How do you get it all in?

[khankins 3]

Sorry for the long post. I had surgery 3 years ago and I consider myself a lapband success story. I recently got a fill that I believe will definitely put me in the green zone (had to get a small unfill a week later so I know I'm in the right spot now). I was wondering, how do you all get the liquids, Protein and calorie requirements all in in one day?

My day generally looks like this:

-I'm usually tight in the morning so I'll start my day off with liquids (water/protein drink) which keeps me full until;

-Around noon-ish I'll eat something small for lunch (which is all I can handle) but its low in calories/protein;

-Then back to liquids to keep from getting dehydrated;

-Once I get home from work, I'll eat a sensible dinner but its still low in calories/protein;

-Then I'll drink liquids for the rest of the night

-I never eat after 8pm/9ish.

So my dilemma is that I don't feel like there is enough hours in the day to get in the protein, liquids, and calories. As you can see I dont eat alot of food. And if you've ever been dehydrated then you'll understand why liquid is a priority for me.

What do yall do daily?

[labwalker 1,177]

Can you do four meals a day, spaced out, with attention to intaking Proteins first?

[khankins 3]

I have never been able to do 4 meals a day...I'm rarely ever hungry and I eat because I know that I have to. Now that I've had my final fill (I believe lol), I know I can't. I'm tight in the morning so a meal there is out of the question...lol. Between 12pm and 8pm its hard to do...I have tried.

[enjoythetime 1,457]

You're 3 years post-op and have been extremely successful, so I guess my question so I can understand is did you just starting having the issues of gettting all of your food and liquids in after your last fill? If so and it wasn't a problem before maybe you need a slight unfill to ensure you're getting the proper nutrition? How many calories, Protein, oz. of Fluid, per day would you say you consume now? How does this compare with the last 3 years?

[khankins 3]

Oh no, I didn't just start having the issue and I can't truly say that it is an issue because it has worked for me all these years that I have long since accepted it as my "new lifestyle". I was just curious as to how everyone else get it all in (eats/drinks) on a daily basis.

[Ladybandito 516]

I used to wonder the same thing in the beginning; especially Water. Now, I drink two 16 oz bottles of water before I leave for work, and before I have Breakfast --which is usually a Plain Greek yogurt with chia seeds added. I drink another water before lunch, and focus my lunch on Protein content -- chicken breast, turkey, chili w Beans and meat, something like that. Then. More water until dinner. I like fish and a vegetable, and a small carb serving. I wait at least an hour and then have Decaf tea and more water. I am 2-1/2 years out of surgery, at goal, and probably a little less than green --but I like it that way. On days when I have a hard workout, I will supplement with a Protein Shake. I also partake now and then in a decaf latte, lol. If you add it up on a calorie counter --the calories add up faster than you think if you count everything you put in your mouth!!

[enjoythetime 1,457]

Oh gotcha, sorry I miss understood what you were asking.

Every morning I fill up a 32 oz cup and I drink half by the time I get to work, then I get to work and will eat breakfast which is typically greek yogurt with trail mix (17 p) 250 cal or a Protein Bar (20p) (160 cal), then as soon as that hour is up I will start drinking again and finish the remaining 16oz by lunch. Eat lunch which is typically a salad with chicken or turkey rolled up with cheese approx. and (250-300 cal) (approx. 17-20 g p) an hour later I will fill my 32oz cup up again and will have finished it by the time I get home. When get home I will have a snack tyically a skinny cow ice cream (2g p) (160 cal) then dinner, typically chicken breast, turkey burger and a veggie like caluiflower (approx. 30-40 g p) (approx 350-400 cal)or a weight watchers meal (varies in cal and p). an hour later again with the Water 16oz (i've now hit my Fluid intake for the day) I will have an evening snack sometimes that's 2oz of cheese (14g p) (220 cal) or if I'm running low on Protein a Quest Protein Bar (20g p) (160 cal) etc. By this time I've roughly hit my 1200 cal target (some days a littel shy some days a little over) and my 60-80 grams of Protein for the day.

Oh no, I didn't just start having the issue and I can't truly say that it is an issue because it has worked for me all these years that I have long since accepted it as my "new lifestyle". I was just curious as to how everyone else get it all in (eats/drinks) on a daily basis.

Edited July 23, 2014 by enjoythetime