Lately I've been reflecting...

o boy.. I can relate to all your points... except it is wine and not beer for me.. 

I also can add - that I need to make sure that the food do not have soy, dairy  or gluten.. since I am allergic to the first 2,  and can't tolerate the gluten.Or beans, or rice, pasta, etc.. 

Anything with SA - gets a pass.. too many raw veggies - pass.. 

beside that- Ican eat as much as my pouch will allow.. (typically 1/2 - 1 cup dense proteins) 

Hala - your eating challenges, I think, are more than most of us can even imagine.  I applaud you for being able to get it under control and figuring out what are your triggers. 

What's crazy is I'll go to Starbucks and get a SF latte, and my pouch will rebel. Sometimes I think beer is the only thing I CAN drink that doesn't bother me!  LOL.. I know that's not true, bu****er, unless it's flavored upsets me, tea in larger quantities does too, I try to stay away from diet pop because of the caffeine and I do feel it makes me hungrier.  It's a "no-win" at times!

Great post Jody.  I read it yesterday and really had to think about my answers.  I need to do a lot more thinking these days.  It has been a rough 6 months as far as eating/exercising.  I found myself slipping back into a lot of my old habits.

I still do not drink when I eat.  I have not had a diet coke since several weeks before my surgery.  I know that I can't even try it because I would be right back on several a day if I could tolerate it.  I try not to eat out over 2-3 times a week.  Most weeks it is no more than once.  I used to eat out all 3 meals 5-6 days a week.  Planning is key for me. 

I sometimes wish I had listened to others when they advised not to try some things just to see if you can tolerate them.  Wish I had never tried chips/sweets.  They serve no purpose but can really get you hooked fast.

If I do protein first I can still get full pretty quick.  If I measure and weigh I do much better.  If I use Myfitnesspal or something to enter my food into I do better.  These are all if's that I need to do on a daily basis.

I think one of the main things that has helped me not gain more than I have is being on this site.  Posting my meals daily helps even when I do so bad like I did yesterday.

Linda

I remember for at least 3 years I stayed away from sugar because I dumped a few times.  Then one Christmas, I had a piece of chocolate, then another, and then I KNEW I was on trouble as I wasn't having big issues... I know I waited a lot longer than a lot of folks to "see if I could tolerate"... but once you know... watch out!  LOL   Honestly, I'm not a big sugar person, I'm a chip/salt person - so give me some popcorn with fake butter and salt and I'm good to go!

I DO drink diet coke, but not regularly.  Usually only if I have an upset pouch or just feel like something different.  Not often. 

As far as this site - I hear ya.  I like posting my food too, as it keeps me accountable.  I don't track on a site anymore because I make a lot of casseroles, etc and it's very hard to break all that down into a menu, but most of my recipes are from sites that have it broken down for me to start with and I know what I'm getting into.  I'm trying to still stay very low carb.  Some days I do it, some - notsogood...