I've decided to start posting recipes and food ideas that I have experienced and tried since my weight loss surgery. From time to time, I might post other interesting tidbits that I have learned.
Since I've reached goal, I have been approached many times by people who are thinking about having weight loss surgery, people who have just had it, people whose loved one has had or thinking about having it, people who are struggling after having it, with questions about what they should be eating, what exercises worked for me, my opinions on protein/carbs/calories, etc. So, I thought that since so many people were wondering, I would use this blog to answer those questions.
First of all, I learned a lot from a few people before and since I had weight loss surgery. I highly recommend going to YouTube and searching for videos about weight loss surgery, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, etc. You will find a great community of weight loss surgery patients who post videos of their journeys. I learned so much from some of these people. I have videos on there as well. My YouTube channel is ShrinkingJenn.
As far as my opinion on protein/carbs/calories, etc. I will share what I do, but I encourage you to follow your doctor or nutritionist's advice. I, in no way, pretend to know more than they do.
I try to follow to 10/1 protein/calorie ratio. For every 10 calories the food has, it should have 1 gram of protein. Now, not all my food follows this rule. Such as, if I eat vegetables...they usually have very little protein. But, I eat protein first and if I have room, I will eat the vegetable.
If the food has 100 calories, it should have at least 10 grams of protein for me to consider it a good protein source. If it has 80 calories, it should have at least 8 grams of protein...and so on. I can eat such little portions, that I really want to make it count...so I try my best to follow this rule.
Carbs...Not all carbs are created equal. I'm not an expert on carbs but I do know that the carbs you get from vegetables and fruits and brown rice are better for you than the carbs you get from processed foods, sugar, etc. During the losing stage, I avoided almost ALL carbs. I kept my daily intake of carbs under 20. Now, that I'm at goal, I'm not as strict on that, but I do keep them pretty low still.
When I was losing, I kept my calories under 800 per day. I know that sounds low, but I seriously could not eat more than that if I tried. Many times, my calories for the day were in the range of about 650 because I physically could not eat more than that. I don't recommend going over 1000 calories per day during the losing stage. I kept my protein at 60 or higher... (that was my goal. I didn't always reach that goal) and my carbs under 20 each day. I lost weight very well and never had a stall.
For the longest time, I couldn't eat over an ounce at a time. 1/4 cup or less at each meal. I could not physically eat more than this. I didn't push it either. I had this surgery to get healthy. To lose weight. I took/take it very seriously. So, I didn't and still don't complain or feel deprived. I had to learn that food is not fun. Food is fuel. We should not eat for the taste or the enjoyment. Yes, you can survive on that small amount of food. I did/do. Plenty other successful weight loss surgery patients do too. If you put yourself in the mindset of "Oh my God! I can't handle eating such small portions!" "I will starve!" "I will NEVER be able to enjoy family/friend gatherings again!" "That CAN'T be healthy!" then guess what!? You are setting yourself up for failure because if you have that attitude, you will prove yourself right. I would rather prove myself right by saying, "Yes! I can do that!" and then do it. Even though I eat much smaller portions now, it is much healthier than the huge portions I ate before surgery. When you eat healthy foods, you get full faster anyway. The highly processed, carb-filled foods that I was addicted to before surgery make you crave more, and most of them are sliders.. Sliders don't fill you up fast, so you eat much larger quantities, and then you crave them.
As far as never being able to enjoy family/friend gatherings again, I have this to say: you will enjoy them more. Food will no longer be the highlight of the day. The focus will not be on eating and enjoying the food. The focus will be on your family, your friends. You will spend more time enjoying activities with your loved-ones. Food will be on the back burner, where it belongs.
At this time, 19 months after surgery, I can eat about 1/4 to 1/3 cup at a time, depending on what it is. I know that doesn't sound like much food, but I am surviving and I am healthier than I've been in many years. Our bodies really don't need as much food as we think they do. I learned that.
Ok, off I go to make my dinner. I will take pictures and post it so you can try it too!
