Issues with Food

So I had a big race (5K) a couple weeks ago and crushed my previous time, but since then I have found it difficult to eat the right foods.  I don't mean that I am eating crap but I have found myself falling back to my old habits of eating mainly mushies and soft foods as opposed to dense proteins.  I get close to 100grams of protein a day and on avg over 100oz of fluids especially on days I workout, typical

I have made attempts a few times to focus on dense proteins but really have to force myself to do it.  Yogurt and Chili and protein supplements have been frequent meals for over a week now.  I used to eat eggs for Bfast on the weekends but now they don't even seem to come close to satisfying me or my body.  About the most solid meals I get are my week day breakfasts which consist of 2 Nutrgrain Whole Wheat Eggo waffles with Greek yogurt or peanut butter and some banana, which I eat on the way to the gym.  For all of those that are gasping at a non protein meal it is the ONLY breakfast that can fuel my workouts or my races.

I just need to figure out a way to get me out of this rut. I don't know if it is stress or that my workout routine has me to tired to care,I typically get up at 4am to get in 90-120 minutes before work which is another 9-10 hours and then twice a week I do karate at night.  At this point not exercising is not an option, making this really not a fun situation. Fortunately I love my protein drinks, which is probably part of the problem.

I am tempted to start logging my intake again but don't wantto then start obsessing about numbers in versus numbers out.

thanks

I'm always more hungry in general after a good run and since I exercise heavily too I eat way more good carbs than most folks.

Sounds like you are in a rut.  Time to try some new things.  What about fish?  I love to blacken some salmon or tuna--really quick and great protein...and you can eat that for breakfast too!  I often eat meat for breakfast, or at least my "second breakfast" (I eat 6 meals a day).

What about rotissiere chicken?  You can pick these up from Publix (our local chain) or Wal-Mart/Sams.  Here we are starting the grilling season, so I've been grilling a lot more--maybe the grill will get you going again?

Try some dense protein salads....shrimp, tuna, chicken--all make great salads and use Greek yogurt in place of the mayo....roll that up in a Flat Out--YUMMY!

Sounds like you are on the right track with your eating plan, you just need some new ideas!  Bravo on the excellent exercising efforts!  I wish more WLS patients would accept that regular, strenuous exercise is the #1 key to permanent weight management.

Kim

Are just eating the soft proteins a problem, or do you really want to get the dense proteins in? Are they better for you?

I understand about the carbs for energy and exercise. I have karate 3x a week and I used to eat a protein bar and something else (peanut butter) prior to class and I'll have to find a sub for that now.

The softer the protein the faster they empty from the pouch.  After a hard workout I have a major appetitte so I really need things that will stay with me longer.

At least for me the more I exercise the hungrier I am.  Weekends are my off days and eat very little but during the week I feel like I am always eating, even if it is 6-7 small meals.

Is it maybe a motivation thing? I find it significant that you mark the beginning of your trouble to your very successful race a few weeks ago. Do you feel now more like you are done? Or feel like you're out of training mode? Was the training mode you were in too strenuous to keep up with?

No very much still in training mode.

Indoor Tri next month
Sprint Tri in May
10K July 4th
and a half in Oct.

I think it is more of a motivation thing. I eat because I have to really, but lately have returned to what I was eating for so long because of ulcers.  Sometimes I just need a good kick in the ass to get back on track.

 Oh wow, very exciting!

Well I hope you're back on track soon... that's great!

Like you I am trying to focus on dense proteins for one meal a day now that I am working out so much and my appetite has come back a bit. I love my shakes but know I need real food to fuel.

Right now, I struggle with meat.  No chicken at all for sure.  So I am focusing more on beans, chick peas, edemame (frozen no shell), cheese, and soups with hidden meat proteins (vegetable soup with chicken stock, etc).  It seems to be going ok.  I worry a bit about what will happen when I amp up my workouts to the next level as it is about time.

I got a new app on my iPhone that measures every gram of protein, fat, calories, and then removes the burned cals from exercise.  I did it twice until I realized I kept trying to make it zero calories for the day like a video game. I realized that it was not for me! hehehe I guess I can be obsessive with data.

Rock on with your bad self for all those Tri's on your schedule and killing your time on the 5k.  That is awesome.  So proud of you!

We have a swim and 5k that I am thinking about doing http://www.3milebridgeswim.org/.  We have a lot of triathalons locally and big support for getting in shape to do them.  I am still holding out to see how I do in the heat.  Might just be a swimmer.....
Holly