Search the Community

Well 440 was my highest 413 currently been on my own diet since january. Luckily my preop diet is a few more days away, although I'm already half doing it. Hopefully my tastes stay similar as I don't mind premier Protein shakes (except chocolate I have never really liked chocolate anything.) I like greek yogurt, cottage cheese. Call me crazy but I'm actually tempted to start the diet tommorrow. I just so want to be part of the process. Mar 23rd can't come soon enough. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

When I was 18 or so I followed a diet that had you fast one day, next day you could eat fruit (mixed with plain yogurt okay). I can't remember, but the amount was no doubt limited. Next day you had veggies, after that dairy? I can't remember it all except the day before your next fast you got to have steak if you wanted it. Also have tried WW numerous times (the one back in early 80s was okay; crap after they went the no fat route) Nutri-System, cabbage Soup, calorie counting, Atkins and South Beach. I did well on low carb diets. The diets didn't fail me. I sabotaged myself each time I got close to a specific weight. (Why I'm seeing a shrink now.)

Protein Power You already know protein is the foundation of every meal and snack you have. When you have protein at lunch, you keep your metabolism up, you feed your muscles, you reduce hunger for hours during the afternoon, and you’re less likely to nod off during an afternoon meeting. Good stuff! Here are some easy protein options for lunchtime. nonfat Greek or regular yogurt: plain or no sugar added. string cheese (cheese sticks) or other hard cheese, preferably low-fat. cooked chicken breast. hard-boiled eggs. canned tuna, salmon, or sardines. Filling up on Fiber Dietary fiber slows digestion. That means it’s a filling nutrient because it helps keep you full for hours – just like protein. Fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar: so your levels don’t spike as much after a meal, and they don’t drop and leave you starving too soon. Fiber isn’t just filling. It helps lower cholesterol. Plus, it’s a nutrient that comes in healthy foods, so choosing high-fiber foods helps you choose nutritious foods, too. Think of these sources of fiber, and think of the other nutrients they have. Vegetables and fruit have potassium, vitamins A and C, B vitamins, and tons of antioxidants. Legumes (beans, split peas, and lentils) have protein, B vitamins, and potassium. Whole Grains have vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants. Peanuts, nuts, and seeds have heart-healthy fats, vitamin E, and cholesterol-lowering phytosterols. So what’s easy for lunch? You could take a green salad with chopped vegetables, beans, and nuts; pinto beans with some cheese and shredded lettuce; stir-fry with any cooked vegetable and tofu, chicken, or fish; fruit salad or whole fruit (optional: with nuts or seeds); or fresh cut raw vegetables such as grape tomatoes and bell pepper strips. Putting It Together If you’re stuck for ideas for balanced, healthy, and portable lunches, these might help you out a little. Any kind of greens-based salad. Pack spinach, spring greens, or romaine or other lettuce leaves in a big container. In a smaller container, pack some healthy additions. Try cooked chicken, low-fat cheese, beans, or hard-boiled egg slices for protein, chopped vegetables or fruit such as grapes for extra fiber and nutrients, and sliced avocado or nuts for healthy fat. You can pack a couple tablespoons of light dressing on the side. One or more homemade “deli” or prepared salads, such as three-bean salad; Caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese; marinated artichoke hearts with feta cheese; tuna, chicken, or egg salad with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Last night’s healthy leftovers such as chicken vegetable stir fry, chili, or veggie burger in a lettuce leaf. Roll-ups with all-natural ham or turkey spread with cottage cheese or non-fat cream cheese, plus carrot sticks. Whole or mashed sweet potato with Greek yogurt. Pack Some Snacks Your healthy lunch should include any snacks you’re planning to have in the morning or afternoon. Snacks keep your energy up and your metabolism going strong. They also reduce hunger so you’re not tempted to dive for whatever sugary, starchy, or fatty snacks you find in the vending machine or break room. Just like your lunch, your snacks should have some protein and fiber. They should also be calorie-controlled depending on your needs. For most weight loss surgery patients, snacks should have about 100 to 200 calories. These are some easy snack ideas. celery with fat-free cream cheese. almonds. dried garbanzo beans or edamame (green soybeans). carrots or apple slices with peanut butter. whole grain cereal or oats plus Greek yogurt. Use Helpful Helpers Packing your own lunch doesn’t need to be time-consuming or difficult. Feel free to use any helpful items you can find in the supermarket. Examples include salad mixes, pre-cut vegetables to eat or cook, low-sodium canned soups and beans, pre-cooked proteins such as ready-to-eat chicken breast strips, and single-serve packets of peanut and almond butter. You can use these helpful products, but beware of the diet saboteurs. Some may come in the form of way-too-big serving sizes, such as many pre-made deli salads. Others may be higher in calories or sugars than you expect, such as dried fruit. Some, such as canned and frozen products, can have hidden sugars and salt that you didn’t bargain for. Always read the label and ingredients! With these lunch ideas, you can easily make your own lunch and set yourself up for a healthy day. It doesn’t take much time to pack a lunch, especially once you get into the habit. By adding a few nutrients and saving a few calories each day, you can expect to see the results on the scale.

What does your lunch do for you? Does it keep you full, energized, and losing weight? Or does it leave you feeling sluggish, heavy, and hungry before your next meal or snack? If you’re not careful, lunch can pack hundreds or over 1000 calories, without giving you much nutrition. Some calorie disasters are obvious, like the pizza and soda, sandwich and chips, and Pasta Alfredo. Others, like many Chinese chicken, Caesar, and Chef’s salads, are a little sneakier. The easiest way to beat those sneaky lunches is to make your own. You can control every ingredient to make sure you’re getting the Protein you need, without getting too many calories or too much fat or sugar. You might save a few dollars, too! So get out those containers and get ready to make a grocery list. It’s time to pack a healthy lunch. Protein Power You already know protein is the foundation of every meal and snack you have. When you have protein at lunch, you keep your metabolism up, you feed your muscles, you reduce hunger for hours during the afternoon, and you’re less likely to nod off during an afternoon meeting. Good stuff! Here are some easy protein options for lunchtime. nonfat Greek or regular yogurt: plain or no sugar added. string cheese (cheese sticks) or other hard cheese, preferably low-fat. cooked chicken breast. hard-boiled eggs. canned tuna, salmon, or sardines. Filling up on Fiber Dietary Fiber slows digestion. That means it’s a filling nutrient because it helps keep you full for hours – just like protein. Fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar: so your levels don’t spike as much after a meal, and they don’t drop and leave you starving too soon. Fiber isn’t just filling. It helps lower cholesterol. Plus, it’s a nutrient that comes in healthy foods, so choosing high-fiber foods helps you choose nutritious foods, too. Think of these sources of fiber, and think of the other nutrients they have. Vegetables and fruit have potassium, Vitamins A and C, B vitamins, and tons of antioxidants. Legumes (beans, split peas, and lentils) have protein, B vitamins, and potassium. Whole Grains have Vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants. Peanuts, nuts, and seeds have heart-healthy fats, vitamin E, and cholesterol-lowering phytosterols. So what’s easy for lunch? You could take a green salad with chopped vegetables, Beans, and nuts; pinto beans with some cheese and shredded lettuce; stir-fry with any cooked vegetable and tofu, chicken, or fish; fruit salad or whole fruit (optional: with nuts or seeds); or fresh cut raw vegetables such as grape tomatoes and bell pepper strips. Putting It Together If you’re stuck for ideas for balanced, healthy, and portable lunches, these might help you out a little. Any kind of greens-based salad. Pack spinach, spring greens, or romaine or other lettuce leaves in a big container. In a smaller container, pack some healthy additions. Try cooked chicken, low-fat cheese, beans, or hard-boiled egg slices for protein, chopped vegetables or fruit such as grapes for extra fiber and nutrients, and sliced avocado or nuts for healthy fat. You can pack a couple tablespoons of light dressing on the side. One or more homemade “deli” or prepared salads, such as three-bean salad; Caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese; marinated artichoke hearts with feta cheese; tuna, chicken, or egg salad with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Last night’s healthy leftovers such as chicken vegetable stir fry, chili, or veggie burger in a lettuce leaf. Roll-ups with all-natural ham or turkey spread with cottage cheese or non-fat cream cheese, plus carrot sticks. Whole or mashed sweet potato with Greek yogurt. Pack Some Snacks Your healthy lunch should include any Snacks you’re planning to have in the morning or afternoon. Snacks keep your energy up and your metabolism going strong. They also reduce hunger so you’re not tempted to dive for whatever sugary, starchy, or fatty snacks you find in the vending machine or break room. Just like your lunch, your snacks should have some protein and fiber. They should also be calorie-controlled depending on your needs. For most weight loss surgery patients, snacks should have about 100 to 200 calories. These are some easy snack ideas. celery with fat-free cream cheese. almonds. dried garbanzo beans or edamame (green soybeans). carrots or apple slices with Peanut Butter. whole grain Cereal or oats plus Greek yogurt. Use Helpful Helpers Packing your own lunch doesn’t need to be time-consuming or difficult. Feel free to use any helpful items you can find in the supermarket. Examples include salad mixes, pre-cut vegetables to eat or cook, low-sodium canned Soups and beans, pre-cooked Proteins such as ready-to-eat chicken breast strips, and single-serve packets of peanut and almond butter. You can use these helpful products, but beware of the diet saboteurs. Some may come in the form of way-too-big serving sizes, such as many pre-made deli salads. Others may be higher in calories or sugars than you expect, such as dried fruit. Some, such as canned and frozen products, can have hidden sugars and salt that you didn’t bargain for. Always read the label and ingredients! With these lunch ideas, you can easily make your own lunch and set yourself up for a healthy day. It doesn’t take much time to pack a lunch, especially once you get into the habit. By adding a few nutrients and saving a few calories each day, you can expect to see the results on the scale.

After seven months I have learned that a half cup is about all I can take of solid Proteins, but I can go to a cup on things like chili. More than that and I experience the memorable experiences @@Dub spoke of. I have managed ok, but I have had to cut out some high Protein Snacks, which I found opened my appetite in a big way. Right now I focus on three meals per day, a couple of small snacks (usually Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit) and about 100-110 gms of protein daily. I find that if I keep my calories below 1000 I tend to stall out, but if I go up to 1100 or so, with at least 50% protein, I start losing again. I am looking forward to the future @@vsg Ann 2014 discussed, where veggies and fruits play a bigger role, but right now once the protein is done, I can barely get in a few bites. I have also relied on v8 (the low sodium variety) to at least get some veggies in and use berries in my morning protein smoothies. This has been working for me, but in participating in these forums over the past few months, it appears that there is absolutely no one size fits all approach. I am also still working on slowing down my eating. I am successful compared to how I used to vacuum food, but I need to go even slower. I aim for twenty minutes a meal, but normally don't get past 10.

I had an unplanned fast day yesterday. I ate one partial small Greek yogurt, a piece of toast and then swigged a Protein Drink overnight. I am still bloated as check - I look about 12 weeks pregnant. I weighed 159, down from a few days ago but way up from the 153-155 range i have been in recently. I am bloated, constipated and generally miserable although right now pain is in control. I have needed alot of pain pills and you know what, besides constipation, they make me moody. No wonder addicts are so cranky. In between bouts of unpleasantness, good things are happening too. I almost hosted a small gathering yesterday but my excessive pain caused a cancel. I consider it progress that my house is back to reasonably clean and I FEEL like being social. It's Monday - where are all the Monday checkins?? Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

I'm just checking in a giving my 1 week follow up after I started A Pound of Cure. It has been going very well, I started at 184 lbs this past Monday and today I weigh 177.2 lbs! I been following the rules exactly how it is on the book. Eating at least 1 lb of vegetables, 2 oz raw nuts, 6-8 oz of meat or eggs, 1/2 cups of legumes and best part unlimited fruit and I mean unlimited. What had been the hardest while doing this: 1. My coffee with fairly easy milk and Splenda. I missed it really bad for the 1st three days. I could have coffee with almond milk, but I don't like it when is not sweet so I haven't had any. 2. My Greek yogurt with crystal light, unable to eat it cause the dairy and artificial sweeteners. 3. Finding time to drink Water in between. I feel like I'm constantly eating. And the great part about it: 1. Unlimited fruit!!! All of it doesn't matter which one 2. It feels really good to know that I'm eating very healthy nothing processed. Well that's about it going on my second week and I will give you guys a follow up after the 2nd week.

Babbs, I think dessert is a lovely ritual. It happens at a time of day when hubby and I Celebrate having gotten through our day, whether it was easy or hard. And I don't intend to end our dessert ritual here. I often had dessert after dinner when I was losing weight. It was as inconsequential as a 20-calorie chewable Caltrate chocolate truffle supplement (hey, we WLS'ers can make lemonade out of lemons, eh?) or as protein-centric as Greek yogurt (vanilla is my fave). At times I've added berries or a sliced peach to yogurt, but now in wintertime the fruits are pretty bad, so I don't waste grocery money on those now. Going forward, my challenge is to come up with a much more varied dessert menu from which to choose. I no longer want to eat the same thing every night -- especially not something that's nearly pure sugar. That's what got me into the burgeoning chocolate habit. Yogurt, fruit, low-calorie bakery items, even the occasional piece of chocolate all seem lovely. In a few weeks I'll reconsider my new dessert plan. But for now, I'm sticking with a single chewable Caltrate chocolate truffle supplement. I want to cement my newly regained self control.

I make my Greek yogurt my dessert. I take plain Greek yogurt and flavor it with Torani or Dasani syrup and/or Protein powder. Raspberry, pumpkin pie and tiramisu are my favorite syrup choices and vanilla or cake batter are my favorite powders. Tonight I did yogurt, cake batter powder, PB2 and a bit of almond milk to thin it. Tasted like Peanut Butter cookie dough! This dessert is also the "carrier" for my daily Fiber and I always add a couple scoops of ground flax seed to the concoction so it's actually quite filling. I've gotta have the protein and fiber anyways, so its not adding anything unnecessary and fortunately it hasn't gotten out of control like my love for nuts and peanut butter did. My protein hot chocolate is always my goto for my chocolate fix.

@@CBT on Friday when I met the urologist I had minimal pain, not needing pain meds, he told me 80 percent chance it would pass fine by itself. Also told me I had been through the worst of the pain. The laser blast thing is invasive...sedated, done in a hospital setting so it was a calculated risk to just give it time. He did allow a higher dose of Percaset so I am better now - tho still in pain. It's almost 230 and I ate a few bites of yogurt before feeling pukey so that'd better....didn't brave the IB yet for the day. My tummy males me.look about 4 months pregnant Loopy too Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I used milk of magnesia early on and it always helped, even though I'd still only go every 3 days and it was rock hard. But I eventually found insoluble Fiber to be the key for me. (The fiber gummies, Benefiber, etc are all soluble fiber and didn't do a thing to help) I add apple pectin fiber and ground flax seed to my Greek yogurt and Protein smoothies every day. I also eat All bran Cereal and Kashi Go Lean cereal. The result has been daily, soft BMs. Other people have reported good results with smooth move tea and prune juice. And don't forget to drink lots of water!

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Hi everyone, I'm finally back for an update! I had been in the typical stall for quite some time, so was hesitant to post too much and come across pessimistic. Here's a recap. Had my surgery January 9th in Mexico. BMI was 29, weighed in at 153.4 (only 5'1) on January 1st when I started my pre-op. I had an easy pre-op, basically just did Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then veggies and chicken for dinner. Three days before surgery was yogurt only diet, but I did add a Protein shake once a day just to keep my protein up and my carbs down. Day of surgery I weighed 148.4 lbs, which put my BMI at 28. I went down to Mexico on the day of surgery and spent a few days in San Diego afterwards. First time I weighed myself on my home scale I was 139.2 and that was on January 17th. Jan 18 - 137.2 Jan 19 - 137.0 Then my weight started to bounce around and stall out so I stopped weighing daily. Feb 1 - 137.6. I started working out Feb 1, scale was still moving super slow, so again just weighed every once in a while Feb 5 - 136.0 Feb 23 - 135.2 Then I went on vacation to California. Just got back last night and I weighed in this morning at .... 129.0!!!!!! That puts me at a BMI of 24.4, the high end of NORMAL WEIGHT. Why did I finally drop? I don't exactly know, but here's two things that probably helped. 1. I ate out a lot, and although I didn't eat lots at a time, my calories were definitely higher, so I think that actually helped boost my metabolism. 2. I got super sick the second last night, stuck in the bathroom (sorry if this is TMI - but basically all night pooping and puking --- although it was mostly dry heaving since there was no food in me). So I probably am down quite a bit of Water weight, and fully expect I may gain a couple pounds once I get hydrated again and eating somewhat normal. Anyways, I just wanted to post an update since it's been a while, and I feel like I may have finally broken this stall. I am less than 6 lbs above my lowest weight as an adult. Still 14 lbs above my goal weight, but that being said, I am looking forward to increasing my exercise and putting on muscle, so realize it may be difficult for the scale to drop steadily if I'm toning up. Hope everyone else is doing well! --I am going to copy and paste this post to a few of the other "low BMI" threads, so sorry for the repeat to those of you that follow those threads as well--

Not a huge fan of cottage cheese, no. I do like Dannon light and fit yogurt (strawberry) but don't know if it's considered "healthy" for DSers. It's got 80 calories. 12 g of protein. 8 g of carbs of which 6 g are sugar. Will try to eat more protein plain or with veggies, as you mention. Makes sense. I grew up in a household where we constantly snacked on chips, crackers, popcorn, Cookies, etc. so I guess old habits die hard. By contrast, I've noticed that my friends who grew up in households where they had a platter of chopped veggies and grapes, strawberries, etc. on the counter grew up to be much healthier. Came to school to work on a paper and brought my celery sticks, string cheese, and peanut butter with me! Small changes lead to big changes!

It sounds like you know what to do. As to carbs, I don't avoid all carbs, just starches and added sugars. A good complex carb like oatmeal should be fine. A hug protein oatmeal would be even better. As to advice about stalls, my best advice is to Embrace the Stall! and read this for some ideas: http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall I do but I don't know what I am doing I never posted "big numbers" like others except for the first 2-3 weeks post-op. For example, fruits wise, someone told me that I should not be eating bananas. Had no idea about this. Also don't see it in the packet I was given. Also, Snacks wise. I hate Greek Yogurt. So I have Wheat Thins multigrain crackers with Peanut Butter or hummus or string cheese. Or I have nuts. Today I cut up celery and also have carrots that I can have with the peanut butter or hummus. I am trying to plan to munch on that (or some grapes that I bought at the grocery store last night) rather than going for Doritoes or Cookies while I work. But I would really LOVE some new ideas for healthy snacks. Am I better off eating a PBJ sandwich as a small meal than eating the snacks if the snacks are going to be as bad as Doritoes/cookies and keep me from grazing? I also haven't been tracking my protein. Just been focusing on eating a lot of high protein foods in general. It sounds like you need to get away from the idea that every meal or snack needs a bread or cracker. You can eat peanut butter, hummus or string cheese plain or with a non-starchy vegetable. I personally don't avoid bananas but am aware they are higher in sugar/carbs. This might be more important for someone with DS. Whatever you do, focus on protein first and tracking your protein so you KNOW you are reaching your protein target. If you eat protein first, then non-starchy vegetable, then you may or may not have room for whole fruits. There shouldn't be much room left for breads and crackers. Since you don't like Greek yogurt do you like cottage cheese?

Oops I see that I quoted butterball b cat and never added my question. Do you eat the Kashi cereal with milk or yogurt?

It sounds like you know what to do. As to carbs, I don't avoid all carbs, just starches and added sugars. A good complex carb like oatmeal should be fine. A hug protein oatmeal would be even better. As to advice about stalls, my best advice is to Embrace the Stall! and read this for some ideas: http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall I do but I don't know what I am doing I never posted "big numbers" like others except for the first 2-3 weeks post-op. For example, fruits wise, someone told me that I should not be eating bananas. Had no idea about this. Also don't see it in the packet I was given. Also, Snacks wise. I hate Greek Yogurt. So I have Wheat Thins multigrain crackers with Peanut Butter or hummus or string cheese. Or I have nuts. Today I cut up celery and also have carrots that I can have with the peanut butter or hummus. I am trying to plan to munch on that (or some grapes that I bought at the grocery store last night) rather than going for Doritoes or Cookies while I work. But I would really LOVE some new ideas for healthy snacks. Am I better off eating a PBJ sandwich as a small meal than eating the snacks if the snacks are going to be as bad as Doritoes/cookies and keep me from grazing? I also haven't been tracking my protein. Just been focusing on eating a lot of high protein foods in general.

I journal on MFP so the easiest way to do this is cut and paste. I hope it works. Wow it didn't keep the format oh Boy what a mess. I cleaned it up and kept just the foods I ate. I hope this helps as I can't keep gaining. And why would eating less cause me to gain. After about 1 to 1 1/2 oz of solid food I get a pain on my left side under the breast. When I tired to eat more on the 29th by eating a can of tuna for dinner I had pain for 3 hours. February 28, 2016 Breakfast Swiss Miss - sugar free Hot chocolate, 1 envelope , Premiere Protein shake - Protein - Chocolate Shake, lunch Louis Kemp - Lobster Delights Chunk Style, 2.5 ounce Yoplait - Yogurt - Boston Cream Pie (Light), 0.5 Container of a 6 oz Dinner Progressive - Lentil Soup, 0.5 cup Sargento - String cheese Stick, 1 pc Louis Kemp - Lobster Delights Chunk Style, 0.5 ounce February 29, 2016 Breakfast Premiere Protein Shake - 30g Protein - Chocolate Shake, Swiss Miss - light hot chocolate , 1 envelope Lunch Sargento - String Cheese Stick, 1 pc Landofrost Premium Oven Roasted Turkey Breast - Sliced Turkey, 4 Slices 80 Dannon - Lite & Fit Greek Mousse, 2 OZ Dinner Hellman's - Light Mayo, 1.5 Tbsp Tuna - Bumblebee Solid White in Water, 1 container (112 gs ea.) Sargento - Sliced Cheddar Cheese, 1 Slice March 1, 2016 FOODS Breakfast Silk - Original Protein+Fiber Almond Milk, 1 Fluid ounce 1 Great Value - Finely Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese 0.5 tbsp Landofrost Premium Oven Roasted Turkey Breast - Sliced Turkey, .5 Slice Egg, whole, cooked, scrambled, 0.5 large Lunch, Premiere Protein Shake - 30g Protein - Chocolate Shake, 11 oz Swiss Miss - light hot chocolate snack jenny o turkey - turkey stick, 1 stick Dinner Progressive - Lentil Soup, 1 cup Hormel - Homestyle Meatloaf With Tomato Sauce, 1 oz. March 2, 2016 FOODS Breakfast Swiss Miss - Sugar Free Hot Chocolate, 1 envelope Premiere Protein Shake - 30g Protein - Chocolate Shake, 11 oz Lunch Landofrost Premium Oven Roasted Turkey Breast - Sliced Turkey, 0.5 Slices Egg, whole, cooked, scrambled, 0.5 large Silk - Original Protein+fiber Almond Milk, 0.5 fluid ounce Great Value - Finely Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese 0.5 tbsp Dannon Light and Fit - Greek Mousse, 2 oz Dinner Sargento - Sliced Cheddar Cheese, 1 Slice Jennio - Extra Lean Ground Turkey, 2 oz March 3, 2016 FOODS Breakfast Swiss Miss - light hot chocolate , 1 envelope Premiere Protein Shake - 30g Protein - Chocolate Shake, 11 oz Lunch bacon cheddar bites recipe, from Bariatric site 1 serving(s) ricotta bake recipe, from Bariatric site , 0.5 serving(s) Dinner Steamed chicken Breast, 1.5 oz egg drop soup 1 cup March 4, 2016 FOODS Breakfast Swiss Miss - light hot chocolate , 1 envelope Bariatric Pal - Hot Chocolate - Original, 1 package (23.5g) Lunch bacon cheddar bites, 1 serving(s) Steamed Chicken Breast, 1.5 oz egg drop soup 1/2 cup Dinner Steamed Chicken Breast, 1.5 oz ricotta bake, 0.5 serving(s) 1 March 5, 2016 FOODS Breakfast Bariatric Pal - Hot Chocolate - Original, 1 package Swiss Miss - light hot chocolate , 1 envelope 25 Lunch Oscar Mayer - P3 Smoked Ham, Dinner Homemade - Steamed Chicken Breast, 1.5 oz Great Value - Pinto Beans, Canned, 0.25 cup Great Value - Finely Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese 1 Tbsp,

My Dr nurse said what I eat may just be sitting in my sleeve...in other words yogurt is still to thick for me...in guess I'm getting frustrated Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

One thing you need to remember as well is to take time for your meal. I know what the pace is like in the ER, you won't be able to gobble your food down and get back to work. You have to take some time for yourself. It took me some time to get used to this, but when i eat, i take a bite, then put the fork down and chew. Each bite i do that. Its now a habit for me, it makes you slow down. My pureed stage, i had scrambled eggs, lots of yogurt(low carb, some have a lot of sugar), refried beans, which after 4 weeks of liquids was great, once i handled that ok, i had tuna fish, etc. Just because its called the pureed stage doesnt mean it has to be pureed. ohh, cottage cheese was on that list, but the only thing i like to do with cottage cheese is scrape it into the trash. Best of luck to you.

@@DDN Someone else just told me to take papaya this week when i have problems with that "stuck" feeling. I don't know how it would help if i ate too much or too fast or the wrong food though. I have this happen quite often. I am just a slow learner, i guess! I eat too fast or too much. I'm 3 months out and in the "trial and error" phase where I'm experimenting with regular food. I still stick pretty closely with yogurt and cottage cheese, string cheese, tilapia, soups, protein shakes. I like cheerios now (makes me feel "normal") with fairlife milk and unflavored protein powder in it for breakfast.