Yesterday at the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood we engaged in a conversation about a normal eating day following weight loss surgery. You can read it here: An Idea of What You Eat in a Normal Day.
I was reminded of an article I wrote about my regular eating plan, back in 2005. Upon re-reading it I see I still follow the same pattern (except for this week while I am doing the 5 Day Pouch Test). No doubt to some my plan seems boring and unappealing. That is why we all need to find what works for us and follow that plan consistently. It was when I wavered from this plan last winter and allowed snacking into my day that I gained weight. Today I share with you this old article and plan that still works for me today, and I encourage you to find your own regular eating plan to make the most of your surgical weight loss experience.
If you have suggestions or ideas about your ideal eating plan please post a comment, or hop on over to the Neighborhood and add your 2-cents there! The more we know about how others are working a plan the better chance we have to create workable and effective plans for ourselves.
After WLS: What is a Regular Eating Plan?
By Kaye Bailey
After six years of living with gastric bypass I’ve finally come into a regular eating routine where I no longer fight against the gastric bypass nor do I battle the head games associated with eating restriction. I don’t believe what I do day-to-day is perfect but I know it works for me giving me optimum energy and good health.
Over time I’ve found if I strictly control my food choices for breakfast and lunch I can allow a bit more freedom and adventure in my evening meal. In fact, I enjoy wonderful variety and flavor in my evening meals. I seldom snack which I believe is the key to having maintained my weight loss.
For breakfast and lunch I eat the same things almost every day. Breakfast is most often 1/2 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup of Kashi Go-Lean High Protein cereal or cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sugar free jell-o or cottage cheese with 1 hard-cooked egg. I also have a cup of coffee about an hour after breakfast. (Coffee is not recommended during the phase of weight loss.) ((Sept. 2007 - I'm on the cottage cheese-hard boiled egg phase of my boring rotation.))
For lunch I enjoy tuna mixed with a little miracle whip, or canned chicken fixed the same. Sometimes I'll have shrimp (6-8 peeled) or those imitation seafood flakes. Usually I add a piece of low-fat mozzarella cheese and then some fruit, whatever is in season. If have lunch out I'll order a salad with the chicken and eat the chicken and taste the salad. I may order a sandwich and eat the insides, not the bread. I may taste the bread, but not eat much of it. ((This summer I've been big on left-over grilled chicken: thighs & breasts for my staple lunch.))
Now for dinner: that is when I get my variety. I cook at home almost every night of the week. I enjoy learning new recipes and often experiment with finding "safe" foods that both my husband, a normal eater, and I will enjoy. We eat fish twice a week, chicken and pork frequently and red meat once a week. We have essentially eliminated starch such as potatoes, pasta and rice from our regular diet. Remarkably, neither of us miss it or the heavy feeling it brings. Side dishes are generally steamed in-season vegetables or baked vegetables such as winter squash.
I imagine this all sounds very blah and basic. It took a long time to accept that if I eat my safe foods for breakfast and lunch I will feel good and chemically balanced all day. Dinners seem like such a treat because of the variety, so it is working for me (finally!). It takes a long time to resolve and accept a regular eating plan, but once established it feels like a comfortable place to be.
Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved
1 comment:
I can remember asking you what it was that you ate in a day right after we first connected. I think that it was in the late summer or fall of 2005. When you told me, I can remember my response being something to the effect of, "You must be kidding!" It seemed so boring and plain...not enough to satisfy, in my opinion.
I had decided that every body was different with its needs.
Mine "needed" variety. I was about 2 years post-op. Appetite in full swing, pouch fully healed. I was in that "test" mode. Searching and testing for what I could tolerate.
Now, as I sit in year number five, I have to laugh. My diet is very similar to what you posted. I am done testing and know what will add pounds and what will keep me healthy.
Here is to boring and plain!
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