per directions, then drain the liquid. 
 

It's not the liquid part that is affecting me as much as the sodium.  I need to get cooking and stop eating things from a can!

Lisa O.

I'm not a canned soup lover, but recently I too have discovered the evils of high sodium intake. Not only has it made my weight bounce crazily up and down, it's also doing the same to my blood pressure.

I think it's wonderful that you lost weight while on vacation!

Jean 

IF YOU WANT SOUP MAKE YOUR OWN LEAVE OUT THE SALT AS LONG AS YOU MAKE IT A CHUNKY STYLE SOUP ITS NOT A LIGUID LOVE THE CHEESEBURGER SOUP GREAT PROTEIN

 cheeseburger soup??
wendy

Do you have a recipe for the CB soup?  Sounds great!

Yes, I know I need to get out the old crock pot and start getting creative again!

Thanks for your suggestion.

Lisa O.

Let us know if you come up with any good soup recipes. Good luck!

 
Try making your own soup in the crockpot. Bean soup is great, is a good protein source, and it freezes well. I add port to mine but you can add chicken to get even more protein.