Creekimp13

Ok....so that's breakfast. What about the rest of the day?

I never said it was. What I said....was that if you're eating 500 calories...and Jonesing like a maniac for junkfood....maybe you should try eating more healthy food and see if it takes the edge off. And I'm wondering why this isn't an option?

My Mayo Clinic Diet has the 75 calorie per day cheat built in. My doctor knows about it, and approves. I can use them daily, or I can bank them for a special occasion. If I know I'm going to dinner for my anniversary or whatever and know I'll want to be a little dumb...I'll save all my mad calories all week...and have plenty of wiggle room:)

Ash, I eat six times a day, generally. Your schedule is pretty close to what i follow. I rarely eat more than 200 calories in one sitting. Some days I'll bank for certain meals that might run heavier, and skip a snack or make other meals light.....but I know there are limits to what fits in the sleeve...and at about 250-300 calories, I'm Thanksgiving Day stuffed. Needless to say, I'm no longer a buffet candidate. LOL. But yeah...I spread it out to get my 1200 in. Have to.

Awesome chart, Ash!

SillyKitty, I want to ask a question, but I'm scared it's going to sound facetious...and I really don't mean it that way. I'm honestly trying to understand here, and I hope you get that I'm sincere. So here goes... You're eating 500 calories at day at about 5 months out....and you're not interested, for the most part, in eating the healthy options you keep at home beyond 500 calories......but find yourself struggling with cravings for unhealthy foods, take out, etc. Is this all correct? Now, here's my question...and please don't take this as a criticism or in any way a negative....I just want to try to get my head around where you're coming from... But...why don't you try to eat 1000 calories or so of healthy foods (even if you're not that interested)...and see if it doesn't help with the cravings for the naughty stuff? Wouldn't it make sense that having really good nutrition in ya would help ease the cravings? To me, that'd be the place to start. I totally get that I'm not you....but I'd like to understand why this isn't an option?

That's true, but for Johns Hopkins to bring this up...this assertively...gives me serious pause.

I had WEIRD insomnia right after surgery! Cleared up after a month or so:)

"In the last year alone, 8 percent of patients admitted to the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program had a history of bariatric surgery, says the program’s director, psychiatrist Angela Guarda. Some patients developed an eating disorder after surgery. Others had a pre-existing eating disorder that worsened after gastric bypass." To me, this is very interesting statistical data...from a reputable source. The entire article...linking certain behaviors experienced by bariatric patients to new and worsening eating disorders...was eye opening. For instance....the way clogging your stomach with hard to digest foods to induce vomiting resembles bulemia...and the phobias bariatric patients can have about eating... I thought it was a very interesting read.

I appreciate the link, but this an anecedote from the director of one eating disorder program. It's from Johns Hopkins....a world leader in metabolic and psychiatric research, and often ranked the number one research hospital in the United States.

The reason I, personally, get defensive when someone accuses another person of "head hunger" is that they can't possibly know what that other person is experiencing.....and they label it. Worse, the label means....you're over eating, and you're giving into temptation. Who are you to judge that? Maybe it's the same in reverse? I can't possibly know what you're experiencing when you're talking about "head hunger" that you legitimately feel you suffer....so you feel defensive, too, when I say....nope, you're not eating enough calories...and your body is telling you that need to eat. Who am I to judge that? Either way....people should avoid labeling each other's experiences and concentrate on their own. I don't know how your body works. I've never felt what you feel. But I do know that there are a lot of mind games at work in this whole messy business. And I know they can lead us in some very unhealthy directions if we're not vigilant.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/psychiatry_newsletter/hopkins_brainwise___winter_2015/bariatric_surgery_and_eating_disorders

When you're eating starvation level calories....and could satisfy your hunger by eating something healthy....that's REAL hunger in my opinion. Think of the calories your body needs to heal itself and maintain your basal processes.....and think of what you're consuming. That hunger is not "in your head"....it's your body trying to warn you that you will get ill or die of starvation if you don't pull up. This obsession with "head hunger" when we're eating starvation level calories concerns me a lot because it's a stone's throw from eating disorder speak....and eating disorder crossover (anorexia, bulimia) is a very real concern after bariatric surgery. Real Hunger = can be satisfied by a healthy snack that's on your plan. if you have real hunger...YOU SHOULD EAT. Head Hunger = you've just had a healthy dinner but think you want a Big Mac. You're not really physically hungry...your body has had it's nutritional needs met. But you *think* you're hungry for something you crave, or you have an emotion that would be soothed with food, or you're bored, stressed etc.

I dunno if anyone wants to see this...but this is how anal my group is. LOL! We had to document everything. And we were forbidden from drinking more than one ounce every 15 minutes. Have to say, though....I had an insanely easy recovery. Zero nausea. I have never vomited since surgery. All food advancements went smoothly. Could be luck, or maybe this protocol is a good thing? Hell if I know:) (The X's are clear liquids like jello, water, tea, decaf, powerade zero....and the P's are Premier Protein)

The advice we were given was based very much on tolerance Hydration was the first priority, of course, but as soon as we could tolerate protein shakes or protein water, we were encouraged to drink them alternating with our water. Starting on day two after surgery, I was told to alternate drinking 4 ounces of water or other clear fluids in one hour, and 4 ounces of protein drink the next hour. I was generally awake 18 hours per day. So starting on day two...I got 36 ounces of clear fluids each day AND 36 ounces of shake each day (3 whole premier protein shakes..,,,90g protein) 72 ounces of fluid each day for the first week. I have the charts they made me keep to prove it. And we were told not to drink more than one ounce every 15 minutes....which I carefully measured. That first week....was tedious. I had a timer set every 15 minutes to remind me to drink my next ounce. (in ten tiny sips) My entire JOB for the day consisted of drinking a million little timed cups of fluid, going for a little walk every hour and blowing into my spirometer. After following protocol for that first miserable week, though? WOW, did it get easier to drink! Week two was much easier, and it kept getting better from there. My program did a VERY regimented first week....but I think it provided excellent healing, hydration, and nutrition. I felt terrific. Got incredibly hungry, though....was definitely ready to start moving up the food chain:)

Woot!

Matt, I wonder if women don't have an easier time with ankle tattoos because our fat content in our skin is higher? Our skin is more supple, too, cause testosterone thickens and toughens skin. I have literally no redness today...it's looking awesome:) My tattoo guy wanted to see a pic this morning and was very pleased. Will keep your concerns in mind and keep careful track of it, however:) Thanks for the heads up!

So far, so good, Matt. If that happens I'll have a touch up:) So far it's looking pretty bold and stable. Much less red and swollen today than in the pic (taken a few hours after it was done). My tattooist has been in the business over 20 years and my bestie has a gorgeous ankle tattoo he did for her over a decade ago:)

Oh, it's good! Some tasty whip for sure:) Having a peach one as we type:)

My favorite yogurt has gone missing at the grocery stores here. I checked three. It's also unavailable on Amazon pantry. Apparently, the world's most wonderful yogurt....just got canned. I'd saddened and irritated. Man, I hope I'm wrong about this. For the love of yogurt, Yoplait... it was so good. Don't do this to me!

Yoplait Greek 100 Whips. Vanilla Cupcake flavor. To...die...for:) Available at the evil empire of Walmart. 100 calories, 9g of Protein. Peach, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Coconut Macaroon flavors are pretty damned good, too:)

Hot Damn, oh Happy Day! It hasn't been discontinued! Found it at Wally World! They had peach and coconut macaroon in the Whips, too! Love all the flavors in this particular line...really delicious, love the fluffy texture. Good stuff! Yay! Ash, give them a try if you can find them....they're worth the trip to the evil empire. LOL Wonder why my other stores aren't carrying it as much? That's still a concern...but for now, am just really glad someone has it:) The peach is really good, too, but cupacake remains my fav:)

Having a little pool party on the fourth with supportive friends and family. Have come up with the following menu: Protein pasta salad with olives, peppers, onion, feta, reduced fat salami, tomatoes, and balsamic/olive oil herb dressing with a touch of splenda Deviled eggs done light Ginger soy Pork tenderloin and Salmon on the grill with grilled veggies Homemade hummus and crunchy veggies Watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapes and blue berries....mixed fresh fruit (might add a splash of amaretto liqueur) Corn on the cob (I can't eat this, but will work great for everyone else) Everyone coming has the word that the theme is "light done right"....folks are bringing their best light recipes to share:) People seemed incredibly ok with this What's on the menu for your 4th of July celebration?

Boogie, I'm so glad you're in the hospital. Your symptoms really concerned me. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but I know they'll take good care of you and get this figured out. Keep us posted, rest all you can, and feel better ASAP! I swear it gets better. Rotten card to draw and all....you'll be headed in the right direction soon.

PS...one thing I've learned through all this trial and error..that maybe you can benefit from... We really need to find better ways to "treat ourselves" than with food. Not saying I'm not guilty of the same arsebackward behavior....but the reward habits have to change. They really do.