Question:
Tell me if my post op food choices are wrong?
today I had for lunch 2 small hot wings(I assume fried) and 1/2 of a stuffed manicotti made with meat sauce,pasta, ricotta, and mozzerella cheese. Yesterday day I had for dinner small portions of mexican red rice and lemon chicken. Last friday I had half of a shredded beef enchilada with cheese.And last, on Saturday I had for dinner a small potion(1/4 or less) of Mc Donalds double quarter pounder with cheese without the bun, and 2 fries. Are these poor food choices and is it too much? Any input or suggestions is greatly appreciated. And is this hindering my weight loss? — Monette L. (posted on January 15, 2003)
January 15, 2003
You didn't say how far post-op you were. Personally, I think they were
fine. You may get varying answers on this, but I did this surgery to be
normal, not to have to constantly worry about what I eat (even though I do
alot) The actual food and portions seem good to me. I'll eat one taco with
beef and cheese, not all of the shell. Today I had 2/3 of a McD's
cheeseburger with 1/3 of the bun. It sounds like all your meals have meat
and/or cheese, which is the main concern, getting the protein in first. It
sounds like you are doing good. Keep it up!
— Lezlie Y.
January 15, 2003
I looked at your profile and you are less than a month postop. I am 4
months postop and can only eat half a kiddie burger with no bread. Your
doctor must have someone in their office to advise you on good food choices
at this point for you. It also looks like you are eating too many carbs
for now. Good luck
— barbara A.
January 15, 2003
Hot wings arent the best food choice... how about a larger piece of chicken
like a thigh so you can pick out some of meat... the fried skin is not
nutritious at all. A 1/2 of a stuffed manicotti is fine if you are eating
the center cheese and leaving the pasta... but this is not a great food
choice overall. The pasta is extremely high in carbs. Mexican red rice and
lemon chicken... ditch the rice and eat the chicken. Rice is extremely high
in carbs and should be avoided. The beef enchilada is a fair choice... if
you are eating the filling of the meat and cheese and leaving the flour
tortilla. Flour tortilla is too high in carbs. Double quarter pounder
with cheese is not a great food choice at all. Skip McDonalds altogether
start thinking of other alternatives for fast food, such as stopping at a
deli and getting a turkey sandwich with cheese so you can eat the lean meat
and cheese. Keep a protein bar in your purse or glove compartment always so
if you are out and about with only time for a fast bite, you can eat the
bar and not run through fast food places. See... this is all about choices.
Right now you are an early post op and are very restricted in how much you
can physically eat. If you dont take this opportunity to change the way you
eat and make better food choices what are you going to do when you are 18
months out and can eat more? If you dont change it now, in 18 months you
will be eating the entire burger and fries! Use this time wisely to eat all
protein and leave the carbs and fast food behind. When you eat carbs, your
body burns the carbs as immediate fuel instead of the stored fat. So every
carb you put in your mouth stops your body from burning the fat you already
have. Keep repeating to yourself... SIZE 12 IS BETTER THAN A QUARTER
POUNDER WITH CHEESE... SIZE 10 IS MUCH BETTER THAN A BURRITO... SIZE 8 IS
SO VERY MUCH BETTER THAN RICE AND PASTA. Protein first... then lower carb
vegetables and if you have any room which you wont, a bite of rice or
pasta. Keep it up... the fact that you are asking questions means that you
are wanting to do this right. Ciao, Suze
— SusanMaria
January 15, 2003
Susan yours is really good advice. Only it's a 'diet'. I don't know about
anyone else, but if I could eliminate all that good stuff, I'd be on a
'diet'. If I could 'diet' I wouldn't have needed this surgery. I think
portion control is the answer. I do think you need to have your protein
first. I think portion control is the answer...I never had that and I
STILL don't have the 'diet' mentality. I didn't know this surgery provided
the 'diet' mentality. More power to you and good luck. Open RNY 10/30/02
-70lbs
— Ginger M.
January 15, 2003
— Sharon H.
January 15, 2003
I've been debating for some time now as to whether I should respond with
some comments in regards to food choices. Before I start, PLEASE DON'T
crucify me for what Im about to say. I realize how important it is to
change our eating habits. In fact, I feel so much better now that Ive
eliminated sugar and caffeine entirely from my diet. Ive started to
exercise more and when I can, I make the best possible food choices. My
problem is that at 5 months out, there is VERY LITTLE I can tolerate
without getting sick to my stomach. Up until last month, I could not eat
any form of meat or fish. Even if I put it through a food processor first,
it was too harsh on my stomach. About two weeks ago, I was able to get one
chicken tender (sauteed, not fried) down without getting sick. You have no
idea how elated I was. Basically, Ive been eating to stay alive. Because
of the fact that I can tolerate so little, I do eat a fair amount of pasta,
beans, soups and vegetables. I know, I know....these are loaded with
carbs. But, what I say is I have to eat something. These may be bad
choices, but when my stomach can handle more, I will start making better
choices. Id rather eat 2 ounces of pasta with ricotta, mozzarella cheese
and sauce as opposed to forcing myself on seafood or chicken and having to
throw up 10 minutes later. I just think everyone's body is different. I
know I wouldnt be eating cheeseburgers or chicken wings even if I could,
just for fear of gaining my weight back after the "honeymoon"
period. But, it seems that a lot of us get crucified for eating carbs.
They might not be that great for us. But, for those that have real
difficulties tolerating most foods, its our only choice. Try to go a
little bit easier on us :) At 5 months out and minus 139 pounds, I dont
think Im doing too bad.
Thanks for letting me add my two cents. I know it wasnt in direct relation
to the question. Sometimes I just need to vent like everyone else when I
see a topic that catches my attention.
— c B.
January 15, 2003
Ok, I think we need to remember she is only a month and a half out. She
just started eating somewhat normal again and what is she doing.....she is
checking to see if the food she used to LOVE are as good as she thought
they were. I did this, there was about two or three days that I went to
McDonalds and bought a cheese burger to eat. Was it as good as I
remembered...not really....have I had one since? NO. Ok then, what was
the harm. I think that was good because instead of pining away for a damn
cheeseburger and then finally gorging myself on one one day I got them out
of my system and I have no need to have another. Now when I go to
McDonalds (I have 3 young kids so MC D's is almost a staple) I buy a chef
salad and eat the meat, cheese, eggs and some lettuce. Another thing, like
one of the other posters I want to eat normal. I asked my nutritionist
about how fanatical (my opinion) people on here are about carbs. She
didn't understand what the big deal is as long as you are getting in all
the protein first. If you have a meal of chicken and rice...eat the rice,
just make sure you eat the majority of the chicken too. I am striving for
normalicy. Each of us needs to decide how we want to look and be when we
finish our weight loss journey. Me, I would be happy weighing 180 lbs
(5'3")...not to say I wouldn't like to be 150. Most of all, I want to
feel normal. I understand watching what you eat but I don't want to watch
it to the point that I have to run out and run 5 miles because I added some
rice or whatever to my meal. Finally, I don't think it is fair for people
to complain about your carbs...you didn't list EVERTHING you ate those days
so if the amount of carbs you ate were the only ones then you go girl!!
Decide now who you want to be later and make your decisions accordingly.
GL and enjoy open RNY 8/8/02 and 85lbs down.
— Angela A.
January 15, 2003
Some of you may not like this answer and others may need to be reminded
that this is a tool to help us change the habits that enabled our obesity
in the first place. One of the replies said you were 1 month post op.
Aren't you supposed to still be on full fluids and just now starting pureed
foods? Your stomach and intestines needed time to heal after such major
surgery and I don't think your choices were good ones. That's why surgeons
generally require liquids only for 4-6 weeks post op--to let your insides
heal and to not have to try to digest anything of substance. Do you have a
2-3 oz. pouch? You could do some serious damage eating solids too soon.
The other replies were right on when they said you are in your
"honeymoon" period, the time to change eating habits, to eat just
what you are supposed to at this point. Please stay away from fast foods
and concentrate on your surgeons eating plan. Protein first, sugar-free,
low carbs, plenty of water, suppliments-calcium, multi with iron, B12.
Take care and please follow your dietician/nutritionists meal plan.
This posting is just my opinion and what I beleive gives the best results
for health and weight loss over the long run.
— mary ann T.
January 16, 2003
Don't you all find it interesting so many surgeons and nutritionists and so
many DIFFERENT philosophies? I totally agree you need to be informed on
proper eating habits for health. I am a Weight Watcher drop out. I
learned so much from that program. I had no problem with what and when to
eat, I was just a huge portion eater. One WW meal was never enough, but
two maybe even three might have done the trick. I failed because I had no
self control on portion. Now I do. If I want to go out to dinner and have
that ONE fried shrimp, I will. Sure beats the double order I would have
ordered pre surgery. I am fortunate to love good for you foods. I just
loved waaaay too much of the good for you foods. I am not a snacker and I
do not eat until I feel full physically. I eat until there is
satisfaction. My mind and body seem to be in sync. The lifestyle changes
that must be made, will be made. But I will never say I am on a 'diet'. I
enjoy eating like my skinny comrades and most the time I eat less than they
do. Never thought I'd see that day. Open RNY 10/30/02 and -70 lbs.
Protein first!
— Ginger M.
January 16, 2003
Monette, first, you did a good thing by being honest and asking for
assistance with your diet, especially as you are so newly post-op. I think
most of us were surprised that at 1 month or so post-op you are eating the
types of things that the rest of us did not dare to try until we were
further post-op, or that our doctors restricted us from eating. I don't
think that your food choices are the best, though they certainly aren't
the worst either! What I would do is ease up a little and go to softer
foods for a while (eggs, tunafish salad, refried beans, cheese), and
concentrate on protein. When you eat chicken or turkey, make it thigh or
breast meat, these meats have the highest concentration of protein. Then
look at seafood-chock full of protein. An occasional trip to McDonalds or
any other fast food place will not hurt you as long as it is occasional.
There are those that think you will sabotage your weight loss if you ever
step foot in a fast food restaurant or eat french fries again, but that is
not the case. The key is to not do it too often. Use it as a treat. For
your daily eating, ensure that you get protein in at every meal, minimize
the bad carbs (white breads, rice, pasta, cookies/cakes) and eat good carbs
(veggies and fruits, beans), keep the sugar intake low, drink tons of water
every day and EXERCISE. At your stage where getting all your protein thru
food is difficult as you are not eating enough yet, supplement the protein
by using shakes/bars. If you do all that, then you will not hinder the
weight loss.
— Cindy R.
January 16, 2003
— tannedtigress
January 16, 2003
Monette- I found a book at www.fastfoodfacts.com that I keep in my car for
those days that I am on the run and need to eat. It has all the food facts
on places like McDonalds, Arbys, Taco Bell, Applebees..... it breaks down
the protein and even tells you how much sugar is in each food. That way,
when I do have to stop at these places, I can make the best decision
possible. You need to find what is right for you and not other people. We
got heavy follow diets that worked for other people, not us. Find what
works for you. I know everyone here is giving good advice, but I have
found that if you get 10 different answers, only one or two will be what
works for you. We all got fat for different reasons, we will all lose it
in our own ways, no way is right or wrong, find what works for you. Good
luck!
— Dana B.
January 16, 2003
Ginger... my advice IS that of a diet. The last diet we will ever have to
be on. We have all been successful on diets but then fall off the wagon and
gain it all back. Why? Beacause we dont change the way we think... we dont
make the changes permanent. With our reduced stomach capacity... it is easy
to control what we eat. If we are really good and lay off the carbs in the
beginning the next thing we know, we have maximized our loss in the
honeymoon period and we are so excited about dropping 100 pounds that we
would gladly eat dirt the rest of our lives for the promise of what is to
come. So, I am strict about the foods I put in my mouth until I am at
goal... then I can ease up a bit and have a few carbs. In the meantime I
have changed the way I cook and make wonderful low carb meals for my entire
family. One and a half months post op is not the time to be standing tall
and saying 'everything in moderation'...save that for later when it is
deserved. Too many people gain weight back that didnt change the way they
made food choices. There are too many people sneaking snickers bars and
eating fries and finding that they dont dump. Now that I am almost at goal
I have found that I dont enjoy the terrible foods I used to love. I have a
bite here and a bite there but they just dont turn me on anymore. I used to
love the skin on a roasted turkey more than life itself... and christmas
day when I pulled a piece off the bird and stuffed it in my mouth, I though
I was going to hurl it was such a terrible greasy feel in my mouth.
Everyone has given such great advice... there are really some folks who
have this thing figured out to a 'T'.
— SusanMaria
January 16, 2003
I was told not to worry so much about fat content and just look at protein.
If you eat too much fat you'll malabsorb (get the runs etc)... I don't
think it's all bad. I might not eat this way consistantly, but on occation
I don't see a problem. I work full-time and go to school 14 hours a week so
I eat on the run a lot. As you guessed I find myself in the drive through
lane a lot, I have a 3 year old and it's hard to feed right when time is a
constraint. I do try to make ahead things like tuna salad etc, but at least
one meal a day is ate out... it's just that way. I am still losing so
that's why I say it's not all bad...
— MF
January 16, 2003
I totally agree with Ginger. I did not take the risk of major surgery to
diet the rest of my life. This surgery does not change your mineset, it
would be great if it did. It also, for me at least, did not change my
taste for different foods. I still like and can tolerate the same foods
that I ate pre-op. I am only 2 1/2 mos out and I can eat much more that
most on this site. But as far as diets go, been there done that, and it
did not work. That's why I am here.
— Kathy C.
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