How often do you eat?

[oopsydaisy 40]

Hi, everyone. I'm close to 6 months out. My last visit with the doctor was in March. He recommended only one meal a day. I have no Protein goals or calorie goals or other guidelines other than to stop eating before I'm full. It's the thought that counting calories puts one back in 'diet' mode when we should just learn to eat naturally, intuitively. Naturally, I'm hungry more than once per day! I've found in attempt to stave off hunger, I'm grabbing less than healthy (aka: quick) Snacks that are lower cal that a meal might be. And I don't feel I'm losing as much as I should. I've tossed around the same 3 pounds for almost a month now.

I've found this ridiculously hard to do, especially on work out days. I know everyone's doctor recommends something different, but I'm curious if anyone else has been recommended once daily. If not, what's your plan? Do you have protein goals? Calorie goals?

[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

One meal a day? Gosh people in jail and prison get three meals a day!

I eat three meals a day if possible per my guidelines. Sometimes I only fit in two and a light snack. I do not force myself to eat if I’m just not hungry. My surgeon was more three meals no Snacks type of plan.

My goal is 80 grams Protein daily. I do not have a calorie goal but I’m trying to get to 1000. I average 700-850.

I realize guidelines vary widely but one meal a day sounds extreme to me.

[Creekimp13 5,840]

I think you need a new doctor. I think the advice you're being given is dangerous and sets you up to overeat and stretch your sleeve. It also sets you up for low blood sugar, hunger, fatigue, and fainting...that can be downright dangerous if you have to drive and difficult to have a productive day.

It's not teaching you to eat the right foods. It's not teaching you to consume sensible portions. It's not teaching you much of anything other than starvation. Re-educating yourself how to deal with food is essential to long term success.

I just don't see how this is a sustainable "forever diet". And if it's not....how and what will you transition to when you haven't been given any skills?

My clinic sets a goal of 1200 calories and 60+ grams of Protein per day during weight loss phase. We can either eat three 400 calorie meals, or six 200 calorie meals...or any combination we'd like as long as net calories are 1200 per day. I personally prefer to do three tiny meals during the day, a bigger meal for dinner, and another tiny meal around 8pm (usually it's got a desert vibe, like fruit or cupcake yogurt, or a chocolate protein bar.)

This is how my day usually works:

200 Breakfast (oatmeal and coffee with Protein Shake for creamer/an egg and half a slice of whole grain toast/fruit and yogurt/etc)

200 lunch ( 3 ounces of pork chop or chicken breast with green beans/sweet potatoe with pecans and salad/BLT wrap/chef salad with hard boiled egg/homemade veggie Soup and slice of homemade bread)

200 midday snack (protein muffin/half a cup of potato salad/veggie and hummus/etc)

400 dinner (Crab boil/steak salad with eggs and swiss/protien Pasta with salad and homemade wholegrain bread/chicken stir fry/stuffed pepper/ vegetarian chili and cheese on a baked potato/etc)

200 after dinner snack (strawberries with chocolate sauce/watermellon/frozen grapes/cupcake yogurt/oatmeat with pecans and cherries/chocolate protein bar) I like a little sweet after dinner, and usually do this after I finish my 12,000 steps for the day...sort of my reward.

I eat a lot of really satisfying delicious food. I'm getting an education about portions and making healthier choices. I'm eating a ton of fruits and veggies, lean Proteins and complex carbs.

I LOVE my diet. I feel better on it. Tons of energy. Exercise is a big part of my day, too...and I have the energy to enjoy doing it.

Weight loss has been slow and steady:) Getting close to goal:)

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

1 hour ago, oopsydaisy said:

6 months out. recommended only one meal a day. I have no Protein goals or calorie goals or other guidelines other than to stop eating before I'm full.

@oopsydaisy

i can't imagine eating 1X a day!! No guide lines??? no rules - no way!!

I was told by my NUT to have 2 small meals, and 2 Snacks. 60 gr Protein - at least 64 oz Water - i'm 6+ years

PO sleeve - i eat about 1200-1400 calories. I do all the above perfectly!! except when i don't

which definitely happens!!!

how much weight have you lost? talk to doc - maybe he'll rethink your eating plan.

No way could i only eat once a day!!

good luck

kathy

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

1 hour ago, KimTriesRNY said:

One meal a day? Gosh people in jail and prison get three meals a day!

@KimTriesRNY

ROFLMAO

kathy

[Matt Z 4,139]

I'm eating upwards of 6 times a day. I won't say 6 "meals" because folks tend to think "Plate full of food" when it's really not that way at all.

I'll have a Protein Shake in the morning, most times I add frozen fruit to it

I'll have a Protein snack a few hours later, this could be one of Kay's Naturals, or some greek yogurt or other protein heavy snack

I'll have something else protein heavy a few hours later

Later in the day I'll have a sandwich or something, super high grain count breads, low/no fat cheese, lean meats

I'll have another snack of some nature, typically fresh fruit or some oatmeal

I have another shake later, I'm using Casein protein for muscle recovery overnight

And I'm getting upwards of 128oz of Water a day as well. Spend at least an hour in the gym each day on top of what I do all day for exercise. Been going fairly smoothly thus far.

[SleeveinIL 386]

That is just plan old not right. It sounds dangerous if you follow that advice. I am 3 months out and my guidelines are 600-800 calories a day, 60-80 g Protein and min 65 oz Water a day.

[oopsydaisy 40]

I really appreciate the answers here. Thank you! I was finding that I was not recovering from work outs well and I'm just generally well fatigued. I think a little more structure will help me plan for better options. And I won't feel like a mass failure for eating lunch or something