to snack or not to snack???
I think it's important to make a distinction between:
snacking --- that entails grazing and unplanned eating
snacking --- planned snacks (mini-meals) that fit within the caloric requirements to help meet protein goals
grazing, of course, is off limits. But snacking in a planned and deliberate way it totally different. My body requires that I eat every 3 to 4 hours -- or I get shaky and light headed and pretty darned grouchy. And like Shari said... to get all my calories in, my meals would have to be huge which is impossible with a small pouch.
So I eat 3 main meals per day and 2 planned snacks plus maybe a late night snack if it fits into my day.
My original direction from the NUT right after surgery was similar. 3 meals and 3 protein shakes between meals. Over time 2 out of 3 of those protein shakes have turned into food-based high-protein snacks instead.
snacking --- that entails grazing and unplanned eating
snacking --- planned snacks (mini-meals) that fit within the caloric requirements to help meet protein goals
grazing, of course, is off limits. But snacking in a planned and deliberate way it totally different. My body requires that I eat every 3 to 4 hours -- or I get shaky and light headed and pretty darned grouchy. And like Shari said... to get all my calories in, my meals would have to be huge which is impossible with a small pouch.
So I eat 3 main meals per day and 2 planned snacks plus maybe a late night snack if it fits into my day.
My original direction from the NUT right after surgery was similar. 3 meals and 3 protein shakes between meals. Over time 2 out of 3 of those protein shakes have turned into food-based high-protein snacks instead.
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
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The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
I was told no snacks ever. Sure - in the beginning that was fine. Lack of hunger, room, etc. No biggie. As time went by I needed something between meals to help me along until the next meal.
When you're relearning everything about how you eat I think NOT snacking is a great. You have got to learn what head hunger is and it's signals (aka mindless eating). Once you learn those (and look for additional signs because they evolve over time just as everything else does) then you can really snack healthfully. Grazing will always come back to bite you in the butt. So as long as you know what you're experiencing is true physical hunger then a couple planned protein snacks aren't going to be horrible. And if you are going to snack become a snack snob. My snack has to have considerable protein OR fiber. Most days they have both (but that's because I'm a food snob now and strive to be what I consider a superfood eater). Basically if it's going to have a carb in it it's going to have more then 4 grams of DF in it. That's extreme for many people but it works for me. But in my case if I only made 3 grams of DF "ok" then I'd justify a couple brands of crackers and I'm crazy enough about them to know I need to avoid them so I made that little rule. lol
I think snacking is important. But preplanning snacks is more so. Settling for anything in a vending machine is bad news. Always be prepared and bring something along. Something sweet, something savory. That way you can enjoy what you've preplanned instead of settling on junk because there isn't a better alternative.
Jenny
P.S. I recently tracked my intake (not a habit of mine) and if I did NOT snack I wouldn't break 1000 calories a day. I'm actually trying to bump my cals up considerable because I don't think I'm getting near enough for someone 2 years out. For whatever reason I just can't consistently keep them up because trying to hit 1600-1800 cals every single day healthfully withOUT snacking would be an impossibility. I need to snack to get in at least 1200 cals a day.
When you're relearning everything about how you eat I think NOT snacking is a great. You have got to learn what head hunger is and it's signals (aka mindless eating). Once you learn those (and look for additional signs because they evolve over time just as everything else does) then you can really snack healthfully. Grazing will always come back to bite you in the butt. So as long as you know what you're experiencing is true physical hunger then a couple planned protein snacks aren't going to be horrible. And if you are going to snack become a snack snob. My snack has to have considerable protein OR fiber. Most days they have both (but that's because I'm a food snob now and strive to be what I consider a superfood eater). Basically if it's going to have a carb in it it's going to have more then 4 grams of DF in it. That's extreme for many people but it works for me. But in my case if I only made 3 grams of DF "ok" then I'd justify a couple brands of crackers and I'm crazy enough about them to know I need to avoid them so I made that little rule. lol
I think snacking is important. But preplanning snacks is more so. Settling for anything in a vending machine is bad news. Always be prepared and bring something along. Something sweet, something savory. That way you can enjoy what you've preplanned instead of settling on junk because there isn't a better alternative.
Jenny
P.S. I recently tracked my intake (not a habit of mine) and if I did NOT snack I wouldn't break 1000 calories a day. I'm actually trying to bump my cals up considerable because I don't think I'm getting near enough for someone 2 years out. For whatever reason I just can't consistently keep them up because trying to hit 1600-1800 cals every single day healthfully withOUT snacking would be an impossibility. I need to snack to get in at least 1200 cals a day.
I am to eat every 2-3 hrs according to my Nut. Everyone has different 'plans' to follow as there is no standard way for this surgery nor how each doctor decides the follow up plan. My advice is to follow what your doc/NUT says but if eating only 3xs a day isnt working, spread your calories, protein and meals out.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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