Calorie Countdown - Mellifluous Monday, what are you eating?

Guten Tag!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and you are all ready to log your food and share it with your BMI over 50 friends!!  I think its good to see what people early out and people further out are eating.  You know, for the lurkers. 

You know, for kids!  (Does anyone know this reference, please say yes, I'll be your friend for life!)

I had an ok weekend, nothing special.  I took pictures of my friend's family Friday evening.  It was interesting - not the smoothest experience.  I got a FEW keepers though, even though there were some seriously cranky lawn apes to contend with (and consequently seriously cranky lawn ape parents to contend with).  We had plans Sunday with some other friends, but alas it did not pan out.  Its ok, I didn't really want to anyway

Other than that, it was cleaning and playing with photoshop.  Wanna see? 









Individual portraits, no problem!  Family portraits on the other hand... yikes.  Crying baby, mooney looney from older brothers, scowling father.  Only Stephanie (mom) knows how to behave for a family picture Good job Stephanie!

Ummm, food.  Yeah that's what I am supposed to be posting about right?  See, now this is a problem.  I am not eating much at all. 

I am curious though, different doctors and patients have different schools of thought on the food/hunger issue.  Some docs say YOU MUST EAT ALL YOUR PROTEIN EVERY DAY!  Other docs say IF YOU AREN'T HUNGRY DON'T EAT!  One large bariatric group here says as long as you drink you may find that you don't want to eat for several days at a time - and that's fine since you are supposed to be learning to listen to your hunger cues anyway. 

What is your opinion?  I'm not completely sure.  I TRY to eat enough everyday, and sometimes I eat TOO MUCH.  But some days, like this weekend, its literally 400-500cal in a day - nothing until dinner, and then another snack before bed.  Only 30-40g protein.  I know I should eat more, but knowing and doing are two entirely different matters.  I don't understand my pouch or my body.  Its so... fickle.  I am stark raving ravenous some days and others not a twinge. 

So here's Monday's plan.  The kitchen is clean, I've got a swanky new chef's knife that is absolutely perfectly balanced for my hand (its smaller than a standard chef's knife but I heart it sooooo much) - so I want to cook.  I am hankering to cook up a storm, even if I don't want to eat.  So I plan on having milk for breakfast, and a piece of fruit for a snack.  Lunch will be pineapple and cottage cheese or tomatoes and cottage cheese, depending on whether I am feeling sweet or savory.  Dinner will be a honey mustard glazed grilled pork chop and spinach/strawberry/walnut salad/green onion with a little raspberry walnut vinagrette.  That is the plan - whether I actually eat any or all of it is another matter. 

What about you, what's your plan Stan?  Are you getting all your protein?  Good job! 

Jen,
I continue to be amazed by your photography skills.  Awesome pix.

Weekend was kinda lazy.  Yesterday I didn't feel like doing anything...and I didn't.  Even took a nap (not a nap taker).  I've been having problems sleeping lately, so I'm sure that's a big reason. 

Food for today:

B - yogurt with 1/2c kashi ceral
S - milk
L - ham/LF chz in a LC wrap with tomato, pickle & part of peach
S - milk
D - bankok marinated chicken and veggie or fruit. Maybe I'll try a small salad for the first time.

-dawn

I'm not sure where I stand on the food/hunger issue.  I've gotten so accustomed to eating on my regular schedule, that I don't really get hungry.  And if I'm busy, I can go for hours and hours without eating and I still don't get hungry, like this weekend - I did yard work for hours on Saturday and only stopped to drink water.  Normally over that time span, I would have eaten two snacks of about 200-250 calories apiece. 

Here's what's on my plate this manic Monday - edited Tuesday to reflect actual Monday consumption and activity (none)

Breakfast:  1 c. 1% milk in my coffee, 1 packet Quaker Weight Control oatmeal

Snack #1:  1 c. lowfat cottage cheese, 4 tbsp. sugarfree preserves, 2 oz. blueberries, 3 oz. strawberries

Snack #2:  7 oz. Fage 2% yogurt, 1/4 c. Bob's Red Mill Mueslix, 2 oz. blueberries, 1.5 oz. strawberries

Dinner:  6 oz. catfish, 2 oz. coleslaw, ~1/2 c. sauteed summer squash and mushrooms

Total calories:  1545
Carbs:  169.0
Fats:  53.9
Fiber:  22.3
Protein: 113.9

I know I should probably eat on a schedule to deal with blood sugar issues but I have a hard time eating if I don't feel hungry.  Definitely different that before surgery!!  I ate no matter how I felt!

As I have posted before, my doctor is all about not eating if you are not hungry.  He wants me to drink drink drink and throw in a few protein shakes to keep that up.  I was having trouble tolerating protein, but I found one yesterday at GNC that is great.  It taste like a Jolly Rancher.  It is a bit sweet and a bit tart for me, but at least I can suck it down and get 40 grams of protein in...yea!!!  So, now that I have found this protein and I can bear it, I will probably not eat much of anything for the next few months.  Remember, he didn't really want me eating for the first six months and I have four to go. 

My meal for the day - 20 oz Cytospor****ermelon Protein

Glad you found a protein you like!  That's a toughie.  I found one I like too (Click) but its caffeinated and its really heavy.  I like how it tastes but the one shake I had didn't agree with me very well because it was so heavy. 

My doc is sort of evasive on this question.  He really stresses high protein and after the first few months upping the calories so you don't kill your metabolism completely, but at the same time he doesn't want you to eat because you have to.  Every time I see him he seems to think I should eat more than I do, which is weird because pre-op he seemed to think I should never ever eat ever again.  The nutritionist I had has been let go, which is good, she wasn't helpful, but I haven't had a session with his new nutritionist to see what she says on the subject. 

Before I had blood sugar issues I was more inclined to say don't eat if you aren't hungry.  Now I'm not so sure.  On days that I work out especially, I have to eat whether I want to or not, or I will pass out. 

Jenn
You take such wonderful photos those are some very handsome young men and a beautiful lady...
Oh im having problems with food i dont wonna eat and all and then i get a rumbly in my tummy (like winnie the pooh).
So ive been trying to eat to get my protein in and it doesnt stay down.
yesterday we took the boys to see hellboy 2 and took them to golden corral(no discount).
I ate bourbon chicken and baked fish veggies and fruit,it gets hard cause i love those rolls.
today i had ascrambled egg with cheese(lost it)
so i dont know what im gonna eat today i know for supper they are having sausage green beans and potatoes......................................

Ugh sorry about the problems with food!  I can relate.  I rarely throw up, but I feel like it fairly often! 

Happy Monday!  Today is my 3 month surgiversary! 

Here's what's on the menu:

B:  Matrix Cookies & Cream Protein Shake w/ 8 oz. skim milk
Between meal fluid:  8 oz. water
S:  6 oz. Kroger Lite Strawberry Yogurt
Between meal fluid:  8 oz. water
L:  Egg, Ham, & Cheese Casserole
Between meal fluid:  8 oz. water
S:  Carrot sticks w/ RF blue cheese dressing
Between meal fluid:  8 oz. water
D:  Probably chicken stir-fry, but not positive yet
Between meal fluid:  8 oz. SF cherry kool-aid
S:  1/2 c. protein ice cream
Fluid:  1 bottle (16 oz.) Crystal Lite Sunrise Orange

Happy Anniversary!