Grazing? Tips/Tricks. Re-post

My GP also told me to not drink 64 oz of water due to edema and I asked my surgeon at the 3 mo. followup and he told me just to drink when I was thirsty. I'm still getting in about 50-55 oz a day though. On a good note, I'm about 4.5 mo. postop and my edema isn't as bad and some mornings I can look at my ankles and feet and I'm surprised at how "skinny" they look.

Well for me a big help is to make sure I plan my eating so that meals & snacks are fairly evenly spaces. On my plan, I am supposed to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks. I try to plan them in 3 hour intervals. This helps me keep eating in perspective. If I am hungry, I know that I'll be eating soon and many times that is enough to keep me going as long as I add water in between. If I don't do this I find myself grazing without clear thought about what I am eating. Another thing I do is break up and bulk packed items into serving sized containers. For example, if I buy a can of nuts I'll place them into snack sized ziplock bags. I find that if I don't I can tend to eat more than I should in a snacktime. It's easy for me to not realize that I have eaten more than a serving otherwise. I'll just keep grazing unless I see the bottom of the baggie. I also think another item that helps me is to keep a food log including what I eat, how much I eat, over what time frame, what I am doing right before eating, enjoyment level of eating the food and my mood at the time. This helps me if I look back and see any patterns in my eating. With this I have found out things that have led to grazing for me. Things like the items you mentioned and others as well. I learned some of my snacks don't have the staying power of other snacks. I learned that I eat more after exercising so I switched one of my snacks with a meal which is usually a denser "feeding". I learned that I eat more when stressed so I have had to work on stress awareness and remedy....... These maynot be helpful to all but they do help me so I'll share in case someone might be able to relate. Carolyn

Carolyn, Certainly the "portion control" idea is GREAT! I do that, but only with stuff I cook And store for later meals. I kept a food/exercise log The first year, but let it go as time went on. I'll add these to my list for later reposts. (Now, "coming to Boston." It looks like I'm going to be up there To open Full Monty on Nov. 1st. They will bring me up probably- Oct. 24th or 25th. The 1st pre-view is actually Nov. 1 So I would be looking to find some free time To meet all of you for Lunch or such While there. This time, No Theater Fires! I'll send more info when it's nailed down So as to find a time that most of "Ya'll" Are available. Talk soon.) Best Wishes- Dx

Quick question for ya DX......Do you eat three meals with planned snacks or just the three meals with no snacks??? Also, (don't wanna sound stupid) but how do you add a sppon of bran to stuff??? Does it come scoopable like flax seed?? Thanks~and great post! Take Care jesi