To snack in between meals or not to snack

[Kris77 1,534]

So I was sleeved on 7/23/18. SW:238, Pre op weight 221, CW 162. Goal is 138. I've lost 75 pounds and have been doing good with weight loss.
I recently order a couple cookbooks and I noticed in it said that you should not snack and to only have three small meals a day. The small meals are fine but I mainly snack to get more protien in as I know I don't get enough daily.
Curious what others do. Part of me says I'm doing good bc the scale is moving in the right direction...but the other part of me thinks am I doing something wrong...last thing I want is months down the road to slowly start gaining again. Biggest fear is gaining all the weight bk and looking like a failure......
Advice?

[GreenTealael 25,316]

My team is firmly against snacking the further out you get they say simply stick to scheduled meal times.

I agree with them because you can condition yourself (even into hunger like situations that don't actually exist) based on routine (think Pavlov's work)

I try to drink more cal free fluids instead .

Your team my have a different view. Ask them how they feel about snacking the further out you get.

CONGRATS on your success ❤

[notmyname 593]

I've had this same discussion with myself. I'm also afraid of snacking because I don't want to get into the bad habits again. But I also can't eat enough in a meal to get all my Protein on most days. I do my best to plan my meals to get enough protein. But, if I don't I only snack if I need extra protein. So my Snacks are typically a glass of milk (or sugar free hot cocoa - 1TBL cocoa, 1 packet stevia, milk), sometimes some parm chips, or a stick of cheese.

[GradyCat 3,695]

The binder my bariatric team gave me states that I should have three meals per day and two Snacks, but states the snacks are "only if needed." I "snack" on sugar-free pudding or a sugar-free popsicle.

[Jazzy1125 1,010]

My team is against snacking for the 1st year. Right now we are to do 3 small meals a day and supplemented with a Protein Shake a day. After a year, we can replace the Protein shake with a protein snack..and that's it. I barely have time to eat let alone think about snacking LOL

[ScoutCR 126]

I do the same as greentealael and drink as much SF Water flavors as I can between meals. This really helps and so far I can say that 9 months out I have not had a real hunger attack. That being said I do rarely have a few Just cheese brand or Sonoma Creamery Cheese brand crackers and they do not seem to affect my weight.

Edited January 27, 2019 by ScoutCR

[Biddy zz 🏳️🌈 1,003]

My team are really strict. 3 meals a day forever.

I started adding a snack to arrest my weight loss when I also started runn8 g and cycling. But I can see I already have an ‘urge’ to eat after dinner now, where I didn’t before.

So - until you are at goal I think three meals a day is right, all with 20-25g Protein. And I reckon ideally you maintain this as your new eating lifestyle.

By the way. My surgeon track his patients. 90% having less than or around 1000 calories a day two years post surgery. And very little regain even longer term.

[Kris77 1,534]

I haven’t been going to the dietician. I need to go...

[Kris77 1,534]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I love this app. Everyone is always so helpful

[AggiG 176]

I was told to eat 6 small meals a day and includes 3 small Snacks.

[Chris56 21]

Anyone concerned consuming so much artificial sweeteners? I would rather eat turkey or other Proteins instead.

[Kris77 1,534]

On 01/27/2019 at 22:51, Chris56 said:

Anyone concerned consuming so much artificial sweeteners? I would rather eat turkey or other Proteins instead.

I heard that too. In my coffee I’m gradually switching from sweet n low to truvia. Right now I’m at two truvia and one sweet n low. I use to be three sweet n low.
I did read to try and stay away from artificial sweeteners.
Today I am logging what I eat. I stopped doing that and I’m going to start back up. Hoping that helps me not snack. I think the snacking is more habit bc it happens mainly when I get home from work while cooking dinner and later in the evening.

[jenngetsthin 61]

I eat 4-5 small meals/snacks per day. My surgeon is fine with it. Otherwise I can't get all my Protein in (and I don't do shakes anymore). My typical Snacks are cheese or Jerky, sometimes Pork rinds or nuts.

[SteveT74 359]

Snacking is really not good for us sleevers. It triggers bad habits and grazing. I understand we might only be able to eat 4 or 5 oz during any given meal--and that helps with weight loss. However, if we are going to snack between meals, you can basically eat around your sleeve. You're not exercising discipline and that's NOT good. We want to change our past bad behaviors while we have this great opportunity. Even if you're losing weight with the snacking, that doesn't meant the snacking isn't having a negative impact on your weight loss. You have to also think about how this is going to effect you long term when your sleeve has greater capacity. I say NO snacking between meals.

That said, I sometimes cave and have a snack--it's a tough thing to resist. I do everything I can not to eat it though. I'll make myself a drink comprised of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 8oz of Water. That usually kicks the cravings to the curb. If am still hungry after that, i'll allow myself a very small snack and track on MyFitnessPal so I stick with my macros and calorie budget.

[Kris77 1,534]

Great idea I’ll try that.