[Ellen]

I have a question that's been weighing on my mind...How do you get used to eating one thing at a time? I've heard people in here say they eat their portein first then go on to their veggies. I've never been a person to just eat one part of my meal at a time...don't think it tastes good that way?
Should I order some protein samples to try before surgery or should I wait til after since I understand your tastes change after surgery?
See I have such important things weighing on my mind!!

[DocSanae]

The reason you're told protein first is because your pouch will be too small to hold much, and the most important nutrient in your diet is protein post op. It's not really a choice of mixing things up, especially early out. Your priority is protein, and unless you can get the required amounts of that in first, you won't really be able to bring in other things.
Protein also helps you stay full longer, as it stays in your pouch longer than other kinds of food.
So you see, this is not going to be a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. You may not like it, but it is one of the things you will have to accept as necessary for effective weight loss and maintenance.

[not quite Barbie]

Like Doc says, you may not like it but it's what we have to do. But think about all the diets you've tried in attempts to lose weight - you didn't like most of those either, and worse, they didn't work. This DOES work.

I'm two years out. I usually have half a sandwich with lots of chicken breast slices and mustard and dill pickles for lunch. My side dish is raw carrots. Now I do take a bite of carrots in between bites of sandwich because I know the size of my pouch and know I can eat that sandwich and about 6 baby carrots. But if I'm eating something outside of my normal dishes I will still eat the protein first because I don't want to get filled up on the sides and not have any room for the protein.

As to the protein samples, try to get small samples with lots of variety because you're going to hate most of them. LOL And yes, it may taste fine prior to surgery but taste horrible after. The first couple of weeks I forced myself to drink the EAS shakes, then gave up and figured out how to get my protein from food. Good Luck!

[wannabe skinny]

protein - protein - protein - for a while it's not going to just be protein first it is just going to be protein protein protein. this is what our bodies need most to heal and to survive. after a month or so you will be able to add in some very low carb healthy vegetables but you will want to focus on the protein.

i suggest you try a few different proteins so that you know what is out there. get some individual serving sizes. prior to surgery i LOVED the thick shake protein called Labrada Vanilla Milkshake. i would get it through a health food store in the area. i also had some isopure zero carb ready to drink protein. for a few months i didn't like the thick milky taste of the labrada and only drank the isopure - i chose that protein because it is a pure whey isolate which is better for us. i would also buy the New Whey protein that comes in a tube. it is really thick and i would mix it with crystal light and sip it all morning. one thing that was so good about the isopure and the new whey is that each serving has a LOT of protein in it.

try different things ahead of time but don't spend a lot of $$

[wegonefishindark]

It won't be hard to fill up on a few shrimp once you start eating, you will not want more, you'll be full and satisfied. But once your further out your swelling will go down and you can hold more food so to keep the calories down, you will need to fill up on protein first and if room the other stuff like fresh veggies or fruit. You will need to practice this early on so you do not get used to filling up on foods with little value.

[Perfesser]

In your past relationship with food, you didn't always eat as healthily as you could have. Lots of empty carbs with little nutritive value (you can't justify mashed potatoes and gravy as health food no matter how hard you try! ) This new life requires that we completely change our relationship with food, including redefining what constitutes "food". Of course, everyone knows that the portion sizes will be smaller, but the order matters, too.

When Peanut and I go out to eat, we order something that doesn't have too much excess that we know we won't touch, but it's not always possible to eliminate it. It's just a hassle to request that they leave the rice off at some Mexican restaurants, for instance (NO SUBSTITUTIONS!!) So we eat around it. At the Mexican restaurant, we know that there is no way we can humanly finish our plate there, so we draw a dividing line that we will eat to (if we can without pushing things) and then we get the box. If I order chimichangas, and there are two on the plate, I know I will start on one and take at least the other home, and possibly part of the first, too. I'll put some of the toppings (lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole) on each forkful of the chimi, but it's only to add flavor. When I get the box, I'll take home the chimi remaining and the refried beans, leaving the rice.

If you have been programmed from infancy to clean your plate, you are in for recalibration. Most places, you can't. At home, you can, but use a smaller plate than the rest of the family. Seeing too much open space on the plate makes what you eat seem like too little, even though it fills you. We hardly ever use our dinner plates anymore. The salad plates hold at least enough to satisfy.

Sure, you may never have eaten this way, but what benefits have you received from the way you used to eat? Isn't that why you're here with all of us recovering food addicts? You may think it doesn't taste good, but your tastes will change after your surgery. While they are in transition is an excellent opportunity to reprogram them to enjoy eating this way. You may be surprised to realize how much you enjoy eating like this once you start tasting your food instead of inhaling it (speaking from my own experience!)

Anyway, like Doc says, you have no choice in the matter if you want to be successful. It comes with the territory. You can make it easy for yourself, or you can resist, but you will come around to it in any event.

Resistance is futile! Join us, Ellen, and experience the power of the dark side of the kitchen!! (Ooops! Flashbacks to the 70's again!!!)

CT

[MsVickie]

All the above post are wonderful ideas. I wouldnt stock up on any type of protein powders before surgery though. Do the samples or the smallest they have. I have seen many have unused powders to get thrown away or given away. These are hundreds of dollars worth. My own? I give to my sons best friend who had his jaw broken and had to drink his foods. He was underweight to begin with so I wanted to help him badly. One night he was at the house and I made him a milkshake with vanilla proten poweder and icecream. I didnt tell him any difference. He loved it. He said mam can I come buy here a few day a week and eat? LOL. I give him the large conatiner I had left and told him how to fix it. His mom called me when he got home and was so thankful for it. She had mixed another one for him and he drank it right down. She made one for her self and loved it. It was the icecream I will say that helped that alot.

When you can acutally chew foods again and put more than one small item on your plate I kinda bump them together a fork full at a time. Like my steak bite bumped into my potaoes if they are mashed or baked. it give it the flavor I want. Kinda Like the sauce from it? If it has any lol. This is how I do mine. Now I know how much lets say steak I can consume which is not alot because you have to chew it really good which is a great thing. I will allow for a side item to go on with it. Then later the fruit If I want It.

I do the same same as CT when ordering in a resturant. Someone always gets almost my whole meal when bringing it home. It used to be the hubby for the next day. Now its whom ever finds it first!