julet_licelot 14 Posted May 7, 2016 Today was my first time eating salad with chicken after the surgery (Wich was a month and two weeks ago) and I was surprised with how much salad I was able to eat Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App 1 DivaTri619 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickM 1,752 Posted May 7, 2016 I have found salad to be something of a slider for me, too - which isn't really a bad thing considering the high nutritional density of most salads (if you do them right and don't load them up with a lot of high calorie junk!) I found when starting with salads a month or so out that if I cut back my normal serving capacity of meat from 3 oz to 2, that I had comfortable room for another 3ish oz of salad veg (typically chopped spinach, avo, Tomato, green onion and bell pepper, and/or whatever else I had around. I found it a convenient way to get in at least a token amount of veg, and make my eating a bit more "normal" than typical post-op fare, which made for less of a "being on a diet" feeling and reinforced what good sustainable eating habits that I already had. Such salads are still a staple of my diet five years later. 1 DivaTri619 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marie2016 87 Posted May 8, 2016 My doctor does not want me to eat salad until a hit 4 months post surgery. I really miss salad... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julet_licelot 14 Posted May 8, 2016 My doctor does not want me to eat salad until a hit 4 months post surgery. I really miss salad...Why not? Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jennamj94 29 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julet_licelot 14 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App ohhhhhhh, I guess I'll never eat lettuce again then :/ Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jennamj94 29 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App ohhhhhhh, I guess I'll never eat lettuce again then :/ Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App I was told to wait at least 6 months before I try it. and even then, to eat the protein(chicken, egg) before the lettuce. My surgeon is pretty strict on foods. He pretty much said he never wants me to eat rice, Pasta, chips, pretzels or bread again. but obviously that's impossible for a carb-whore. And no coffee for 8-9 months which is killing me because I was drinking 3 cups a day before surgery. It will all be worth it in the end though. Already down 80 lbs Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2goldengirl 2,076 Posted May 8, 2016 No, lettuce does not expand in your stomach. I never heard such rubbish. When lettuce gets wet, it WILTS. Especially in the presence of stomach acid. I had salad for lunch today - one of those ready-packed salads, so a small portion. Probably two cups of greens, mostly iceberg lettuce. I know that iceberg and romaine work OK for me. I was able to eat the entire salad, and I added a hard-boiled egg to it cause there wasn't enough chicken in it. And for dinner, I'd made lamb stew. I was able to eat only 2 oz of lamb, one slice of carrot, and a half-slice of parsnip. No, I did not stretch my sleeve out eating lettuce for lunch. I'm thrilled to find out lettuce works as a slider for me. I love salad, and I love growing lettuce. There are so many kinds to grow that you never see in stores. They're beautiful, and tasty, and have names like "Frizzy Haired Drunken Woman" and "Flashy Troutback". 1 1 GottaLearnToSlowDown and Leslie F reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jennamj94 29 Posted May 8, 2016 No, lettuce does not expand in your stomach. I never heard such rubbish. When lettuce gets wet, it WILTS. Especially in the presence of stomach acid. I had salad for lunch today - one of those ready-packed salads, so a small portion. Probably two cups of greens, mostly iceberg lettuce. I know that iceberg and romaine work OK for me. I was able to eat the entire salad, and I added a hard-boiled egg to it cause there wasn't enough chicken in it. And for dinner, I'd made lamb stew. I was able to eat only 2 oz of lamb, one slice of carrot, and a half-slice of parsnip. No, I did not stretch my sleeve out eating lettuce for lunch. I'm thrilled to find out lettuce works as a slider for me. I love salad, and I love growing lettuce. There are so many kinds to grow that you never see in stores. They're beautiful, and tasty, and have names like "Frizzy Haired Drunken Woman" and "Flashy Troutback". I'm just saying what my surgeon told me when I was there a few days ago and asked when I could start having salad. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OutsideMatchInside 10,166 Posted May 8, 2016 I have never ate lettuce based salads because lettuce has zero nutritional value. I like baby spinach salads. Spinach totally breaks down. I can eat a lot of spinach and I find it makes a great afternoon snack. 3 ounces of spinach is 1/3 of a bag of a spinach, and 20 calories. 1 DivaTri619 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickM 1,752 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I've never heard the wet lettuce expanding thing before, that's a new one on me. bread, toast and rice are often thought by some to have that effect, and likewise readily ignored by others to little effect. But this early out you should be taking things slowly and following your doc's advice. Some people do have a problem with lettuce for some reason, even many months out (and, as usual, many others have no problem at all - a big YMMV thing.) I generally use chopped raw spinach rather than lettuce due to its somewhat better nutritional profile, but haven't had any particular problem with lettuce when I have had restaurant salads (I just don't eat much of it since they use it as filler instead of the more expensive and nutritious vegetables and Proteins.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jennamj94 29 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I've never heard the wet lettuce expanding thing before, that's a new one on me. bread, toast and rice are often thought by some to have that effect, and likewise readily ignored by others to little effect. But this early out you should be taking things slowly and following your doc's advice. Some people do have a problem with lettuce for some reason, even many months out (and, as usual, many others have no problem at all - a big YMMV thing.) I generally use chopped raw spinach rather than lettuce due to its somewhat better nutritional profile, but haven't had any particular problem with lettuce when I have had restaurant salads (I just don't eat much of it since they use it as filler instead of the more expensive and nutritious vegetables and Proteins.) My surgeon said only cooked spinach for now. I just finished my final phase so now I'm on unrestricted, but I still can't have raw fruits and veggies or nuts. don't know when he'll clear me for that. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
julet_licelot 14 Posted May 8, 2016 I'm not allowed to have lettuce either and it's driving me insane! my surgeon said that when lettuce gets wet, it expands, and he doesn't want it to stretch my new stomach. All I'm craving is a chicken Caesar salad!! my surgery was 3/7/16 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I've never heard the wet lettuce expanding thing before, that's a new one on me. bread, toast and rice are often thought by some to have that effect, and likewise readily ignored by others to little effect. But this early out you should be taking things slowly and following your doc's advice. Some people do have a problem with lettuce for some reason, even many months out (and, as usual, many others have no problem at all - a big YMMV thing.) I generally use chopped raw spinach rather than lettuce due to its somewhat better nutritional profile, but haven't had any particular problem with lettuce when I have had restaurant salads (I just don't eat much of it since they use it as filler instead of the more expensive and nutritious vegetables and Proteins.) My surgeon said only cooked spinach for now. I just finished my final phase so now I'm on unrestricted, but I still can't have raw fruits and veggies or nuts. don't know when he'll clear me for that. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App It looks like your surgeon needs to take a chill pill lmao Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2goldengirl 2,076 Posted May 8, 2016 I have never ate lettuce based salads because lettuce has zero nutritional value. I like baby spinach salads. Spinach totally breaks down. I can eat a lot of spinach and I find it makes a great afternoon snack. 3 ounces of spinach is 1/3 of a bag of a spinach, and 20 calories. Don't get me wrong, I love spinach, too - but iceberg and romaine crunch. There is not much crunch in my life these days. I have been making mini taco salads with taco meat I do in the pressure cooker. I freeze the meat in single portions. I also froze black Beans and brown rice in single portions. Huz can make himself a taco bowl any time he likes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christinamo7 4,042 Posted May 8, 2016 I have never ate lettuce based salads because lettuce has zero nutritional value. I like baby spinach salads. Spinach totally breaks down. I can eat a lot of spinach and I find it makes a great afternoon snack. 3 ounces of spinach is 1/3 of a bag of a spinach, and 20 calories. Don't get me wrong, I love spinach, too - but iceberg and romaine crunch. There is not much crunch in my life these days. I have been making mini taco salads with taco meat I do in the pressure cooker. I freeze the meat in single portions. I also froze black Beans and brown rice in single portions. Huz can make himself a taco bowl any time he likes. I use lettuce too - I make a big mac salad that is so YUMMY and I love it. I can't say I eat a *lot* of lettuce, but I do enjoy it. I love spinach and kale too - one of the things I do almost ever weekend is a ground meat blend so that the peeps can make tacos, or nachos or whatever during the week and I can make my lettuce wraps or big mac salad or whatever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites