What Kind Schedule Did You Keep?

[jessica0728 11]

K I was wondering how you guys keep your Protein and fluids balanced throughout the day with what we eat? I am not on solids yet I am on full fluids still with yogurt and protein shakes...I am hoping some of you will write like a sample menu for a day? I just want to see if I am doing the best I can to get everything in...I know I can't expect to do it all this early but I just want to know if I am making the most of my day...also what is the latest in the day you guys eat or drink? And lastly what are some Snacks you might keep in your purses/bags? Thanks so much!

[MyGastricSleeveLife 180]

I'm almost 7 weeks out. I'm on pureeds & can start doing some "soft" meats & veggies & such now. My doctor only wants me to do 3 meals & Water or Protein drinks between meals. Therefore, my schedule the last few weeks has been something like this.....

6:30 AM - 1/4 cup Egg Beaters w/ a little shredded cheese - usually takes me 30 minutes to eat it.

Between Breakfast & lunch - I fill a water bottle with a Protein Drink & dilute it with more Water to make it last longer & have my Protein & fluids together. It usually takes me a couple hours to drink it.

11:30 AM - 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese with 1/4 cup of marinara sauce & a tablespoon of parmesan - heated in the microwave for 1 minute - usually takes 30 minutes to eat.

Between lunch & dinner - I fill a water bottle with a Protein Drink & dilute it with more water to make it last longer & have my Protein & fluids together. It usually takes me a couple hours to drink it. - sometimes I just do a water bottle with crystal light instead of a protein drink in it. Just kinda depends on my mood and my protein intake for the day.

5:00 PM - 1 can of tuna (4 ounces) with 1 tablespoon of mayo - usually takes about 30-45 minutes to eat it.

Between dinner & bed (around 9 PM), I usually have part of a water bottle with crystal light.

Other things I eat instead sometimes are - refried black Beans, greek yogurt, string cheese.

Earlier this week when I had to go to orientation at college & it was full of meetings & not many breaks, I took reduced-sodium beef Jerky and I found some travel cups of tuna that were already drained (but they didn't have mayo in them) & I took them in my backpack. There are also travel packs of tuna with crackers & mayo that are pretty easy to take in a purse or bag places. So far I haven't had to leave home too much because I'm not taking classes this summer & I work from home. I'll have to find some different things for the fall when I'm at school all day - either that or get really used to Jerky & tuna!

I know some doctors suggest more meals & not using Protein Drinks & I've seen others use string cheese & such as high-protein "snacks" between meals. I think it might be harder to get in fluids that way since we're not supposed to drink around meals/snacks, but I'm not sure since I don't do it that way.

Hope that helps some. I'm not too creative with my foods at this point. Last night, we were out of the house & hadn't had dinner yet & my family stopped at Taco Cabana. I ended up ordering one chicken fajita taco, which is just chicken strips with seasoning in a taco without other toppings. I opened it & dumped the chicken of the tortilla & gave the tortilla to my daughters & I just ate the small chicken strips.

Just remember "protein first" as you're progressing your diet. :-)

[Newfoundlove 95]

I'm eight weeks out and my surgeon and NUT are pretty progressive about moving us to real food. I moved to real food at about four weeks, although you kind of introduce foods a little at a time with meats and fruits with skins, and lettuce last. I've now introduced all of them and am doing great. Actually I think the added Fiber is helping me lose a little bit more. I'm fanatical about getting my fluids in as I've noticed that I wake up with a headache the next morning if I don't, and my skin has been super dry since surgery. Here's how I do it:

First thing in the morning when I wake up. 6-8 ounces of Water (with pills/supplements I am taking)

Breakfast: Protein shake (11 ounce RTD counts as fluid), or 1/2 cup cottage cheese or greek yogurt (5.5 ounces also considered liquid) (my sleeve actually lets me eat rather quickly without an issue - probably not good for me though).

Immediately when I get to work, I fill up a 32 ounce bottle I have with Water and Mojito Crystal Lite. Goal is to drink it before lunch time. Sometimes I don't finish it until around 2 pm.

snack at 10:00 am - 2 Babybel cheeses, or cheese stick with a slice of turkey lunchmeat, or half of a Protein Bar

Lunch: Tunafish salad, chicken salad, or leftovers (today I am having a small piece of Korean Short Ribs and two brocollini spears).

After lunch - if I've finished my water from the morning, I refill. Many times I am finishing in my car on the way home.

Snack at around 3:00 pm - Turkey Jerkey, Babybel Cheeses, Cottage Cheese, 1/2 Protein bar, 9 almonds, or a hard-boiled egg.

Dinner: A piece of fish, or chicken/turkey, some kind of Protein source (Lasagna Cupcakes are awesome!) plus a couple of bites of vegetables

7:00 pm or so - a pot of Bengal Spice Decaf Tea - 16 ounces

Total fluids for each day ranges from 80 ounces to 101.

[CaliKat 153]

if you search for daily meal plan you can find a plethora of goodies to keep at work, on the go or just in the house.

Here is the thing about transitioning from mushies to "real" food.....

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

Have a plan!!!!

If you dont bring good food to work, on a road trip or make good choices before dining out.... you are gonna end up falling into old bad habits.

I do fantastic when i make my bento the night before and take it to work.... but when I dont have food readily available at work.... guess who eats chicken tacos from Taco Bell? Ick.

I go out to eat a lot.... a lot. Like 5 times or more a week. Its part of my job to go out with clients- there is no getting away from it. If I dont make a plan (look at the menu online or make a promise to get seafood/fish, etc) then 9 times out of 10... I end up ordering something off the menu that is not a great choice. If I have a plan, 9 times out of 10... I will stick to a good choice!

My big plan is to take a few minutes each day to log my food, Water and Vitamins into the sparkpeople app and around 8p at night I look at my log, if im low on Protein or Water I still have time in my day to get a shake in or a glass of water.

My days are crazy and unpredictable.... and having a rigid schedule isnt my style. But having an overarching plan, one that works for me... helps me hit all my WLS benchmarks.

Have a plan that is realistic and works for you and you WILL succeed.