Question:
Going Nuts *!*! cant get in the protein

My doctor thinks I am behind on my weight loss. I am 5 months out and have lost 52 pounds. I think my issue is the one piece of fruit a day and the few crackers I eat a day. Geez....what am I supposed to do? eat chicken 3 times a day and cheese slices for a snack? I mean how many choices do we have? I work 10 hours a day and don't have time to prepare 3 hour meals. So, everynight it is a piece of chicken, beef or pork chop-all prepared basically the same way. I am so bored!! I need a little variety, but everything seems to be loaded with carbs! One medium apple has 21 carbs..can that be right? That doesn't make sense to me. Could someone help me with VARIETY!!! So far every label I read keeps me on chicken and cheese because of the carbs. Help and thanks for letting me digress!!!    — Karen M. (posted on August 13, 2003)


August 13, 2003
How about adding some beans or turkey into your diet. I buy a pre-cooked turkey breast and then melt cheese over it. Or how about a salad. Has your dr said you can eat salads yet? They sure taste good, especially in this hot, humid weather we are having everywhere. I especially like turkey hot dogs with my beans. How about some eggs or turkey bacon? Just a few ideas for you.
   — OLD RODEO C.

August 13, 2003
There are plenty of choices out there! Speaking of going nuts...Try eating some. Very good source of protein. I eat cashews/low salt 2oz/and get 12 proteins/14 carbs. Try seafood for a nice change. Very high protein and "No" carbs. Once you learn to work your proteins/w/o carbs. You can have other foods that have slightly higher carbs. By the way, you wouldn't have thought fruits would be that high in carbs, but they are. But, don't deprive yourself. My Dr has be on 50 carbs a day/less and I have loss 85 pounds in 6 months, and in my 5 month I did not loose 1 pound (plateau) Since, you work you might try Carb Solutions (Wal Mart) 21 grams protein/4 carbs/11 oz. Someone e-mailed me from this site about it and in 5 days I loss 5 pounds and have been drinking 2 a day. I love the French Vanilla. Variety makes you happy with food. Boredom comes only by eating the same foods all the time. I now get 80 grams protein and at least 80 ozs of water. Also, remember you loose inches at times when the weight isn't coming off. Measure yourself. I have kept a journal from day one. Nothing goes in my mouth that doesn't go in my journal. I also, keep a count of protein/calories/carbs/fat next to food enteries. I write all exercise I do in my day, too. Of course, on the 11th of every month I measure and weigh. Working makes it much harder, but "You" have to work harder to make this procedure work for you. You can do it! Good Luck!
   — Hazel S.

August 13, 2003
Eggs (scrambled, boiled, deviled, salad), low-fat refried beans, bean salad, hummus, peanut butter, nuts, soy nuts, pork rinds, seseme sticks and seeds, deli meat, tuna, canned crab, frozen shrimp, salmon patties...the list goes on. I find that adding a bit of sauce to my meat not only improves the taste and variety, but makes it go down better. Just a half teaspoon or so of salsa, Hoisin sauce, vegetable tapenade, Italian dressing, seafood sauce, Green Goddess dressing, soy sauce, pickle relish, or whatever on the meat (either cut up and made into a salad, or spread over the meat like a sauce) keeps the food interesting. I also make sandwiches using a slice of cheese as the bread, with a little deli meat, egg salad, or liver sausage inside. Yum.
   — Vespa R.

August 13, 2003
I'm not a believer in severely limiting your carbs, especially the good carbs that you get from fruit/veggies/beans. My nutritionist said carbs were essential to a good post-op diet. I sincerely doubt a few crackers and a piece of fruit are inhibiting your weight loss. As for getting in more protein, try the protein shakes or bars. There are some very low carb bars out there (Atkins for example), but usually the lower the carbs, the lower the taste! The small Detour bars have 13 grams of carb, reasonable and very tasty.
   — Cindy R.

August 13, 2003
Here is the "formula" that my surgeons nutitionist uses for carbs. Take the total amount of carbs...then minus the amount of fiber and protein in it...if it equals 10 or less it is okay to eat.For example chili has 32 grams of carbs per serving but it has 16 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber so 32 minus 16 and 8 equals 8.Since it is under 10 it's allowed.
   — jennifer A.

August 13, 2003

   — [Deactivated Member]

August 13, 2003
Hey there! Do you like shrimp cocktail? 0 carbs, all protein and oh so yummy. Don't forget that deli meat is all protein. Here is a neat snacky recipe. 2 slices of deli ham, spread low fat cream cheese over it, place a green onion or raw asparagus on the edge and roll. You would be surprised how good it is and I am not a big onion gal. Keep searching and I think you weight loss is great! Don't forget to exercise too!
   — Michele B.

August 13, 2003
You don't sound like you're eating too many carbs to me. How often do you exercise?
   — mrsmyranow

August 13, 2003
I've enjoyed experimenting with different foods, substituting my old way of quantity for my new one of quality. I work a lot too and live alone so preparing "meals" is low on my priority list, although I will sometimes cook several pieces of chicken or a small roast or something similar to eat all week. BTW this hasn't worked real well as I get bored too fast. Anyway, is there a fancy gourmet grocery store where you live? I went to mine this week and came home with lovely deli meats and exotic cheeses, crackers from Italy (yowzah!), gorgeous fruits, and some marinated hot peppers stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella--holy cow were THOSE good!! Some other ideas: canned broth with various meats, seafood, tofu, tempeh, and vegies, seasoned any way you like it; stirfry; meatloaf or any casserole minus the starch, freeze in portions; nachos minus the chips; smoked or fresh oysters, mussels, and clams; oyster stew--simmer fresh oysters in milk; sardines; tuna from Italy packed in olive oil (much better than American brands); tofu burgers (fry slabs of tofu in VERY hot oil, adding soy sauce just before the tofu, fry till crispy, top with cheese--makes a spattery mess but is yummy, kids love them). Tofu mayo: blend tofu, olive oil, fresh garlic, and fresh lemon juice to taste in blender, use as a vegie dip. Tofu is a wonderful food which has almost no flavor and absorbs the taste of what it is cooked in. It comes in 4 firmnesses depending on what you are using it for. Celery with peanut butter or port wine cheddar. Fish/meat/poultry in black bean sauce: in a soup/cereal bowl, place fish/meat, top with sliced scallions and ginger, a little soy sauce and sesame oil, and a few fermented black beans, which will be in the Asian foods section of the store and will be in a cellophane package, they are soft and extremely salty. Place bowl in a pot on a steamer rack and steam till the fish/meat is cooked, 10 minutes or so. There are >10,000 recipes at the SOAR website http://www.recipesource.com/ and http://foodtv.com/ has some good stuff too. Enjoy!
   — Chris T.

August 13, 2003
Karen, Want to spice up that chicken and have it hot, juicy, tasty, and ready when you get home? I have a great recipe for a crockpot chicken that is to die for. Put it on before you go to work and forget it until you come home to a house full of the wonderful aroma. I also have some other recipes that might help you with your hectic schedule and food boredom. Email me if you are interested.
   — Kimberly B.




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