You Should Have Admitted

So, I'm going through the comment moderation for the LivingAfterWLS Blog by Kaye Bailey today. Someone signing on as "Fat Bastard" commented on the Vitamin B Supplementation post of August 5th:

"You should have admitted you were a glutton."

hmmmmm ---- isn't having restrictive stomach surgery to prevent over eating the greatest admission of gluttony? Just asking. And for the record, I do not believe gluttony was the exclusive 7 deadly sin to cause my obesity. There was sloth (lack of exercise); pride (unwilling to seek help or support); lust (hunger for all things decadent); greed (keeping all left-overs for myself) ..... you get the idea!


So I deleted the comment. What are your thoughts on this type of feedback? Is it appropriate to delete it or should we allow it so that the prejudice against the obese can proliferate?

After Weight Loss Surgery: What is a Regular Eating Plan?

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

Portion Control Plates

A Canadian study recently found that diabetics were able to lose 5% of their body weight over six months when using a plates and bowls that clearly mark appropriate portion size. The plates are decorated to indicate portion size for carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, cheese and sauce. They are just large enough to hold an 800-calorie meal for men and a 650-calorie meal for women. The bowls hold a 200-calorie serving of cereal and milk.

The plate is manufactured in the UK and includes a diet program; The Diet Plate.


What I found interesting about this concept is that many of us adjust our dishware after weight loss surgery as a means to help with portions. Kim uses a salad plate for her meals. I use custard cups for soft foods like cottage cheese or jello. And I believe Sweet Meliss is still using her tiny dishes that she bought prior to her gastric bypass. Read this terrific entry from her Big Grandma No More blog on November 11, 2005:

From Sweet Meliss on Big Grandma No More blog (November 11, 2005)

"Walked into an oriental store and spent time looking at these really cute Japanese dishes. Bought myself a tiny plate, a matching 3 ounce tea cup with a cover that when flipped over can also be used as a tiny plate. Pretty bamboo design. Wallah I have my first WLS dining set. I have this clear blue glass dessert dish that I can use as a tray and set these dishes on and have my meals. I think I have just started my collection of minature dishes."

Smaller dishes, it seems are another useful item in our Power Tools resource box. Are you using smaller plates to help with portion control? What about smaller spoons and forks - I have heard some people do that. Do you believe the smaller dishes would have enabled your weight loss pre-WLS? I know I tried that method but it was so much work refilling my plate 2-3 times that I gave it up!

Please share you thoughts - comments are moderated but checked and approved frequently.

Happy Dining!