Conflicted

I know there have been a few posts on this topic, but I am feeling quite conflicted. I just got back from my nutrition visit today where she cleared me for all foods.
Here's my dilemma: the nutrition plan that she gave to all of us (it was a group appointment) was extremely different that what I see most people doing on here, and therefore very different from what I have been doing.
The plan she wants us on is 2-4oz of lean meat, 1/2 veggies, and 1/4 cup starch per meal. WHAT?!
First, I could not fit all that food in. She said eventually I will be able to, and when I can that's what my meals should look like.
Second, I don't feel like I would lose any weight on that plan. She wants us to start around 800 cal and work our way to 1000 then 1200. 1200 calories, along with this plan, sounds more like maintenance to me and I still have over 120 pounds to lose.
I know, I trusted my surgeon to cut me open, so I should trust this too... but I don't. I feel more comfortable keeping calories and carbs low, and protein high. Thoughts? Thanks again, OH fam

 My NUT follows a similar plan, although the support groups talk more about lower carb. I have found what works for me is less than 50 carbs, less than 900 cals and 75+ g protein. 

I'll get my 1 year labs tomorrow and am anxious to see what they show, but as far as losing, I'm 1# away from my goal and Friday is my 1 yr surgiversary. More importantly, I FEEL great!! If I drop my carbs back to less than 40 I start to feel really really crummy!

I do have a bit of a struggle (especially earlier on) about eating a well-balanced healthy diet vs. our super high protein, low carb one. I've found now that I'm further out I can still get my protein but can also have some fruits and veggies, which I believe are necessary to a healthy life.

Just my $0.02!

Maybe just experiment and see what works for you? 

:)

Hi my friend,
Your doctor's plan sounds a lot like mine. Unfortunately, my doc didn't expect me to lose as much as I have & that diet probably had something to do with it. After surgery, I wanted to lose about 120-130 pounds. I've lost 110 pounds so far & I know that weight loss would be a lot less if I was eating 1000-1200 a day. Maybe in the beginning that would be fine but as the weight comes off & you get smaller, we need less calories. I can easily stay at 700-800 calories a day at 10 months out & not feel deprived. I know once I hit goal, I can up those calories & feel very satisfied.
Hopefully some Vets can chime in; this is just what's been working for me.
Btw you are doing awesome my friend!
Luv ya gurl!

If your conflicted with the plan your NUT gave you it may be best to set up a one on one meeting and express your concerns. Also keep in mind you are not the first person they are working with to lose weight. While everyone is different we need to remember they are the experts guiding us through this process. Good luck and I would be interested to hear what the NUT says.

 Here is the thing, the nutritionist made this plan, not your surgeon. You have to find and do what works for you. I log everything, I kept low cal, low carb while I was losing (even when I was exercising hard) and I did very well. 

I CAN eat more then some of the people that I talk to here, but I used the time period where I could only eat small amounts to set up habits that continue to benefit me now (weighing, measuring and counting) b/c while I CAN eat more I find that I am SATISFIED with much less then it would take to make me "full". So while one day you MIGHT be able to eat all of that, you might find that you don't NEED or WANT to. 

Take it slow, one day at a time and set yourself up for success by creating GOOD habits now while it's still easy. 

You got this, you are going to do fantastic! 

Honestly, that is a good way to eat - IF you aren't addicted to food. I am so carb sensitive, I wouldn't be able to stop once I started on the starchy stuff. There are even some veggies (carrots) that trigger me into wanting more bad carbs.

Your decisions on what foods to eat will evolve over time. Through trial and error, you will find out that some foods are fine and some aren't.

You know you can't eat that much food right now - hell, I'm 8 months out and I couldn't eat that much in one sitting.

Start with protein. Make sure you are getting meats in first. I didn't look to see how far out you are, but I didn't try veggies until 3 months post op. I only add veggies when I've met my protein mins.

I think once you eat those things, there won't be room for any starches, but if you have room and want to try them, eat them last.

My nutritionist wants me to get more veggies and I do try to get one in a day, but I've told her that for me, protein is ALWAYS first.

Do what feels right for you.

Hi Elise.
My NUT's plan for progression to solids is meals consisting of 2-3 oz dense protein and 1-2 oz of veg, fruit or whole grain. That still keeps my total volume to 1/2 cup or less. A friend of mine had VSG a year ago, and she can now eat about a cup of food per meal. She's also an athelete, which I'm sure contributes.
You are doing great, and you'll find what works best for you.
Janet

Thank you all so much for your replies.
I'm definitely going to schedule a one on one with my NUT and tell her my concerns. My surgeon's goal for me is also not as much weight loss as my personal goal, so that may have something to do with the meal plan as well.
I haven't had any starches since surgery, and to be honest I'm afraid to. I think I'm doing pretty well currently, and I know that if I eat something carby I'm going to crave more. I don't have a problem so much with the idea of adding a few nutritionally dense fibrous veggies to my diet, but the starch is something I just don't think would be good for me and my food addicted self at this stage.
Thanks everybody!!

Most surgeons consider you a success if you lose more than 50% of your EW, my doctor disagrees and wants all of his patients to lose 80-100% EW by then end of the first year (with the exception of heavyweights, where he understands it will take longer).  What do you want? 

*hijack alert!*

My husband was telling me the same thing the other day, about surgeons thinking of you as a success at 50% EWL, and that just stunned me, because as of today I'm a pound and a half away from  50% EWL.  And I'm not three months out yet.  I can't fathom being three months out and being able to say with certainty that something this major and permanent was a definite success, so that method of determining the success bothers me.